Tag: #grateful

A Reliable Witness

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

In a world searching for answers in all the wrong places, there is a hope that doesn’t just survive the storm—it breaks the chains. His name is Jesus, and He is the reliable witness to the life you were meant to live.

Come to me all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (Matt. 11:28).

Embrace this truth, and He will set you free—free from the slavery to sin that binds us all. I remember a time after leaving the abusive relationship when I believed I was in a good place. Still, I hadn’t told anyone what I had gone through or how I coped with it. I would say I suppressed it and told myself I was okay.

One of my church leaders confronted me about not having seen a counselor and even arranged to pay for my first six visits. This happened after he shared a dream with our group about a child walking with him and a chair with chains in the back of the room. He knew that once he stopped talking to the child, it would go back to the chair. I started crying, realizing the dream was about me.

At one time, I would have returned to the chair or chains. Even though I didn’t tell him the details, I didn’t have to – God worked through him to help me realize that, although I was free from the chains, I needed to peel back some layers and start my healing journey from what I had endured at the hands of an abuser.

Just as the Bible testifies to Christ, this leader witnessed my lingering pain, and you can now witness God’s healing in your own life.

It wasn’t until I had my abuse validated that I felt anger, an emotion necessary to start my journey. God uses this as a warning that something’s wrong.

Are you still chained to something from your past? Christ offers complete freedom and healing. Don’t let it eat away at your insides. That is a miserable existence. You are meant for so much more. Your heart can be transformed from death to life.

My healing journey involved peeling back layers of a painful past. Interestingly, when we examine Jesus’s lineage, we see that He didn’t shy away from ‘layers’ or ‘labels’ either; He directly embraced a family history as complex as ours to show us He truly understands.

Christmastime is approaching, and it’s a good opportunity to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Some may still question His lineage, but the Bible makes it clear that Jesus was both divine and fully human. His human side experienced the same pain and temptations as we do (Matt 4:1). In other words, you can bring whatever you are going through to Jesus, and He understands (Heb. 4:15). In return, He offers comfort, peace, healing, and shelter from the storms of life. He doesn’t say there won’t be storms but provides hope and peace through them (John 16:33).

In his book, The Case for Christmas, Lee Strobel states, “Jesus lived physically and emotionally on our planet, so when we bring him our problems, worries, and challenges, he can relate to us personally.” He also mentions, “Thanks to Jesus’ divinity, he can provide us with supernatural wisdom and the power of God to assist us.”

You can see Jesus’s lineage in both Matthew and Luke, whose genealogy includes men, women, adulterers, heroes, and Gentiles – showing that Jesus came to be the Savior for all and that His family tree is full of broken people, just like us.  (Matt. 1:1-16; Heb. 11:31; Josh. 2:1; James 2:25; Prov. 31).

Matthew traces Jesus’ lineage from Abraham to emphasize His Jewish heritage, whereas Luke traces it back to Adam to show that Jesus fulfills the hope of all humanity (Luke 3:23-38; Acts 17:26).

But don’t just take my word for it. John the Baptist, Moses, and the Scriptures were all witnesses that pointed to Jesus (Biblica Study Bible). Still, the most reliable witness was God Himself. The description of Jesus as God’s Son is supported by His genealogy—in other words, God’s declaration at His baptism, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased” (Luke 3:22, Emphasized), provides clear testimony, with God Himself serving as a trustworthy witness.

The Biblica Study Bible notes that studying and learning all the Scriptures is beneficial, but it’s Jesus who gives meaning to everything Scripture teaches.

Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to Me except through me (John 14:6, Emphasis added).

The truth will set you free.

Paul explains how we are all in darkness and are brought to the light when we accept Christ. He encourages us to “walk as children of the light” (Eph. 5:8, Emphasis added) and bear fruit of the light only found in “all that is good and right and true: (v9, Emphasis added). We should not take part in unfruitful works of darkness any longer – instead, there is a different way and another option on the table that we need to consider.

“Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you” (Eph. 5:14, Emphasis added).

Maybe you, like me, feel like you’re in a self-made trance- something that kept me stuck in an abusive relationship for too long, thinking I didn’t have a choice. Once I woke up, I saw that being a Christ follower, or having a relationship with God, is possible. God provides the foundation and strength to break free from the chains and start a new life with Christ at the center.

He brought me from darkness to life. Hope is alive – His name is Jesus Christ. Freedom is real (Rom. 15: 13; Gal. 5:13; John 8:36).

It’s not about what we do for God, but rather an intimate relationship with your heavenly Father who loves you immensely.

“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you” (James 4:8).

“Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth” (Ps. 46:10, Emphasis added)!

Why Godly Fruit Isn’t Earned, But Grown by the Spirit

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

Bearing fruit in season and out of season, like an evergreen planted by a flowing stream, producing vibrant green branches year-round, comes from a heart guided by the Holy Spirit (Ps. 1:3; Jer. 17:7-8).

When Paul talks about staying in sync with the Spirit, he means letting God lead (Gal. 5:25, ESV). When our hearts are transformed by accepting Christ and the Spirit enters, we can start to produce the fruits of the Spirit that mirror God’s character (Gal. 5:22-24). There is an urge to actively cooperate with the new life we’ve received.

The fruit isn’t just something we produce on our own. Spiritual fruit comes from being made in the likeness of God’s image. Day by day, we as Christians can strive to become more like Jesus, who exemplified all aspects of God’s character as a model for us to follow. We are made in God’s image (Gen. 1:26).

Jesus is described as the perfect “image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15) and the “exact imprint of his nature” (Hebrews 1:3). He perfectly demonstrated the character qualities we call the Fruit of the Spirit.

On the path to becoming like Christ, we often fall short because of our human nature. The flesh cannot please God without the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives and hearts (Rom. 8:8). Paul describes a struggle between flesh and spirit, a division caused by human sin that prevents us from doing what is right in God’s eyes until we accept Christ. Then, the Holy Spirit equips us with the spiritual armor needed to fight battles and push back the devil. The Spirit fights against sin, not just defensively but offensively, developing in Christians the positive qualities of a godly character, all of which are seen in Jesus in the Gospels (Gal. 5:22-23).

The Spirit’s essential role in equipping the believer is to strengthen us.

  • Defensive and Offensive: The Holy Spirit doesn’t just passively wait; He actively fights against sin. This is the power that overcomes the “works of the flesh” (Galatians 5:19-21) and enables the believer to “walk by the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16).
  • Spiritual Armor: The armor described in Ephesians 6:10-18 is often seen as the tools given by God, with the Holy Spirit acting as the active force that helps us use them effectively (e.g., the “sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God”).
  • Positive Development (Fruit): The ultimate offensive move of the Spirit is the positive development of godly character—the Fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, etc.). This fruit embodies the very character of Christ being formed within us, making the Christian progressively more resilient against sin and temptation.

Isaiah prophesied about a child from David’s line, “There shall come forth a shoot and a branch from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him” (Is. 11:1-2, Emphasis added). He was speaking of Jesus the Messiah. He ruled with the help of the Spirit (Is. 4:2). He is described as the root and descendant of David, the bright and morning star (Rev. 22:16).

Jesus set an example for living and invited everyone to wash their robes—no longer living in their old ways (Rev. 22:14). While we wait for His return, we can trust in His promise that we will be together again (John 14:2). Essentially, the Holy Spirit is the way Jesus remains present with us until His physical return, empowering us to live a holy life and grounding us in the certainty of His promise. It guides us throughout our lifelong journey of becoming more like Christ and producing The Fruit of the Spirit in our lives (Galatians 5:22-23).

“He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither” (Ps. 1:3, Emphasis added).

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit” (Jer. 17:7-8, Emphasis added).

The Little Girl – Throwback Thursday

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

Some of you may remember this story from a few years ago… but it seemed like a good time to bring it back. (She looks like she has it all together in this photo – I believe this dog’s name was Mandy if I’m not mistaken; we had two at the time, the other was Candy, so I may have them mixed up.)

Before I became a Christ-follower, I didn’t know what it meant to put God first instead of myself or others in my life. I wasn’t in a great place, although I hid it well. It makes me realize that we never know what someone else is going through and the battles they are fighting internally.

One night, during a particularly dark time in my life, I dreamed I was driving down the road where I grew up. I looked in the rearview mirror and saw a little girl sitting in the backseat. She stuck her tongue out at me right as we locked eyes. That little girl was me. She didn’t like me very much.

After becoming a Christ-follower, I sat in prayer and quiet time with the Holy Spirit and was reminded of that dream.  As quickly as that scene appeared, I was whisked away to one of my fondest childhood memories. Swinging on the front porch with my mom on a summer night, singing I See the Moon and the Moon Sees Me.

The next thought was a question: “What would you tell her?”

My first reaction was to tell her, “Don’t do it!”

But just as I finished contemplating those words, another thought crossed my mind. If I hadn’t gone through those tough life experiences, I wouldn’t be the person I am today; at least, I wouldn’t appreciate what Christ did for me as much as I do now. Being in the valley for so long made me value the mountaintop much more. I use those experiences to share my story and help others in similar circumstances. God recycles our pain in the most magnificent ways.

So, I told her this, “You will make mistakes, there will be heartache and pain, but you will persevere. YOU WILL PERSEVERE!”

I heard a whisper in my heart, “She likes you now. She is proud of who you have become.”

What a lovely and heartfelt message from my Heavenly Father. I try to be mindful of thanking God every day for saving my life, rescuing me from an abusive relationship, and, most importantly, transforming my character.

Recently, I dreamt of being back at my childhood home, in the kitchen, dancing with a baby. That dream reignited this story, causing me to reflect on how far I’ve come and the joy that fills my heart. This joy makes me want to dance and celebrate the milestones that come from my relationship with Christ. Maybe that baby was me, too– either way, I woke up smiling and knew I had to post this message again for someone who needs to hear it.

Our past does not define us. Our identity is only found in Christ.

Even then, I was a daughter of the King and valuable in God’s eyes. It took a powerful wake-up call to make me see where my worth truly comes from. Only God. There is hope – His name is Jesus Christ.

P.S. I would also tell my former self that the devil is a liar (John 8:44); you do have a better choice, and you can have a relationship with God.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (Rom. 15:13, ESV, Emphasis added).

“We have this [hope] as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into he inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf” (Heb. 6:19, emphasis added)

The Magnitude of Grace

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

God is love (1 John 4:16, ESV). His love for us is immeasurable. If He ever withdrew His love, we’d be in trouble. Thankfully, for us, God’s love is everlasting (Ps. 103:17), and He desires a relationship with us. That love drives His abundant grace toward us. The magnitude of God’s grace is epic; not to be taken for granted or underestimated.

We can sometimes get caught up in all the things we should do for God and forget that God is not a taskmaster; what He wants most is for us to be WITH Him. He wants us to acknowledge Him and be still (Ps. 46:10; Prov. 3:5), carving out time to spend just being with Him. God desires steadfast love and acknowledgment rather than sacrifices and burnt offerings (Hosea 6:6).

No matter what we do, God’s love is endless. In the Old Testament, even when Israel betrayed and was unfaithful to God, His redeeming love never ran out; it goes beyond human understanding (ESV Study Bible Notes, Hosea intro). This really stood out to me and helped me see just how great God’s grace is.

One of my favorite phrases in the Bible is that God wants to be our God and for us to be His people. The exact phrase “You shall be my people, and I will be your God” and similar variations appear at least 28 times throughout the Old and New Testaments. This promise, often called the Covenant Formula, is a central theme in Scripture, emphasizing God’s special relationship with His chosen people.

Key Occurrences

  • Old Testament: The phrase is most common in the Old Testament, especially in the books of the prophets. It first appears in Exodus 6:7 during God’s promise to rescue the Israelites from Egypt. It also appears repeatedly in Jeremiah and Ezekiel, often emphasizing God’s plan for restoration and a renewed covenant.
  • New Testament: The theme continues into the New Testament, especially in 2 Corinthians 6:16 and Revelation 21:3, where it is applied to the Christian Church, representing God’s promise to dwell among his people.

What does this show about God’s character? How do our desires compare to God’s? When we put Christ first in our lives, our desires align with His.

Jesus took our place on the cross and fulfilled the OT law for sacrifices. Our salvation hinges on God’s grace, not any works that we have done or will do (Eph. 2:8; Rom. 3:24).

God established the Old Testament sacrificial system as a way for His people to atone for their sins. Animals were sacrificed as a temporary substitute, their blood shed to cover the sins of the people. This entire system, however, was a foreshadow of the ultimate, perfect sacrifice to come.

The author of the book of Hebrews explains this in detail, arguing that the repeated sacrifices of animals were a reminder of sin, but could never truly remove it. Jesus, as the “once for all” sacrifice, offered his own life, a perfect and spotless life, to permanently and completely atone for the sins of all humanity. (Hebrews 9:11-14; 10:1-10)

This explains what is meant when it is said that Jesus “took our place.” The concept is known as penal substitutionary atonement, which means that Jesus, the innocent one, took the punishment—the penalty—that we, the guilty, deserved for our sins. He died in our place, as our substitute, satisfying the demands of God’s justice.

The verses cited above, Ephesians 2:8 and Romans 3:24, are cornerstones of this doctrine.

  • Ephesians 2:8-9: “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.” This verse is a direct statement that salvation is not something we earn through our actions (“works”). Instead, it is a gift from God (“grace”) that we receive through trust (“faith”). This means there is no room for human pride or boasting, as our salvation is entirely dependent on God’s kindness and not on our own merit.
  • Romans 3:24: “…and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” This verse reinforces the idea that justification—being declared righteous in the eyes of God—is a gift of grace. It is made possible through the “redemption” that Jesus accomplished on the cross. “Redemption” here means to be set free by the payment of a price, which in this case was the life of Christ.

In summary, Jesus’s death on the cross was the perfect sacrifice that fulfilled the Old Testament law. This act, done out of love and grace, is the only basis for our salvation. We cannot earn this salvation, but we receive it as a gift when we put our faith in Christ.

We may have heard this countless times, but the magnitude of His grace and its significance might not have fully registered. Take a moment to pause, spend time with God, read His Word to learn more about His character, and thank Him for Jesus and the limitless grace He continually bestows upon us out of His love.

A few years ago, my life was a wreck – but God.

I resonate with a lotus or water lily because its meaning is a beautiful bloom that emerges from the mud. It shows that even in the most challenging circumstances (the mud), with God’s help, one can grow, overcome adversity, and emerge with grace and beauty, inside the heart where it counts most.

“The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7, NLT, emphasis added).

“Fear not, for I am with you; for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Is. 41:10, ESV, emphasis added).

Labels Stick

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

There are a few vehicles in our neighborhood with stickers that say ‘hoonagan’ – I wasn’t familiar with the term, so I looked it up and found that it means reckless driver. Now, I can’t understand why anyone would want to label themselves as a reckless driver.

The labels we and others put on ourselves matter. What we believe about ourselves matters. Labels stick – pun intended – and can be harmful. False identity leads to insecurity.

Our identity is only found in who God says we are, not people or even ourselves.

When a lawyer asked Jesus which is the greatest commandment, He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it; You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt. 22:37-38, ESV, emphasis added).

Before we can love others healthily, we must love God and ourselves. Yes, I said to love ourselves. Still, that doesn’t mean we should be vain, but since we are made in the image of God, we should respect ourselves and our bodies in a way that honors Him. Speaking poorly about ourselves isn’t helpful. When we catch ourselves, we can pray that God help us take every thought captive to obey Christ (2 Cor. 10:5).

This is also useful in other situations, such as when we find ourselves getting offended easily or letting our emotions take control of and spoil our day. Yes, our feelings are important, but we shouldn’t let them control our lives and keep us from the peace that Jesus offers every day. We can’t control what others say or do, but we can control how we react.

Complete transparency: I am learning to ask God for help in controlling my emotions. I find that I sometimes wear my feelings on my sleeve, especially when I am offended, which is another area of contention I am working on. When this happens, I am only focused on myself – instead of Jesus and others.

We need to be intentional about developing our character and behavior with God’s help. I often ask God to reveal any areas I need to work on, so I can make more room for the Holy Spirit in my heart and be more like Jesus – the path for loving others well. A simple prayer each morning, before my day starts, asking God to help me be kind, humble, and not easily offended, has been invaluable. The only person we are responsible for fixing is ourselves, and that can only be accomplished through daily prayer and discipline, with God’s help.

“True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less”. C.S. Lewis

The verse Paul wrote in Romans 7:15 comes to mind when I find myself in the same offensive mindset. “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.”

Can anyone else relate?

I pray consistently, humbly asking God to help me become who He created me to be – more like Jesus and less like me. But what matters is that I know who I am in Christ, and most importantly, whose I am. This is what drives my persistence in pursuing the path of righteousness.  

“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made, Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well” (Ps. 139:13-14, emphasis added).

“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger” (James 1:19, emphasis added).

The Plumb Line and Grace: A Story of God’s Unfailing Love

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

In the Old Testament, a prophet named Amos, a shepherd and fig grower by trade, declared that sometime in the future, God would restore Israel through the coming Messiah, in which all nations will be brought to the Kingdom of God. Although Israel would still experience exile and God’s judgement, it’s not the end of their story (Amos 9:11-15, ESV).

Amos’s vision of a plumb line reveals that Israel fails to meet God’s standard and cannot escape judgment because of their so-called acts of worship and lack of concern for others (7:7-9). Their grand display of worship lacked sincerity and integrity, and they placed their focus on themselves rather than on God, not to mention their oppression of people (4:45; The Holman Bible Dictionary, 61).

We all fall short of the plumb line, but the Good News is that, because of God’s grace through Jesus Christ, we are forgiven (Rom. 3:23-24), and it’s not the end of our story either. God’s message of judgment was also a demonstration of His grace. The message served as a warning to Israel, but it also presented an opportunity for them to repent and be restored to God (5:4).

The problem was that they didn’t recognize their need for repentance. They were still worshipping idols even as they believed in the law of Moses, replacing sincere spirituality with insincere religiosity (ESV Study Notes).

It is the same with some today. The world says everything goes, and even if they believe in God, they may not see a need for repentance. Our need for a Savior extends far beyond mere belief. We are in dire need of His grace through Christ, which extends to an intimate relationship that outweighs religion and rituals every time. True faith requires a transformative change of heart and a personal connection with God’s grace, rather than simply adhering to external forms of religion.

That is the beauty of God’s redemptive story and His love for us. When Jesus said, “Come to me,” that is an invitation to trust Jesus personally, not merely believe historical facts about Him (Matt. 11:28). “All who labor and are heavy laden” in context refers to those oppressed by the burden of religious legalism imposed on people by the scribes and Pharisees. Still, the wider application is that Jesus provides rest for our souls (v. 29, ESV Study notes).

It is an eternal rest for all who seek forgiveness and freedom from the crushing legalistic burdens and guilt of trying to earn salvation by good works (ESV Study notes). The “yoke” in verse 29 is a metaphor for the law of works. John 1:17 confirms that the OT law came through Moses, but the NT Grace came through Jesus Christ, who fulfilled the law (Rom. 10:4).

Paul’s writings reiterate this message. “Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith. And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian” (Gal. 3:24-25, Emphasis added).

According to The Holman Bible Dictionary, Paul, like Moses, affirms that without the law, we would not know what sin was (Rom. 7:7; Deut. 4:6-8). “Furthermore, he, like Jesus, captures the spirit of the OT law by reducing its demands to love God and one’s neighbor” (Rom. 13:8-10; Gal. 5:13, Brand, 996).

In summary, The Holman Bible Dictionary explains that even though not all the OT laws associated with the old covenant continue under the new, there is no wedge between the law of the OT and the grace of the NT. The old covenant and its laws were a form of grace. God redeemed His people and called them into a covenant relationship with Him. The grace in the NT calls for a response. Our obedience is a demonstration of love for God and does not come as a burden, but out of a desire to please God for rescuing us.

Both the OT law and the NT grace of Jesus Christ call for the redeemed to “respond to God’s grace with unreserved love for Him and self-sacrificing love for others” (Brand, 997).

“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty of our sins” (Romans 3:24-25, NLT, emphasis added).

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light” (Matt. 11:28-30, emphasis added).

It Starts with LOVE

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

I find it fascinating that the Bible records two people as being “taken by God” and therefore, not seeing death. Enoch and Elijah share this wonder (Gen. 5:22;24; 2 Kings 2:1-12, ESV). Hebrews mentions Enoch in the ‘Hall of Faith’. The author makes a not-so-giant leap in recognizing that he must have had faith, because he was recorded as having pleased God. Without faith, Hebrews 11:6 says, this is impossible.

Forget wishful thinking; genuine faith is a continuous, confident hope rooted in the promises of an all-powerful God who made Himself known through Jesus Christ (Hebrews 11:1). It’s more than just believing He exists; it’s a profound certainty in His faithfulness to keep His word and bless those who follow Him (Hebrews 10:35, 11:26, 10:23, 11:1).

Enoch’s journey with God, as described in Genesis 5:21-24, portrays a profound and continuous intimacy. In return for such devotion, God extends His unwavering grace, guaranteeing the perseverance of His own.

When God’s love is within us, it gives us the desire to love and please God (Matt. 11:28). “If we love one another, God abides in us and His love is perfected in us” (1 John 4:11-12, Emphasis added). The Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary defines “perfect” as being whole or complete. To be perfected in love is not to say that we are perfect, but God is perfect, and His love in us makes us complete, lacking nothing.

It all starts with love. God’s overarching love for us, revealed through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus, helps us cultivate hope and faith, which in turn enables God’s love to reside within us. Couple that with an intimate relationship with Christ, and it leads to a desire to please God above all else.

Elijah obeyed God but fled in fear for his life afterward (1 Kings 19:9). When his anxieties got the best of him, he hid in a cave to avoid certain death. God showed up in a gentle whisper to comfort him. God informed Elijah about his predecessor, Elisha, whom he would pass on his cloak of leadership as a prophet (1 Kings 19:16). God then spared Elijah from seeing death by taking him up to heaven (2 Kings 2:1-11).

The book of Malachi foretold the coming of a prophet who would precede the Messiah (Malachi 4:5). This wasn’t a prophecy that demanded Elijah himself reappear. Instead, it spoke of a legacy—a spiritual inheritance.

John the Baptist, arriving “in the spirit and power of Elijah” (Luke 1:17), embodies this fulfillment. His ministry, characterized by a fervent call to repentance and preparation, mirrored the impactful and unyielding prophetic work of Elijah of old. Thus, the ancient prophecy found its powerful realization not in Elijah’s physical return, but in a successor who carried his fiery torch, preparing the way for Jesus.

Although John the Baptist, beheaded by the king’s orders, was not miraculously spared from death, as Elijah was (Mark 6:27), his ministry and legacy as a forerunner to Christ still bore a resemblance to that of Elijah.

Upon reflection, it occurred to me that being taken up by God, without seeing death, could be a blessing promised to believers who are still alive when Christ comes back. End times are shrouded with mystery, but Jesus says two will be together, one left and one taken (Matt. 24:40). We don’t know for sure which one is taken, the believers or non-believers, nevertheless considering verse 31, which records Jesus words, God will send his angels with a loud trumpet call. The elect from the four winds, from each end of heaven, will be gathered. This, along with Paul’s writings, “Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord” (1 Thess. 4:17, Emphasis added), leads me to the conclusion that God takes up the elect. What a delightful image.

All the mysteries tend to make us fearful. To echo Paul, “Therefore encourage one another with these words” (1 Thess. 4:18, Emphasis added). In other words, even with the unknown variables about end times, this teaching about Christ’s return should result in comfort and encouragement for believers, rather than fear, which is Paul’s goal in these passages (ESV Study Bible Notes).

It starts with love.

“If we love one another, God abides in us and His love is perfected in us” (1 John 4:11-12, Emphasis added).

“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love” (1 John 4:18, Emphasis added).

“We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19, Emphasis added).

Gaps only God is meant to fill

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

Do you have a neighbor or acquaintance that you see, but haven’t gotten to know on a personal level? Do you find yourself letting your imagination fill in the blanks about their character and story based on their behavior or things you have heard?

We tend to make up stories about people until we get to know them and have our myths busted. I confess, I do this quite often; sometimes without realizing it, until I’m confronted with reality – the truth.

There is a man in our neighborhood whom I see regularly when I go for a run. He is usually loading his lawnmower onto his trailer as I run past. We say, ‘good morning’ and that’s about it. Other than that, I don’t know him. From observation, I can tell you that he mows lawns for a living. I will spare you the details I’ve concocted about the rest of his story. However, I will say that I saw something one morning recently that contradicted my beliefs. Hence, this message came to life. I still don’t know him or the truth, but my perspective on him and his character has shifted slightly.

This made me think about our relationship with God. I believe we are guilty of doing the same thing until we learn to know Him intimately, learn more about His character, and who He says we are.

We can know things about Him and hear the stories others tell about their experiences, and perhaps we ride on the coattails of our parents until one day they are gone. Then what? We may live vicariously through others or fill voids in our lives with false beliefs. Still, until we open the Book of God’s story and ask Him to reveal Himself to us by starting a conversation that leads to a real relationship with Him, we won’t understand who we are, nor will we reflect His love or character. We won’t experience a relationship with God of our own until we pursue it daily. Maybe some are like me, and I didn’t know how to do that or that it was possible until a few years ago, after a life-changing event. That is when I found my passion for teaching others about a relationship with Christ.

A few years ago, while traveling alone, I was on a layover in an airport and met a woman whom I had the chance to give my testimony about finding a relationship with God and how it changed my life. She questioned me about it at length, “You mean that is real, you can have a relationship with God?” I felt that she had longed for it for most of her life, as she shared bits and pieces of her story and mentioned that she had wondered about it but had not experienced it to this point.

This was a divine encounter as I had prayed for God to put people in my path on this trip who needed to hear my story. I was in line to purchase my lunch and planned to take it back to my seat at the gate, but God had other plans. As the woman in front of me received her food, she turned and asked if I thought we could sit at the tables in the distance. Without hesitation, I said we could try as I followed her to the tables. It wasn’t long before she asked about the purpose of my trip, and our conversation about God followed.

I pursued the wrong things to fill the gaps in my life for many years until I finally found the only One who was meant to fill them – Jesus Christ.  I am grateful that God uses my painful stories to bring the Good News to others.

Are there voids in your life that only God is meant to fill?  Have you pursued a life-changing relationship with Christ? You are never too old to start. God is waiting with open arms for your surrender. It may seem challenging, but it’s worth it; you’re worth it. God loves you fiercely.

The verse in 2 Chronicles 16:9 states, “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him” (New International Version (NIV).

According to Bible Study Tools, “God is not passively observing but actively seeking out individuals to support and empower. The verse highlights God’s desire to strengthen those who are sincere and wholehearted in their faith, according to some Bible commentaries. This suggests that God is not looking for perfection, but for genuine devotion.”

Protection and Promises

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

God’s promises are sprinkled throughout the Bible, encouraging us not to give up.  When Moses questioned his ability to carry out God’s plan, lead the Israelites, and ask God’s name, God reassured him, “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14, ESV, Emphasis added). He instructed Moses to tell the people I AM sent me—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Exodus 3:14).  

In Hebrew, “I am” can be translated as “I will be.” In context, verse 12 records God telling Moses He will be with him. The name Yahweh (the Lord) also reminds us of God’s promises to His people and His help fulfilling their calling. God’s name indicates His character and attributes (ESV Study Bible notes, Exodus 3:14).  

Later, when Joshua took leadership, God gave him a notable task and told him to “Be strong and courageous” (Joshua 1:6). God doesn’t give orders and leave Joshua to his own devices. He gave a daunting task, yes, but He framed it with promises: “I will be with you” (v. 5) and “The Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (v. 9). These examples indicate a compassionate God who will never leave us.

Besides the promises and the task, God also shows Joshua how to succeed by not turning from the Lord’s instructions, which are integral to who he is and what he does. Likewise, we are given instructions to live by; a role model in Jesus Christ, to imitate, and promises to help us stay strong and courageous.

Peace comes from God’s love inside us. Stress and worry are not of God. Believe and receive the goodness of God. Faith captures the essence of God in a believer’s heart. He is undeniably for us. We do not need to fear, because the Lord is our helper (Heb. 13:6). We can trust in the One who holds eternity in His hand. He promises never to forsake us (Ps. 94:14). The hiccups in life are only temporary.

If we face a task God gives us, we can step out in faith, knowing He will not leave us to pursue it alone. He will open and close doors to guide our path. It is vital to remain in communion with Him, asking that His will be done.

We can lean on the promise that Christ is coming back for us, as John records Jesus’ words, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am preparing a place for you? And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am, you may be also” (John 14:1-3, Emphasis added).  

Sweet promises that sustain us until that day comes. We can find rest in these assurances.

For the last few years, I have been able to hold on to a personal promise, which I pass along to other abuse survivors: You are a beautiful flower in My garden. I send rain and sunlight to nurture you and help you grow. You are protected under the care of the Master Gardener, never to be plucked and taken away from Me again.

How are we to live in light of these promises?

Freely and joyfully, living life to the fullest, showing others the way of Christ in love. Our eternal perspective changes our attitude, as we are charged to keep our focus on Christ, the author and finisher of our faith (Heb. 12:2). We can listen for God in the day-to-day tasks and show the love of Christ to everyone we meet. Don’t get caught up in the minutia; be Kingdom-minded, doing them for God instead of men (Col. 3:23).

“He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (I John 4:4, Emphasis added).

Beyond the Storm: Cultivating a Relationship with God

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

Do you have family members or friends who only reach out when they need something from you? How do they make you feel? Does it affect your relationship with them?

If the relationship consistently lacks mutual benefit and is heavily one-sided, it could understandably lead to feelings of being used or taken for granted. This kind of dynamic can strain and potentially weaken relationships over time, as trust and mutual support are essential for healthy connections.

How does that compare to when you go to God? Are you only making time for Him when you’re in desperate need?

Reflection on our relationship with God is necessary to be mindful not only of turning to Him during storms to ask for help, but also of thanking Him daily, moment by moment, for the breath in our lungs and all that He has given us. Not only that, but we are to thank God in all circumstances (1 Thes. 5:18, ESV), not just the good ones.

In the Bible Reading Plan, Yellow Balloons: Perspective in the Valley, Tim Dunn offers this insight, “We are demanding blessings without any real knowledge of The Blesser.” He follows that up with a powerful question of what it would look like for us to truly pursue God for who He is – The One who can give us more than we could ever imagine.

Ultimately, God reigns and can turn any circumstance for the better (Rom. 8:28). This is where trust and faith are paramount but can only be experienced through an intimate relationship with our Father and a heart that seeks after God in all things.

Just as consistent communication and appreciation nurture human relationships, cultivating a regular practice of thankfulness can deepen our spiritual connection.

Challenge: Be aware of how many times you acknowledge God this week and express your gratitude to Him. Gratitude isn’t just a response to significant events but a continuous posture of the heart. A grateful heart knows many blessings.

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thes. 5:18, ESV, Emphasis added).

“If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me” (Jer. 29:13, NLT, Emphasis added).