You may or may not have heard the name Brené Brown, and if you have not, I strongly suggest  you look up her TED Talk on YouTube! You’ve definitely been impacted by her work, in one way or another. Brené is a speaker, story-teller, and shame-researcher. As you likely know, the area of shame is a hot topic in our world today, and what I think Brené uniquely seeks to do is very gospel-driven. Her desire is to understand things like shame, empathy, vulnerability, and connection - and it has impacted much of my thinking when it comes to how I show up in my life. In fact, in 2018, my cousin and I read Brené’s book, Rising Strong, and together we discovered how hard it is to be vulnerable, but in the same sense, how worth it vulnerability is!

Brené’s key piece of work, Daring Greatly (and the theme of her new Netflix special, “The Call to Courage”),* centers around this shortened quote by President Theodore Roosevelt:

“It is not the critic who counts…[no, instead] the credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly...and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly...”

This figurative man showed up to the fight, even if he knew he’d fail. He showed up with his whole heart, even when it hurt, and dared greatly to love in the face of previous hurt, to start the business in the face of risk, to go for the promotion that felt like a longshot, to evangelize to the person in his family who hates God, to pray for the miracle healing even though it may not happen. The truth is, he, and we too, can dare greatly, even when it’s risky!

....Sounds inspiring, right? Well, it is, but it’s also messy!

You see, this idea of daring greatly has been one I’ve wrestled with a lot the last few years. How do I both dare greatly AND fail well? What does it even mean to fail well? How do I obey God and risk big with wisdom? And how do I fail gracefully, while also still glorifying God? Below are just a few things I’ve learned in thinking, praying, and talking through these issues:

1) Failing well doesn’t mean you don’t risk. If you never risk, you never fail, which means you never succeed.
2) When you fail (and you will) learn from it and keep going! Persevere. 
3) Jesus will break your fall, every time. And He can handle your failure.
4) If you risk for Him, it will be worth it - He’s a Master Weaver!

These four truths have kept me going like a buoy in rocky waves throughout the last year. You see, whether others knew it or not, I’ve felt like I failed a lot in the last year. And it’s been vulnerable and crushing at times. I failed in big and small ways in career, friendships, love, housing, finances, business, etc. - and it’s been hard. I’m sure in many ways this will continue to be true. But the central thing I’ve learned throughout all this failure is there will ALWAYS be storms, but there will also, ALWAYS be Jesus.

I was recently the maid of honor in my best friend’s wedding, and one of the gifts she gave all her bridesmaids was a simple metal ring with a wave in the design. This small gift has been an anchoring point for me - it helps me to remember that Jesus is my Strong Tower in the storms of my life. That, like Peter, I can choose to trust Him. And trust, I have.

He will catch you. He is faithful, even when you fail. Because here’s the thing y’all: Failure is part of life in a Fallen world.

I know for a fact  it is He who has sustained me. It is He who has spoken life and truth to my weary soul  through music, through His Word, through the balm of a friend’s words. It is He who has restored what the locusts have eaten. It is He who has grown me up, pruned me, and dressed me as the vine I am in His hands. I can honestly say if it were not for this last year full of failure, I would not know Him the way I do now, and for that I am truly grateful. 

One Biblical story that has been a surprising comfort to me in this season has been the story of the unnamed woman who touched the hem of Jesus’ garment in a crowd. This saint with an “issue of blood” had been to many medical doctors and experienced much failure. She had tried it her way, the world’s way, and any other way she could get her hands on! She was worn out. She was tired. She was desperate. This medical failure drove her to Jesus. It drove her to dare greatly - right into the arms of the Healer! She didn’t just quit, even after much failure. She didn’t lay down and choose apathy or bitterness. No, instead, she showed up for her life and trusted God one more time.

I think that’s the main thing I want to remind you all today: Yes, dare greatly! But more importantly, dare greatly with Christ at the hem. He will catch you. He is faithful, even when you fail. Because here’s the thing y’all: Failure is part of life in a Fallen world.

It just is, we can’t avoid it, but so, too, is risk. So, I say, risk boldly and dare greatly - knowing that Jesus has your back. Or, as Paul put it in Phil. 1:21, remind yourself that “To live is Christ, and to die is gain!”

So….

Love again.

Witness to the broken.

Go bold in your career.

Show up for your life!

No fear - go all in for Jesus. Dare Greatly - with Christ at the hem.

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​Bekah Brewer wants to live in a world where discipleship is the thriving heartbeat of the whole Church. When she’s not practicing the art of digital marketing for Media Tractor or editing for her side business (Words Redeemed), you can find her playing soccer, pouring into friends & family, or planning out more times of fun, rest, and growth. Her favorite verse is Philippians 1:27a: "Just one thing: Live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” (HCSB)

Hey, friends! This year Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of the Lenten season, falls on March 6th, 2019. We know not everyone observes this season, but some do, and we wanted to provide some resources for those of you that do. As mentioned on the Advent resources posts, this is not intended as a to-do list, but is a list of all sorts of suggestions that you can easily access! Perhaps, you can find a resource or two you would like to use while you celebrate this season in a way that rings true to your heart. 

Also, one thing we wanted to mention before you look through the list below is that some of the resources (especially the family ones) are not 40 days long or they are for use closer to Holy Week/Easter time. We know this isn’t an exhaustive list, so we would love for you to comment and share the resources you like to use or what you enjoy doing during the Lent/Easter season!

Devotional Plans

• She Reads Truth 2019 Easter Collection & She Reads Truth 2018 Lent Collection (includes devotionals for women and men, as well as story-cards for kids)

• Holey Wholly Holy: A Lenten Journey of Refinement by Kris Camealy

• A Way Other Than Our Own: Devotions for Lent by Walter Brueggemann

• Ascending Calvary Devotional & Breathe Study by Well-Watered Women

• He Is Alive & The Final Days Lent Studies from Sacred Holidays (join a lent study group and access study walkthrough videos via their Lent page)

• From the Grave: A 40-Day Lent Devotional by A. W. Tozer

• Trinity Grace Church Lent Devotional (2017) (free)

• “Lenten Lights” article by DesiringGod

• Lent Devotional Guide by The Village Church (free)

• The Glory of the Cross by Tim Chester

• Lent to Repent by Ann Voskamp (with devotional ornaments)

Books

• Whiter Than Snow: Meditations on Sin and Mercy by Paul David Tripp

• Bread and Wine: Readings for Lent and Easter by various authors

• Journey to the Cross by Will Walker and Kendal Haug

• Lent and Easter Wisdom from Henri J. M. Nouwen

• Preparing for Easter: Fifty Devotional Readings from C.S. Lewis

• 40 Days of Decrease: A Different Kind of Hunger. A Different Kind of Fast by Alicia Britt Chole

• Wondrous Encounters: Scripture for Lent by Richard Rohr O.F.M.

• Eastertide: Prayers for Lent Through Easter from the Divine Hours by Phyllis Tickle

Family Resources and Activities

• Rich + Rooted Passover by Jennifer Naraki

• An Illustrated Lent for Families (2017) by Illustrated Children’s Ministry

• Jesus Storybook Bible Reading Plan (2017) by Sally Lloyd Jones

• Mission Accomplished by Scott James (14 day devotional starting at Palm Sunday)

• Jesus Tree from The Art of Being Mama (free)

• Cradle to Cross Wreath

• Lenten Calendar Templates (2017) from Sybil Macbeth

• Ash Wednesday Bonfire at Home from buildfaith.org

• Family Lent series from Jerusalem Greer

• Making Pretzels from buildfaith.org

• Crossing Kids: Lent Devotional

• Making Easter Personal for Preschoolers by God Centered Mom

• The Joy Journey by Happy Home Fairy

• A Sense of the Resurrection by Oh Amanda

• Resurrection Eggs

• Empty Tomb Garden

Children’s Books and Music

• The Garden, the Curtain and the Cross by Carl Laferton

• The Light of the World: The Life of Jesus for Children by Katherine Paterson

• The Donkey Who Carried a King by R.C. Sproul

• The Biggest Story: How the Snake Crusher Brings Us Back to the Garden by Kevin DeYoung and The Biggest Story ABC for little ones

• Miracle Man: The Story of Jesus by John Hendrix

• The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name by Sally Lloyd-Jones

• I AM:40 Reasons to Trust God by Diane Stortz

• Benjamin’s Box by Melody Carlson

• Seeds of Easter by Seeds Family Worship

Music

• The Blood + the Breath: Songs That Tell the Story of Redemption by Caroline Cobb

• Lent to Maundy Thursday by Page CXVI

• Good Friday to Easter by Page CXVI

• Jesus Paid It All by Kristian Stanfill

• How Deep the Father’s Love for Us

• O Love That Will Not Let Me Go by Indelible Grace Music

• Hosanna by Hillsong

• Lead Me to the Cross by Hillsong

• Let Your Blood Plead For Me by Sojourn

• Mercy Tree by Anthony Evans

Videos

• “What is Lent?” by Redeemed Online

• “What is Lent?” by Concordia Publishing House

• “LENT: A season of renewal” by Hyper Pixel Media

• “What is the meaning of Lent?” by Got Questions Ministries

• What is Easter? By Phil Vischer (kids)

Before we were even dating, my husband bought a fixer upper. And let me tell you, not even Chip and Joanna Gaines would’ve wanted to tackle this place. The house had gone vacant for sometime, inviting lots of little (and not so little) critters to make themselves at home. The walls were crumbling. The floors were black and peeling. The living room ceiling didn’t exist. And I won’t even mention the smell. Why did my husband go forward with purchasing this place? He was assured it had a firm foundation.

I don’t know much about buying or fixing homes. But I have learned from binge-watching Fixer Upper that a solid foundation matters. If that’s given way, you want to stay away—no matter how low the cost. Keep searching until you find a home with a firm foundation.

In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus’ final parable explores the value of a house built on the rock. In Matthew 7:24, Jesus instructs, “Everyone who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” Jesus makes it clear that a follower of Christ must go beyond listening to His Words. We must take care to put what we’ve discovered in His word into action. “Everyone who hears these words...and does them.” Does: A simple verb meaning to perform an action; work on; or make progress. Notice, Jesus isn’t saying read my Word and obey it perfectly. He is saying listen and work toward following it. The one who does this is wise. True wisdom is the practice of discovering and applying our knowledge of God and His Word.

Proverbs 1:7 states, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge...” Paul also stresses the value of wisdom founded in Christ to the Colossians in verses 2:2-3 “...that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

Wisdom—the act of knowing God’s word and acting on it—is one mark of a Christian. Maybe you’re like me, and when you think of a wise man, you think of a little figure dressed in royal robes featured in your mother’s nativity set. Like me, you might be thinking I don’t feel wise. Initially, pursuing wisdom seems counter to an everyday, normal life. But Jesus was speaking to the everyday person in His sermon. The everyday person, me and you included, is instructed to pursue wisdom. Wisdom is not reserved for the elite or extra intelligent. Wisdom, according to Jesus, is accessible to the everyday person.

We will stand in those storms, not in our own strength, but in the Lord’s so that others might see the love and power of God even amidst trials.

This was astonishing to the original audience as perhaps it is just as astonishing to you and me. Anyone has the power to be wise. They must only listen to God’s Word and strive, in God’s strength and grace, to follow it. Jesus uses the metaphor of building a house on the rock. The rock is a steady source of strength. It is the foundation. It is the Word of God. Those who listen and apply God’s Word are like wise men who build their homes on a firm foundation.

It’s been seven years, and our fixer upper is now our home. We’ve made great progress, but like any fixer upper—there’s always more to be done. Likewise, our journey of studying and doing God’s Word should not be accomplished overnight. In fact, it will take our whole lives to discover who Jesus is and what it looks like to follow Him full-heartedly day to day. Our pursuit of wisdom is not a pursuit of perfection. Rather, we pursue wisdom so that we can withstand the storms of suffering that will indeed come. We will stand in those storms, not in our own strength, but in the Lord’s so that others might see the love and power of God even amidst trials.

Jesus continues his parable, “And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.”

But it did not fall. What a beautiful promise from our Lord. Floods will come, winds will blow and beat, but a life built on Jesus will stand. We are not protected from the consequences of sin in our fallen world. But true faith in the unfailing Rock equips us to endure those trials. I think of Paul who endured so much persecution in his journey to share the Good News to the lost. He knew he could withstand anything, if it meant others would see the life-giving power of Christ. In 2 Corinthians 4:7-9, Paul exclaims, “we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God, not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despise; persecuted, but not forsaken...”

Paul is a great example of a wise man who built his house on the Rock. He was beat in every way, but his spirit remained uncrushed. He continued to treasure God’s Word and let the power the Gospel be known, even amidst suffering.

My dear sisters in Christ, let’s pursue wisdom. Let’s build our house on the unfailing Rock. Psalm 46:1 encourages us that “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” The Lord’s promises were true then just as they are now. Together, let’s pursue time in prayer as we read our Bibles. Together, let’s work toward building a house that cannot be shaken when the storms crash against us. Let’s commit to encouraging one another as we dig into the word and make progress in acting it out in our everyday life. 

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Rachel Rowe is a wife to Caleb and mama to Adalyn, Oliver, and baby #3 coming in June! She’s learning to let the Word of Christ dwell in her heart. And finding out what that looks like in the everyday moments.​

I’ve always been a worker-bee. Well, perhaps not as a child. As an adult, though, and especially as a Christian, I’ve been a worker-bee. I found great pleasure in life by accomplishing a goal, but there was a driven-ness in this way of living. I’ve discovered that being a worker-bee is especially dangerous, spiritually. I’ve lived for a long time under the yoke of what I call "to-do list" Christianity. What a bondage. Self-effort doesn't work when it comes to doing what only God can do,which is anything of any spiritual value. That's why I love the Lord's invitation to the weary, burdened folk who followed Him:

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30 ESV

As we have seen in the previous blog post, Christ’s invitation in verse 28 is a call to find true rest in Him alone. And this rest is a gift (literally, “I will rest you.”) It’s the rest of spirit that is fixed and permanent, resulting from all that the Person and Work of Christ accomplished for us – total forgiveness, birth into the family of God, union with Christ, and much more. And this rest of spirit is mine when I respond to Jesus' gracious words, “Here to Me” (verse 28.)

But now the question is, how do I experience this rest in my soul every day of my life on this earth? How can rest be mine even in the midst of all the “doing what needs to be done?” How can anapausis, “the inner tranquility of soul while engaged in our necessary labors,” be mine right here, right now? I believe it’s all wrapped up in the image of the yoke.

But now the question is, how do I experience this rest in my soul every day of my life on this earth?

What is a yoke? A yoke is a bar or frame of wood that connects two animals together for a purpose or work of some kind. This was, and is, a common sight in the Middle East. Typically, a stronger animal is yoked to a weaker or more inexperienced one and so takes the lead. The two animals then work together to complete the same job. In addition to this use with animals, a master sometimes used a yoke to bind and control his slaves. Symbolically then, the yoke is a picture of yielding control to a master who is greater in power and authority, as well as being attached to one who is stronger and more skilled to accomplish a purpose together.

Jesus says I am to take on His yoke in order to find rest for my soul. My soul is my inner person – my mind, my emotions, and my will. This is where I often struggle and experience lack of peace and rest, but as I chose living from union with HIM above all other competing attachments, I experience the peace and rest of a loving Lord who lives through me in every situation I face.

However, the fact is there are other yokes pulling at me. These other attachments are often good things that end up becoming addictions, obsessions, dependencies, mini-gods exerting control over my life. Christine Wyrtzen, in her lovely website Daughters of Promise, names a few that women can become attached to, if we are not living by our indwelling Christ, yoked to Him above all else:

• the yoke of religion and living by “others’ measuring stick” (like the Pharisees of Jesus’ day)

• the yoke of slavery and living by “the demands of controllers”

• the yoke of shame and living by “the opinions of flawed people”

• the yoke of the flesh and living “like I did before I believed”

• the yoke of deception and living by “lies conceived at the gates of darkness.”

One I might add would be the yoke of self-effort and living by my own ingenuity and type-A personality. As I take HIS yoke upon me, though, and as I yield to the loving Lord who lives within me, I experience what Major Ian Thomas calls the faith-rest life: “Christ is in action, and you in your humanity are simply the clothes of His divine activity. This is the rest of faith. It is your hands with which He is at work, your lips with which He is speaking, your eyes with which He sees the need, your ears with which He hears the cry, and your heart with which He loves the lost. (The Indwelling Life of Christ, p 99)

So dear sisters, “take His yoke upon you” today and live from His indwelling life, while you are preparing the next meal, running to that necessary appointment, reading the Scriptures, loving your husband, changing another diaper … You may find that, in whatever unfolds before you each day, you will experience Love beyond your love, Forgiveness beyond your forgiveness, Patience beyond your patience, Skill beyond your skill, Fullness beyond your fullness, Peace beyond your peace, and Rest beyond your rest. 

You may also discover that His yoke is easy, His burden is light, because you are united to Him and His yoke fits you perfectly.

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Matthew 11:28-30 MSG

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Jan Loyd is a child of God, a disciple of Christ, a Jersey girl, a former nun, a teacher, and now a wife of 47 years, mother of two, grandmother of 5 boys and finally a baby girl...these are just some of the hats she wears or has worn. Her hat as teacher has seemed to be one she’s worn her entire adult life, ranging from elementary school, homeschool, adult ESOL and GED language and writing. But along with all of these opportunities has been her favorite above all the rest: teaching women the Word of God in various ways, Precept Upon Precept and Bible Studies she’s developed by the grace and tutelage of God along the way. Currently you may find her on her devotional blog “A Branch in the Vine” where she share several times a week and in her Bible Study/ devotional book The With-ness of our God: Relationship in Every Dimension.​

​Ah! REST...what a glorious word! I inhale and exhale deeply at just the sound of it. And oh, how we humans need deep, glorious rest... Moms especially need it...as do dads. Single folks need it; workers need it; retirees do, too. Even kids need it (although they would protest most loudly...especially in the midst of the frenetic-ness of no-sleep sleepovers!)

I remember as a mom of an infant how I longed for rest, praying my crying-in-the-middle-of-the-night baby would just fall quietly back to dreamland. Or my napping toddler would stay napping so I could lie prostrate for just a few more moments (Please, God!) And now, even as a senior retired adult, that beautiful rest calls my name more often than not in the midst of my afternoons. So I often take to my overstuffed couch and doze as I watch the old westerns from my childhood.

I can’t help but think our craving for physical rest is really just a picture of the rest we need even more so for our souls and spirits. That’s why Christ’s invitation is so attractive. We see it here:

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30 ESV

Here in the gospel of Matthew, Jesus promises rest as a gift. This is not just the "take a nap" kind of rest, it goes much deeper. It’s anapausis (“rest” in Greek.) It’s “inner tranquility” even while “engaged in necessary labor.”

In our passage, we see Jesus teaching and preaching to a crowd of people in Galilee. Who were these people? Of course, the crowd would include His disciples, who were His learners. The religious leaders dogged His every step, so of course, they surely were part of this crowd. But in the previous verses, there is a hint at who Jesus’ real audience is. Listen to how He prayed just before His invitation:

At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest… Matthew 11:25-28 ESV

Jesus’ primary offer was to the common folk, like you and me - “ragamuffins,” as one author calls us. Not the “perfect people” who have it all together. No, it’s for those of us who know we don’t have it together. Maybe we keep on trying, we “weary ones” who work our religious “to do list” to exhaustion or the “heavy laden,” burdened by the failure of falling back into habits of sinful shame. The invitation is for all of us who know we need something we cannot produce. So we see and hear Jesus, with His beautiful “yes face,” call to us:

Come to Me, all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest …

Literally, it reads, “Here to Me, and I will rest you.”

Our Lord is pointing, as it were, to Himself as the Person who is the place of rest, in contrast to the Pharisees who were following Him and harassing the people with their “religious mega-list.”

we see and hear Jesus, with His beautiful “yes face,” call to us: Come to Me, all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest …

That little Greek word translated “to/toward” in this verse is like an arrow aimed in a certain direction. So here we have Jesus saying “I am your focus, not those Pharisees over there and their ‘religious to do list;’ not your own self-effort to be righteous and good, but ME! I am your Rest.” And this is the inner rest of spirit that Jesus gives as a totally free gift when we come to Him. “I will rest you!”

What is this rest of spirit Jesus gives as a gift? It’s the rest of union with Him (Colossians 3:3.) This is rest indeed! And it is fixed, permanent, unchanging. It includes total forgiveness of all our sins, past, present, and future (Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 10:17; 2 Corinthians 5:17;) birth into God’s family as a beloved child of God (John 1:12; 1 John 3:1-2;) identification with Christ in death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:4-14; Galatians 2:20.) It means Christ is living in me by His Holy Spirit (Colossians 1:27; 1 Corinthians 6:17,19.) I have all of Him in all of me (Colossians 2:9-10.) And this is true the moment I respond to Christ’s invitation: “Here, to ME!” He rests me.

So there is no more working, no earning, no trying to be right in God’s eyes; no grasping for His love, no agonizing over getting more of Him and His Spirit. I have it all because I have HIM. It’s all about receiving HIM who is my promised Sabbath Rest.

So may I ask you, dear sister in Christ, are you resting in Him who is your Rest? Or are you still working, trying to achieve what you already have and who you already are in Him? If so, search out some of the Scriptures above and rest in Him who rests in you.

Next time we will explore the crucial question: How can I experience this rest relationship with Christ in my real daily life? How can I live from these truths?

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 Jan Loyd is a child of God, a disciple of Christ, a Jersey girl, a former nun, a teacher, and now a wife of 47 years, mother of two, grandmother of 5 boys and finally a baby girl...these are just some of the hats she wears or has worn. Her hat as teacher has seemed to be one she’s worn her entire adult life, ranging from elementary school, homeschool, adult ESOL and GED language and writing. But along with all of these opportunities has been her favorite above all the rest: teaching women the Word of God in various ways, Precept Upon Precept and Bible Studies she’s developed by the grace and tutelage of God along the way. Currently you may find her on her devotional blog “A Branch in the Vine” where she share several times a week and in her Bible Study/ devotional book The With-ness of our God: Relationship in Every Dimension.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the concept of “going and telling” in the last few months. This, I must admit, is heavily influenced by our sister in Christ, Jess Connolly and her Go + Tell Gals ministry. As I’ve thought about what going and telling looks like in my own life, I’ve gone back a few times to study what it looked like in Matthew 28 for Mary and Mary. Where were they supposed to go? Who or what were they supposed to tell? I’ll recap the story for you here in my own words:

Mary and Mary are at the tomb of Jesus, post-Sabbath. They’re in mourning. Just two days before, they had watched Jesus die. They had seen Joseph of Arimathea prepare His body and bury Him. They watched Joseph roll a giant stone in front of the tomb and took what they thought was their last glimpse at their Lord. Now they’re back at the tomb, with the painful addition of a few Roman guards. The mood is somber, to be sure.

All of a sudden, there was a crazy earthquake! An angel of the Lord had come down out of heaven, rolled back the stone of Jesus’ tomb and was sitting on it. The guards were scared to death, almost literally. But our gals, Mary and Mary, are alert and addressed by the angel. He tells them, “Don’t be afraid, I know you’re looking for Jesus. But guess what, sisters? You won’t find Him here! He’s risen! He’s alive- just like He said He would be. Come, check it out and then go, quick- tell the others!! Jesus is back and you’ll all see Him soon!”

So the Marys do just that. They RUN. They’re a little afraid, but also full of joy. Can you imagine them, out of breath, ready to burst into a room full of disciples and share the news? But before they even get there, the words of the angel come true- they meet Jesus. He greets them and they fall to His feet in worship. They’re met by their Lord in the middle of their mission. And what does He do? He repeats the mission again. “Don’t be scared, girls. Go and tell the brothers to meet me in Galilee.” Jesus trusted these women with His message. He believed in their ability to proclaim the truth!

The gospel of Matthew closes shortly after this story with the eleven disciples on a mountain in Galilee. The Marys are no longer mentioned, but we know from Mark 16 and Luke 24 that Mary and the gals told the disciples Jesus was back and they didn’t believe it. It took Peter running to the tomb himself to see and believe.

On the mountain, Jesus gave the disciples the very same mission as the ladies: go and tell.

Go, make disciples all over God’s world! Baptize them in the name of the triune God and teach them how to keep Jesus’ commandments. And remember- He is always with you, until the end. (my paraphrase)

The women were called to go somewhere specific: back home, back to their fellow believers in the family of God. They were called to tell something specific: Jesus is alive! The disciples were given a more general call to the nations (which we share,) but the message was the same - Jesus is alive. He meant what He said. Everything He promised has come true!

Sisters, we may not get directions as specific as Mary and Mary, but we can know with confidence that we are called to go and tell others the good news. And this good news is so worth telling, isn’t it?

If we don’t think of sharing the gospel with the same fervor, perhaps we need to revisit why the good news is so good.

We don’t need the approval or commissioning of others to start telling people about Jesus. We don’t need the perfect words. Think again of Mary, out of breath, bursting into the disciples’ room. We don’t know for sure, but maybe the only words she could get out were, “He’s here.” or “Jesus is alive.” She ran and she told others because the news was so good! Her beloved Lord was back! If we don’t think of sharing the gospel with the same fervor, perhaps we need to revisit why the good news is so good.

I want to be a woman who agrees with what Matthew 28 tells us: Jesus trusts women with His message. Jesus sends out women to be proclaimers of His good news. In my life, that looks like sharing what Jesus is teaching me with everyone in my influence: my husband and kids, my house church, the DWITW network, and my friends on social media. It could be as simple as texting a quick encouragement or squeezing a friend’s hand and saying, “He is here.” It could be more involved, like writing a blog post, or leading a Bible study, or sharing the gospel with someone for the first time. Whatever it looks like, the story of Matthew 28 reminds us Jesus has commissioned us, and opportunities to tell others about Him are all around us. Let’s ask for eyes to see those opportunities and the courage to get up, go, and tell whenever he asks.

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​Natalie Herr wants to live in a world where all people experience the freedom and joy of the gospel, and where we all just get to sit at the feet of Jesus. When she's not caring for her husband and four kids, you can find her leading the DWITW team, co-shepherding a house church, dreaming up adventures, and reading as often as possible.

Her favorite Scripture at the moment is Psalm 52:8-9, ESV.

I've often heard talk of the “Resurrection power” we have as people who have received the Holy Spirit. I have been in awe of the Holy Spirit's works at Pentecost and throughout the book of the Acts of the Apostles. What amazing power! The sick are healed, Jesus' followers speak in tongues, the gospel is preached, and the Church grows in number, despite persecution. I've always looked for the Holy Spirit's work after the Resurrection because, before His death, Jesus promises the Spirit after He goes away. He tells His disciples it is actually better for them that He go away so the Advocate would come to them (John 16:7.) What?! There is something better than living face-to-face every day with Jesus?!

Jesus tells them the many things the Advocate, the Spirit, would do: “He will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment” (Jn 16:8,) and “He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring Me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me” (Jn 16:13-14.) Until the time of the Pentecost, Jesus' disciples had not yet experienced God in these unique ways. Therefore, we know there is actually something better for us than Jesus walking next to us on earth: being filled with the Holy Spirit.

When I think of learning about the Spirit, I usually focus my study on the books of the Bible that document the time after Jesus’ promise to the disciples in John 16 is fulfilled-- once the disciples have received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. This might seem logical at first. However, just like Jesus, the Holy Spirit has always existed, since before there was time (Genesis 1:1.) We could say: “In the beginning the Spirit already existed. The Spirit was with God, and the Spirit was God. The Spirit existed in the beginning with God” (John 1:1-3, emphasis mine.) Just like Jesus, the entire Bible is the story of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit works in different roles than the Father and the Son, but has always been one with them.

And so today, I find the Holy Spirit quietly waiting to teach me in the first chapter of Matthew. I wasn’t looking for the Spirit here; God surprised me. I opened my Bible to the book of Matthew to meditate on Jesus' coming for the time of Advent. And there was the Holy Spirit, doing a work no human mind has ever fully understood:

“This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:18.)

The Holy Spirit, who possesses the power to raise Jesus up from the dead, also holds the capability to bring Jesus down from Heaven to earth. To bring Jesus from the spiritual realm into our physical, earthly realm. To bring the uncreated into the created, and somehow fuse the two together in some unfathomable mystery. To bring the holy, perfect God into our sinful, broken world. To bring God Himself to live with the people He made in His image-- as Isaiah foretold, “Immanuel, God with us” (Matthew 1:23, Isaiah 7:14.) There is so much power in the Incarnation that I have never had eyes to see before today.

When we walk into the workplace, we bring the true Light; when we enter into a disagreement between our children, we bring the Peacemaker…

What does this mean for us? This means, if we have believed on Jesus in faith and received the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14,) then we have Incarnation power living inside of us. It means we are able to bring God into any situation or place we go. We bring Jesus from our own homes out into this broken world. When we walk into the workplace, we bring the true Light; when we enter into a disagreement between our children, we bring the Peacemaker; when we walk into a sick friend's home, we bring the Healer; to the hopeless, we bring true Hope; to the overwhelmed, we bring the Prince of Peace. Even into the lies we believe in our own hearts, we have the ability to bring the true Teacher. Wherever we go, we have the power of God living in us, carrying Christ with us into any and every broken place.

Have you considered the great power of the Holy Spirit who lives inside of you? Have you experienced bringing Jesus into an empty or broken situation? If you could bring Jesus into any sphere of your life, where would it be? Know that you have the power to call Him into that place. If the Spirit was able to bring Jesus, the God of all creation (Colossians 1:15-17,) into the womb of a woman as a human baby, surely you can bring Immanuel with you everywhere you go. Praise God for our Holy Spirit!

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 Teresa Beach, born and raised in Dayton, is a Christ follower who has experienced much physical pain and medical difficulty in her life, yet has seen the beauty of God's Spirit and His Church in the midst of suffering. After many years of darkness, God has drawn her to Himself again, and she is excited to share what He speaks to her through His Word with other women. She loves living life with her Apex house church family in West Dayton, and desires to equip the Church to better serve and reach chronically suffering people.

As an editor, one of my favorite verses has always been Hebrews 12:1-2. A section of it reads:

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses...let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross…”

You would think it would be the word “Author” that catches my eye, and while it does resonate with my editor-heart, the more striking word to me in these verses has always been the word “eyes.”

Eyes are a fascinating thing. You see, many days what my eyes are focused on is where my heart is focused. My bet is, you are similar. When you see a good sale, do you pine longingly for that treasured item? Or, like me, when you see fresh chocolate chip cookies or a mouth-watering steak, is that all your heart (or maybe your stomach) wants? Or, on a more serious note, when you stare deeply into the eyes of a loved one, does your heart soar with gratefulness?

This year, I’ve seen the truth of the saying ‘the eyes are a window into the soul.’ They show us where our focus is. To summarize Jesus’ words in Matt. 6:19-23, for where your eyes are fixed, there also will be your heart. But, the question I keep coming back to in pondering this word, eyes, is this: What are my eyes fixed on? Jesus, or other things?

the question I keep coming back to in pondering this word, eyes, is this: What are my eyes fixed on? Jesus, or other things?

I can honestly say it’s been a mixed year. There’s been a lot of change, transition, and questions this year - and my eyes have gotten diverted from Jesus more than a few times. It’s been a daily journey to keep turning away from other things and back to my King. But I praise God for His relentless pursuit and ever-beckoning call in my life. He continues to place measures of grace that enable me to keep fixing my eyes on Him.

One of the measures of grace He has used this past year was that of my volunteer role with the Dayton Women in the Word team. Serving as the Content Editor, I had the great privilege to help steward over many words this year. Words that informed, words that told stories, words that spoke life - words, ultimately, that we hope and pray gave God back some of the glory He is due.

I saw this role as an active practice of stewardship. A stewardship of truth. And through this role, I saw that God is the Steward over my life. I won’t lie to you, 2018 has been a hard, confusing year in many ways, but one thing I have definitely had is ample opportunity to choose to trust Him. Trust Him, even when I cannot see. Trust Him, even when I don’t have answers or specific direction. I’m learning, albeit slowly,  that this is what faith is, choosing to trust - not because you “get it all,” but because God is sovereign, good, and wise.

As a sermon I listened to recently reminded me, I’ve seen God say to me over and over again: “I didn’t ask you to have all the solutions, I asked you to have faith.” That is what this role has taught me - to have more faith. Faith that God can do abundantly more than I can ask or imagine. Faith that He uses broken people and situations for His glory. Faith that He can be trusted. Faith that He will do what He says He will do. Faith that He is faith-FULL, even when I fail in faith.

So, now as I close this chapter and move on to work on some other things the Lord is calling me to, I think about all that God has done in the past year through DWITW, and I am humbled. I’m humbled to have been to have taken part in this weighty work of stewarding truth - it has taught me once again to fix my eyes back on Jesus and choose to trust Him. This has been a true and pure gift.

My goal was always to lift high the name of Christ and to encourage other women to do the same. And I know  this is the goal of our new Content Editor, Stephani Duff. So, as I close this chapter, that is my encouragement to her and to you dear readers of the DWITW blog community: Fix Your Eyes on Jesus. He will never fade. He can be trusted with your yesterdays, todays, and tomorrows. He is a good Steward. He is a good Author and will continue perfecting you, growing you up into His likeness, for the sake of the gospel!

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Bekah Brewer wants to live in a world where travel is quicker & cheaper, people are wisely vulnerable, and where discipleship is not just a concept but a thriving heartbeat of the whole Church. When she’s not editing for DWITW or her business (Words Redeemed), you can find her playing soccer, pouring into friends & family, or planning out more times of fun, rest, and growth. Her favorite Scripture is Philippians 1:27a: Just one thing: Live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. (HCSB)

 “As long as we have our stories there is hope.”
-Henri Nouwen

“Will you read me a story?” is a common request in our household. It doesn’t matter if you are family, friend, or acquaintance. If you sit near one of the stacks of picture books, it’s likely a pair of tiny hands will bring you at least one, if not four, of them, accompanied by a pleading smile and excited eyes. Regardless of how silly or unusual the premise of each story seems to be, there is a bit of hope to be found in them more often than not. From Put Me in the Zoo by Robert Lopshire, I am reminded  I belong somewhere, but it might not be where I think. From The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend by Dan Santat, I am mindful that even when I’m doing the seeking, I could still need to be found myself.

As our year of DWITW 365 draws to an end, I can’t help but reflect on all the stories we have read. I’ve watched the genealogy of Jesus unfold across the pages, from Abraham to David to Joseph. I’ve been able to savor the grand chronicle that spans from creation to fall to redemption to restoration; from the Tree of Life in Genesis to the Tree of Life in Revelation. When I look back on it all, a few verses from the middle of Revelation sit in my mind:

“And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, ‘Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!’ ” (Revelation 12:10-12)

By the blood of Jesus, we are made conquerors. By the testifying of Christ and the work He had done, we conquer.

Our accuser has been conquered, our adversary overcome! Not only through Jesus’ death is the kingdom of God victorious, but also through the testimony of His people. A people who treasure their Savior and God more dearly than their very lives. By the blood of Jesus, we are made conquerors (Rom. 8:37.) By the testifying of Christ and the work He had done, we conquer. While God’s victory needn’t rest on the deeds of people, He chose to include us.

As so many before us, we get to participate. We get to be a part of this great story that is still unfurling all around us, even though the end has been decided. We get to speak of what Jesus has done, of His death and resurrection, of the new life He has given us.

And this testimony, this story we are to proclaim, to whom do I tell it? Anyone. Everyone. But especially my children. I tell them of a big God who became a tiny baby, of impossible hopes that took on skin, of beginnings and endings and beginning again. And in the light of that hope, I tell them of hurts and healing that go beyond kisses and band aids. Of death that brings life. Of Jesus.

And so I wage war against the darkness with my words. I fight to remember. I fight to remind. I fight to give my voice to the Spirit, that the truth of what I see and know of God and His kingdom, His Son, and His Spirit may be imparted to others. Through the vibrancy of Christ’s blood and the unfading tenacity of His love, we are transformed. Our stories merge with His in a tapestry of memory, time, and divine intervention. An intervention undertaken by a Man, whose face we’ve yet to see, who loved us enough to give up His life so we could dance in His presence forever. So that we could become part of the community He knew before the first flower bloomed or the first wind blew.

in the light of that hope, I tell them of hurts and healing that go beyond kisses and band aids. Of death that brings life. Of Jesus.

I can’t help but think of John when he was writing his gospel as I’m imagining the expanse of Jesus stories there were back then. Too many to count, too many to read them all. Too many for the world to hold (John 21:25.) It’s from that abundance of stories, that the testimony of Jesus’ work in my heart and life has bloomed into victorious life. A life of a conqueror in Christ. 

Sisters, as you reflect on the past year, what are the testimonies of Jesus that have grown from your heart? What evidences of His love have given you life? How has He been faithful to refine your mind? What is the story of Jesus you need to tell?

In 2019, the DWITW blog will be focusing on the gospels, one each quarter of the year. We would love nothing more than for you to share your own testimonies of what you are learning as you read and study the life of our Savior. If you feel prompted to share, you can do so via our submissions page. We are so thankful for the work the Lord has done this year. We look on to the days ahead with great expectation of the stories we will hear.

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Robin Zastrow wants to live in a world where coffee never gets cold and kindness abounds. When she's not discovering the wonders of construction paper and cardboard tubes with her two little ones, you can find her sneaking in another few pages of a book or jotting down bits of writing on scraps of paper.

One of her favorite Scriptures is:“Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.” Psalm 33:20-22 ESV

Another year has come and gone, and we here at Dayton Women in the Word want to mark it the best way that we know how: by proclaiming God’s faithfulness to us.

We started 2018 with lots of big plans. Not all of them were fully realized in this calendar year, but as we walked in faith and obedience, we could see His greater mission going forward. We can say with confidence that He is at work in the city of Dayton!

Here are some ways that God has proveN Himself faithful through DWITW this year:

• Women (and men!) across Dayton participated in the DWITW365 Chronological Bible Reading Plan! We experienced a full year of bible reading within community, 52 weekly encouragements on the blog by our dedicated 365 blog team, and 66 video introductions to each book of the Bible on Instagram - not to mention the countless messages about the awesome things God was doing and the connections He was making as we read His Word together.

• Our extremely talented podcast team also put out two seasons of the DWITW Podcast (plus all of our Hosea recordings and a few special episodes spaced throughout the year). We had the privilege of hearing from over 30 guests combined in both the “Transformed” and “Timelapse” series’!

• We celebrated our 100th podcast episode and hosted the DWITW Podcast Live event, gathering local women together and calling them to remember God’s faithfulness and goodness to us in the stories of the podcast and in our own lives as well.

• We launched the Teaching Collective, allowing women a safe space to practice teaching and talking about Jesus. We saw much growth in the regular attendees, many of whom have stepped up to teach in their churches, in small groups, or within the DWITW community!

• We hosted our 4th annual Summer Study by walking through the book of Hosea. God brought hundreds of women and as many kids as our classrooms could hold! We hosted a morning and evening study and extended our resources to include an at-home guide, which many women used to follow along with us from both near and far away from Dayton.

• We launched an updated version of this website to make it easier to access our resources.

• The DWITW Traveling Bible made it’s way (slowly, but surely!) around the city, getting read, marked up and beautified by lots of women in our network.

• The Directors shared regularly (and vulnerably!) on the blog in our bi-weekly Team Journals blog series.

• We began the behind the scenes work for a video series about bible study tools that we hope to finish and put out to the public in 2019.

• God showed up for the ministry once again on Giving Tuesday and blessed us financially, in addition to the provision of many monthly givers that started in 2018.

Overall, we’ve seen God giving women confidence and depth in their relationships with Him. We’ve seen Him sending women out into their churches and areas of influence to teach and read the Bible with others. We’ve seen women’s ministries and bible studies start in churches which did not previously have them. We’ve seen church leaders take notice of the movement God is doing among the women in our network and ask them to take on leadership roles in their churches. It has been a year of growth and excitement.

It has also been a year of much transition on our leadership team. Several of our leaders were called out of the ministry throughout the year, which caused us to lean on the Holy Spirit for help and provision more than ever. God provided several new team members at the right times and continues to be the One who carries us individually and as a team. As the Team Lead, I wish you knew what I know and could see what I see! These devoted volunteers give many, many hours of their time to make Jesus’ name great among you. Your DWITW Team does so much behind-the-scenes work to keep our network alive and well. From graphic designers to content editors, blog contributors to Summer Study volunteers, babysitters to administrators — many hands, minds and hearts are at work to help the women of Dayton read their Bibles and know God better.

We are prayerfully expectant for 2019 and can’t wait to see what God does among us in the coming year.

God is good. we are grateful. We give him all the glory.

“With my mouth I will give great thanks to the Lord; I will praise Him in the midst of the throng.”

— Psalm 109:30

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Natalie Herr is the founder and team leader of Dayton Women in the Word. She is a servant of God, a wife, a mom of four and a God-sized dreamer. She loves teaching and equipping women with God's Word.