Brothers & Sisters

November 3, 2015 By: Angela Parlin

I remember driving down an old dirt road in Genesee County, Michigan, with Dad behind the wheel, Mom up front next to him, and three of us girls sitting in the back.

Probably not even in seatbelts, because that’s how we rolled before the whole “Buckle Up” campaign spoiled our in-car freedom.

We were headed to some gathering, I’m not even sure what, and Dad was giving us his “Remember Who You Are” speech.

Let’s not go in there kids and act like hoodlums.

He didn’t actually say it that way, but the point was, you’re part of this family, you’re a Lenhart, you belong here, and you represent us.

That speech didn’t always produce the desired results for our parents, but it instilled in us a sense of belonging. We were proud to be part of our family, at least until certain seasons of adolescence. 🙂

I was proud to call my sisters mine—except maybe when they did something really embarrassing.

But we have a Brother who sits at the right hand of God in heaven, and He is not ashamed to call us brothers and sisters.

He is the Word who spoke us into being and now sits at God’s right hand in heaven, God who became fully human in order to restore us to holiness.

Both the One who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. Hebrews 2:11

Jesus calls us brothers and sisters, and He’s not ashamed of us.

Isn’t that amazing? Because you guys, He already knew.

He knew the lies we’d tell and the pride we’d hold onto and the sin we’d excuse away because everybody’s doing it. He knew we’d struggle to fully believe and we’d cling to fears rather than clinging to Him. He knew the hurtful words we’d say, how we’d spend our time and money, and how wrapped up in our own selves we’d be.

Still, Jesus identified with us as humans, and He calls us His family, His sisters.

How does that make you feel? Does it change your outlook today? Maybe we should meditate on it, because it will take some time to sink in.

Jesus is not ashamed to call you sister. He calls us holy, even though we are still being made holy.

Hebrews 2 goes on to quote Jesus in three instances. Jesus declares God to his brothers and sisters and they praise Him together, He calls believers the “children God has given Him”, and He says, “I will put my trust in the Lord.” (v. 13)

Jesus gave us a beautiful example of dependence on God–which is the way each of us who are God’s children are meant to live.

When I read through the gospels, I’m always struck by how often Jesus goes off on his own, to a quiet place, even in the middle of His important ministry years, in order to hear from God. He shows us what it looks like to trust in the Lord.

I haven’t mastered this kind of dependence on God, but I press on. I look to Him. I get alone with Him. I wait for Him to give me direction.

May our days be marked by trust, sisters of Jesus.

I will wait for the Lord…I will put my trust in Him. Here am I, and the children the Lord has given me… Isaiah 8:17-18

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When Little Aches Turn into Giants in the Night

October 27, 2015 By: Angela Parlin

Jesus Frees Us From Fear

I laid in bed last night, awakened by the wind, and my mind wandered to the ache in my daughter’s back.

I need to get her to the doctor, I thought. What if it’s something real? What if it’s not growing pains, like I suggested? What if?????

What a horrible place to find yourself in the middle of the night. You want to get back to sleep, but instead worry about little aches and turn them over into giants in your mind. I’ve faced a lot of giants in the middle of the night, but few of them towered so tall in the light of day.

When I worry about things beyond my control, it robs me of sleep and displays my lack of trust in God. In those times, I’m thinking life exists for me and what I want or need.

I remembered a verse I’d studied the day before–

In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what He suffered. Hebrews 2:10

I repeated the phrase–God, for whom and through whom everything exists.

Everything exists FOR God and THROUGH God.

This life isn’t about me and what I want. It’s God’s world, and I’m living whatever He allows me, in His time, with His plans, for His own purposes. This brings a different perspective up against my worries and fears.

Through Jesus Christ, God brought many sons and daughters to glory.

Don’t ever forget He is a good God.

His heart is to rescue us from the kingdom of darkness, to transfer us over to the Kingdom of Light, and He accomplishes this through Jesus.

God made Jesus–the pioneer of our salvation–perfect through His sufferings. Jesus’ suffering qualified Him to redeem us. He became fully human, fully like us in our flesh and blood, which made Him able to save us, and to understand our humanity.

He suffered in all the ways we suffer. He endured life’s hassles and difficulties just like us, enduring through hunger and thirst and exhaustion and loss.

All the while, Jesus trusted in God, leaning on the everlasting arms.

All the while, God worked through His sufferings to bring about His greater purposes.

Jesus is called the pioneer of our salvation. In the Greek, this word applies to a leader, ruler, or prince.

In this context, Pioneer carries the sense of Champion–the one who came to the aid of all who were enslaved to the enemy.

He too shared in their humanity, so that by His death He might break the power of him who holds the power of death–that is, the devil–and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. Hebrews 2:14-15

At one time, the devil held the power of death over us, because of our sin. He continues to tempt us, but no longer does he hold that power over us, because Jesus frees us. The devil no longer has any claim over us as believers, because Jesus has made us right before God.

Free, free, we are free at last.

We are free from fear of death, free from fear of all the things which turn into giants in the night.

Sometimes we just need the reminder of our freedom, the reminder of Jesus and who He is and all He’s done for us.

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Some Things Are Meant For Unfolding

October 22, 2015 By: Angela Parlin

We’ve been working on folding shirts a new way, in my two younger kids’ rooms, because the old way, Mom’s way, was not working.

Our new fold is really a cross between rolling and folding. Instead of stacking shirts flat, we place them in their drawers almost upright. The kids are able to see which shirt they’re pulling out before they move anything around, and so the rest of the drawer stays neat. I like neat. 🙂

Our littlest is five, a great age for being a helper. This new fold is something he does well, and he’s excited because he does it all by himself. He often says, “You HAVE TO come see this, Mom! My shirts are so good!”

I gasp and tell him, “I’ve never seen anything so neat (especially in this room)!” And he nods his head, proudly.

We get a little excited around here about new systems for keeping things neat and tidy and well-managed. But there are some things which were never meant to be kept in a drawer, out of the way, folded up tight, and managed.

Psalm 119:30 says, The unfolding of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.

I wonder, what is this unfolding, and how often do we approach God’s Word this way?

Do you come to this ancient book, ready to unfold the words and let them unfold upon you?

Do you sit long enough to allow layer upon layer to open before your eyes, lighting the path of your life? Lighting the way to life?

I love to study God’s Word, yet I’m convicted. Sometimes I allow myself to get swept up in the busyness of life, much of that busyness my own making. Then I approach God’s Word as a super-quick fill-up. I know I need it to get through the days, but I don’t always spend the time.

I don’t always approach the Word the way I’d approach a person I love.

I come rushed, asking for what I need, and please, God, drop it on me fast, because I also need to be out the door in a minute.

I hope you don’t hear any condemnation here. I believe God honors any minute we give Him, just as He honors the hours. But sometimes I see a pattern in me, and I wonder if you see the same.

Sometimes I forget this book is a treasure waiting to be unfolded, waiting to give us light.

His Word is alive and divides me in two. It lifts my eyes beyond everything I can see. It lifts my eyes to heaven. It grows my love for Jesus, for others, and even my love for me–as His work of art, His chosen, His beloved, His sister.

Do you unfold His words, and let them unfold upon you?

To unfold means to open. That’s a pretty straightforward starting place. We open His Word and let His words enter into our hearts.

To unfold is also to reveal, which is something the Lord does for us. He unfolds His words upon us, reminding us of truth or revealing truth in a new way.

Finally, to unfold is to interpret or expound, which takes time and the effort to dig in.

God’s Word is a treasure, and any effort we spend unfolding it, manifests in our lives as light and understanding and wisdom.

Lord, Your Word is perfect, and it refreshes our souls. Your Word is trustworthy, making us wise. Your Word is right, giving joy to our hearts. Your Word is radiant, giving light to our eyes. Your Word is righteous and pure. It is firm and endures forever. Your words are more precious than gold. Help us to treasure them, to treasure You. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. {adapted from Psalm 19}

See this post at PurposefulFaith.com!

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What Does it Mean to Ignore Such a Great Salvation?

October 13, 2015 By: Angela Parlin

Pay the most careful attention to the gospel, so that you do not drift away.

As I wrote last week, this warning came to Jewish believers, who were tempted to return to the religion and rituals of their culture.

In the previous chapter, the writer reminds us of Jesus’ position as God’s Son–that He made and owns the world, sustains all things, is the representation and radiance of God, provides purification from sin, and is seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven.

In view of these truths about Jesus, our best response is to highly esteem Christ and His gospel.

Esteem Christ, who is superior to the prophets and angels, Christ who is superior to the Law of Moses. (See post on Hebrews 1–Jesus, Where Are You?)

Why, then, was the Law given at all? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The Law was given through angels and entrusted to a mediator. Galatians 3:19

The Law was given to make people aware of sin. But the Law was only a shadow of something better to come. The promised Seed, Jesus Christ, is that Something Better. Jesus is the superior One who we hold in the highest regard, whose offer of salvation we must never ignore.

For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, How shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? Hebrews 2:2-3a

The “message spoken through angels” refers to the Law of Moses, which demanded to be taken seriously. Hebrews 10 tells that anyone who rejected the Law died without mercy.

Since Jesus is greater than the Law, how much more seriously we should take His words? How much more should we act on them?

What does it mean to ignore so great a salvation?

After all, this passage is not speaking to unbelievers, but to believers. This question is not about rejecting Christ for salvation–it’s about neglecting to abide in Jesus Christ, to walk with Him each day.

To ignore such a great salvation is to neglect or make light of it. It’s to stay wrapped up in our own lives, and to make little room for the Lord. It could be simply staying too busy to spend time with Him.

When we neglect to meet with Jesus in prayer, and we choose to live our lives without the input of His Word, we are ignoring such a great salvation.

In Matthew 22, a king prepares a great wedding feast for his son, and his servants invite the guests to come.

But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business. (verse 5)

They refused to stop what they were doing. They were too busy, and so they ignored the opportunity. Others were invited instead. Others were willing to come. What a sobering story.

May it never be the way we treat the gospel. May it never be the way we treat King Jesus.

And yet, haven’t we all at some time?

Let us abide in Christ and make room for His Word, so that we esteem Jesus Christ as Lord of our lives.

I’d love for you to join me on this journey…Subscribe in the box to the right, and you’ll never miss a new post! Thanks, Angela

Kingdom Treasure

October 8, 2015 By: Angela Parlin

What do you desire?

It may be the most important question you’ll ever answer.

Before you respond with the answer you think you should say, give it some thought. Resist the temptation to use the fast-pass. Let these questions help you get to the heart of what you desire most.

What makes you happy?
What is it you crave, that you’re sure would make you happier?
What do you worry about?
What are you afraid of?
Where do you run for comfort?
What do you fear losing, or fear never attaining?
What would you never want to live without?

Jesus spoke about treasure in the book of Matthew. He told a mini-parable, comparing the kingdom of heaven to a treasure.

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” (Matthew 13:44, NIV)

Many people think Jesus makes the point that we should treasure the kingdom of heaven so much, that we’d give up everything in order to gain it.

While most of us would agree, that finding the kingdom of heaven is like finding treasure, we struggle with the part about giving up everything.

Let’s be honest, don’t you want to believe Jesus wants you to have it all—and Him too? Yet this parable shows us something different.

In his Joy he went and sold all he had and bought that field.

Clearly, the man saw something wonderful there. He found joy in the treasure.

We, too have found joy in God’s Presence. But like our mothers used to say, we “want to have our cake and eat it, too.”

We’ve turned our eyes upon Jesus–but for many of us, the things of this earth have not yet grown dim.

We know He’s the only One who satisfies–yet we look to other people and things and involvements and accomplishments and pleasures–to fill our souls.

We need to bring it all to Jesus–to offer Him our worries, dreams, fears, and desires–and then ask Him to BE our greatest desire.

Even so, there’s another interpretation of this parable. It changes the whole conversation.

What if the man in the story who found the treasure is Jesus?

He sold all He had to save the world. With joy, He gave up everything, to reconcile us to God.

But the story didn’t end there.

He endured the cross, with joy, so we could taste and see His goodness. He bought the field, to make us His family.

He gave up all, in order to open wide the door and let us enter. And then everything He owns becomes our own.

If the man in the story is Jesus, that means WE are the treasure.

And the world grows dim. Does it not?

May the world remain behind us, and the cross before.

*Be sure to check out the Life Passionately blog (click here), where my words are featured today. There you will find the beautiful My Life Day Planner, to help you organize your life while keeping you grounded in God’s Word. My friend, Carley, is the amazing artist behind this project, and her heart is to bring Jesus into our daily lives, keeping God at the forefront of our minds. You won’t want to miss her lovely work!

**Also linking up with Suzie Eller at #livefreeThursday today, with the prompt: this is me. Because I am His treasure, this IS me. In Him, I see more clearly who I really am. I hope the same for you!

Always, feel free to share these words, and don’t forget to subscribe to receive these updates each week! Thank you for coming along!

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I remember driving down an old dirt road in Genesee County, Michigan, with Dad behind the wheel, Mom up front next to him, and three of us girls sitting in the back.

But we have a Brother who sits at the right hand of God in heaven, and He is not ashamed to call us brothers and sisters.

Both the One who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. Hebrews 2:11

Still, Jesus identified with us as humans, and He calls us His family, His sisters.

Jesus is not ashamed to call you sister. He calls us holy, even though we are still being made holy.

May our days be marked by trust, sisters of Jesus.

I would love to have you along for this journey with me! Subscribe in the box to the right…thank you!

Share this:

Like this:

In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what He suffered. Hebrews 2:10

Everything exists FOR God and THROUGH God.

Don’t ever forget He is a good God.

In this context, Pioneer carries the sense of Champion–the one who came to the aid of all who were enslaved to the enemy.

He too shared in their humanity, so that by His death He might break the power of him who holds the power of death–that is, the devil–and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. Hebrews 2:14-15

*Will you join me here each week? Subscribe in the box to the right–Thank you for being here!

Share this:

Like this:

Psalm 119:30 says, The unfolding of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.

Do you come to this ancient book, ready to unfold the words and let them unfold upon you?

I don’t always approach the Word the way I’d approach a person I love.

Sometimes I forget this book is a treasure waiting to be unfolded, waiting to give us light.

Do you unfold His words, and let them unfold upon you?

See this post at PurposefulFaith.com!

*Will you join me here each week? Subscribe in the box to the right–Thank you for being here!

Share this:

Like this:

Pay the most careful attention to the gospel, so that you do not drift away.

In view of these truths about Jesus, our best response is to highly esteem Christ and His gospel.

For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, How shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? Hebrews 2:2-3a

What does it mean to ignore so great a salvation?

To ignore such a great salvation is to neglect or make light of it. It’s to stay wrapped up in our own lives, and to make little room for the Lord. It could be simply staying too busy to spend time with Him.

But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business. (verse 5)

Let us abide in Christ and make room for His Word, so that we esteem Jesus Christ as Lord of our lives.

I’d love for you to join me on this journey…Subscribe in the box to the right, and you’ll never miss a new post! Thanks, Angela

Share this:

Like this:

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” (Matthew 13:44, NIV)

We’ve turned our eyes upon Jesus–but for many of us, the things of this earth have not yet grown dim.

We need to bring it all to Jesus–to offer Him our worries, dreams, fears, and desires–and then ask Him to BE our greatest desire.

What if the man in the story who found the treasure is Jesus?

If the man in the story is Jesus, that means WE are the treasure.

Share this:

Like this:

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