Advent Together: Born To Return
Consider that thing for which you are waiting. The prayers, the hope, the tension between maintaining faith that one day it will come to pass versus simply giving up.
For us, it had been a job - for the last 6 months.
Today, an offer that my husband had long awaited – finally came through.
And, as excited as I am to receive this news. As grateful as we are to see God’s provision in this particular way, and hearing His “yes”. It dawned on me that it pales in comparison to Christ’s return.
Can you imagine? A world with no more pain? No more bombs? No more cancer? No more destruction? No threat of wars or assassinations or hatred or fear? No more struggling or striving or poverty or dThis past weekend I was in the wedding of a dear friend. While their story of love and God’s faithfulness is theirs to tell completely, I can share that chapters of this story involved a lot of waiting.
A lot of wondering.
A lot of hoping.
But, there were seasons of false hope, experiences of disappointment. Moments when it seemed as though the book was destined for a happy ending, only for the plot to thicken, with God saying “to be continued…”
But, this Saturday, people came from across the country to witness the culmination of this particular story, and the beginning of a new one. The story filled with the waiting and praying, the hoping and anticipation, and permeated with suspense, ended in two people that God specifically knit together under unlikely circumstances at an unlikely time.
You know what well-crafted stories do when they end. The compel you to cheer for the hero that saves the day. Or, grieve for ones that don’t. But, they always leave you wanting more.
This story invoked a number of responses. There were tears – of joy, gratitude. There was laughter, peace. There was celebration. And there was relief. The day she, he…we had been waiting for – was finally here.
But, as excited as we were for their wedding day…
We are still “waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” Titus 2:13
See, the current story in which we live involves dictators who kill their own people.
There are boys killing boys.
There are people who have to choose between eating or electricity or diapers.
There are bodies wrecked by incurable diseases.
Hearts broken.
Joy stolen.
In this stories, heroes sometimes die, while villains prosper.
And it leaves us crying out “How long, Lord?”
And we hear “waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”
Waiting.
Watching.
Hoping.
Earth? A world where God is worshipped and peace and holiness reigns. A world absent of evil.
That. That is worth waiting for – a blessed hope.
So, as you look towards the new year – perhaps making a list of resolutions, crafting prayers for things you hope to see, or simply selecting one word to use to guide you throughout the year – remember to “fix your eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. Who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:2-3)
And as we wait, we cry out, “Come Lord Jesus – Come!”
Advent Together: Born to Die, Guest Post By Danielle Anderson
Anyone that knows me well knows that I enjoy riddles. Not funny-ha-ha-make-you-laugh riddles, but logic riddles, brain teasers. I find it fun to sit and think through their various aspects and feel really good when I’m able to solve one. It’s not just the answer, but the process of finding the answer that I really enjoy. There’s something about sound logic that, and this will sound weird, stirs my affections for the Lord. It’s in that hope, of your affections being stirred for the Lord, that I invite you to think through something with me.
Which holiday is the bigger holiday for you and your family - Christmas or Easter?
For most of my life, I viewed Christmas as the most important. If Jesus was never born He could never have done all that He did, so I gave more energy and effort to all things Christmas. I spent hours taking in Advent devotionals and ignoring anything that had to do with the season of Lent. Christmas decorating? Yes please. Easter decorating? Is that even a thing? I even gave a concerted effort to learning more than the first verse of certain Christmas hymns.
But then a few years ago I was confronted with the truth that Christianity hinges upon a cross, not a barn; an empty tomb, not a manger.
Uh oh, had I let the cultural norms surrounding the Christmas season lead me to minimize Easter? Had mall decorations, amazing sales, and crowded retail parking lots really affected my thinking that much?
In our culture it’s the day of one’s birth that is commemorated in their honor, or at least a day close to their birth (like that of the MLK Holiday). It makes perfect sense - if that person had never been born, they would have never impacted history the way they did, so we ought to emphasize their day of birth over their day of death.
But Jesus just won’t fit within that logic. Let’s walk it through step by step.
In the book of 1 Timothy, Paul writes to Timothy. He begins his letter with a greeting, followed by a warning against false teachers, and then communicates his own joy and unworthiness to have been chosen by the Lord for salvation. This is the context of our key verse, 1 Timothy 1:15“The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.”
To me, this begs at least three questions.
Question 1 - What do sinners need to be saved from? Sinners need to be saved from God, particularly from His wrath towards sin. God the Father is infinitely holy, and his holiness demands that those in His presence, those in relationship with Him, be holy as well.
Question 2: How is a sinner saved? Sinners need to be forgiven of their sin and made holy. Hebrews 9:11 says there is no forgiveness of sin without the shedding of blood - something has to die.
Question 3: How does Christ do the saving? He has to shed blood, He has to die.
Jesus is the promised perfect sacrifice. He is the only one who can fill that position, the only one who can appease a holy God’s wrath towards sin. Man had to die because it was man who sinned, but the perfect sacrifice, obviously, had to be perfect, sinless - and we know that only God is without sin. We need a sinless man, a God-man. That's exactly who Jesus is. He is God in human flesh, God incarnated.
Since Jesus saves sinners by being the perfect sacrifice, their perfect substitute, fully absorbing God’s wrath for sin, we can rewrite 1 Timothy 1:15 like this - The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to die.
Christ wasn’t born to just live a perfect life. He was born to die a perfect death. My old logic led me to conclude that if it weren’t for Christmas there would be no Easter. But oh sisters, how wrong I was.
If it weren’t for Easter, there would be no Christmas.
Have you ever thought about that? The full meaning of Christmas is realized at the cross, better yet, the empty tomb. The baby was born to grow into a man who would live a perfect life, die the perfect death, and then 3 days later walk out of that tomb, proving He (and those He saved) had victory over sin and death.
As you celebrate this Advent, and set your hearts more deeply on the person of Jesus, don’t forget His work. Celebrate in the shadow of the cross. The Father did indeed keep His word and send His Son into the world - to die.
Danielle Anderson is a wife and a mother of four boys. Danielle began her career as a Business Consultant with Accenture. After the birth of her first son, she transitioned to her current role as homemaker, or as Danielle likes to call it - Chief Operating Officer of the Anderson Home. Her husband, Tedashii, is a full-time hip hop artist and radio show host. The Lord has taken Tedashii and Danielle on an unimaginable journey — one beginning with the unexpected loss of their one-year-old son Chase in March 2013. In the midst of their continuous grief and restoration, the Lord has proven Himself over and over again as the true Solid Rock - the only source of lasting peace, comfort, and joy. Even in pain, He has enabled her to see His goodness and love, and has allowed her to experience a beautiful truth from Psalm 19 - the word of the Lord revives the soul. The revival He gives day after day has spurred her passion to see God's children, particularly His daughters, grow in their longing for Him through His word. She is passionate about the spiritual, mental, emotional and physical health of women - from essential oils to natural birth to pilates. She and Tedashii have been married 10 years and now reside in Atlanta, GA with their sons, ages, 7, 2 and 1.
Avent Together: Born To Reign
Our verse for this week comes from the first chapter in Luke. In this passage, the angel Gabriel is speaking to Mary, announcing to her that she will be the Mother of The Christ, what that means and who He will be. We are honing in on the following verse;
Luke 1:33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
Him reigning over the house of Jacob, can not be confused with ruling just Israel. He is stressing the point that this Kingdom is a spiritual Kingdom, not an earthly throne like that of Saul, David or Solomon. This is vital to us because this is how we get in, we as believers are ingrafted into the family by Christ's blood. We are descendants of Abraham through Jesus therefore we are of the house of Jacob.
And it is forever, there is no end. All earthly Kings reigns' eventually come to an end but not Christ’s Reign. He is our King eternally as we will forever live and be with him even after we die.
He reigns in our hearts right now. And He allows us to be apart of building and bringing glory to Him and His Kingdom every day!
I pray that this glorious truth of why Christ was born will resinate in your heart. As you memorize and meditate on this passage this week here are a few suggestions . . .
Think about and Journal: Christ came to reign over me and in me as a perfect King. What have I allowed to dethrone Him in my life and heart?
Confess & Share: Spend time confessing those things and acknowledging to God that He is the only one worthy to sit on the throne of your life and heart. Get time #acrossthetable with a sister in Christ and share the areas that the Lord has revealed to you and ask for prayer and accountability.
Meditate: Here are the lyrics of the hymn, Come Thou Long Expected Jesus, they are rich lyrics that can echo the cry of our hearts this advent season as we celebrate that Christ came and look forward to his coming again To Reign.
(If you would like to listen to it, there is a rendition of it on Chris Tomlin’s Christmas Album, Glory In The Highest: Christmas Songs of Worship)
Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel's strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.
Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.
Shiny Things
Christmas parties, cookies, gifts, trees, ornaments, decorations, church programs, lights, etc. Maybe a pause on Christmas day to read a passage in Luke about a baby Jesus who came, a quick prayer, then mad dash to open gifts and eat. Then its over, just like that, and you're left wondering in your gut, "What was all this about really?"
This is not a guilt trip, life happens, and it’s hard to ignore all the shiny things, all the Pinterest inspirations, all the expectations and memories you want to make for your kids. But how can we be intentional this year, right now, to slow down, and focus on what’s important as priority and the shiny things as secondary.
Let’s Do Advent Together This Year! The word Advent means “coming”, so during the weeks leading up to Christmas we look back remembering Christ’s coming in celebration, at the same time looking forward in anticipation to the coming of Christ’s kingdom when he returns.
I need this. Don’t you? Let’s link arms with other women in our community, let’s pray for each other, memorize and meditate on scripture together. Won’t you join me in turning our attentions and affections toward the only One who is worthy to have them?
Join us here, every Monday leading up to Christmas for a Weekly devotional as we set our minds toward the truths that Christ was born.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:11
Christ Is Born
Born to Reign
Born to Die
Born to Return
Together we will center our hearts on a particular passage to memorize and meditate on throughout the week. For email subscribers, each Monday you will receive the entire devotional in your inbox with a free printable to download and helpful tips for memorizing scriptures and meditating.
Not a email subscriber? Subscribe today in the box below.
(When you subscribe today, you will receive your first free printable (pictured above) the next day. Then the weekly printable on Mondays leading up to Christmas)
Don’t do it alone. Share this with someone to do together. Encourage the young ladies you disciple or others in your small group - the accountability will be great and such a encouragement to share what the Lord is revealing to you about the passage through out the week. Memorize them with your kids throughout the week, its a great way to get them involved, and emphasizing what this season is all about.
Don't forget to share on social media using the hashtag #adventtogether!
Give Thanks In All Things
“How do you do it?” I was asked.
“How do you choose joy?”
I thought back to that cold, dark, damp floor, during that cold, dark, damp season of life. That night when I sat on the bathroom floor weeping. That night when the weight of being disappointed by friends and feeling betrayed and abandoned by God crushed me. That night when the only thing that willed me to life, was the life (lives we would later discover) within me.
How - in a strange place, newly pregnant, under difficult circumstances, with no home of our own and no finances to get one – how would I have found joy, let alone chosen it?
Joy had been such an elusive pursuit for me. Just when I would think I had grasped her, she would run again, chased away by the latest difficulty.
The most recent time, however, when I found myself slipping, I was determined not to fall into the pit of darkness again. I remembered how easy it was to get in, but how I had to fight what felt like forces of hell to climb out. This time, I told people, who could check in and pray before I fell in. This time, I found a different path.
As I prepared to go on a personal retreat, I kept coming across the book, One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are. If something comes up enough, I take it as a gentle nudge from the Lord. It was.
This book was written for women who know the truth of “Do not be anxious for anything, but in prayer and petition with thanksgiving present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6), but struggle to live it out. It is for women who have lived a bit of life and have discovered that it often swallows them. It was written for me, and perhaps, for you.
I love the complicated simplicity of how Ann suggests we can find and choose joy, by eucharisteo – giving thanks.
It is that simple. Yet, difficult to consistently practice.
“How do I fully live when life is full of hurt?”
The pathway to finding joy is to choose to give thanks in all things. To develop a habit of thanksgiving. To realize that in any given day, God has given us gifts – both large and small.
The ability to see the trees as they change colors is a gift.
Hear the laughter of a child.
Feel a cool breeze that blows on a warm day.
The reflection of the sun as it sets beyond the horizon.
Each day.
A gift.
And yet, we often miss them. And in missing the gifts, in ignoring them and taking them for granted, we miss out on joy, on miracles. Ann noted that in scripture, often times giving thanks preceded a miracle. Jesus gave thanks, and the fish and loaves were multiplied. He gave thanks, and Lazarus was raised.
So, she issued a challenge (one that was also given to her), to be intentional about finding and recording the gifts found in life, one by one, up to one thousand. The habit of giving God thanks on a regular basis, can overshadow the difficulties. Not erase them, not ignore them, but put them in a proper perspective as it helps one live an abundant life.
So, as we approach Thanksgiving, I ask you to join in this challenge. Find a little notebook that you can easily transport (you may be surprised by where you find gifts). Start the journey. Slow down to take notice. Begin recording your one thousand gifts. One by one. Short phrases are all that is necessary. Nothing is too big or too small to be recorded. If it captures your attention or your heart and puts a smile on your face, write it down. And give thanks.
Blessings on the journey, and Godspeed on your pursuit of joy.
Discussing The Election With The Women We Disciple
“Don’t talk about religion or politics.”
I’m guessing you have heard this before. Discussing religion and politics can lead to heated debates, create division, and sadly, end friendships.
In the wake of the election, I’d like to share why I believe it is imperative to talk about politics with those we are investing in and growing with as they follow Jesus (a.k.a. those we disciple). In light of Jesus’ prayer in John 17 that all who follow him would be one just as he and the Father are one, helping those we disciple to navigate these types of situations and climates within the body of Christ may be one of the most valuable lessons we can teach them.
First, by taking the time, interrupting whatever we have scheduled, and initiating conversations with those we disciple, we are reflecting the God who sees and cares about this election and it’s implications. We have the privilege of being a tangible expression of the God who is ready to engage with us, be present with us, and help us wrestle through our questions. To NOT engage in this area communicates that God doesn’t have anything to do with our politics, that the gospel doesn’t apply to this area of life, and that Christians do not need to be concerned with the hurt and division taking place in our country right now. All of those things are false. The gospel demands engagement and application from those who follow Jesus.
One professor I know changed her entire seminary class on the Wednesday morning following the election. Her class spent 90 minutes in prayer, then took time to consider how they will lead in this divisive time and what spiritual practices might help fuel this type of leadership. That is intentional engagement. By not talking about it we allow people to celebrate without demonstrating empathy or mourn without receiving comfort and potentially miss the God who wants to engage with them and help them consider others. (For wisdom about how to people while engaging these conversations, please check out this interview with Melody Gardner.)
Second, this is an opportunity to look at what the Bible says about responding to our leaders and government and operating in society. The Bible deals with our real lives and speaks to the structures in our society. It addresses governments, leaders, authorities, legislation, and loyalties. The Bible teaches us that the leaders he allows to come to power may act righteously or may do evil (2 Kings 12 and 13). The Bible teaches us to be subject to the governing authorities that God has established (Romans 13:1) and at the same time, God gives us examples of men and women who honor God by disobeying ruling authorities when what is mandated violates God’s commands (Exodus 1). Through discipleship we can wrestle with these passages, and many more, and ask the hard questions about what these mean for our lives, our country, and our current realities. As we help others follow Jesus, we cannot settle for the rote Christian answers, but must dig in to the full counsel of the scripture and wrestle with God in the area of politics. (For more on this check out this post – Christianity & Politics Part 2)
Third, this election season gives us the opportunity to apply scripture in so many ways. We get to apply scripture to each political party and each candidate’s policies and statements. What does God say about Trump’s prejudice and demeaning comments towards women, ethnic minorities, Muslims, and others? What does God say about Hillary Clinton’s denial of rights to unborn children? How does the Bible speak to the blatantly hateful and racist things that have been done and said to people following the election by those who feel the freedom to do so because Trump was elected? What does the Bible and Jesus’ life inform the ways we look at education reform, medical care, foreign policy, and so much more? (Please know, I am not suggesting this can all happen in one conversation)
We also have the opportunity to apply God’s truth to how we interact with and care for others during this time. Whatever your political affiliation or whoever you voted for, the reality is that there are many people in the body of Christ who are mourning and grieving. As followers of Christ who are part of God’s family, we have forfeited the right to be unconcerned or to disregard the feelings of others; and that includes how people are experiencing this election. Whether or not one understands the response of fear or mourning, the call remains to be obedient to God’s command to mourn with those who mourn (Romans 12:15), to carry each other’s burdens (Galatians 6:2), and to pray for all the Lord’s people (Ephesians 6:18). How can we do these things if we don’t listen to learn why people are mourning, grieving, protesting and fearful? How will we know how to pray or encourage if we don’t know what weighs others down and keeps them awake at night? We need to recognize that our perspectives are influenced by so many things, including our ethnicity, culture, and experiences, and we need to value and learn from the perspectives of others made in God’s image. We can help those we invest in to see themselves as vitally connected to the beautifully diverse family of God [which moves us towards relationships, conversation, empathy, and oneness] instead of living and experiencing life individually.
This all may sound great, but it will not happen unless we initiate and talk about the election with those we disciple. You may be thinking I don’t feel equipped to do this! That’s ok. If you are seeking to invest your life in someone else and help them walk with Jesus this is probably not the first time you have felt this way and it won’t be the last! During my 15 years of investing in women, this feeling has become a norm in my life. Know that you do not have to be the only voice speaking into these matters, in fact, please don’t be. Reach out to those with more experience in this arena than you and ask someone to disciple YOU in this area.
If you are reading this and think, "This is too hard to navigate." I want to remind you that God doesn’t give us that option. We serve a Savior who cares about all the areas of our lives. Jesus came to be with us, to make himself subject to governing authorities, to live out justice, to care about people’s physical needs, to advocate for those who were marginalized, to advise people on how to navigate life in the empire they lived in, and to show what it looks like to honor God in all areas of life. The goal of discipleship is to help people follow this Jesus, and if they want to follow this Jesus, we need to be ready to help them engage in seasons like this and that starts with a conversation about politics.
Lynne Shenk is a dear friend and guest contributor for us . She is originally from Pennsylvania and has lived in Atlanta for the last 4 years. She loves spending time with people, working for justice, learning about and experiencing different cultures, exploring the outdoors, and fighting for oneness in the body of Christ. She has the privilege of serving the athletic department at Georgia State University with the ministry of Athletes in Action and is the program director for the Lenses Institutes (www.lensesinstitute.com).
Christianity & Politics Part 2
A week ago today, we woke to a new President elect and a lot of emotions soared on both sides. I grieved as I saw a great divide in our country, but more so amongst the Evangelical Christian Community. I’ve heard things i’ve never heard before (and I grew up in Mississippi). True colors and alliances were set and I was unsure I could look at certain people the same way anymore. So I waited. Before I could talk about the topic Melody, Kim and I discussed on my porch, I needed time to just process. It’s been a week, so at least for me, today is the day, the day when I feel its was time, time for this conversation . . .
What is our Christian worldview when it comes to government? How do we view their role and what are our expectations?
If you are familiar with old testament teachings you know that the Israelites (God’s chosen people) rejected the Lord and wanted a earthly King to rule over them like the other nations. God warned them about what this would bring - read 1Samuel 8. The chapter concludes by saying,
“8 And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.”
In Christianity & Politics written by my friend Melody Gardner, she goes on to explain that because we are Christians, the commands God gave Israel apply to us as Christians. The consequences of Israel’s sin affect us.
“Israel’s rebellious hearts caused their own scattering; and that scattering has caused all of God’s people to become subject to the rule of imperfect, worldly government wherever they live." - Christianity & Politics
That means us, even in democracy, even in America. We are trying to fight the affect of years of sin and consequences.
This does not mean that God does not care how we are governed - He does. That also does not mean we shouldn’t try to find a candidate that aligns with our values as Christians, by all means. But we just need to know that we will always, always come up short, lacking, disappointed with unmet expectations. This is also why it’s dangerous to try to claim a particular party as the “christian party”. God is not aligning himself with any of them. Maybe aspects of things they stand for align with God’s Word, but you can find that on both sides.
These, truths can bring a combination of fear and peace.
Fear because their is an unsettling in the reality that we are not going to be exempt from being ruled by ungodly, corrupt leaders here on earth (speaking in general here) - at best we settle for halfway decent.
The peace comes in knowing 2 things - 1. God’s word is true, His prophecies are come to life right before us. 2. He is our ultimate King, though we live through the affects of our forefathers in the faith rejecting him, there will be a day when we, His children, will be once again ruled by Him - our Perfect King - Jesus.
When we have an accurate view of secular government, we know it’s not worth the division in the Body. We understand where the line is drawn between church and state. We turn our fight away from defending a person or policy and and put it toward the fight for unity and love - that’s what we will be known by. We know where our loyalties lie. Do you think God is more honored by who you cast your vote for or how you treat your brothers and sisters in Christ?
“A man may have to die for his country, but no man must, in any exclusive sense, live for his country. He who surrenders himself without reservation to the temporal claims of a nation, or a party, or a class is rendering to Caesar that which, of all things, most emphatically belongs to God Himself”
- CS Lewis on “devotion to country” in Weight of Glory
He, God, is the only one who deserves our utmost allegiance.
Let’s get across the table with each other and talk. Let’s seek to understand each other, not to win a debate. Lets know our facts and our history. Let’s agree where we can and agree to disagree where we cannot, but we don’t let it divide. We pray, love, listen, repeat. People are watching - let’s show them Jesus, lets show each other Jesus.
To keep in line with our mission here at life across the table I just want to affirm why we are talking about this. We feel that current events happening in our world bring great opportunities for dialogue. These are opportunities to point people to God, for them to see and experience who He really is through His Word. Its also a time, as we disciple, to bring light and truth in midst of a high emotional time, like this election. Join us tomorrow as we discuss why we MUST have this conversation with the women we disciple.
Initiating A Discipleship Relationship: Take The First Step
I remember where I was when I got the phone call. I’m not sure why this memory is so vividly, but I can still feel the chill in the air from that brisk September night. I was a sophomore at a Bible college. I had just joined a new church that I was very excited about. I had grown up going to the same church my whole life so there was so much that I was eager to experience for the first time. The singing and preaching was incredible but it was really the people that drew me in the most.
One of those people that I connected to very quickly was a woman named Tia. She was a young wife and mother- actually around the life stage that I’m in right now. She was spunky and bubbly and her passion for Jesus was contagious. Growing up I learned the importance of older, wiser people being an important part of my walk with Jesus, and I was anxious to latch on to someone.
Back to that cool September night. The call I got was from Tia, and she called to tell me she was starting a discipleship group and wanted me to join. I remember being so excited, because I felt like I really connected with her.
I think I remember that phone call so clearly because it was the beginning of an very influential relationship in my life, especially during my college years. Eventually I moved in with Tia and her family while I finished school, and she walked with me while I dated and then married my husband.
Not every discipleship relationship turns into a deep, life long friendship, but they do usually start the same way. Someone has to take the first step.
I do remember meeting and going through a book with Tia but what I remember most is the conversations we had while I sat on her kitchen floor and she made dinner. I learned a lot by simply watching her as she tried to balance life as a young mom andchurch plant member.
I watched her navigate some of the most difficult marital challenges and life changes I could imagine. I learned from her when she stood firm and when she made mistakes. I learned a lot from her because she let me in. She was willing to be transparent and vulnerable. To let me see the good and the bad.
My pastor said recently that “the best teacher is someone else’s experience”. He was teaching on Ecclesiates and how Solomon “had seen everything that is done under sun” (Ecc. 1:14), and then tells the reader what he had gained and learned from those experiences. Discipling relationships are a lot like this. Yes, we should read the Bible and pray together, but part of what makes a discipleship relationship work is letting others watch you closely as you try to be faithful to Jesus. I’m sharing my story to encourage you to make that first step. I’m so grateful Tia chose to take that step with me and allowed me to learn from her.
Discipleship relationships can look a lot of different ways. Some will only last for a short season, some will be in groups, some may be really casual-but all of them are made possible by a persons willingness to be both bold and vulnerable. It does take courage, but you don’t have to be a scholar or really out going to impact someone else. You just have to let people in and then follow as hard as you can after Jesus.
We need each other to run this race, so I encourage you to follow the Lord’s leading, and bring someone with you on the way.
Across The Table W/Melody Gardner on Christianity and Politics Part 1
With the tension in the Christian community over the election, I wanted to hear from a dear friend of ours Melody Gardner,, who authored the book Christianity and Politics, on ways we can honor Christ and each other as we have political conversations.
This topic is important as we do life together with women in our community and encourage each other to vote or as conversations arise after we’ve voted. These dialogues are happening and can be good, so we want to encourage you to be prepared with a godly perspective. Each interaction we have with one another can point us closer to the true God or communicate a false God assumed by our own perceptions. Politics is one of the big areas in which this can tend to happen. Kim and I got to talk with Melody on my front porch and part of the conversation that night went something like this...
Me: It feels like so much division in the body of Christ right now, with people taking very firm stances on who we as believers should or should not align ourselves with. You wrote this book a few years ago but it could not be more relevant than it is today - What inspired you to write a book on politics?
Melody: It was sparked by a conversation with a friend years ago. During the conversation, she assumed that we shared the same views on politics because we are Christians, which led to a troublesome debate and one of many that I would have over the years with others. These conversations left me grieved and looking for answers from the Lord, which led me to doing an intensive Biblical study on the topic that eventually birthed the book.
Me: As we talk with with the women in our life, what should we be mindful of? What do you think the issue was within the conversation?Melody: The issue was in the way we treated each other as we talked. It dishonored the Lord, and we dishonored each other. In these conversations, we can place too much focus and value on our facts and how right we are and not on the other person who is our sister in Christ.
Me: Are there any other factors that you think affect our views?
Melody: Life experiences and social prejudices. These shaped our belief system. They shape us all. But in my case, we allowed these differences to keep us from genuinely caring for one another.
Me: Many of us have had these conversations that have not gone well. Have you had conversations about this election that went well? Melody: Yes, If a conversation went well, it was because we treated each other as sisters in Christ. And neither person treated who the other person voted for as a conviction-level issue worthy of breaking fellowship. Our ballot decision should not be more important than our relationship as sisters in Christ
Kim: There have been people that I’ve known who have ended friendships due to the other person not voting the ways she did. Her reasoning was, “We don’t share the same values, so I don’t see how we can be friends.”
Me: Wow, that’s drastic. When you discover that your views may be different, it may change the dynamic of your relationship but it shouldn’t end it.
Ya’ll, I wish you could have been a fly on the wall, because this post couldn’t capture all that was said. It is so tempting for us to avoid dialogue about this topic for fear of conflict, but honestly it can be healthy and helpful. Here are some of the main points of the first half of our conversation for you to remember as you engage in political dialogue so that it will be more helpful than harmful:
- Honor Christ above all.
- Know and share facts, but focus on loving your sister more than being right.
- Consider and ask about the person’s life experiences that have possibly shaped her views. (Be a good listener & ask good questions)
- Focus on what you can agree on.
- Be willing to end the conversation respectfully when you see it going down an ugly path.
- Be confident that a political party does not define your faith in Christ, the Cross does.
There was another part of our conversation that is so key, and it stemmed from a quote in her book:
“But perhaps the greatest reason we were not able to reconcile our differences that day was our individual views of God. After a lengthy two-hour discussion, it became apparent that our view of God was different. We valued and held in high esteem different virtues of God that shaped our Christian worldview and influenced significantly how we saw our vote politically.”
When Melody, Kim and I talked about our Christian worldview, it gave me great perspective that I can’t wait to share with you in Part 2. I felt it best to save this for Wednesday, after the election, so that we will look to Jesus regardless of who won. Until then, remember these perspectives as you talk with women in your life. And if you can't wait until Wednesday, click below to *purchase her book.
(*affiliate link)
This Is My Why
Matthew 28:18-20 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Thats where it began, this passage. My Christ fulfilled His redemption plan for me - He came dressed in humanity, lived it perfectly, died grusimly then rose victoriously! #shout
And as He was about to go back to send us the Helper and sit at the right hand of The Father to intercede for me. He left us a commission. To teach, to pass on to others who He is, wherever we go, whatever we’re doing, pointing people to Him, helping those who meet him grow to maturity, those who are mature encouraging them to stand firm and keep the fire lit. All for His Glory, for the purpose of making disciples - followers of Christ!
Discipleship is an offering of Love to my God who gave it all to redeem me. Yes I don’t get it right all the time, I drop the ball, I don’t follow up, I sometimes give not so good counsel and I at times try to make it more about me than Him. I embrace these faults in repentance. This warring reminds me that I need Jesus, so it also keeps me reminding those I disciple that they need Him - it keeps me pointing them to Him and not myself. Because I am not Him, but He is with me, He is in Me!
And in my obedience He uses these precious relationships to grow and sharpen me - to hold me accountable to areas of growth and change in my own life. #ThisIsMyWhy
Share your why in the comments below or on our Instagram and Facebook pages!
Disciple? Discipler?
In this Christian context a Disciple is a follower of Christ and a Discipler is one who makes disciples (followers of Christ) and helps them to grow to maturity.
We as Christians are both.
So what is hindering you from accepting or seeking out discipleship?
Maybe you didn’t know that you needed to. Maybe you have before and your expectations were not met. Maybe you feel like you don’t need it, you’re mature enough. Maybe you feel every woman around you is inadequate for that role.
What is hindering you from living out your role as a Discipler?
Maybe its because you feel as though you are not the type of disciple that you should be, so who are you to help someone else. Maybe its because you just don’t know how. Maybe you have in the past but it was too hard to deal with people’s issues or they ended up walking away from the faith anyway. Maybe you just don’t have the time.
The list of maybes for both of these questions could go on and on. We all live full lives, are in different seasons with unique circumstances and experiences.
So what do we do?
We dig deep. We go to God’s Word. We pray. We look beyond the surface of those reasonings to the heart of the matter. We find the inspiration, encouragement, and equipping we need.
Life Across The Table wants to be a part of your journey, to walk along side you for those reasons - to inspire, encourage and equip you, praying with you as you dig deep and walk out part of your identity as a Disciple and Discipler.
Life Across The Table
This is where organic and intentional discipleship meet. Everyday lives intentionally lived for the Glory of God. Making the most of every encounter we have with each other, whether its a casual invitation to hangout with a family for game night, roommates setting a side time each month to connect and pray, or a planned weekly time to read through a book of the Bible. God uses them all, both the casual and the structured, to teach us about who He is, help care for our souls, and grow us up into spiritual maturity.
So, whether you are leading a small group around your living room coffee table, reading through a book of the bible with a friend at a table of your local coffee shop, hosting a monthly supper with your neighbors around your dining room table, or none of the above YET, we here at Life Across The Table, want to Inspire you to invest in the lives of others and to be invested in. Encourage you as a disciple and a discipler, to persist faithfully in the strength and joy of our Lord. And provide you with resources to help equip you for a life of discipleship.
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