Unlike the other ladies in our nameless series, our lady in focus today is actually named!  I wanted to include her in the series, because I’d never heard her name until we went through Joshua during the very first summer study*. I’m writing about her here in the hopes she will no longer be nameless to you, as she is no longer to me.

Achsah is the only daughter of Caleb, one of the two spies who had faith in God and advocated for the Israelites to go into the promised land, despite the intimidating adversaries who occupied it. I’d encourage you to read the story in Numbers 12-13. Caleb was known as a man wholly devoted to God, so much so, that God gave him a special inheritance, which included part of the tribe of Judah’s lands (Joshua 14:6-15.) In Joshua 15:13-19, we come to the story of Achsah. Caleb promises her in marriage to whoever conquered the inhabitants of a place in the region named Kirath-sepher, also known as Debir. Othniel emerges victorious and wins the hand of Achsah. 

It might be tempting to think Achsah did not have a voice in this, if not for the following sentences. Let’s go slow motion through the next several verses. Scripture says she urged Othniel, her new husband, for a field from her father. (v18)

Then things get real. She gets off her donkey.

This gets the attention of Caleb who asks “What do you want?”

She replies “Give me a blessing. Since you have given me the land of the Negeb, give me also springs of water.”

We don’t know if there was any more to their exchange. If there was, Scripture doesn’t record it, but we do know the outcome. In verse 19, Joshua writes Caleb “gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.” 

As I’m reading this in my house, I can walk about 20 paces to get to water. We have it so easy. Water in Achsah’s time, in a purely agricultural society without the technology we have today to transport water, is vital. These springs are not just a hot commodity; they were life. They would irrigate her field. They would feed her family. Caleb did not hold back. He gave her not one, but two of these springs! The gift Achsah’s father gave her was life, and life abundantly.

Sound familiar? 

Jesus said this in John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

Now, some who have written on Achsah say she was a discontent daughter who just wouldn’t leave well enough alone. They say she was greedy. She not only got a gallant husband, but a field, and not one, but two springs! Never satisfied. 

When we receive this water and own our identity as a daughter of the most worthy and good Father, we will have the confidence to come before Him to ask for everything we need.

I may be wrong here, but I beg to differ on this interpretation. It isn’t a far leap to put ourselves in the position of Achsah, because in Christ, our stories are the same! I am Achsah, and so are you! We are the daughters of a good (the best!) and devoted Father. He is worthy of our trust, and He has our good and His glory in mind. He has given us an inheritance (1 Peter 1:3-5)  and He has made us His children and fellow co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17.) He tells us to ask Him for what we need, as He is a father who gives good gifts (Matthew 7:7-12.)

And the good gift we receive from our Father is a spring of abundant and eternal life. To another nameless woman of the Bible, Jesus says “whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:14)

When we receive this water and own our identity as a daughter of the most worthy and good Father, we will have the confidence to come before Him to ask for everything we need. We won’t be shy. We will get off our own donkeys and approach Him. We will draw near to ask and receive everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3.)

Is it hard for you to ask God for His springs? Perhaps you see Him as stingy. Or maybe you are holding back because you have not yet fully comprehended His love for you, that overcame death to bring you life. 

As we like to say here at Dayton Women in the Word, Jesus is the true and better. He is the true and better Caleb. He is offering us His grace, His life. So now we draw near with confidence of His goodness and provision as Achsah did her father.

I invite you to stop, get off your own donkey, ask boldly, and receive. Isn’t it ironic that in our own English language, Achsah sounds kind of like “ask?” I hope this helps you remember her story, and encourage you that with a simple ask, it can become your own. 

*Listen to the lecture from week 8 of the DWITW Joshua summer study to learn more about Achsah.

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Jillian Vincent loves Jesus. She's a wife, a mother of boys, and a Dayton enthusiast. Jillian currently is a stay at home mama and spends nap times writing and discipling other women. She would (almost) die for an avocado, a cup of coffee made by her husband, a novel that makes her cry, and a bouquet of sunflowers.

It was a number of weeks ago I felt the Spirit of God pushing me to explore the book of John a little deeper. This was both frightening and encouraging, because I always enjoy reading the book of John, but felt less prepared to really “study.” Recently, while listening to the Bible Project Podcast, I learned John wrote his gospel from a reflective mindset. Perhaps this explains his poetic style or his ability to constantly point back to Jesus being the Christ, one with God. But God wasn’t asking me to read the whole book.

As I began reading, I found myself constantly traveling back to the first five verses of the Book of John. It was like a tick, I didn’t feel satisfied until I read those verses: once, twice, move on, come back. It was hard to go through the day without thinking of those verses. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.”  … “In the beginning” … “In the beginning”... I knew that phrase! So I decided to flex my study skills (something I’m not so confident in) and go back to Genesis.

Genesis 1 opens with, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” The use of this phrase in John would have prompted his readers to return to or remember this opening line. They would have had the same reaction as me, thinking “Oh! I know this. God created in the beginning, and somehow the “Word” was there with Him. How could that be?” From this point, I did a side-by-side comparison of the first five verses of both passages to find other connections.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome itIn the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
John 1: 1-5

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.
Genesis 1:1-5

Some initial similarities I saw where

• Both passages open with “In the beginning”

• Both passages deal with light (physical and spiritual)

• Both passages deal with creation

My question became: What is the connection between “the Word” and God speaking? Is there a connection? 

Enter the dragon! I mean...word study. A tool I think is great... for other people -mainly because I am not so confident in using it, but it was something God was asking me to do.  I waited a few days and then started the process. (Honesty is important, right?) As long as I’m being honest, I did not solely focus on this connection while studying, and I do not do well with Greek/Hebrew, so I relied on Logos and Blue Letter Bible to help me examine these things.

One of the key pieces of information I found was the Greek used by John when he wrote “the Word” implies “speech in action,” which agrees with the English translation of the Hebrew used in Genesis, “God said.” Both mean this speaking is active. Then, the Blue Letter Bible blew my mind OUT OF THE WATER by connecting these two sections for me. They know this is a common connection and I’m just a little late to the party. The commentators stated John implies that God is speaking in the present, but has also been speaking in ETERNITY PAST (the Word was with God) and will continue speaking into ETERNITY FUTURE.

In short : God has always been talking to himself, and at some point He decided to speak into creation and give us this world and life. INCREDIBLE.

Then, I froze. This was all amazing, and I was so excited, but I didn’t know what to do with it. I started a new job, I was stressed, and I stopped listening to the God who is always speaking.

BUT GOD….

I knew I needed to  read the Bible, even if I was stressed, and decided to pick back up in 1 Samuel. I skimmed through Hannah’s prayer, and reread Samuel hearing  from God for the first time. As I read, I saw Samuel responding three times to the wrong voice. He would run to Eli, the Priest in charge of the temple and say “Here I am!” But Eli wasn’t calling. It took Eli until the THIRD time to say, “Samuel, you are hearing the voice of God. The next time this happens, respond to Him.”

The God who is constantly speaking into creation wants to participate in a true conversation with you.

Wow, God is persistent. And boy, are we blessed by that. Even this man of faith, one who had devoted his life to being in God’s presence, wasn’t sure who Samuel should be responding to until the third time.  Samuel, knowing it was God, then changed his response. He says, “yes, Lord, I am listening.” To me, Samuel went from active to peaceful, from talking to listening. He decided to hear what God was calling him to do.

I was deeply encouraged by this, because I was reminded of the times I fail. I will look for a response in my work, in my relationships, in trying harder, rather than being still to listen for the voice of God. Sometimes I hear Him calling, and I actively run away, like Jonah. Sometimes I am waiting for Him in the fire and thunder, rather than a whisper, like Elijah on the mountain. I need to be practicing my listening skills, to become more familiar with the voice of my shepherd, like Jesus says in John. How can I do that? I’ve thought of a few ways and would like to invite you to join me. Whether it is in preparation for Summer Study, or a simple desire to hear God more clearly.

1. Pray. This sounds easy, but it’s not the prayer where we spend all the time talking, it’s the prayer where we sit down and tell God, “I’m listening.” Practice with me taking time without your phone, without music, without distraction, to focus on God and His voice. If you find yourself struggling, tell Him. There is such power in admitting our weakness! He must become greater, and I must become less.

2. Read your Bible and Use your tools. Again, easy? Maybe. Difficult to do consistently? For sure! I would encourage you to start with a passage you know well and do some cross referencing. Or discover the context of the passage/book. Know what you’re reading, who it’s to, and why they wrote it. If you feel adequate in that (Not perfect, just comfortable) move into a passage that feels unfamiliar. Practice feeling out of your depth and go to the Lord. Then start using your tools before going to a commentary or your study notes. This is SO HARD and can make me feel like I’m not doing anything, but not all waiting is bad or disobedient. If you aren’t sure if your waiting is disobedient to the Lord and you are struggling to hear Him, try the next “step.”

3. Ask a friend! Maybe not just any friend, but one you trust is also working on hearing from the Lord. Often, my husband helps to redirect me when I’m just feeling “lost” to see my unbelief or doubt that is leading me to resist the voice of God. If He was speaking to you from YOUR beginning, He is speaking to you now.

The God who is constantly speaking into creation wants to participate in a true conversation with you. One with a call and response. One where we allow Him to speak, knowing His words are true, full of grace and mercy, dripping with forgiveness as sweet as honey from the honeycomb. Let us practice stillness and listening in a world so full of busyness and monologuing. Peace be with you (and also with you.)

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Kate Haas wants to live in a world with free coffee, hugs, and deep conversations. When she isn’t in class, you can find her at home with her husband and four-legged toddler reading a book or watching a detective show. Her favorite scripture is 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. [Amen? Amen!]”

Something she finds comforting when reading the Bible (esp. the OT) is in this verse: "The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law." Deuteronomy 29:29 (comforting to know God has given us what we need, and He is over all the things we don't understand.)

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.

One day I was talking to my sister about my job. I said I had been there too long to move on. My salary was too high to expect it to be equal if I started fresh elsewhere in the same field. My vacation benefits were at about 4 weeks, not something to take lightly. I had been there so long, my hours were fairly flexible. I didn’t hate my job enough to consider it time to leave.

About 3 days later, I received a phone call - a friend from church. He began to discuss with me some issues at his work. Then he takes a breath and says “So, we would like you to come work with us. Is that something you would be willing to talk about?” 

What? 
 Excuse me?
 YES! YES! YES!

I agreed to have a discussion that evening with the owner of the company, when I just so happened to be at his house for small group.

How in the world did this happen so quickly? Well, the background story goes as follows: I have known both of these men & their delightful families for about six years. We attend the same church. They have seen me at my lowest of lows, they’ve watched God carry me & gently set me back on my feet. They were there to pray for me, hand me tissues, give me a hug or shoulder to cry on & so much more. They are two of the families I turn to when life is hard or is amazing. They are as family as family gets.

When I got that call, it was as if I could audibly hear God whisper in my ear “This is your new beginning.” I didn’t have to think about the decision at all. It was divinely knit for me.

I know life can be hard, and harder for some more than others. The old cliche of life not being fair is among the most real statements in the world. But I also know that obedience to God’s plan for our lives DOES equate to a beautiful story.

When I read Ezekiel 20-32, frankly, I felt sad that I was assigned to write about it. All I felt when I read was the heaviness of the Israelites’ disobedience to God. I thought to myself that they were so selfish, ignoring His warnings, when He was so clearly simply aiming to instruct them in His ways. But then I began my new job, and I began to understand what God might be saying through this section of His Word. My obedience & faithfulness to God is what gave me the confidence to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that it was my time to leap into a new adventure - this was a similar journey of understanding that the Israelites themselves needed to take.

He has already put us face to face with people in our daily lives who need to see Him and experience His hope.

As I read further into Ezekiel 33, God speaks of the night watchman. The responsibility he holds over the people to warn them of their lives. How the blood shed would be his if he failed to notify the people. I equate that to our responsibility as children of God. WE are responsible to the people around us. We speak of divine appointments being a special opportunity to share our love of God with someone, but really shouldn’t every encounter we have with anyone be a divine appointment? He has already put us face to face with people in our daily lives who need to see Him and experience His hope.

Plus, when we see what God is doing in our lives or in the lives of our friends, how can we not be excited? How can we not want to shout out from every rooftop about our Glorious Father?! And friends, if we are not excited about what God is doing, we need to ask the Holy Spirit to put our hearts in check. Life is not about our timing, we live under His sovereign and good hand. Our lives are not about us. They are about Him - His Kingdom, His people.

In Ezekiel 34, God calls out the shepherds, or priests, of Israel who have ignored their flock. In verse 24 He says that because of the lack of the shepherds’ care, He will tend to the flock. He will protect them, feed them, and shelter them. The reality is we, similar to the priests of Israel, are inadequate to handle the job of shepherding His flock without Him to guide & lead us in the way.

Just this past weekend I was with a person whom I hadn’t seen in a long time. He was a man whom I had previously sought wise counsel from. This recent encounter left me with a bitter taste in my mouth. Rather than encourage me in my walk, he left me with a feeling of judgement and made me feel I was unworthy. As if no amount of proclamation of God’s heart over my life remained true,  I cried, devastated. I thought if I was to live based on what was said to me, no one would make it to Heaven. Then, I was angry. How dare he speak to me in a manner that drove a wedge between me & God? I remembered then that it wasn’t about me. And it wasn’t even about the elder that had torn me down. It was about my God. His grave. His mercies. His Grace. His redemption of my soul.

Our lives are not about us. They are about Him - His Kingdom, His people.

Ultimately, my life is about my faithfulness & obedience & deepest desire to live FOR Him. God wants my innermost thoughts, and He wants yours too! He wants our hearts, our hurts, our trivial daily nuggets of excitement & disappointments. Sharing all of our lives with Him allows us to walk hand in hand with God throughout each day. We get to snuggle in close and tell Him about our day. We get to lie in His arms of comfort when we are sad or hurt. We get to know that whether our miracle of healing comes in the flesh or it sends us home to Heaven, either way is a beautiful win.

In light of this, I am excited about my new adventure. I know God hand picked me for such a time as this. I am ready. I am willing. And I can’t wait to share my excitement with the One who loves me most in life.

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Sonya Gentry wants to live in a world where being kind and loving means that when we encounter a need or brokenness, we say yes first and think about it second. This would be a world where walking with Jesus means trying to act like Jesus through loving, relevant acts of service; where Christians put their hands and feet in the dirty situations of the world in order to show people God’s love and grace; where we understand that comfort zones are meant to be broken because people need us to show up and be be the best portrayal of God’s love we can be. When she's not working, you can find her being silly with friends and family, playing games with her nephews, volunteering for various organizations and events with her church, or relaxing with a movie.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
- Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV

Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.
- Proverbs 3:5-6 MSG

Sometimes I think Solomon wrote these words just for me, though he didn’t realize it at the time. As I read them, and re-underline them, I think maybe the good Lord was on His throne, giving Solomon these words while He was thinking about a brown-haired, green-eyed woman who would need them desperately over and over again in her life.

Trust is a tricky thing for me, friends. I used to feel shame to admit that – whether it was related to a friendship, to a family member, to a significant other. I felt, somewhere deep in my gut, that if I admitted I struggled with trust, it was a reflection of my own heart. These days, I’m learning just being honest about it all is a practice of living freer. It doesn’t mean it’ll always be easy. It doesn’t mean it’ll always go smoothly. But if I give space to myself, and to those in my life, to speak honestly, we will be living life more openly.

He, alone, deserves me believing the best of Him, trusting Him wholly, and praising Him every inch I step.

Like many other people I know, I’ve been cheated on. I’ve been lied to while looking someone in the eye. I’ve been misled, let down, and deeply hurt. In the last two years I’ve learned a great deal about trauma, the effects it has on the brain, and how we operate in relationships as a result of said trauma. Previous relationships and key people in my story who’ve hurt me or melded their lives with mine in dishonesty have left me expecting fallacy to be discourse. As I grow and mature and learn, I realize just how unfair that can be to new people; it is something I am continually fighting and butting my head up against.

It is unfair to people because I believe we deserve to have the best believed of us. But we are all human, aren’t we? Which means, no matter our best intentions, no matter how honest we live and love, we will let each other down. But God.

The One giving Solomon the words, the One speaking through literature or music or nature to His kids, He doesn’t let us down. His plans may not be what we had in mind for ourselves, but He does not disappoint. He, alone, deserves me believing the best of Him, trusting Him wholly, and praising Him every inch I step. The truth is, though, He’s often who I trust the least, in times of wilderness. Never mind that sometimes those moments of wilderness are the sum of my own choices, of me believing I can do it on my own, make the better choice, figure out the details.

When I stop listening for God’s voice, when I stop discussing even the minor details with Him, I end up turned around and mistrusting of everyone. One of my favorite quotes was first spoken by author and speaker, Maya Angelou. She says, “When people show you who they are, believe them the first time.”

He calls us to all corners of the earth, meets us there, and begins a healing we weren’t aware we needed.

I consider the Creator of the universe. I think about, in the garden, how He calls to Adam and Eve, “Where are you?” even though we all know He knew just where they were. I think about the cross and crucifixion and what that means for me. I consider the healing, with a touch of a hand, the tables shared with prostitutes and lepers and tax collectors. I consider the first time I fully understood that He does, without question, bring goodness from the most heartbreaking of circumstances. I think about how He calls us to all corners of the earth, meets us there, and begins a healing we weren’t aware we needed.

Then I meditate on trust. On all the times I’ve not given it over to Him, but instead to people who would fail me simply because of their mortality. When people show you who they are, believe them the first time. Our Father is one who shows up and stays – without question, regardless of where we’re coming from, unhesitant before our sinful living. Why do I hesitate to give my trust over to the One who will never stop showing up, chasing after, pulling near?

Lord God, forgive me all those moments I’ve put trust in the backseat of our relationship. Forgive me for all the times to come that I will be prone to do the same. Jesus, allow me to have an open heart to You, recalling all the ways you’ve never failed, never left, never lost grip on my heart. Amen.

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Steph Duff wants to live in a world where every human, whether small or regular-sized, learns to use their voice and is seen and known. When she's not traveling and story telling with Back2Back Ministries, you'll likely find her drinking excessive cups of coffee, with her nose in a book, or daydreaming about India. Her favorite scripture is Habakkuk 1:5, and she prays for a world in which Jesus is the name on every lip. Learn a little more about her love for semi-colons, what stirs her blood, and the yearnings of her heart over at www.stephaniduff.wordpress.com.

David is known as a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). He was the prince that would replace the king who failed to fulfill the commands of the Lord. He was the conquering king; the man raised on high; the anointed of the God of Jacob; and the sweet psalmist of Israel (2 Samuel 23:1). David was highly favored by both men and God because of His character. His army would do anything for him because he was an honorable man. For instance, even when he requested water from the guarded gates of Bethlehem, three of his mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem and brought it to David. But David, wanting to honor God, did not drink of it. Instead, he poured it out as a sacrifice to the LORD.

David was clearly committed to his God, and he had learned to trust him through the difficulties he endured while being pursued by Saul for 20 years.  All throughout his running David only did what pleased God.  Even when he had the opportunity to kill Saul he refrained (1 Samuel 24) which showed that he was a man of integrity.  David had a history of triumphant victories in the name of his God, which he sang of often, as we see in the Psalms. So, why then, did God choose to incite David against Israel?

”Again the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, 'Go, number Israel and Judah.'”
- 2 Samuel 24:1

What we as individuals do with our folly brings forth our true character.

Although God loved and cherished David, He also wanted Israel to put their trust in Him alone. David proceeded to call a census and did not follow the requirements that the Lord commanded in those days. He too acted foolishly as his predecessor had. God knew that David would realize and repent of his ways, and therefore prove to be a tangible example of repentance for God’s people.

Often leaders falter and fail God’s people, but this does not mean that we should abandon them. Just because they don’t meet every requirement of the law perfectly, we don’t abandon them but rather we see that they too are just like us.  This should prove to be a source of encouragement and strength for God’s people. What we as individuals do with our folly brings forth our true character. Do we remain in our folly or do we recognize and readily confess the error of our ways?

”But David's heart struck him after he had numbered the people. And David said to the LORD, 'I have sinned greatly in what I have done. But now, O Lord, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have done very foolishly.'” 
- 2 Samuel 24:10

When we covenant with the LORD, we can rely on His Spirit to convict us - not so that we experience shame and regret, on the contrary, so that we may be reconciled with Him. God loved Israel, but their hearts tended toward idol-worship and trusting in men rather than trusting in God. Therefore God, in His sovereignty, used His faithful servant David to bring His people near to Him by showing them the way back to Himself.

He knew that only God had the power to deal with this iniquitY.

God displayed His process of redemption through David’s life. David confessed his wrongdoing for what it was, a great offense against his God - ultimately it was a lack of trust in God’s ability to keep David and Israel safe from destruction. Then, take notice what David did and did not do as a result of his confession. He didn’t hang his head in shame, but he boldly and humbly laid the responsibility of forgiveness at the feet of His God. He knew that only God had the power to deal with this iniquity. One thing to remember about confession is that although God takes away our sin there are often consequences that we still experience as a result of our rebellion. God shows us this reality in His response to David.

“... Three things I offer you. Choose one of them, that I may do it to you.”
- 2 Samuel 24:12

God is gracious to David even as He doles out his punishment. How often do we even give our own children ‘options’ for their punishments? Not often. But because David went to His Father and confessed his sin, God showed mercy to him. And we can see that the true measure of this man David’s character comes through  in his choice of punishment. David chooses this time to trust in the Lord - not in men, but in the great mercy and justice of his God.

“Then David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for his mercy is great; but let me not fall into the hand of man.”
- 2 Samuel 24:14

through David’s confident trust, God proved to all of Israel that He indeed was a merciful God.

David knew he could count on the mercy of his God. And through David’s confident trust, God proved to all of Israel that He indeed was a merciful God. Did this mean that, in His mercy, there would be no suffering to endure? By no means! 70,000 men died from the pestilence that was sent on Israel by the LORD. How did David react to the death toll? He manned up and boldly went to the LORD in the face of the great evil that was working against his people. He took ownership of his sin and acted as a scapegoat and bore the sins of his people, so that their lives would be spared.

“Then David spoke to the LORD when he saw the angel who was striking the people and said, 'Behold, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand be against me and against my father’s house.'”
 - 2 Samuel 24:17

David therefore became a foreshadowing of Christ as our scapegoat. He was a king and priest who made atonement for his sin-stained people. What a wonderful example of Christ-like leadership that he displayed! Through his life we see God’s loving-kindness toward those of us who believe. All in all, David was a leader who boldly poured out his heart to the LORD in all that he said and did. He shows us how to trust in the merciful kindness of our loving King - He who took our sin upon Himself in order that we might be reconciled back to God.

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Karen Savage wants to live in a world where Christ is Glorified. When she's not serving her family, you can find her serving others. Her favorite Scripture is John 15:7-8 ESV.

Today's team journal was written by our Team Lead, Natalie Herr.

““For the Lord is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.””

— Psalm 84:11

God does not withhold good things from us.
God does not withhold good things from me.
God does not withhold good things from those who are seeking Him.
With God, we have all we need.

In the past week, I’ve written all four of those phrases in the margins of my Bible. The repetition of my own reactions to Scripture caught my eye. When did I start believing the lie that God is withholding things from me?

Like any gal who’s been schooled a bit in Bible study, my first thought was to look up the original meaning of the Hebrew word for “withhold” used in Psalm 84:11. The Hebrew word is mana’ (not to be confused with the word manna (referring to bread), which coincidently, God did not withhold!) which means to hold back, keep from, refrain or deny.

When I look at my relatively easy, white American life - my ‘used to be dead but now alive’ life - how can I say that God has held anything back from me? How can I say that He’s denied anything good from me? What is it that I think He is actually keeping from me?

I’m not sure how to answer that question just yet, but I’m led back again to this truth: everything I have is from the Lord. EVERY. THING. Every single thing. It’s all been given to me. God didn’t keep me back from my mother’s womb in 1986. He didn’t keep me back from growing up and learning and living. He didn’t withhold my husband or my four children or my home or my community. And He, FOR SURE, did not keep his Son from me. He gave me the ultimate gift in Jesus that I didn’t even know I needed. Ironically, I didn’t know I needed Him partly because of all the other gifts that He gave to me were clouding my view of the Giver and my need for a Redeemer.

I think of the passage in Luke 11 where Jesus is talking about dads; how they’d never give their kid a scorpion instead of an egg, or a serpent instead of a fish. If good human dads give their kids good gifts, then how much more does our good God? How can I say He’s been keeping anything good from me? Jesus says to simply ask and that God, in turn, would be delighted to give me anything that aligns with His will for my life.

“Oh fear the Lord, you His saints, for those who fear Him have no lack! The young lions suffer want and hunger, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.”
- Psalm 34:9

God is all powerful, and He definitely has the power to withhold things. There is evidence of that all over Scripture and all over our lives. But if we believe God’s Word, we have to believe that the things He has kept away from us have been for our good and for our protection. Perhaps, if we spent more time looking at the gift of God himself instead of our lack of “good” things, we would see that this is absolutely true.

So yes, God is storing up good things. But He doesn’t keep them away from those who seek Him. He doesn’t deny good from us when we ask. He doesn’t have a heavenly storehouse of wonderful things that we can’t have. Because of Jesus, there’s no sign on any door in heaven that says, “Natalie can NOT come in.”

In response to all of this, I hear God asking me to STOP spending time thinking about things I don’t have or far-off dreams that are not yet realized. Instead I hear Him saying, “Enjoy what I have given you RIGHT NOW. Today. Enjoy ME. Seek ME.” I hear Him calling me to reflect Him by not withholding good things from others when it is within my power to do so (Proverbs 3:27). I hear Him telling me to name my desires and see if they honor Him; and when they do, to ask Him boldly for those good gifts, and then to get ready to watch Him work.

This is what I know with certainty: When my heart is aligned with His heart and when I am walking in His ways, I can ask Him for anything and believe that He will deliver.

He does not withhold good things from us.
He does not withhold good things from me.

I will repeat that refrain from now until eternity.

Lord, help me to believe what I know is true: that you don’t withhold good things from your kids and that everything I have here and now is very good. Grow gratefulness in me, stir up awe and wonder and fear of you deep down in my soul. Set my gaze squarely on you, and help me believe that you love me like a good dad. Help me notice the good things that you are giving me all day, every day. I want to bless Your Name always - not just when You give, but also when You take away (Job 1:21). You didn’t hold back from Your hungry Israelites and You, oh God, won’t hold back from me (Neh 9:20). Show me how to reflect Your nature in this way - by not withholding good from the people within my influence. Let Your generosity flow through me to others around me. Let it be so, in Jesus’ name! Amen!

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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.

Not many days go by when I don’t second guess or question what God could possibly do with little ole’ me in His amazing kingdom filled with people much more qualified than I. In these moments of self-doubt, I’ve recalled stories of people like Noah, Moses, David, or even of Naomi and Ruth.

In questioning God of my own worthiness, He gently, yet boldly, reminds me of many places He has already used me for His perfect purposes. Note, not my perfect qualifications, but His perfect purposes. Take, for example, my job. I get cranky. I have moments where I would just as well throw my keyboard out the window rather than type another figure into a spreadsheet (I have been told I even have a “back away slowly from my desk” look). While not highly proud of this, the reality is, in the heat of normal workday stress, sometimes, my “Jesus Freak” positive attitude gets left at the copier.

God doesn’t need the strongest people to defeat the Giants. He only needs the willing.

Despite this, people know I am a Jesus-loving, God-fearing girl. Because I tend to live life wild and free, the raw vulnerability I typically display has brought people to me for prayer needs, to talk, and has even opened the door for three families to regularly attend church with me. I have been told by people my willingness to share, as raw and unrefined as it may be at times, is refreshing, tending to draw people in. Which is funny because I often feel as if I am walking around like Pig Pen from the Peanuts - swirled, not with dirt, but chaos.

I’ve discovered along the way God doesn’t need the strongest people to defeat the Giants. He only needs the willing. And I am certainly willing! The funny thing is, when I feel frustrated or angry, wanting to look for another job (the way the Israelites wanted to flee Goliath), inevitably, someone at the office says “I want to go to church with you!” Say what!? I proceed to pull my ‘Jesus Freak’ back out of the paper jam and get to share my love of God, but more importantly about HIS love for us. Back at my desk, I look to the heavens, laughing at God’s way of saying: “Nope! Sit still girlie, I’m not done with you here!”

I think David can relate. In 1 Samuel 17:45, David says to Goliath “you come against me with sword, spear and javelin but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied!” The Message version is a little more exciting, but I’ll spare you most of the details. In this version David phrases it: “The God of Israel‘s troops, whom you curse and mock!” And in verse 46 this version goes on to say “this very day God is handing you over to me…”

In our day to day, how often do we believe we are showing up with a few stones to throw when the enemy is armed with nuclear weapons? But it doesn’t matter. We are not powerful because of our own defenses or weaponry. We are powerful because of the Leader of our army! What matters in the moments of trial is our willingness to call on and obey God - He will hand over our enemy. It doesn’t matter if we are armed with a javelin, a bazooka, or a cold chicken nugget from our kids’ lunch. He. Will. Hand. Over. Our. Enemy! It is as simple as that.

we are not powerful because of our own defenses or weaponry.
we are powerful because of the leader of our army! 

As I read the story of David and Goliath, I was reminded of Saul wanting to protect David. He insisted on placing his armor on him. David tried to maneuver around a little with this armor. But it was too big for him. He struggled to move easily or properly. He shed the armor, saying instead, that he would enter this fight with God.

This passage became glaringly evident to me tonight as I visited a dear friend in the hospital. We were praying before she was transported to another hospital and in prayer, I was reminded of David walking around awkwardly in this armor unfit for him - an armor the world believed he needed to wear. David was adamant though that God was his protector. The same way my precious friend is adamant God is her healer! The same way she believes the doctor reports she receives have little to do with her defeating cancer! To be perfectly honest, I can’t say I would have shed the armor. I think I would’ve figured out a way to work with it. I don’t know if I’m brave enough to go against the “giants” with nothing but a couple of rocks. I wish I could say I were, but I’m not positive. Luckily, I don’t have to face a literal giant. But I do have to face struggles that seem gigantic. When they come calling, what am I armed with? Am I walking around awkwardly in that unfit armor? Or am I grabbing a couple of stones and saying ‘God‘s got this’?  

As I write this, I question my own logic. Why do we make things so difficult for ourselves? We just need to shed that armor, pick up a couple of rocks & slay the giant! What causes us to question the simplicity of that course of action? Is it pride? Lack of trust? For me, I guess, it depends on the circumstances but it may be a combination of both.

I guess what this story means to me is this: When my day is trying to get the best of me, when I’m trying to slay a giant, when I’m fighting to keep my head above water, when I need to not use my back away from my desk look, I should come to realize that it’s really not about me. It’s about giving that moment back to God. It’s about letting my Almighty protector take over that, and every, situation. God wants to be part of every single detail of my day. He wants to be part of which rock I pick up to the slay the giant. He wants to be part of my day not going well. He wants us to talk to him about our fears, hopes, desires, dreams, even frustrations. Because God is the God of the details - big or small. And that ladies, is what I believe we need to know about being a David in a world full of Goliaths.

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Sonya Gentry wants to live in a world where being kind and loving means that when we encounter a need or brokenness, we say yes first and think about it second. This would be a world where walking with Jesus means trying to act like Jesus through loving, relevant acts of service; where Christians put their hands and feet in the dirty situations of the world in order to show people God’s love and grace; where we understand that comfort zones are meant to be broken because people need us to show up and be be the best portrayal of God’s love we can be. When she's not working, you can find her being silly with friends and family, playing games with her nephews, volunteering for various organizations and events with her church, or relaxing with a movie. 

Her favorite Scripture is John 15:16-17: “You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed and placed and purposefully planted you, so that you would go and bear fruit and keep on bearing, and that your fruit will remain and be lasting, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name [as My representative] He may give to you. This [is what] I command you: that you love and unselfishly seek the best for one another” (AMP).

The story of Gideon resounds with the symphony of the gospel. Gideon's’ story portrays the reality of an upside down kingdom - where God sent the weakest, most unassuming man to an oppressed people who needed a Savior in order that they might enter into fellowship with Him!  

Gideon’s life not only reflects the meekness of the Lamb of God, but also the fierceness of the Lion of the tribe of Judah.

Ironically, Hebrews 11 starts the famous “hall of faith” with this man, Gideon. However, when we delve into the actual storyline of his life in Judges 6-9, where we find the record of his life, he is frightened and insecure, hiding in a winepress in order to do the job of threshing. Why was he hiding? Simply put: he was afraid - he was hiding so that the enemy armies would not plunder his meager lot of rations. It is easy to forget that the great men and women of the Bible were just like you and me. We, like them, can be frightened of the enemy and of his tactics against those we love - unsure of what the Lord is ultimately doing in allowing us to undergo some of the suffering we must endure. Gideon’s life not only reflects the meekness of the Lamb of God, but also the fierceness of the Lion of the tribe of Judah.

One thing is consistent throughout the biblical narrative, and that is that God uses the weakest and the least of us to show forth His power, and in so doing the powers are disarmed and brought to open shame!

“And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.”
- Colossians 2:13-15 ESV

Gideon started out insecure and unsure and as God spoke to him and encouraged him he grew to see and experience first hand the faithfulness of God. God discipled him throughout his journey of faith! Gideon’s confidence was in the Lord. He did not become arrogant but continued to declare the Lord as the Victor. His life is an example of someone who was discipled well. Gideon was always ready to listen and ask of God to ensure that he was not being presumptuous in his understanding of what God was doing through him. When we allow the Lord to disciple us, we too, can be used in mighty ways to confound the enemy and his cohorts. In order to be good disciples of Christ we must first be good listeners.

Have you ever noticed that your best friends are those who listen to you and, in turn, the ones to whom you learn to listen to? Good friendships are built on the principle of reciprocity in which each person values and responds to what the other is saying. Gideon and God had a friendship. When Gideon was unsure the Lord allowed him to talk and then assured him that He was with him.

“Arise, go down against the camp, for I have given it into your hand. But if you are afraid to go down, go down to the camp with Purah your servant. And you shall hear what they say, and afterward your hands shall be strengthened to go down against the camp.”
- Judges 7:9-11 ESV

We can have the same relationship with the Lord. God does not expect that we come to Him as a victorious foot soldier in His army, but He does show up in our weakness to make His name great through His power. When we respond to His voice, trusting in His power he strengthens our hands for the battle.

“Blessed be the LORD, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle;  he is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and he in whom I take refuge, who subdues the peoples under me.”
- Psalm 144:1-2

In order to be good disciples of Christ we must first be good listeners.

You see, when we are desperate, the Lord shows up! We do not need to prove to God that we are capable, but we do need to admit our utter dependence upon Him and His strength in order to come out victorious in the battle. Overcoming is not about our human victories, but it is about declaring who has helped us to win - just like Gideon did. When we declare that our right standing with God is based on the blood of Jesus and not on anything you or I have accomplished, then just as Rend Collective sings we are more than conquerors through Christ! Let us run to the safety of our great refuge which is Christ. Let us die to our own strength and hide in Him! Let us testify as we ride on the steed of our victorious Conquering King!

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to seperate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
- Romans 8:36-39 ESV

‘Then 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.’
- Revelation 12:10-11 ESV

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Karen Savage wants to live in a world where Christ is Glorified. When she's not serving her family, you can find her serving others. Her favorite Scripture is John 15:7-8 ESV.