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Q&A with Red Letter Society (Part 1)

Summer Bedford — Mon, 11 Apr 2022 11:00:21 GMT

Q:How has writing and recording with Red Letter Society (RLS) impacted your life?

“In an upcoming project, we sat in a room and went over the verses that inspired each of these songs. This gave us an opportunity to have a Red Letter Bible Study, looking into the meaning of the words and getting a deeper understanding of the scripture we used for inspiration.”

-David Bedford

“First, it has made me more aware of the need for doctrinally sound worship music in today’s culture. Secondly, it has pushed me to grow and expand my knowledge of the scriptures to be able to help in the songwriting process.”

-Jordan Dinsmore

“Writing and recording with this team has been such a great opportunity to grow and stretch my musicianship. It gives me a creative outlet and grows me as a worship leader. It has also been an opportunity to engage in community with some of my closest friends and corporately process all that Christ has done and is doing in our lives. We hold each other accountable in ministry, pray for, and encourage one another to grow in our Christian walk. Doing what I love with some of my very best friends is one of the greatest gifts I’ve experienced in this life. I am so humbled and grateful for every opportunity we have to lead worship together.”

-Alexandra Gibson

“Writing with RLS has challenged me to grow in ways I didn’t know I needed to. It has caused me to deepen my faith as well as strengthen my walk with Christ and knowledge of His Word. Recording with RLS has developed my ability and adaptability to work with a team. It has strengthened my musicianship and opened up opportunities to use my talents in many ways that were not possible before RLS existed. Recording with RLS has also positively impacted my full time job by giving me experience, exposure and troubleshooting skills that are applicable in many areas of full-time ministry.”

-Kyle Gibson

“I think more about what kind of person I will be when I’m 30 as I am being inspired by other band members who are in a life stage ahead of me.”

-David Guy

“It has created the opportunity to play music with some really good friends and it has allowed an avenue to write songs that I can go back and teach my church. Our church currently loves worshiping to Thirst, Matthew 5, and 100x.”

- Tyler Landis

“Psalm 40 tells us that God drug me out of the pit and set my feet on a solid rock. So I sang a new song to the Lord and people heard it and they feared God.

For me writing songs has been something that has allowed me to be vulnerable and talk about what God is doing in my life. To talk about the muck and grime of sin and to testify of how God is bringing me out. When we write songs, I pray it encourages many people to know and fear the Lord. I know that it has made me love and follow God more and more in my life.”

-Jordan West

Q: What does the song writing process look like when writing with RLS?

“My personal role in the song writing process typically involves creating lead lines and arranging. Jordan, Tyler, and Jaclyn usually take the lead on lyric writing (when we’re not doing a collaborative writing session) and then bring their “baby songs” to the team. We then critique together and work through chord progressions, leadership, lead lines, and other song elements before creating scratch tracks and eventually recording!

-Alexandra Gibson

“Jordan and Tyler have a huge role in this. My part in that process is typically assisting in the phrasing of lyrics, making sure everything is biblically accurate, and can be sung in a way that is translatable for the church. Once the lyrics are done we all meet up together and make the arrangement (the chord structure, the road map, the rhythms, the melody/harmony).”

- Kyle Gibson

“- Coffee.

- Talk.

- Read the Bible.

- Say deep things.

- Sing.

- Write it down so we don’t forget.

- Voice memo so we definitely don’t forget.

- Repeat.

- Go eat somewhere either hip or just plain comforting.”

-Tyler Landis

“Typically, Tyler and I will sit down on a Friday and bring in fragments of ideas and begin to put them together. Often times these fragments will just be melodies or lyrics. We then talk through the theological ideas we want to write about and what Scripture is essential to those themes. At this point, it is our goal to put as much Scripture into the lyrics verbatim. We typically will take some artistic liberties to make each song singable. A great example of this would be our song Matthew 5.

After Tyler and I have finished the rough draft of the song, we will bring it to the rest of the band. We will work through the song with instrumentation and rework lyrics and melodies. This part is vital to the process as many songs go from something that is a good ‘singer songwriter’ style song to something that can be an anthem for the church.

Lastly we will spend time in the studio and finalize instrumentation, vocals, and sound design for each song.”

-Jordan West

Q: How old were you when you first started playing an instrument or singing? Who encouraged you to pursue that talent?

“I was 15 when I started learning to play guitar. My parents and my (now) wife encouraged me to pursue music.”

- David Bedford

“I was four years old when I started singing! My mom was a heavy influence in my pursuit of music and then at 13, Amanda Barrans is who first started mentoring me in true ‘worship’. That’s when I realized the Lord had placed a calling on my life and when I started pursuing it.”

-Jordan Dinsmore

“I started playing piano when I was five. Because of my birthday, my parents made the decision to have me do two years of Junior Kindergarten before continuing through formal schooling and enrolled me in piano lessons the second year to give me an outlet (“so I wouldn’t be bored” as they describe it). As it turned out, I grew to love it and have stuck with it since. I had different teachers throughout the years. As far as vocal development goes, I started singing a little bit in college because of group voice classes required for my degree but really didn’t start leading songs or having any major vocal leadership roles until coming to my current church six years ago.”

-Alexandra Gibson

“I was born into a musical family. My dad was a worship pastor all my life. We always had a variety of musical instruments around the house. I first learned to play the piano at the age of six under the teaching of my dad. I sang in the kids choir until I was allowed to join the adult choir at the age of 12. One thing about my up-bringing, I was raised in a very conservative Christian environment. We attended a fundamental Baptist church while living in Upstate New York. The church was piano and organ only. At the age of 14, my family moved to Virginia as my dad took a job as a full-time worship pastor at a Southern Baptist church. Now, up to this point in my life, drums and guitars were still the devil (Specifically drums!!). As we immersed ourselves into the Southern Baptist culture, me and my whole family quickly realized that drums were not in fact the devil but a powerful worship tool that is actually scriptural! After many long discussions with my dad, I bought my first drum set and began to teach myself how to play drums. Within a few months of paradiddles, rudiments and tapping on literally everything in sight, I was playing drums in our praise band for Sunday services.”

-Kyle Gibson

“I was around 12. Jordan West primarily encouraged me to pursue it.”

-David Guy

“I started playing piano in 7th grade because my mom tricked me. She told me that if I wanted to play all the songs, I had to play piano because unlike guitar, it used the treble and bass clefs. I started singing in high school, and around the same time, I started learning guitar. I will say, though, I got the part of Cogsworth in my school play because he had less songs to sing, so I’ll let that say something as to how I was as a singer when I started.”

-Tyler Landis

“My mom knew how to play a few guitar chords, but once I picked up the instrument I fell in love with it. My Dad then found the best local teachers for me to learn. Also, my dad found so many guitar albums for me to listen to. He spent an enormous amount of time and money to invest in my playing! Lastly, Josh Byrd… he taught me how to really play!”

-Jordan West

Q: What book or passage are you currently studying in the Bible?

“I am going through the movements of the first four books of the Bible with The Bible Project.”

- David Bedford

“I am currently studying the Book of Acts.”

-Jordan Dinsmore

“I am currently part of an inductive study of Romans with some ladies at my church. We’re spending 15 weeks on Romans 1-5 and using the Precepts program from Kay Arthur. I highly recommend it!”

-Alexandra Gibson

“I’m doing the Bible Project year through the Bible this year. I’m supplementing that a bit by incorporating multiple read throughs of the New Testament during the earlier part of the year since it’s so Old Testament heavy early on. I’m always finding myself in Hebrews.”

-Kyle Gibson

“1 Corinthians.”

-Tyler Landis

“Always the book of Hebrews. It unlocked my understanding of the Old Testament!”

-Jordan West

Q: What is your favorite worship song?

“Right now, Promises by Maverick City.”

- David Bedford

“It changes weekly!! Right now, Set My Heart by Vertical Worship….an oldie but a goodie!”

-Jordan Dinsmore

“How Deep the Father’s Love”

-Alexandra Gibson

“What a Beautiful Name/Agnus Dei”

-Kyle Gibson

“Give Me Faith”

-David Guy

“Currently loving the song Runaway by Jess Ray.”

-Tyler Landis

“From The Inside Out”

-Jordan West

Q: What is your biggest/weirdest fear?

“My weirdest fear is dying in a hot air balloon.”

- David Bedford

“My biggest fear is snakes. My mind goes numb thinking about them.”

-Jordan Dinsmore

“My biggest fear is failure. Basically in any form.”

-Alexandra Gibson

“I fear having some sort of major moral failure. There’s so much pressure as a husband, father, pastor, and leader to be morally upright; but sin can so quickly and easily entangle us. I don’t live or operate in fear over this issue, but it’s often on my mind. I never want to think that I’m above such a thing happening to me. I’ve seen so many marriages fail, dads leave, pastors leave the church or even leave the faith altogether that it’s quite frightening and humbling. I’m thankful for a team of spiritual leaders like RLS to call me out on things or lift me up and encourage me in my walk with Christ. It’s truly a healthy model of discipleship.”

-Kyle Gibson

“Losing control. It is something that seems so trivial until it is taken away. It could be losing control over mental health, an addiction, or someone you love walking away.”

-David Guy

“Isaiah 41:10 says,

‘Fear not, for I am with you;

be not dismayed, for I am your God;

I will strengthen you, I will help you,

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.’”

-Tyler Landis

“I fear falling off a balcony…it’s terrifying.”

-Jordan West

Check out these songs from Red Letter Society:

Spotify

Christ Be Magnified

Apple Music

Christ Be Magnified

Our mission is to cultivate a theologically sound society through empowering the local Church with Christ-centered teaching and worship. Will you partner with us?

Click here to learn more!

5 Bible Characters’ Worst Moments in the New Testament

Summer Bedford — Thu, 07 Apr 2022 11:00:22 GMT

What’s the first thought that often enters a child’s mind when he does something wrong and realizes he’s been caught? Hide! How often do we have these same thoughts as adults when we realize that our Heavenly Father sees our mistakes? Perhaps we don’t talk to Him for a little while because we are afraid of what He might say. Maybe He didn’t notice because He was so busy with someone else. We might skip out on church or hanging out with our friends who are Christ followers. Anything to not be confronted with our sin.

The New Testament is filled with examples of people messing up time and time again (We’re all human.). Here are five examples of when Jesus caught people red-handed in their worst moments and how He reacted to their current predicaments.

The Samaritan Woman-

Scripture: “…Jesus said to her, ‘You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.’” - John 4:17

Context: Jesus had the nerve to waltz into Samaria early on in His ministry. What’s the big deal about that? Jews and Samaritans were like the modern-day Hatfields and McCoys. They knew to stay away from each other or there would be trouble. So was Jesus looking for trouble this day in Samaria? Not quite…He had a divine appointment with a woman in the middle of the heat of the day at a well. He shocked the woman by speaking to her and asking for a drink of water (Talking to a woman, and she’s a Samaritan? Two strikes already.). Jesus began to talk to her about the difference between the water in the well and living water. The woman doesn’t quite seem to get what’s going on here, so Jesus tells her to go get her husband. “Well, there’s a little problem,” she tells Him. “I don’t have a husband.”

Jesus responds, “Yeah, I know that. You’ve had FIVE and the dude you’re with now isn’t your husband.”

Yikes. Jesus has caught this woman in the middle of a life most likely filled with affairs and lies. She’s been trying to hide from everyone in her shame by coming to the well in the heat of the day, and He straight up shows up and drops the mic.

God’s Forgiveness Visible: Jesus greets this woman with an offering for eternal life, knowing who she is and that she is currently living with a man who she is not married to. He continues His offering of salvation even when she does not seem to understand His words. He takes the time to meet her where she’s at and doesn’t leave until she gets it. And boy, does she get it! Remember those people she was hiding from in her town? She goes running to tell every single one of them that the Messiah has come.

Zacchaeus-

Scripture: “Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy.” - Luke 19:1-2

Context: Ever heard the song phrase, “Zaccheus was a wee little man and a wee little man was he”? Is that even kosher anymore? I digress. This is the guy mentioned in the children’s song. He was a tax collector. Now, you’ve got to understand that tax collectors were considered scum to Jews. They worked with the enemy (Rome) and cheated the Jews out of so much money. Luke 19 mentions that Zaccheus was loaded. He had been cheating people out of their money for a long time. Zaccheus was working as a chief tax collector when he heard Jesus speaking in Jericho. He ran and climbed a tree just so he could see and hear Jesus.

God’s Forgiveness Visible: Jesus notices Zaccheus in the tree, calls to him, and invites Himself over to Zaccheus’ house. Way to self-invite, Jesus. All these people who were listening to Jesus hear Him talking to Zaccheus and their jaws drop. Like, what are you doing talking to this dirt bag? Don’t you know what he’s taken from us? Zaccheus is super excited that Jesus sees past his failings, and he tells Him right then and there, ‘Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.’” Heyooo! This dude gets it and Jesus is totally stoked. Salvation has come to the sinner.

Peter-

Scripture: “And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, ‘Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.’ But Peter said, ‘Man, I do not know what you are talking about.’ And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.’ And he went out and wept bitterly.” - Luke 22:59-62

Context: Peter’s one of Jesus’ closest friends. He gives 110% in everything he does. This is the guy who walked on water for a minute and who washed Jesus’ feet. But he has a pride problem. We see it when Jesus is telling the disciples that He is going to suffer in Jerusalem and be killed and rise again; Peter cries out, “Never, Lord! This shall never happen to you?”

Jesus reels around and spits, “Get behind me Satan!”

And once again, we see it after Jesus is indeed arrested and has begun to suffer. Three times Peter is “accused” of being with Jesus’ crew, and he blatantly denies it. Right after the third time Peter swears he doesn’t know Jesus, Luke says, “The Lord turned and looked at Peter.” Holy cow. What a haunting picture to try to erase.

God’s Forgiveness Visible: After Jesus’ resurrection, He makes several appearances, one taking place by the Sea of Galilee. Jesus takes the wrecked Peter aside and brings him out of his low place and reconciles him to Himself. He commissions Peter to feed His sheep; a command only given to believers. Jesus has forgiven Peter’s denial and calls him to eternal devotion.

The Thief on the Cross-

Scripture: “‘When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left.’” - Luke 23:33

Context: We don’t know much about the two men hung on crosses beside Jesus. Some translations call them rebels, others thieves or robbers. Whatever they did, the Romans found this to be worth a terrible death. One thief mocked Jesus telling him if He was so high and mighty, He should save them all. The other thief rebuked the former. He told him, “Hey, we did something wrong and deserve our punishment; He didn’t. Chill out.”

Then the thief gets really brave and asks Jesus to not forget about him in the next life.

God’s Forgiveness Visible: Jesus makes a promise to this criminal that he will join Him in paradise. The guy has made a decision in his last moments to follow Jesus, and Jesus is all about it. He doesn’t look at the guy’s past or the amount of time he has believed; He sees his short time of faith and still redeems him.

Saul of Tarsus-

Scripture: “He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’” - Acts 9:4

Context: A devout Pharisee all his life, Saul felt threatened when he heard people claiming Jesus had risen from the dead. The man held the coats of those who stoned Stephen, the first martyr. He went on a rampage killing Christians. He thirsted for their blood. But the day came when Jesus said, “Enough.”

He blinded Saul and crushed his spirit.

God’s Forgiveness Visible: Jesus sends a man named Ananias to restore Saul’s sight after Saul is blind for three days. He tells Ananias that He has great plans for Saul. He’s going to play an amazing role in proclaiming the Gospel to the ends of the earth. This man, Saul, who we often recognize as Paul, ended up writing about half of the New Testament.

Jesus used some pretty radical situations to show that He saw these people no matter what was going on in their lives. Jesus sees us in our worst moments, too. We can’t hide from Him. But we can run to Him. Forgiveness is always there for the taking.

So is that it, we can just do whatever we want and run and say we’re sorry without any consequences?

There are consequences. And there was a cross. Let’s never forget the cost of our mistakes. But let’s also remember how merciful our Heavenly Father is and be thankful for His grace. Just like He did for these five believers, let’s ask Him to take each one of us out of the mire and use us for His glory.

Looking for songs about God forgiving us in our worst moments?

Check out these songs from Red Letter Society:

Spotify

Apple Music

Our mission is to cultivate a theologically sound society through empowering the local Church with Christ-centered teaching and worship. Will you partner with us?

Click here to learn more!

Ministry Spotlight: The Fix Ministry

Summer Bedford — Mon, 04 Apr 2022 11:00:13 GMT

You drive past me every day as I walk alongside the main stretch to your office with my tattered pack over my shoulder and my ragged dog’s leash in my hand. Do you see me? Do you know that I’m here? Do you wonder about my story, my heartaches, my struggles, my fears? Do you even care? It wasn’t always this way. I had a family and a job. I had friends. I had dreams and goals. And then it all fell apart. And no matter how hard I try to change my story and want to get my life back, it never pans out. I end up in this same wretched place, walking along this same asphalt road, every day losing a little more hope of anything ever changing.

The Fix Ministry sees the homeless community and they are working hard to put hope back into these men and women’s lives.

What’s their mission?

To provide comprehensive, long-term assistance to people from all walks of life with serious life controlling issues.

How do they accomplish this?

Residential Facility: Men enrolled in this program live at The Lodge for 12-18 months and follow a rigorous schedule. They attend Bible classes and work, receive vocational training, or volunteer every day. The goal is to have them accumulate skills that will help them continue a successful path once they have graduated from the residential program.

The Fix Lighthouse: Members of The Fix meet with their local homeless community twice a week in order to build relationships and to provide for their immediate needs.

Drug Awareness Outreach: The Fix Ministry has been invited to several conventions, summits, and even a local school to speak about the negative impact that drugs and alcohol can have on people’s lives.

Why does this matter?

Homelessness can feel like an impossible mountain to climb. While meeting the homeless community’s basic physical needs is important, The Fix Ministry knows that finding the root cause of someone’s homelessness creates a starting point in actually bringing them out of the vicious cycle of poverty.

How You Can Help:

Visit The Fix Thrift store.
Cook meals for The Fix’s various ministries.
Provide vocational training opportunities.
Donate bedding, clothing, toiletries, and vehicles.
Give a monetary donation.

Members of Red Letter Society have had the opportunity to serve alongside The Fix Ministry in worship. Their faith and their love for others is so contagious! We cannot wait to see how God continues to use them and grow their ministry.

Looking for songs about God forgiving us in our worst moments?

Check out these songs from Red Letter Society:

Spotify

Apple Music

Our mission is to cultivate a theologically sound society through empowering the local Church with Christ-centered teaching and worship. Will you partner with us?

Click here to learn more!

Meet the Bible Cast: King David

Summer Bedford — Thu, 31 Mar 2022 11:00:13 GMT

2 Samuel 11

Rocks crunched under the worn sandals dragging across the beaten path, one foot struggling to keep up pace with the other. A staff aided his slow, steady, determined stride. Beads of perspiration clung to his brow, the taste of salt fresh on his chapped lips. He halted with a weary sigh, and then took in a deep breath of fresh cedar. His eyes raised to the high roof towering over the city of Jerusalem. With one more heavy breath, he scuffled up the polished stone stairs to bring his message to the king.

The palace doors thrust open with an echoing thunder. David looked up with a start from the scrolls he had been pouring over to see the familiar tattered robes, peppered hair, and strong resolve.

“Nathan,” David greeted the prophet, abandoning his scrolls and reaching arms out for a joyous embrace.

Nathan stood statuesque, his crooked spine then straightening as he began to speak.

“I am not here of my own accord,” he began.

David withdrew his arms, his face falling.

“Let me tell you a story, My King.”

David, nonplussed, obliged with a nod.

“There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor. The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle, but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him.

“Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him.”

Filled with anger and rage, David lashed out, “As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this must die! He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.”

“You are the man!” Nathan’s shout reverberated throughout the palace walls.

He moved toward Israel’s king, continuing in a harrowed tone.

“This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave your master’s house to you, and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you all Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.’”

David stared at the condemning prophet, stunned in disbelief. His foul secrets swirled in front of him, smiling their sickly, chilling smirk.

He crumbled to his knees, convulsing and then taking hold of the prophet’s gnarled hands in his own, smearing them with his tears.

“I have sinned against the Lord,” he cried in anguish.

“The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die,” Nathan comforted.

“But because by doing this you have shown utter contempt for the Lord, the son born to you will die.”

The man of God turned away with a painful glance and shuffled across the lustrous mineral floor, leaving a trail of dust in his wake.

David froze in a far-off look, absorbed in his own thoughts.

It was just a look. And then a thought. After that, a yearning desire.

I ordered men to her door. “You are needed by the king.”

I always get what I want.

I received a message soon after. A child. This was not my plan.

He was supposed to return. His loyalty for his men went too far.

What could I do? I, a king! I had no other choice. It wasn’t really my fault. He could have lived. But then I would have had to find another way…a king’s reputation is everything. A reputation for a life. Was that the trade? A moment of justification leading to a lifetime of anguish.

The turmoil inside my soul rages in a fit of desperation and confusion.

Chaos in my mind ensues and takes root. I cannot bear this torment.

I dare not seek Your face. To look upon Your glory in my shame.

Soon, the sun’s rays hid behind the night sky.

A day passed. Then, two.

“Eat, my Lord,” the king’s servants begged.

David refused. He dressed in sackcloth, begging God for the life of his son.

Seven days in total went by.

Whispers dispersed throughout the palace. The king’s son had died.

David stood up, brushing off his grime-filled knees from the ground. He methodically washed, covered himself in lotions and perfumes, slipped out of his sackcloth and into a robe of purple wool, walked into the house of the Lord and worshiped.

God, You always see me. You saw me in the fields as a lowly shepherd boy. You saw me in the caves, hiding from my enemies. Where can I run or hide that You are not there? Now you have seen me in my moments of great weakness and dishonesty. In my moments of sinful humanity and disdain. Have mercy on me, Oh God. Do not turn away from me. Cleanse me of my sin. Create in me a pure heart. Restore to me the joy of my salvation. I will sing to you a new song for You have been good to me.

David wiped away his tears, feeling a new sense of purpose, hope, and joy. God saw David. He turned his mourning into dancing, his sadness into joy with the birth of another son, Solomon. Nathan returned to the king’s palace with his gnarled staff and tattered soles to rename Solomon as Jedediah-the one the Lord loves. Peace and forgiveness burst forth in a cloud over David’s earthly throne.

Looking for songs about God forgiving us in our worst moments?

Check out these songs from Red Letter Society:

Spotify

Apple Music

Our mission is to cultivate a theologically sound society through empowering the local Church with Christ-centered teaching and worship. Will you partner with us?

Click here to learn more!

5 Bible Characters’ Worst Moments in the Old Testament

Summer Bedford — Mon, 28 Mar 2022 11:00:48 GMT

Have you ever had one of those moments where you just wanted to rewind something you had done? Maybe you were talking about someone behind their back and you started to notice an alarmed look on the person’s face you were talking to that could only mean one thing-that person you were talking about was right behind you. You then got that sick feeling in the pit of your stomach, knowing you really messed up this time and you’re not quite sure how you’re going to get out of this one.

We humans mess up a lot. We often think we can hide our mistakes from God, which is pretty hard to do considering He sees EVERYTHING! It seems easier to try to pretend these mistakes never happened than to have to face Him. We think about Big, Mean God throwing down His wrath like a ball of fire. And we often forget that while He does demand justice-being the perfect God that He is-He also offers forgiveness. All we have to do is ask for it and it’s ours.

Let’s look at five situations in the Old Testament where God showed mercy when people made some mammoth blunders.

Adam & Eve-

Scripture: “So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.”

- Genesis 3:23-24

Context: Adam and Eve were the pinnacle of God’s creation. They lived in the Garden of Eden, took care of everything God had created, and had fellowship with God. They only had to follow one rule: Eat whatever you want in the garden except fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. What a great gig!

Enter the serpent. He’s slick. He’s cunning. And he talks Eve right into eating from that tree. Adam’s standing right there and decides to take a bite himself. And they do experience the knowledge of good and evil-just like God himself. Except, not quite. God understood all things in His holiness, but man had learned through disobedience. The first emotion they both felt was shame. They tried to cover their shame by creating clothing out of fig leaves. When they heard God walking toward them soon after (Seriously-God walking toward them; how cool is that?!), they hid from Him in their guilt and shame. God confronts them on their sin (their disobedience to what He had commanded), and they are blaming everyone left and right. And God punishes Adam, Eve, and the serpent for what they have done.

God’s Forgiveness Visible: While there are consequences for Adam and Eve’s actions, God-so loving that He is-provides sufficient clothing for them to wear out of animal skin. He is foreshadowing Jesus one day taking the punishment for all of our sin to bring us out of our guilt and shame.

Moses-

Scripture: “But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.’” - Numbers 20:12

Context: “Moses” literally means to be pulled or drawn out. This Hebrew baby was named Moses when the daughter of the Egyptian pharaoh pulled him out of a basket in the water. Pharaoh had ordered all male Hebrew babies to be killed when they were born. Out of desperation, one mom put her baby inside a basket and floated him along the river. Her quick thinking saved her child’s life.

After having a run-in with the law when he was older and living under Pharaoh’s roof, that same child, Moses, ended up meeting with God in a burning bush in the wilderness. God used Moses and his brother Aaron to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt with the goal of ending up in the Promised Land He had set aside for them. And boy did God roll out the miracles. Every day these people got to experience things that only God could do. From parting the Red Sea to keeping from getting old (Where can I buy some of THESE clothes?!), God showed up for them.

And still, the Israelites grumbled. They were tired. They were hungry. Why couldn’t they go back to Egypt where everything was great (Um, did you forget the slavery part, guys?)? Blah, blah blah. God had used Moses to perform several miracles throughout the Israelites’ long journey. God would often tell Moses to do something pretty crazy-like hold up his staff and they would win a battle against the Amalekites. During one of the Israelites’ pity parties, Numbers 20:3-4 says, “They quarreled with Moses and said, ‘If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the Lord! Why did you bring the Lord’s community into this wilderness, that we and our livestock should die here? Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!’” (Told you these guys were dramatic)

Moses and Aaron met with God, and God told them to talk to a rock in front of the people and water would come out. But Moses was just too angry from all the Israelites’ complaining. He disobeyed God and struck the rock in front of everyone. He allowed anger to take a foothold and totally disobeyed God. And God delivers a crushing blow to Moses and Aaron. He tells them, “Hey, you didn’t listen to me and trust in me, so you will not be taking these people into the land I promised them.”

God’s Forgiveness Visible: Even in the middle of Moses’ disobedience, God shows His mercy. He still allows water to come from the rock for everyone to drink. And when it is time for Moses to leave this earth, God allows Him to see the Promised Land from the top of Mount Nebo and to take part in handing off his leadership role to Joshua. Moses is strong until the day he dies. And Deuteronomy 34 says that after God shows Moses the Promised Land, Moses dies and God Himself buries him. What an example of His loving kindness.

Samson-

Scripture: “Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding grain in the prison.” - Judges 16:21

Context: Samson lived during a time of Israel’s continuant defiance against God. Dedicated as a Nazarite at birth, Samson was never to cut his hair. God wanted to use him to defeat the Philistines who were oppressing the Israelites, and Samson’s long hair was an outward sign of God’s presence in him. While God’s presence was inside Samson, the dude was STRONG. Like, tear open a lion strong (Seriously, he did that.)

Unfortunately, Samson had a problem. He liked Philistine women. A lot. And the Philistines continuously tried to use this weakness against him. They threatened these women and offered them money to take Samson down.

Delilah was Samson’s true downfall. He was absolutely crazy about her. He was so head over heels that he didn’t even seem to get it when she was asking how he was so strong. Night after night, she tried to find out the secret of his strength to tell the Philistines. They would come in to attack him and he would still show his super strength. He danced around the truth for a while, but he finally gave in and told Delilah he had never cut his hair. Delilah cut Samson’s hair and all his strength left him. The Philistines attacked and were successful this time. The thing is, it wasn’t truly Samson’s hair that made him strong. It was God’s presence. And when Samson decided to put this woman above God in his life, God’s presence left him.

God’s Forgiveness Visible: The Philistine were brutal to Samson, taking away his sight and putting him in prison to do hard, manual labor. Not so easy without supernatural strength. During this difficult time in Samson’s life, he had a lot of time to think and to cry out to God. There’s such a cool moment of symbolism in Judges as Samson’s hair begins to grow back while his faith grows stronger. Samson is called in front of the Philistines to entertain them during one of their celebrations. He sees an opportunity to finally defeat the Philistines for the Lord. He asks God if He will give him back that supernatural strength just this one time to defeat the Philistines. God grants this request and allows Samson to bring down more Philistines in his death than he had during his life. So, where’s God’s forgiveness in this? This still sounds brutal! Imagine being filled with God’s presence and it being ripped from you in a moment. It would cause a desperate loneliness, thirst and desire that nothing could fill. As soon as Samson asks for this presence to enter his life again, God is there. He was there the whole time, just waiting for Samson to ask.

Josiah-

Scripture: “‘Go and inquire of the Lord for me and for the people and for all Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the Lord’s anger that burns against us because those who have gone before us have not obeyed the words of this book; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written there concerning us.’” - 2 Kings 22:13

Context: Named king of Judah at 8 years old, Josiah was one of the few “good kings,” meaning he tried to follow David’s example of how a king should be. However, Josiah was following heretell-he didn’t actually have the first five books of the Bible at his fingertips to follow. Hilkiah, the high priest during Josiah’s reign, found the Torah when the temple was being repaired and gave it to Josiah’s secretary, who then read it to the king. Josiah was devastated after he heard God’s words. He realized that his kingdom was totally screwed up. No one was doing what they were supposed to, and according to God’s word, they were all going to pay for it.

God’s Forgiveness Visible: God speaks through a prophetess and sends word to Josiah that yes, everyone has royally messed up, and He is going to have to bring judgment on them. But because Josiah was so filled with conviction when he found the Books of the Law, God said he wouldn’t let this happen under Josiah’s rule. He would rule in peace and not have to experience the disasters that would come.

Throughout these stories, we see that sin still has consequences. Debts have to be paid. But even in our worst moments when we turn to God and away from our selfish ways, He turns to us and shows His loving kindness. In every story, He is always waiting for us. And He always makes a way. That’s God’s forgiveness visible.

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Top 3 Books About Anxiety & Depression

Summer Bedford — Thu, 24 Mar 2022 11:00:10 GMT

Life is hard. For many of us, just getting out of bed every morning can be a battle. What bad news awaits us online or at the office? What’s the doctor going to say this time? It’s so much easier to just become numb to the world and the optical illusions it has to offer. The hits that keep coming can cause us to end up in a downward spiral, sinking deeper and deeper into sleepless nights and agitated days. And no Christians are talking about it. As one pastor in my hometown said, “Depression is arguably the skeleton hidden in many Christian closets.”

Thankfully, there are some believers speaking out about the toll that depression and anxiety can take on your lives and how to keep going when you feel like you can’t. Here are three resources that can give you the tools you need to start healing.

Title: Anxious for Nothing

Author: Max Lucado

Summary:

America is filled with anxious people. There are so many opportunities and there is so much information at our fingertips that is too hard to process it all. Anxious people often try to control their environments as much as possible. Max Lucado offers a path to depending less on ourselves and more on God when we are anxious using the following method:

C-Celebrate God’s Goodness

A-Ask God for help

L-Leave your concerns with Him

M-Meditate on the good things

Having this mind shift helps literally “calm” the anxiety when it begins to build up inside. There is so much peace knowing that while we can’t be in control of most things, there is a God who loves us and is sovereign over everything.

Key Takeaways:

“The presence of anxiety is unavoidable, but the prison of anxiety is optional.” (pg. 8)
“Others see the problems of the world and wring their hands. We see the problems of the world and bend our knees.” (pg. 30)
“The mind cannot at the same time be full of God and full of fear.” (pg. 32)
“As you sense anxiety welling up inside you, cast it in the direction of Christ. Do so specifically and immediately.” (pg. 86)
“No problem is unsolvable. No life is irredeemable. No one’s fate is sealed. No one is unloved or unlovable.” (pg. 123)

Scripture Reference:

“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things.” - Philippians 4:4-8

Title: Suffer Strong

Author: Katherine Wolfe

Summary:

Katherine and Jay Wolfe began their marriage at the top-she as an aspiring model and he in law school, living the good life in Los Angeles. Six months after having their first child, Katherine experienced a paralyzing stroke at 26 years old. One can only imagine the adversity this couple has overcome. As Katherine describes it, she one day had to decide to “get bossy with herself and put on her big girl panties.” She knew that God could still use her family in some amazing ways, even if everything might be a little more difficult from a wheelchair. While their first book Hope Heals focuses on their story of overcoming the odds, this book sheds light on the lessons they have learned along the way, with an emphasis on clinging to God in the hardest moments and allowing Him to use you not in spite of your brokenness but through your brokenness.

Key Takeaways:

“We all have invisible wheelchairs.” (ch. 1)
“Worship in its purest form doesn’t happen when everything comes perfectly together. It’s most powerful when everything is falling apart.” (ch. 3)
“The breaking of our hearts [can become] the making of our hearts.” (ch. 4)
“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths.” (ch. 7)
“God never wounds us more deeply than He can heal us.” (ch. 10)

Scripture Reference:

“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed…So we do not lose heart.” - 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, 16

Title: Goliath Must Fall: Winning the Battle Against Your Giants

Author: Louie Giglio

Summary:

We all have giants we’re dealing with in our lives. For some it’s fear. For others it’s rejection. Addition. Anger. Comfort. These giants can keep us from accomplishing all God has planned for us if we let them. By using an action-packed rendition of David and Goliath, Louie Giglio helps show us how to take these giants down. The key to it all? We are not David in the story of David and Goliath; Jesus is. It’s time for us to stop trying to be conquerors and let the One who has already won the battle take control.

Key Takeaways:

Our giants are already dead. They were conquered by Jesus on the cross. (pg. 57)
“Worship and worry cannot occupy the same space…one always displaces the other.” (pg. 74)
“You are worth Jesus to God.” (pg. 102)
“The greatest regret any of us will ever know is that of standing before Jesus knowing we lived too safe, too comfortable, too short-sighted. Realizing we were gluttons for pleasure when we were supposed to be lean warriors for others’ freedom and Jesus’ fame.” (pg. 130)
“Living like a victim is defeating and imprisoning.” (pg. 165)

Scripture Reference:

“David said to the Philistine, ‘You come against me with sword and 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. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head.’” - 1 Samuel 17:45-46a

Sometimes the easiest way to deal with depression and anxiety is to throw yourself on your bed, hide under the covers, and let the world pass you by. But the truth is, sleeping isn’t going to fix it. Being isolated isn’t going to fix it. Doing nothing isn’t going to fix it. All that does is let Satan win. The last thing he wants is for you to do what God designed you to do. If we learn anything from those who have persevered in these books, we need to understand that even through extremely challenging, life-altering circumstances that cause you to scream into your tear-stained pillow, you have to keep going. Even-no, especially-during these hard times, your focus needs to go to the cross. The battle has already been won. Jesus has already conquered your giants. We are here for a mission and we cannot waste away in sadness and in fear. We have a purpose, and it’s time we rise.

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Ministry Spotlight: Celebrate Recovery

Summer Bedford — Mon, 21 Mar 2022 11:00:01 GMT

You’re tired of feeling. You look for something to numb the pain. You may fall into food addictions or eating disorders. Perhaps alcohol, drug, or gambling addictions seem to help you focus on something else-or help you to not focus at all.

Whatever your path to forget your sadness, it often makes your life feel like it’s spinning out of control. Relationships begin to strain. You wake up in places you’ve never seen before. It’s hard to get to work on time and get the job done right. Something has to change. And ministries like Celebrate Recovery can help.

What’s their mission?

To provide a safe place for anyone struggling with hurt, pain or addiction of any kind to find community and freedom using a Christ-centered 12-step recovery program based on the Beatitudes (Matthew 5).

How do they accomplish this?

Celebrate Recovery: This ministry often meets in churches around America. Many locations offer dinner, worship, guest speakers, and accountability.

International Celebrate Recovery: This ministry is working to extend Celebrate Recovery worldwide by translating the program into other languages, mentoring global groups, and helping them set up locations across the world.

Why does this matter?

No one should go through struggles alone, and no one should be judged for their struggles. Creating a safe environment where people can seek help is such a crucial step to healing. And most important of all, it allows the sharing of the Gospel to the hurting and the brokenhearted. He is the only one who can provide the ultimate healing our sick souls seek.

How You Can Help:

Provide meals for your local group.
Become an accountability partner/sponsor from someone in a local group.
Start a group in your area if there is a need.
Give financially to the organization providing the facilities for your local group.

Red Letter Society shares Celebrate Recovery’s passion for the Beatitudes recorded in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5. Within this passage, Jesus teaches how we will only live a fully satisfied life by putting our hope in Him alone. We will struggle. We will experience pain. But if we put our trust in His Word and His Truth, we will receive our reward in Heaven. What a great day that will be!

Click here to find a Celebrate Recovery group near you.

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The Lost Sailor: Going to God in the Midst of Depression

Summer Bedford — Thu, 17 Mar 2022 11:00:05 GMT

Droplets ping against the window pane and fling their way into my eyes. They sting as they consume my lashes. Why now? How can this be? What did I do wrong? I continue to sink into despair.

It always begins as a small swell, its genesis deep off in the horizon. The swell often quickly rumbles forth into a wrathful chaos. The waves of my soul crash and surge. Waves rise, threatening to consume me. They whisper threatening tales of other lost sailors. Lies, deceit, and failure grip my very soul. The voices rise in my head, “It’s too much! Too much to bear!” Hide. Run. Scream. I am paralyzed. Fear. Loss. Hurt.

How dare God give me more than I can handle? More than I can bear. When will the drowning subside? When will the healing begin? I struggle to catch a breath in the sorrowful silence with no tears left to fall, my heart ready to burst. I sit like a small pebble nestled in the valley’s ravine, taking the impact of water racing into its tiny brook from every angle. This is not my first time having to be pulled from the raging storm.

Just say His name, I tell myself. From the depths of my soul comes forth a weary voice full of angst and desperation. “God”.

Saying His name feels like a cool trickle of water seeping down my salt-caked throat. His name swirls in my thoughts, and a peace and familiar comfort sweep into my soul. God is good. God is faithful. God is just.

I ask, “Why must I have this affliction?”

To show that I’m enough.

“How do I deal with this?”

Just keep holding on to Me.

“You gave me more than I can handle.”

Just keep looking up at Me. Yes, this is too much for you to handle. But it is not too much for Me.

And I thank Him. I thank Him for always reminding me that He is my assurance. I thank Him that He still has a purpose for me, even in all my weakness.

Only in the garden will there be perfection when we reunite once again.

But in the meantime, until that blessed day, You call my name through the roaring storm raging inside my soul. You take my hand and lead me to safe waters. You whisper, “Give it to me. I can bear it. I am enough.”

And I am content to remember that this life is not about coming out unscathed from the raging storm. It consists of the potter continuing to mold me and make me. The stormy waters may never subside, but my God is there making a way.

I can hear the wind whistling through the leaves that have begun to fall asleep. Rippling pools of water reflect the sun’s beams, creating a rainbow prism in the murky puddle. I raise my head up out of my deep, dark valley. Light has prevailed in the midst of threatening darkness once again.

“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed… So we do not lose heart.” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9, 16)

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You Are Not Alone: 4 Bible Characters Who Experienced Depression

Summer Bedford — Mon, 14 Mar 2022 11:08:33 GMT

"You’re a Christian. Christians don’t suffer from depression. You have the joy of Christ.” Ever heard that one before? It may have felt like a slap in the face against real feelings you have been experiencing. However, these innocently spouted words couldn’t be farther from the truth. We live in a fallen world. There are many people in the Bible who showed signs of experiencing extreme persistent sadness and loss of interest in daily activities. Let’s look at their stories and how they sought God during these difficult times.

Job-

Scripture: “And now my life seeps away.

Depression haunts my days.

At night my bones are filled with pain,

which gnaws at me relentlessly.”

- Job 30:16-17

Context: If you were to look on Instagram and think, Wow, that guy has it all, back in ancient times, you would be looking at Job. He had the money, the family, and he was just an all-around great guy. But one day, Job was put to the test. He lost his children and his wealth all in one day. His wife gave up on him, and his health became poor, as well. Talk about a rough time. Job sat on the ground for seven days and could not speak or eat. Friends at first tried to console him, but to no avail. Once he began to finally speak, said he wished he had never been born because his pain was so great. He felt as if he had nothing left to live for.

Then, his friends began to turn on him, saying that he or his family must have done something so wrong that God was taking out His wrath on Job. Hint: If your friend is super down in the dumps, this would NOT be the right thing to say. And Job is totally in his head at this point. Nothing else exists but his grief. Even if his friends had given words of comfort, they would not have been well-received. Job had reached the limit of what he could handle.

Seeking God: Throughout Job’s sufferings, he took moments to praise and to question God. He knew he had done nothing to anger the Lord and did not understand why he had to endure so much suffering. And God used this time to allow Job to seek Him and to trust Him on a whole new level. Several chapters of Job recount his crying out to the Lord. God responds in Chapter 38 with words of His power and sovereignty. After being completely broken before God, Job was able to climb out of the pit he had fallen into. God doubled His blessings on Job from before, and Job was able to live a “long, full life” (Job 42:17).

David-

Scripture: “Save me, O God,

for the waters have come up to my neck.

I sink in the miry depths,

where there is no foothold.

I have come into the deep waters;

the floods engulf me.

I am worn out calling for help;

my throat is parched.

My eyes fail,

looking for my God.”

- Psalm 69:1-3

Context: Raise your hand if you knew David, the “man after God’s own heart” (Acts 13:22) battled depression. David constantly encountered guilt, betrayal, and death in his lifetime. King Saul was always trying to kill him. His best friend Jonathan passed away in battle. He lost an infant son after taking another man’s wife. Another of his sons, Absalom, tried to take over David’s throne, and all David was concerned about was his relationship with his son during the attempted abdication! He saw more battles than a person ever should.

Imagine all this piling on you mentally over the years. It’s enough to make a person break.

Psalm 6:6 describes David’s emotional turmoil:

“All night long I flood my bed with weeping

and drench my couch with tears.

My eyes grow weak with sorrow;”

Seeking God: We see in Psalm 13 the progression of David turning his thoughts from darkness to light.

Step 1: He begins by asking,

“How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?

How long will you hide your face from me?"

At first, he cannot see past the mountain of his emotions. He feels hopeless and alone. We

know that God is not hiding from David, but David just can’t see it in the moment.

Step 2: We start to see a glimmer of hope in David’s soul as he tells the Lord in vs. 3 and 4,

“Look on me and answer, Lord my God.

Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death..."

This is a huge breakthrough for David as he is asking God to help him out of his desire to

sleep away the worries of the world. His mindset is beginning to shift toward hope and

victory.

Step 3: In vs. 5 and 6, David bursts out in song to the Lord:

“But I trust in your unfailing love;

my heart rejoices in your salvation.

I will sing the Lord’s praise,

for he has been good to me.”

His heart has turned to rejoicing His Savior. His mourning has begun to turn into dancing.

While David sinks into this state of mind several times throughout the Scriptures, he always

clings to the Lord, looking to Him for help and restoration.

Jeremiah-

Scripture: “Since my people are crushed, I am crushed;

I mourn, and horror grips me.”

- Jeremiah 8:21

Context: Jeremiah lived during a time where the kingdom of Judah wanted nothing to do with God. He was called by God at a young age to perform a special assignment: tell Judah what they’re doing wrong and what God’s going to allow to happen to them if they don’t change their ways. Oh, and never get married. Yikes. That’s a tough calling to take on. Jeremiah had a difficult time during the 40 years he lived as a prophet, preaching during the reign of the last four kings of Judah. He begged and pleaded for the people of Judah to listen to God. But instead, they spit at him, mocked him, and put him in prison. Eventually, Jeremiah saw a blood bath as Babylon overtook Judah. No wonder he is known as the “weeping prophet”.

Seeking God: While Judah wanted nothing to do with Jeremiah, God wanted everything to do with him. Jeremiah constantly ran to God in his loneliness, desperation, and sorrow. And God continued to restore Jeremiah’s soul. God gave Jeremiah constant reminders of hope, the most famous being Jeremiah 29:11:

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm

you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”

Perhaps not as well known is God’s words to Jeremiah in Jeremiah 33:6-9:

“‘...I will bring Judah and Israel back from captivity and will rebuild them as they were before.

I will cleanse them from all the sin they have committed against me and will forgive all their

sins of rebellion against me. Then this city will bring me renown, joy, praise and honor before

all nations on earth.’”

God’s promises were a constant balm on Jeremiah’s hurting heart. Even if Jeremiah would not see it in person, he knew that one day God would provide restoration after such destruction.

Paul-

Scripture: “For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.”

- 2 Corinthians 1: 8-9

Context: Paul never did anything halfway. After his meeting with Jesus on the road to Damascus, he never looked back. Such zeal quickly brought him into the hands of persecutors. While visiting Macedonia, he took no time for rest (2 Corinthians 7:5). In Asia, he and his companions experienced such pain that they thought they would no longer live. In 2 Corinthians 11, he mentions being shipwrecked, beaten with rods, stoned, hunger, and thirst. He speaks of sleepless nights and the anxiety he felt for the Church. He continues in 2 Corinthians 12 to say he has been given a thorn in his flesh that torments him.

Such suffering cannot come without a side of depression.

Seeking God: Every time Paul mentions his sufferings in the Bible, it is surrounded by the hope and strength he finds in Christ. He asked the Lord several times to take away his sufferings, but God allows it to continue so that He may use it to show His power and strength in Paul’s life. Paul learns to use his suffering as an opportunity to brag about God. He even says he “takes delight” in them if it will allow God to use him (2 Corinthians 12:8-10)

Suffering from depression does not make you less godly than anyone else. Just like God did with these amazing people in the Bible, God can use you just as you are to display His power and His strength.

I want to be clear-we turn to God in our suffering. But then we also turn to others for help. If you are feeling despair and disinterest in life, while God is our ultimate Healer, He has given humans the tools needed to counsel those suffering from depression and He has given us amazing medical advances to help those who need medical treatment.

For some, he will take away the feelings of despair while on this Earth, while others will continue the battle throughout their time here. Whatever path He has laid out for you, just remember-He is good. All the time. How cool will it be to one day see how He used our suffering for our good and for His glory!

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Scary Grace

Jordan West — Thu, 10 Mar 2022 12:00:08 GMT

It is really funny when and how inspiration will spark. One night my wife and I were watching BBC’s “Blue Planet II.” The intro monologue of the episode “Open Ocean” captured my attention and caused my brain to spin with ideas. It felt like I had discovered a song that had already been written and I just had to pause the show and be sure I wrote it down so I wouldn’t forget it (praise the Lord my wife is so gracious and understanding … we finished the show about an hour or so later).

If you have ever been out in the ocean far enough that you can’t see land, you will know that it is a slightly uneasy experience. I am not one who typically dwells in fear, but the thought of being out in the wilderness of the open ocean with the shore miles away from me and the ground hundreds of feet below me is terrifying. There is no controlling the ocean and your life is at the will of its mighty expanse.

A.W. Tozer writes in his book “Knowledge of the Holy” of God’s attributes. When describing God’s Infinitude, Tozer explains that any thing that God is, He is infinite of that thing. To explain that it a less head spinning way, God doesn’t have limits and nothing CANNOT exhaust anything he has to offer. When applying these thoughts to God’s grace we realize that we cannot exhaust the grace He offers to us.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God” - Ephesians 2:8

“The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness” - Exodus 34:6

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” - Hebrews 4:16

What is wild is that I am fearful of not being able to receive grace because of my sin and shame. However, the scary part of God’s grace is I can’t control it, understand it, earn it, or exhaust it. My human nature tells me that I have to work hard to receive the favor of God and to have his love, grace, and salvation, but there is nothing I can do to earn it. It is completely out of my hands. I am so thankful for JESUS for doing what I could not and giving me the opportunity to receive grace and mercy, not by my works but by His. I can receive it at the lowest moments of my shame and whenever I need it. I am given grace that is abounding and endless that no amount of failings can exhaust. The grace and favor of God is beyond my control but when I am found in the name of Jesus I find my life in the mighty expanse of His Grace.

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Meet the Bible Cast: Stephen

Summer Bedford — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 12:00:55 GMT

He cried in agony as they dragged him through the city by his ankles. His skin began to rip open as his back was beat against the rock-encrusted path. They finally halted outside of Jerusalem with a crowd congregating around the scene. Cast aside like a murderer, an adulterer, or a rapist, his only crime was to be filled with the Spirit and wisdom. He noticed several hands reaching to the ground to grasp their chosen weapons. The first smooth stone pelted his chest. Just as he gasped for air from the surprise of the impact, another rock struck his shin.

Hadn’t the apostles just prayed and laid hands on him to bless his role as a deacon in the Church to help the widows? The Gospel had begun spreading like a wildfire and the number of disciples had increased. This man of God had performed wonders that could have only come from the power of God.

But in the middle of his ministry, certain groups of Jews began to notice and disapprove. The young Greek continued to draw crowds of people with his signs and his controversial words. How dare he go against the law, members of the Synagogue of the Freedman muttered as their lips curled in disdain. They spoke out against the man’s words but could never win an argument.

In a turn of desperation, the disgruntled members began to seethe lies of this man’s blasphemy against the Jewish faith. With enough of the elders and teachers of the law on their side, they seized the evangelist and cast him before the Sanhedrin.

Gasps resounded throughout the room as the man’s face shone in a ray of light. When asked to defend his charges, he instead gave an account of the assembly’s history. He spoke of Abraham, Moses, Joseph, and Solomon. He continued in boldness and truth to accuse the Sanhedrin of denying and murdering their Redemption while in their house of worship.

In a rage of fury and incredulity, they began to threaten his life. Yet, it seemed as if he were not listening. He looked up toward the heavens, with the same shine on his face, and exclaimed, “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God…”

No one could count how many stones had now beat against the shattered body.

“How could he still be alive,” the mob began to mutter.

And in that moment, while stones still pounded against Stephen’s throbbing earthly shell, I heard him say, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

A small boulder brought him to his knees. He glanced at me and then to the heavens and gasped in a moment of grace, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”

And then he was no more.

After brushing the dust off my robe, I picked up the coats and handed them back to his jury. My work had only just begun.

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Ministry Spotlight: Grace Home Ministries

Summer Bedford — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 12:00:22 GMT

A moment comes for some when a blessing feels like a curse. Their world feels as if it has crashed around them and there is now way to push back the blocks of fear and anxiety of disappointed parents and deflated dreams. When that moment comes, as it does for so many young women with unplanned pregnancies, organizations like Grace Home Ministries step in to help.

What’s their mission?

To provide support services for young women facing an unplanned pregnancy, equipping them with the knowledge and tools to have a successful and more abundant life.

How do they accomplish this?

Grace Home: Young women who enter this home become a family unit. They are mentored and encouraged throughout their pregnancies physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally. Residents are emboldened to continue their education through 12th grade. They are also required to volunteer or work while in the home.

The Grace Project: Local school systems reached out to Grace Home Ministries asking for assistance in helping their students who faced unplanned pregnancies figure out their next steps. They receive counseling and have physical needs met, as well. Some of these women have become residents of Grace Home.

Why does this matter?

Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”

There is often a lot of guilt and shame surrounding an unplanned pregnancy. These young women need to hear that they are loved and that God has a purpose for their lives and for their children. They need to know that they have a family supporting them and a Savior just waiting to pick them up off their knees and ready to comfort them when they cry.

How You Can Help:

Providing childcare while teen moms meet with their mentors.
Becoming a mentor to cheer these young women on.
Working as a School Liaison to communicate what resources are available.
Donating to support their various projects and ministries.

Red Letter Society had an opportunity to partner with Grace Home Ministries in 2019 at their annual golf tournament fundraiser. What an honor to meet some of these wonderful young women and to hear their stories of perseverance and hope!

Want to learn more? Visit https://gracehomeministries.org/

Looking for songs about God's grace? Check out these songs from Red Letter Society:

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5 Examples of God’s Grace in the Old Testament

Summer Bedford — Mon, 28 Feb 2022 12:00:35 GMT

Grace: unearned, undeserved, and unconditional kindness, generosity, and favor

You may recognize grace as more of a New Testament concept. God showed us grace by sending His Son to die on the cross and paying the ultimate price for your sin and mine.

However, God’s grace appears all throughout the Old Testament, as well. In fact, he often used people to show other people His favor. Check out these 5 examples of God’s grace showing up in the Old Testament:

Joseph-

Scripture:

“But Joseph said to them, ‘Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.’ Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.” Gen. 50: 19-21

Context:

All 13 of Jacob’s sons knew that Joseph was the favorite. And if anyone doubted Dad’s preferential treatment, making Joseph a fancy robe sealed the deal. Everyone sort of laughed it off. I mean, every parent has a favorite child, right (Come on, you know you do.)? But then, Joseph started rubbing it in everyone’s faces. He started telling his brothers about these crazy dreams he was having about all their bundles of grain bowing down to his and how he thought it meant they would one day bow down to him. His brothers had finally had enough.

When Joseph brought lunch to his brothers while they were working one day, they threw him in an empty well and then sold him to some merchants traveling in the area. After many years of working his way up (fast forward past the psycho married lady and ravens picking a baker’s eyes out), Egypt was in the middle of a famine and Joseph was in control of all the food. His brothers came to buy grain, and Joseph knew exactly who they were. After messing with them a bit, he ended up giving them food and convincing them to bring their dad and live nearby so he could take care of them.

Everything was great until dad passed. What if Joseph was finally going to pay them back for selling him when he was young? After receiving their pitiful letter saying Dad’s dying wish was for him to forgive them and when they fell at his feet saying they would serve him (A little dramatic, don’t you think?), Joseph stopped them and basically said, “Hey guys, you tried to hurt me, but God used this for His purposes. It’s all good. I’m still going to take care of you.”

Grace Defining Moment:

Joseph had become as powerful as Pharaoh. With a snap of his fingers, he could have turned his brothers away-twice-to pay them back for the way they treated him. But instead, he took those opportunities to see the good that God had done and extended a hand to his brothers. He brought them and their entire families to Egypt and took care of them for the rest of his life.

Joshua-

Scripture:

“But Rahab the prostitute and her father's household and all who belonged to her, Joshua saved alive. And she has lived in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.” Joshua 6:25

Context:

Remember when the Israelites walked around the walls of Jericho for seven days and then they shouted and the walls fell? Before the entire nation traveled to the city, Joshua sent a couple of spies to check out the lay of the land. They needed somewhere to stay and were invited to a Rahab, a prostitute’s, house. Now, I know what you’re thinking, but hey-it wasn’t like that. Jericho’s king caught wind that these guys were in town and when he tried to find them, Rahab, covered for them while they hid on her roof.

She knew that God was going to give this land to the Israelites and all she asked was that they save her and her family. They agreed to save her and her family on three conditions: 1) Keep their secret. 2) Tie a scarlet cord in her window. 3) Gather all her family in her house. Now, this seemed like a great deal. But the reality was, these two spies didn’t call the shots.; Joshua did.

Grace Defining Moment:

Rahab was a prostitute behind enemy lines. She was the least of the least according to the Israelites. Joshua wasn’t the one who made the promise to Rahab, and who would have known the difference if he didn’t save her and her family? But Joshua chose to keep the spies’ promise to this young woman and made sure her entire family was safe. She lived with the Israelites the rest of her life. And you want to know the coolest part? Her name is in the lineage of Jesus.

Boaz-

Scripture:

“As [Ruth] got up to glean, Boaz gave orders to his men, ‘Let her gather among the sheaves and don’t reprimand her. Even pull out some stalks for her from the bundles and leave them for her to pick up, and don’t rebuke her.’” Ruth 2:15-16

Context:

You did NOT want to be a widow during Old Testament times. If your husband passed away, everything you had was given to a relative. So, when Naomi became a widow and her daughters-in-law lost both their husbands, she could only hope a family member would take her in and the young women would be able to find husbands in their hometowns. One daughter-in-law, Ruth, refused to leave Naomi’s side. Ruth followed Naomi to Bethlehem to take care of her. With no food pantry available, Naomi sent Ruth to glean a cousin’s fields. When the field workers dropped any grain,, they were supposed to leave it for the needy and travelers. The two women hoped this would be enough to help them get by. Naomi’s cousin Boaz noticed the young woman working so hard to pick up scraps. He asked around and found out she was a Moabite woman, meaning she really wasn’t family and probably served other gods.

Grace Defining Moment:

Boaz had compassion when he heard how Ruth had followed her mother-in-law to another town to take care of her. He took her under his wing and made sure his workers would protect her. He then secretly ordered them to “accidentally” drop more wheat when she was following them picking up the scraps. After a little time had passed, Boaz offered Ruth the ultimate grace as her kinsman redeemer. He married her in her poverty, offering her wealth and protection in her time of need.

David-

Scripture:

"And David said to [Mephiposheth], 'Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always.'" 2 Samuel 9:7

Context:

To say King Saul and David had a rough relationship would be an understatement. They played a constant game of cat and mouse after Saul found out David would one day be king. Saul would try to kill David, then he would get caught, and he would beg for David’s forgiveness. Then he would go after him again and again. One time, David even cut Saul’s robe while Saul was using the bathroom (Not even kidding. Check out 1 Samuel 24!).

In the middle of all this crazy past with Saul, David had befriended Saul’s son Jonathan. We’re talking fist-bumping, spit-shaking, dude soul-mates. Sadly, David lost his best friend Jonathan in the same bloody battle that Saul died in. But the death of Saul and his sons paved the way for David to finally become king, as he was promised when he was a teenager. It was David’s time to shine. As he began to settle into his role as king, he started to ask around if there were any relatives left of Jonathan’s. A servant told him one of Jonathan’s sons named Mephibosheth still lived. He had been crippled since he was 5 years old. So, here we’ve got a guy who is David’s mortal enemy’s grandson and who is an outcast of society. And David brings him to his house.

Grace Defining Moment:

In ancient times, when a new ruler came to power, he annihilated the entire family of the previous leader. But in David’s case, in order to show kindness to his friend who had passed, he brought Mephibosheth into his house and gave him Saul’s land and a seat at David’s table, as if he were one of David’s own sons. Mephibosheth was in such shock at David’s kindness that he basically replied, “I’m sorry, what? Why me?” This act of kindness was so amazing for all who watched (Unfortunately, in the end, Mephibosheth takes advantage of David’s kindness and tries to overthrow his kingdom, but we won’t go there today. Let’s just bask in the glory of the moment).

Artaxerxes-

Scripture: "…'If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it.' Then the king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, 'How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?' It pleased the king to send me; so I set a time." Nehemiah 2:5-6

Context:

After God had allowed the Israelites to live in captivity under the Babylonians, the Persians began to dominate the world. Nehemiah rose to the position of cupbearer and confidant to the King of Persia, Artaxerxes. While in this position, Nehemiah received news that the Jewish remnant was in a terribly vulnerable position. The walls of Jerusalem and its gates had been practically demolished; thus the people living there were without protection.

After doing a whole lot of praying, Nehemiah took a deep breath and decided it was time to talk to the king. When Artaxerxes asked what was wrong, Nehemiah explained the situation, knowing that he could easily offend the king and be killed.

Grace Defining Moment:

In a faith-defining moment for Nehemiah, Artaxerxes held all the chips. His servants lived to please his every whim. So, when Nehemiah asks if he can go rebuild the city of Judah, Artaxerxes must decide if it’s in his best interest to lose his cupbearer to this task. Artaxerxes asks Nehemiah, “How long will your journey be, and when will you return?” (Nehemiah 2:6). Artaxerxes grants Nehemiah’s request to leave. Not only that, but he also gives him the means for supplies to rebuild the city and makes Nehemiah the governor. And did I mention the army he sent with him, as well, to keep him safe? A pagan king showed such a level of grace to one Jewish servant.

Doesn’t God show His grace in some of the craziest ways? I think He often uses the most unexpected people just so everyone knows it has to be Him calling the shots. If He can use a prostitute and a pagan king to show grace to His people, then maybe it’s time for Him to use us.

This week, I’m offering you the Grace Challenge:

For the next 7 days, ask God to help you extend grace in the following areas: 1. Home-Your spouse, kids, and neighbors

2. Work-Your co-workers and boss

3. Church-That person who takes your front row seat

4. Running Errands-Other drivers and shoppers

As 2 Timothy 1:9 says, “He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time…”

So, let’s do this. Let’s all get on the grace train and see how God can use us to show others His grace.

Looking for songs about God's grace? Check out these songs from Red Letter Society:

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