Seeing the Snake

by Andrea Noles

I sat in the quiet of a Monday afternoon. The sky a blanket of blue. The wind, a breath of perfection. The birds were singing harmony to the tune of the creek's slow ripple of Spring. And I was alone.

The rarity of beauty and quiet tuned my heart to sing His praise. I tipped my head backward in Thanksgiving and watched the birds circle above. I counted them. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7. As they sang and danced, I heard the whisper of the Father- perfection, rest, completion.

I wasn’t sure what that meant at that moment, but life has a way of revealing the truth from a distance. 

The moment felt Holy, so I opened the word and turned to I Corinthians. Surely Paul had something to say about perfection and peace and rest and completion. My eyes scanned for connection and landed on the word "sanctified". My mind attached synonyms-- righteous, set apart, holy, consecrated. All the good words that sometimes make us feel the width and depth of our sin.

I glanced to the right and from my left periphery and saw movement. A black and white streak of something long. My head jerked in fear and there it was, slithering right through my sacred little moment.

A snake.

I ran up the stairs, into the house, and then let out a scream of despair that caused my family to come sprinting towards me. They thought someone was dead.

After a good minute of reliving that slithery moment, I sat back down (far away from where I was) and wondered if there was something more to see. Maybe that snake needed to teach me something.

“Father, what do you want me to see?” I asked him.

He shouted, “See the snake, Andrea. See your sin and run from it.”

It’s funny how the Father, constantly brings me back to the mirror. Over and over again, he brings me back to the place where I can see who I am becoming. He brings me back to my heart and reminds me of how much help I need from His spirit.

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2:10:

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. 

When I hold up the mirror, I can decide there’s someone else I want to see there.
When I hold up the mirror to my heart and ask him for help, I begin to see more of His Nature.
I see him as Father. As redeemer. I see Him as my eternal gardener-- the one preparing a place for me.

A few weeks ago, I asked my Bible Club students to think about what question they would ask Jesus if he walked through the doors of Catawba Heights Elementary.

One student said, “I would ask Him what I will get to do with Him in Heaven.”

I was stunned at the beauty of this question. An eleven year old pondering the events that may play out with Jesus in glory.

He wants us to see.
First, he wants us to see Him in all things. To see his creation, his story intertwined.
He wants us to see the needs of others. He wants us to see Heaven on Earth, so we can bring His Kingdom into the lives of our neighbors, our family, our coworkers, our community.
Because when we can see, we can respond.
And when we respond to the call of Christ, the enemy flees.

But if we fail to see the snake, we fail to see who he wants us to become. Sanctification can’t do its Holy work if we aren’t willing to watch for the enemy and to listen for the lies he quickly spins into truth.

This is when we pray, “Father, reveal the truth. Give me wisdom to discern truth from lies. “

Everyone has a snake story and most of them involve sheer terror and high pitched screams, followed by a shovel blow to the head. Because the only kind of snake I like, is a dead one. And yes, I know the black snake takes care of things we don’t want in our yards.

But I DON’T CARE!
It’s slithery and sneaky and craftier than any other wild animals the Lord made.
 “So stay away from my home.”

In Genesis 3, sin slithers into the garden and whispers the first lie on earth, “Did God really say?”

If only they could have bit back at him and said, “As a matter of fact, yes, God did say, and we are following Him.”

But instead they bit the fruit and welcomed sin into the world.

Christians, the world needs our confidence. We need to declare boldly the truth of the gospel, and look sin square in the face and over and over again, say, “YES, GOD DID SAY!”

The snake’s head will be crushed.
Genesis 3:14-15 is God’s greatest comeback.

14 So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life.15  And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring[a] and hers; he will crush[b] your head, and you will strike his heel.”

Let's Let There Be Light

by Andrea Noles

Every night it’s the same routine.

My 20 month old makes his climb up the stairs, in anticipation of his bath and bedtime story. He typically makes it halfway up, then turns to me slowly and whispers, “ssssh!”

He continues his trek to the top and toddles toward our dark playroom. He steps cautiously closer to the darkness and his “ssssh,” again echoes in my ear.
Suddenly he screams, “light, light, light,” and motions for me to flip the switch.
He knows exactly where it is, but his little fingers just can’t quite reach.

It struck me one particular night that the darkness never stops him, it just makes him pause and turn to me for help.

It’s a fun momma game/ritual that I’ve come to anticipate.
But it wasn’t until recently I started to see something more in all this.

I ran into a verse that struck a light inside my soul and pulled me into a greater story that’s already been told.

1 Thessalonians 5:5 declares something spectacular about my children and about us as believers.

“You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or the darkness.”

My personal journey (up the stairs) of my life has been one full of light and darkness. I can look back and see all the times my Father has been there, ready and waiting for me to pause, so he can flip the switch and bring me back into his marvelous light.

I often wonder how many times he’s rescued me without my knowing. How many times he’s saved me from something I thought was better than his best?

Light has always been part of his preparation. It was his first answer to creations call for glory and beauty as darkness was over the face of the deep. And from the beginning, light was declared as good!

You see, I am forgetful.
I forget that He knows.
I forget he formed me in my mother’s womb and counts the number of hairs on my head.
I forget God.

Psalm 119 is David’s deep declaration of his love for God.
In verse 16 he promises that he will not forget God’s word.
He goes on to say this...

“Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law."
“Give me life according to your word!”
“Give me understanding, lead me in the path of your commandments.”
"Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.”

What David is really asking for is More light. More Jesus. More Hope.

If you read Psalm 119 in its entirety, you’ll see David’s journey through the light and darkness of life. You’ll see a man after God’s own heart and in the next breath, a lost sheep in need of a shepherd.

Oh David, I totally get it. I see how easy it is to slip away from the path of righteousness. I see how easy darkness can settle in and look like light. I see you David.

What does your “David darkness” look like?
Is fear crippling you?
Are you waiting on test results?
Longing for something that seems so far from reach?

Dear friend, let our Father flip the switch.
His light is a perfect promise, sent in the form of His Son.
His Spirit- our helper, comforter, and friend is an internal, eternal, invisible, made visible gift.

The creation story shines a big spotlight on what happens in our lives spiritually when we let His light in.
We create. We multiply, We gather. We dwell. We walk with God in the garden of our heart.

When the first words of our God declare, “Let there be light,” we should trust that.
We should trust as HE daily declares that His light will lead us. Even when it gets dark.

So let’s trust him- let’s follow the little children toward darkness with a deep assurance that HE and WE can flip the switch and let a little light shine.

Let’s tell our darkness to “ssssh,” and watch what happens when we let there be light.

O Come All Ye Faithful {A Collective Christmas Carol Tale}

by Andrea Noles

Tis the season….

To be jolly. To deck the halls. To walk in winter wonderlands. To make a list and check it twice.
And….to be completely exxxxxxhausted but oh so full of joy!

But mostly, it’s the season for the faithful to come and adore their King. 

Oh Come All Ye Faithful is a Christmas anthem. We’ve been singing it for years and using some pretty big bold words to declare our faithfulness. But let’s take a moment and ask ourselves, “Who are the faithful?” 

It’s easy to include ourselves in this isn’t it?

Identifying the faithful is a somewhat dangerous undertaking. It can quickly become a game of pointing fingers and including and excluding. Our Jesus came to this Earth to diminish the very idea of claiming ourselves as more faithful than another. He tells us to humble ourselves, to be lowly in spirit, and know our need for Him.

This hymn is for the truth seekers, the mercy givers, and the light chasers… it’s a song for the sinners, for the skeptics, and the lost. It’s a song for God’s beloved chosen people.

The faithful is you, it is us. It is anyone willing to come and adore Jesus Christ.

How will we adore Him this Christmas season...

What if we were quick to listen and slow to speak (to someone who looks different than us?)
Maybe our words would be a bit more gentle (even when we know we are right.)
What if we slowed down and prayed for our waitress or our neighbor.
What if we counted everything as joy... every good, bad, and ugly moment of the season?

Oh Come All ye Faithful…. Joyful and Triumphant.

Another command and a reminder of why we do what we do.
We are joyful because we know the manger is empty and the cross is bare. We rejoice because what we are fighting for has already been won. We can’t see it yet, but we can read about it.

John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

1John 5:4  for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.

Oh Come Let us Adore Him…

We sing this refrain again and again, but do we stop to see the depth of what’s expected?
To adore means to worship, to glorify, to exult.
Clearly we are worshipers-- just look at how we spend our time.
Our time has a way of revealing the truth about our worship.
But are we good at kneeling in adoration of our King?
Do we stop and ask for His help when we feel the busy stirring?

Let’s let our every breath hang on the simple truth that God really dwelt among us. And that His Spirit is dwelling within us. And one day we will spend eternity with Him in Heaven. We will sing with the angels in jubilant chorus and forever be with our King.

Let us be faithful.
Let us adore Him.
Let us remember Heaven and Earth sing when we come and adore the king.

Oh Come, dear friends, come and be found faithful this Christmas.

Hope is Alive

by Andrea Noles

Hope is Alive…

Isn’t it funny the difference a few days can make?

In Mount Holly, this time last week we were braving the ripples of Hurricane Florence and wondering just how bad things may get. Groceries stores were depleted, generators were purchased, and Brad Panovich was our hope for truth. Yes, I’m a Fanovich!

We just wanted to know what was coming… We wanted to be a prepared people…  we just wanted to know we would be okay.

And here we are, sitting in the first day of fall, with hope that the temperatures will soon match the season.
There is hope for us southern folks…. It’s called November.. but alas we will spread the pumpkin cheer and douse everything in pumpkin spice because we know what’s coming.

This past week I ran across a quote that settled instantly in my spirit. I quickly took a screenshot & shared it out for all the world to see… because doesn’t the Bible call us to share the good news- to be truth tellers, joy bringers, and messengers of hope.

Here’s what it said…

“When the stories about a student are saturated with negativity, have the courage to not join in. Tell a new story of their unique abilities and moments of kindness. Tell the story of hope."

Ahhhhh, that word.
Hope.

On Monday, it started showing up everywhere I looked-- instagram, music, art, scripture.
Then I really started seeing it.
I saw it in the eyes of kids at my school. In the hearts of my colleagues who constantly remind me of what real love looks like. I saw it in my baby who just wanted another wagon ride because he knows the wagon will lead him to the stop sign. And he is simply fascinated with that big red Octagon.

Hope is alive today, dear friends.

If you’ve never read Romans 12, you’re missing out on the most amazing cup of hope in all of scripture. Every word of it is rich in wisdom and truth. Paul appeals to the Romans and basically says… you are not your own, you’re called to be different… to be living sacrifices..to be set apart from the patterns of the world.

He continues on and teaches us about the gifts of grace and marks of a true Christian. He says to have genuine love, to outdo one another in showing honor, to rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, and constant in prayer.  See the hope here. It’s Jesus. It’s all the ways Jesus lived and taught us to live. Paul did us a HUGE favor and poured all the truth in a Romans 12 cup and says, “Drink ye all of this Christian friends, it is good.”

Just like Paul, there is an amazing musical theologian that can string syllables together, add a little music, and give us a Romans 12 hope, all the while encouraging us to move, speak life, and shine our lights bright.

The great, Toby Mac. 

A few days ago I went for a walk and his song, Speak Life, came through my earbuds like a flash of lightning.

Yo it’s crazy, amazing

We can turn our heart through the words we say

Mountains crumble with every syllable

Hope can live or die

Look into the eyes of the broken hearted

Watch them come alive as soon as you speak hope

And then this..

Where does Hope originate? Where does it come from? And how can we keep it? 

This week on Instagram Stories we will be talking about these questions and continue this conversation of hope.

I want a hope that is lasting.  A hope that is not dependent upon circumstance. A hope that goes beyond the thrill of a new outfit, new car, or new anything. 

I want a hope that overflows from the simple gift of Jesus Christ. 

So let’s raise our cup of truth this week and declare ourselves people of Hope.

Let’s promise to position ourselves with an attitude of love and grace. 

Let’s have the courage to tell a better story about a person.

Let’s rid ourselves of resentment and bitterness and love the unloving. 

Let’s be a prepared people and let the world know that everything is going to be okay.

Through storms and sunshine. Darkness and light.

Hope is alive today.

Psalm 40: Know Your Need {The God of Our Every Moment}

by Andrea Noles

Here we are, smack dab in the middle of summer.
Beaches are covered, sprinklers are on go, and all the fireworks have been let off (well, most)!

So how are you?
How’s your soul?
How’s your mind?
What is God teaching you?

Well, that surely was intrusive.
But, sometimes I just like to cut to the chase.
Sometimes I can’t stand all the small talk we humans do and I just want to ask questions that matter.

Anyone else ever feel this way?
I have a few friends in my life that are the best question askers. I could sit for hours and talk the day away.

So let’s talk dear friend.
Can we put on the brakes for a bit and assess our summer selves?
I found this fun little Fruit of the Spirit quiz @
http://www.beliefnet.com/faiths/quiz/fruit-of-the-spirit.aspx?ec=1
Click on over and check in with yourself. It’s a simple 10 question test.

I hope you took it!

I loved some of the questions!
“What time of day is your favorite?”
“Where is your favorite place to pray?”

But I felt like they missed an important question that matters in the life of a believer.

“Are you poor and needy?”

Poor and needy?
Isn’t this Christian life abundant and joyful? Aren’t we called to serve and work?

This one question brings me back to the root of any fruit that is developing in my summer soul.
Because Jesus calls us to be poor in spirit. He expects us to need Him in all circumstances.
We were never meant to do our summer life alone.

Psalm 40 is our next chapter featured in our series and I think it’s the perfect mid-way point for summer.
Here we find David, pointing all things back to God. Telling the story of how God drew him from the pit of destruction and set his feet upon the rock. He tells of a new song in his mouth.

David is not the best at hiding his emotions, which really helps this girl on the other side of the Old Testament.
He is the writer who reminds me that he’s been there too. He has felt afraid, anxious, and depressed.

David is poor and needy and he tells us this in Psalm 40 because we need to be needy too.

We need to remember to call on Jesus when life is good and when life is hard.
We have to remember Him when the Cheerios get thrown all over the floor, or when we are running late, or while we are waiting in 5:00 traffic.
Here’s what I want you to remember tonight…

You need Him.

God’s not gonna write out your grocery list. But, He can remind you to be thankful when the last thing you want to do is go to the grocery store.

God’s not gonna discipline your child. But He can remind you of your own sin and depravity the next time your kid does something to drive you crazy.

God’s not gonna budget your money and do your taxes. But He can help develop a more disciplined lifestyle and give you wisdom to make wise financial decisions.

God wants you to need Him. He already knows your need, but He’s looking for a heart to listen.
So stop and tell Him and then watch Him work His good over your life.

Will you pray this prayer with me tonight?

Father, I wait patiently for you. Hear my cry tonight. Set my feet upon a rock and make my steps secure. Put a new song in my mouth. I delight to do Your will and will faithfully share of Your goodness. I am poor and needy. 

Amen

Psalm 34: Teaching Them To Taste {God is Good}

By Andrea Noles


I’m always looking for a lesson. Maybe it’s the teacher in me, but I always hear this whisper inside asking, “What can you learn here, Andrea?”

Maybe it’s more than the mere fact that I am a teacher by trade. Maybe it has something to do with “The Teacher” in me, as in the Holy Spirit. One thing I’ve learned for sure is when you are raising kids, you are constantly teaching and learning.

Right now I am teaching my one year old what to eat and what not to eat.
Most days I say things like, “Yummy cucumber, chew it up and put it in your belly.”
Or, “No buddy, you can’t eat that marker.”
Needless to say it’s normal and necessary for a one year old to put everything in his mouth.
He wants to experience it all.
But I can’t let him eat markers and dirt, and plastic. I have to teach him what to taste.

To taste is to experience the sensation of flavor. 
A man named David knew a little bit about “tasting” in a spiritual sense.
His writings throughout the book of Psalms are windows into his heart and mind. They are merely Gospel glimpses of what life with Jesus is like. Even though he never met Jesus. His heart was stirred up by the Holiness of God and he wrote all about it in Psalm 34.

“I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.”
David is saying, “When you bless the Lord and carry words of worship in your mouth, you’ll taste the Christian life.”

“My soul makes its boast in the Lord, let the humble hear and be glad.”
Here he is shouting, “The only credit I can give is to my Father and when I do that, others will see and taste His goodness.”

“Oh magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.”
This is David’s invitation. “Let’s make God the most important part of our lives. Let’s make his name known.”

The next few verses go on to tell us about David’s deliverance from his fears and the radiance of those who seek God’s face.

In verse 8 he commands us to “taste and see that the Lord is good.”

Isn’t it so hard, y’all?
The day in and day out grind of life can get the best of us, and tasting the goodness of the Lord is sometimes the last thing we think about.
Hustle, hurry, move, get it done. This way of living is so easy to slip into.

The Holy Spirit in me moves me to the slow life.
To slowly prepare my lunch. To look a little longer into the eyes of a stranger. To sweep my floor for the 19th time, with a thankful heart.

Some days I think I just chew up all the goodness and quickly swallow. I forget to taste how good this life really is. I forget about Jesus.

Friends, what we really need most is to REMEMBER.
We are forgetful people. We forget why we are here. We forget the Gospel, and because of this, we miss out on moments the Holy Spirit wants to engage with us. He wants to be our teacher. And like all master teachers, he will teach us to taste.

One of my favorite parts of my job as a literacy teacher is showing my kids how to taste stories. To go beyond the lines on the page and ask questions that engage their mind. I want them to walk in the shoes of the characters and feel what they feel.

Maybe if I can teach them to love books, then one day they will fall in love with the Creator of the Greatest Story? Maybe they will accept David’s invitation to taste and see that the Lord is good? Maybe my readers will be future gospel teachers and disciples of all nations? Some days I think about these things as we are segmenting sounds in words and using our best voices to read with expression.

Let’s start remembering…
To taste and to see the Greatest Story we know.

We can start this simple practice by seeing needs around us.

The woman who needs a hand at the grocery store.
The man who just lost his wife and sits alone most days.
The mom who just wants to talk because she’s been home with her kids all day.
The little boy who just wants to eat dirt.
The difficult person in your life who may need you more than you know.

Let’s put down the dirt, the markers, and the plastic food and really taste this Christian life.
Rise up early, read the Word, journal your thoughts, and all the people you say you’ll pray for, really pray. They need more than the praying hands emoji.

You will surely be radiant, dear friend. Now go make the Gospel beautiful.

It’s Friday… The Story Behind the Song

by Andrea Noles

It all started three years ago on a normal Friday. We quietly snuck in Weston’s room, turned on his lamp, and Daniel brilliantly coined the “It’s Friday” song. Right there, on the spot, no practice, no planning, just in-the-moment fun!

He quietly sang…

“It’s Friday, It’s Friday!
Thank the good Lord
we made it through another week
cause It’s Friday!”

Weston rolled over, smiled at our silly attempt to wake him up, and popped out of bed.

I wish there was more to it really.
Or maybe I don’t.
Maybe the simple act of playing a song for a child was enough.
Maybe God knew how much this creative act would grow and decided to keep its beginnings humble.

Maybe this little story is a lot like The Parable of the Mustard Seed.
Because a simple story has the power to change the course of someone’s day, a week, or a lifetime.

30 And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? 31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, 32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.” Mark 4:30-32

Nearly every Friday that followed, the song continued.
We added lyrics, sometimes silly, sometimes serious.
But we just kept doing it.

We never knew our commitment to creating and cultivating a song was for anyone else.
But God did.
Because God loves FAMILY.
And FAMILY was HIS idea from the beginning.
God knows what “good” looks like.
He calls it out and makes “good” grow.
Just like He did in the beginning.

In the beginning God made the light and the dry land, and the waters, and the seeds, and the trees, the living creatures, the beasts of the earth, and the livestock, and every creeping thing that creeps.

He called them all good!

He made a garden and gardener.
But something suddenly wasn’t good.
“Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”
Genesis 2:18

Family.

God knew this world needed us.
He needed family to multiply and make more beautiful people.
He needed seed scatterers.
He needed musicians.
He needed ALL of us to tell His story.

So here we are, on the other side of Genesis.
Creating together.
Working together.
Remembering the good things and making the good things grow.

 We are Telling the World, “It’s Friday,” but what we really mean is…

“We are tired and weak and we need a break.”
“We need time together to grow and laugh and love.”
“WE NEED REST.”

Fridays are for family.
They mean take-out-meals and food trucks.
Neighborhood parties and watching movies.
They mean late night stories and downloading new songs on Itunes!

Whatever Fridays mean to you, just keep celebrating the simple.
Maybe a small seed you’ve planted will grow into something bigger than you could ever imagine.

Remember the good and the good will grow.

If this story is new for you, check in with us every Friday on our Facebook page, Create in Us Collective, for a happy little tune from our house to yours.

-Andrea

Fighting Sleep

by Andrea Noles

I watched him wiggle and squirm, tossing his blanket from side to side. Paci in, paci out.
His eyes looked so sleepy, but his body was fighting.

There was too much to see, bottles to drink, toys to squeeze, and steps to climb.
“Why do I need sleep?” I could hear him thinking.

Then a gentle whisper settled softly in my ear.

“Andrea, you fight too.”

Now hear me loud and clear, I NEVER fight sleep. I welcome rest and tend to get more than enough. It is rare that I bat an eye until morning comes.

But I can fight.
I can question.
I can defend.
I can think I know better.

What is it today you are fighting?

A few Sundays ago our Pastor introduced a new concept of winning an agreement instead of winning an argument.

I tucked that simple thought away in my pocket and I’ve kept it close by.
I’ve been dwelling on this idea of responding like Christ and offering up words that edify and encourage.
Words that bring joy and create a canopy of grace over those we are sharing life with.

Why are we fighting anyway?

To be right, to be justified, to win?

Are we are fighting for what’s already be done?
Are we are trying to win what’s already been won?

     Once there was a man named Gideon and God sent an angel to speak to him. Gideon was working diligently when he got the message that God wanted him to lead an army against the enemy. Gideon was humbled by the personal request from God, but agreed to let God use him (Judges 6:12-16).
Gideon gathered all the men he could to go against Midian. His army numbered 32,000 men. But God said that was too many. Gideon invited all those who were afraid to go back home without any repercussions. He was probably quite disappointed when 22,000 of them turned and walked away. God said that the 10,000 were too many (Judges 7:3).
    God instructed Gideon to take the remaining men to a place to get a drink. Most fell on their stomachs to drink deeply from the water. A few scooped the water to their mouths so that they could keep their eyes open for any enemies. God told Gideon that those men who were vigilant were the men who were to go against Midian (Judges 7:5-7). While it was good that Gideon was given the best of the soldiers, they only numbered 300 men. If he was disappointed before, he was even more so now. But God assured Gideon that the battle would be won by the Lord and not by the men. God did not want anyone thinking that Gideon and his men won the battle. They were merely tools in God’s hand.

You too, dear friend, are a tool in God’s hand.
Let Him fight for you.
Let Him rejoice over you with singing.
Let Him love you.

This week I challenge you to take a step back from your war. 
Ask God why you’re fighting so hard and listen to His answer.

Rest in His story and remember to remember Him.

Pursue Him

by Andrea Noles

Luke 8:40-48

She interrupted Him.

Didn’t she know He was on His way to help someone more worthy than her?
Hadn’t she heard of the girl who was dying and needed Jesus?
Couldn’t she feel the tension of the crowds pressing in on this remarkable Teacher?

Something inside her whispered, “touch him.”
Then she saw it, hanging from the garment was His Tzitzit.
All the Rabbi’s wore one, but she knew He was different.
She could touch the tassel and get His attention.

“Who touched me?” he asked.”My power has gone out from me.” 

He looked through the crowds with an eagerness to affirm the faith of the one who knew her need.

She could not hide. Too many had seen. She came forward, trembling and shared her suffering, her twelve year disease, and her unworthiness.

In an instant, she was healed.
He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

Can you imagine having that kind of courage?
Courage enough to touch the Son of God?
Oh to be her, to have the faith to humble myself in the presence of Jesus Christ, begging for His power.

Her story is my story.
Maybe it’s yours too?

Much of my life I believed in Jesus. I went to church. Attended youth.
Sang in the choir. Said no to drugs.
I grew up knowing how much He loved me.
But I can’t say that I knew my need for Him.

After I graduated, I experienced my parent’s divorce, a five year break-up, started a new career, and moved to a new city… All of which, left me feeling afraid, unworthy, and alone.
My journey through my twenties was pretty messy.
Yet all the while, I knew Jesus was with me.

One morning, while driving to work, I remember hearing the song, One Touch by Nicole C. Mullen. This song told the story of the sick woman who reached out to touch Jesus.

In the car, I cried out to Him, “I need you.”

What if we knew our need for Him?
What if this world lived every day like this desperate woman, reaching out, pursuing the Son of God?
If her passionate pursuit and blind faith, healed her, then what does Jesus have waiting for us?

Invitation                                                                  

Pursue Him

Materials: Bible, computer, pen, watercolor paints, brush

Pause: Today, I want to personally invite you to focus on the presence and power of Jesus Christ.

Open your Bible to Luke 8:40-47.
Sit quietly and read aloud these few verses.
As you read, circle words or phrases that speak to your spirit.
Make note of this woman’s remarkable faith and her belief that Jesus cared enough to respond to her touch.
Do you believe you can hear His voice? Do you believe that God Himself is present in you?
Allow yourself to be moved, to be lifted up, and to be healed.

Pray: Father, I seek Your presence right here, right now. Your spirit is always speaking, yet I become deaf when I cannot see. Open the eyes of my heart and teach me to seek after You with my full being.

Make it Personal: Google the Hebrew word, Tzitzit. Read about its meaning and purpose. Look at Google Images and notice the knots on the tassel. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand. Take some quiet space to sketch out a “Tzitzit.” As you draw the knots and the frays, ask God to heal you from what’s been hurting you most. Listen for His voice and write down what He tells you.

Listen: Spend some time asking God a few questions.
Ask Him what sin may be keeping you from experiencing His Power.
Ask Him why he delights in spending time with you.
Ask Him to show you someone in your life that needs your prayers.
Write down what He says, trust His voice and obediently follow His whisper.
Go in peace, dear friend.

Amen.

Christmas is a Teacher

by Andrea Noles

Here we sit, on the Eve of another Christmas. Maybe you’re reading this, knowing you still have a few more things to accomplish. Maybe you’ve checked your list twice and everything is in its place. Wherever you find yourself tonight, I hope you’ll be blessed by these words in a small way. Christmas is a teacher. If you are paying attention. This year Christmas has taught some beautiful hard lessons. It has revealed so many parts of my wounded heart that still need help, every single day, over and over again. It has reminded me of my need for Jesus and that seeking his face and receiving his grace is the simple gift I need to unwrap on all the days after Christmas. I ask you to stop for a moment and think back to all that has happened since December 1. Ask yourself “What has Christmas taught me this season?” Scroll through the pictures on your phone, look at your Christmas cards, tune your attention to your Christmas tree. Pause and pray, and ask God what he was teaching you through these ever fleeting moments. Here are a few things I’ve learned… 1. Christmas comes whether we are ready or not. You can prepare and plan or embrace it as it comes. Either way, Jesus is still the same. 2. Lights on a tree will simply always bring a peace and stillness to our home. But only He brings a peace that is lasting and true. 3. Glazed Almond Cookies are my new favorite cookie to bake. No spiritual lesson here. 4. The Christmas story is always true, always waiting to be read, and never gets old. 5. When little ones sing, look at them, and listen. They are proclaiming truth joyfully. One early December morning, my five year old asked if he could climb in his brother’s crib and sing to him. “Sure,” I quickly replied, knowing I had to come in and join the party for two reasons. 1. I couldn’t miss the sweet song he was about to share. 2. I had to make sure no one would get hurt, especially this early in the morning. Without hesitation, he broke out into chorus, singing, “Go Tell It on The Mountain.” It was a small, beautiful Christmas moment. Sometimes we forget that the songs they proclaim when they are small, are actually sinking deeply into their soul and setting the stage for the proclamation of the Gospel. Whatever lessons you’ve learned, let them sit with you tonight. Let them change you. Let them move you closer to the one true God, the giver of the gift. To you, Oh Lord, we lift our souls. We trust you this Christmas Eve. Take us by the hands and lead us in your truth. Teach our souls to rest only in you. For you are the one who sent, who saves, and who sanctifies. Amen.

pa·tience

by Andrea Noles

pa·tience

ˈpāSHəns/

the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.

Silently now, we wait for thee.

We surrender our impatience, our hurry, our desire to do.

Father, we ask for your truth to fall upon us.

May your goodness and your glory impact us today.

We are slow learners and you teach us with your perfect patience.

Amen.

Isn’t she beautiful? Perfect shape, fun design, and home for the world’s finest drink.

My patience mug, made by Rae Dunn, has a story to tell. A story of patience, pride, and a few sips of peace.  You may want to settle in a bit for this one. Grab a blanket and a warm drink. This is not for the faint-hearted.

My husband and I began graciously passing the mug back and forth, joking that whomever drank from the mug, would be granted a day full of endless opportunities to taste the most trying fruit of all the spirit… patience.

The mug quickly made its way to the dark side of the cabinet, was pushed behind the popular  “blessed mug". Cause don’t we all just want a fresh cup of blessings. They are so much easier to manage.

I have a sweet teacher friend who pours her heart and soul into her work. We often pass each other in the hallway, shine our “I’m makin’ it” face, and wish one another well. Two weeks ago, our paths crossed, and she whispered, “don’t pray for patience, don’t pray for patience.” CAUSE DON’T WE ALL HAVE ENOUGH WISDOM BY NOW NOT TO INVITE PATIENCE TO OUR TABLE.

Shortly after, I heard another whisper. Not from a teacher, or a student, but from the beautiful voice of the Spirit.

“Andrea, patience is exactly what you need to pray for right now.”

“Take your mug with you, wherever you go, and take me too.”

So I listened.

I pulled my mug from the darkness, washed her off and...

I asked for it, and boy did it come.

Overflowing, to the brim, caffeinated tests of pure patience.

Opportunity started knockin’.

Every stoplight- Opportunity

Literacy students- Opportunity

Family- Opportunity

Appointments- Opportunity

Technology- Opportunity

People reminding me of things I’ve forgotten- Opportunity

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Yes, Lord, this verse is true.

But I felt like it should read, “Ask and it will be given to you, seek, and you will find, knock and the door will fling wide open and hit ya when you walk through it."

As I struggled through a few days, I asked various friends what “patience” meant to them.

No one answered too quickly. Most stared at the sky and said they needed a minute.

I heard…

It’s a virtue.

It’s an art.

It’s steadiness.

It’s waiting.

It’s pausing

It’s a song by Guns N Roses.

It’s a fruit.

Technically, it’s the ability to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering, without getting angry or upset.

I asked God if I could really do this? All day, everyday?

And what I’ve learned is… is that I can’t.

But.

He can.

When I am patient, I am choosing to respond like Jesus.

When I am patient, I am displaying the joy that Jesus brought.

When I am patient, I spread peace like a river, just like Jesus did.

When I choose patience, I choose Jesus.

When I choose Jesus, I choose patience.

Oh Lord, help me choose you.

Let’s pause for a moment and turn to a story in scripture that reflects the heart of Jesus.

Luke 10:38-42.

Listen and read this aloud.

Now as they went on their way, Jesus[a] entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things,42 but one thing is necessary.[b] Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

Do you see?

The good portion was presence. The good portion was patience. The good portion was Jesus.

I want this for us, friends.

I want the Mary life.

The life that lets the Master lead.

I want to sit and listen. I want to remember what is necessary.

Father, make us willing to walk the patient path.

Turn down the worry and hurry in our hearts, and replace it with your patience.

May our mugs be filled with better responses, soft answers, and a willingness to wait.

Teach us Lord.