Category: Journey Through The Word

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, The Fruit of the Spirit

Why Love One Another?

Posted on by MaryEllen

Today’s Road Map for the Journey: 1 John 4:7-12; SOAP: 1 John 4:7-8

7Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. 8 But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

1 John 4:7-8 NLT

Today’s LGG journal entry begins with some pretty significant words for our journey through the Fruit of the Spirit. The author points out that “Before we can love well, we need to understand where love actually comes from.” The point is valid, for how are we to love others, and I mean really love them, not just pretend to love them (as Paul warned his readers in Romans 12:9)? For believers to love well means to love like Jesus has loved us (Jn. 13:34). He left a throne for a stable…wore a crown of thorns instead of a kingly crown of gold and jewels…hung on a criminal’s cross though he had never sinned…took the form of a servant though He was God in the flesh…loved His enemies and prayed for those who persecuted Him… and the list goes on and on, including obedience to God…even though it meant death on a cross.

Oh, how He loves you and me, oh, how He loves you and me, He gave His life ~ what more could He give? Oh, how He loves you, Oh, how He loves me ~ Oh, how He loves you and me.

I love this old hymn. It flooded my mind as I wrote the list of how well Jesus loves us and all of the ways He demonstrated that love. It’s not just Jesus who demonstrated love for us, but God the Father demonstrated His love as well when He “so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son into the world, not to condemn the world but to save the world (John 3:16-17). Actually, John doesn’t just write of how God loved the world; He wrote that love comes from God, because God is love (1 John 4:8, 16). To borrow another quote from the journal, “Love is not simply something God does. It is who He is.” And, because we live in God and He lives in us ~ not only are we loved by God, but we are empowered to love Him and others!

“We love him, because he first loved us.”

1 John 4:19
  • 1 John 4:8: “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
  • 1 John 4:16: “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” [1]

Friends, so that we don’t miss the importance of understanding that God is love, I’m borrowing one more final quote from today’s LGG Journal: “Love is essential to Christian living because it is an essential part of God’s identity.” Read it again, write it in the front of your Bible or wherever you keep important notes. Hold on to its amazing truth ~ for it is the key to carrying out the mandate that we read in today’s passage: “…continue to love one another, for love comes from God (1 John 4:7).

Reflection and Application

Have you ever said, ‘I hate this person or that person; I could never love them’? Regardless of who they are or what they have done, if the love of God is truly in you/us, John writes that: “If someone says, ‘I love God,’ but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see?” So let us love well, as Christ has loved us. It won’t always be easy, but when we remember that we were unlovable before He rescued us and that we were His enemies, and yet He loved us enough to give His life for us. How then, can we not also forgive those who have hurt or angered us, or even sinned against us?

The More We Know

Meaning and Context

  • God Initiates: Our ability to love God and other people does not start with us. It begins as a response to God loving us first through Jesus. [1, 2]
  • The Source of Love: God’s unconditional love gives us the power and example to show love and kindness to others. [1, 2]
  • Connected Command: The surrounding verses (1 John 4:20-21) explain that if we truly love God, we must also love our brothers and sisters. [1, 2]

Do you know Him? If you don’t, please visit the link to KNOW THESE TRUTHS, for we cannot truly love God and others if we have not been saved by God. And unless we have been saved, we cannot have a relationship with God and experience His love,

Know These Truths
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, The Fruit of the Spirit

What Love Really Looks Like

Posted on by MaryEllen
Inspired by the LGG Study, The Fruit of the Spirit / week1, day2

The Road Map for today’s Journey: 1 Corinthians 13:1-7; SOAP: verses 4-5

Patience and Kindness

4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 1 Corinthians 13:4-5

I believe 1 Corinthians 13:1-7 is one of (if not) the most beautifully written passages Paul wrote. I have memorized it, stitched it, and tried to practice it. I have also failed at it and found myself thankful that His love never fails.

While we will focus on verses 4 and 5 today, we would be remiss not to address Paul’s opening remarks in this portion of His letter to the Corinthian believers. They apparently had misunderstood the value of their spiritual gifts, which he addressed earlier in his letter. At the very least, they had allowed their gifts to cause division within the church. They had come to believe, as Bibleref.com explains, that “some were more spiritual than others because of their gifts,1” which was causing even more division in the Church. Paul’s words here were meant to help them understand that their gifts, and even their sacrifices, were of no value to themselves or for God’s glory without love.

Now that he has addressed their misunderstanding and/or misappropriation of their gifts, Paul begins to explain what love is and how it should look. Keep in mind that Paul is not referring to brotherly or sexual love here, but to agape love, a selfless love not based on feeling but poured out, like Mary’s oil, in action. It is meant to be ongoing action in a believer’s life and relationships.

Godly love, from a godly perspective, is defined by what Christians do or do not do.

Bibleref.com / 1 Corinthians 13:4

Paul gives his readers a list that includes many descriptions of what godly love is and is not. We will look at nine of them today. Two of them belong in the love is category and the rest in the love is not list.

  • Love is patient heads the list. If you’re wondering how this is an action, it requires waiting; and as some commentaries point out, it waits without resentment or guilt directed at the one or the thing you are waiting on.
  • Love is kind, which is defined by bibleref.com as “acting for the good of others even when it does not benefit us.”

The more time we spend with Jesus, the more we begin to look like Jesus. His patience becomes our patience. His kindness becomes our kindness. His love becomes our love.

Want to be more loving? Make sure you stay connected to the source of love, Jesus.

Love God Greatly / Fruit of the Spirit Journal / p38

The first of the is not / does not list is

  • Love is not envious (or jealous). This was particularly important for the Corinthian believers to understand, given their obvious struggle with envy when it came to their spiritual gifts. However, we would be wise to keep ourselves in check in this area as well – as we live in a ‘keeping up with the Joneses’ kind of world. Remember, love is not envious but sets aside “self” to celebrate the success of others.
  • Love does not boast (or brag). Similar to not being envious, this one reminds us not to promote self but instead to praise God and lift up others for the good they have done or said.
  • Love is not puffed up (or arrogant). As explained by bibleref.com, “Arrogance involves confidence in oneself above all others and the expectation that everyone else should feel the same way. Love removes the obstacle of self from the purpose of serving others well.
  • Love is not rude. The word rude here is more than just forgetting to open the door for a lady or interrupting a conversation. To make sure we have a right/full understanding of rudeness in this context, I’m sharing the full statement from bibleref.com on this ‘is not’: “To be rude is to act “indecently.” Rudeness was on display in the church in Corinth in their disorderly worship services and selfish communion meals (1 Corinthians 11:17–22), as well as in the man who was sleeping with his father’s wife (1 Corinthians 5:1–2). Rudeness insists on self-expression and self-gratification at the expense of the feelings and experience of others.
  • Love does not demand its own way (is not self-seeking). I love this helpful explanation from bibleref.com: “Love yields.” The commentary goes on to explain that much of the church’s problems would have disappeared if they focused on looking for ways to meet each other’s needs before satisfying their own.
  • Love is not irritable (or easily angered). A quick temper, according to bibleref.com, is often evidence of viewing other people as obstacles to reaching one’s own goals. Instead, the commentary suggests, “Love views serving other people as the goal itself, removing one reason to flare up when they get in our way.”
  • Love is not resentful (or does not keep a record of wrongs). It is easy to hold on to a grudge, to keep a running list of how others have offended us, to vow that we will never forgive them for the hurt they have caused us; but friends, that is not love. Instead, the love of Christ in and for us should move us to love and forgive as He has loved and forgiven us. Ask yourself, what has He forgiven me for – make a list if you have to – even if you don’t; it is a good list to have and to refer to often, especially if/when you are struggling to forgive others. Remember, He doesn’t just forgive us; He died so that we can be forgiven.

Remember that love put into action is not something we can manufacture on our own. Love comes from God first and foremost. It is supernatural. In order for us to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit, we must stay connected to Jesus. Loving others well is not a checklist to work through. It is a picture of what Christ’s love living through us actually looks like.

Sweet friend, it is important for you to know that God is not asking you to love people perfectly in your own strength. He is asking you to stay close to Him so that His love can flow through you naturally, the way fruit grows naturally through a healthy vine.

Love God Greatly / Fruit of the Spirit Journal / p38

Reflection and Application


Looking at the description of love in 1 Corinthians 13…

  • Which characteristic of love feels most challenging for you right now? Why?
  • How did Jesus exhibit patience and kindness?
    • What are some ways you show patience and kindness?

The More We Know

  1. What does 1 Corinthians 13:3 mean? ↩︎

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, The Fruit of the Spirit

A Gift Born of Love, Worship from the Heart

Posted on by MaryEllen
Inspired by the LGG Study, The Fruit of the Spirit / week1, day1

The Road Map for today’s Journey: John 12:1-8 / SOAP: John 12:3

Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance. ~ John 12:3

“The fruit of the Spirit is love…” This doesn’t surprise me, since the Spirit is from God, and God Himself is love, and He loves like no other. After all, the Bible tells us that He loved the world so much that He gave His only begotten Son to die on a cross so that all who believe in Him might live and have everlasting life. ~ Now this is love!

9God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10This is real love — not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.11Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. 12No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.13And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us. ~ 1 John 4:9-13 NLT

God also gives His Spirit to everyone who comes to Him by faith in Jesus Christ, and as we will learn on this journey, Paul wrote to the believers at Ephesus that His Spirit in us produces fruit. The fruit Paul refers to isn’t tangible, edible fruit ~ instead, it is the evidence of Christ living in us through His Spirit. There is no greater evidence of Christ in us aside from His love – for, as Paul wrote, anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

Love is essential to Christian living because it is an essential part of God’s identity.1

Today’s journey reveals a beautiful illustration of love in Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Martha, and a friend and follower of Jesus. John describes the scene in detail when he writes of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead and of the celebration that followed. Lazarus and his sisters were among the guests. John writes that Martha was serving, and Lazarus was among those present at the table. Mary, however, is once again at the feet of Jesus. Unlike the account of  (Luke 10:38-42), where she sat listening to Him teach while Mary served, here she is found worshiping Him ~ literally at the feet of Jesus. She is pouring herself (emotionally and physically) out on her Lord ~ in true sacrifice and worship. Undoubtedly she worshiped Him for raising her brother from the dead, but it was more than that; her worship poured forth from her heart for who He was. This is made clear by the outward act and expense of the act, not just monetarily but emotionally, and as Bibleref.com explains, it was a self-exposing act, putting her in a position of lowliness…” as she wiped his feet with her hair. The commentary goes on to say, “Mary’s behavior was uninhibited worship and submission to Christ.” Some commentators suggest that it was more than her gratefulness for the resurrection of Lazarus, but John writes that Jesus defended her actions (which were harshly judged), saying: ‘Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial. 8You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.’ (John 12:7-8)

If you’re wondering why Mary’s worship of our Savior was so extravagant, consider this truth pointed out in the LGG study journal: “Mary’s love for Jesus flowed from a heart that had been sitting at His feet. She knew Him. She had learned from Him. And she had spent time with Him. It was out of that closeness that her love overflowed into one of the most beautiful acts of worship recorded in all of Scripture.”

Friends, as the journal goes on to point out, the love Mary displayed in this passionate act of worship “is the same kind of love that the Holy Spirit produces in us.” That’s right, His presence in us ignites and grows a love that is neither “safe, calculated, or convenient” but it is a wholehearted and transforming love that moves us to live, give, and worship not because of who’s watching or what’s expected but because of who He is and what He’s done. In Mary’s experience, that surely included her brother being called out of the grave ~ in mine, it was being hit by a car as a 6-year-old child but living unscathed…it was seeing my baby’s crippled feet made straight and whole…and witnessing my 10-year-old daughter’s cancer being cured ~ through years of difficult days and trials, yes ~ but surrounded by and filled with His love and strength for each new day … and the list goes on. What has it been for you?

These experiences and the ongoing awareness of His presence in and around me have led me to stay at His feet and my heart and mind to yield in praise and worship to Him. Whether in church, the quiet of my room, driving in my car, or in conversation with family, friends, or even strangers, praise and worship flow in abandonment to Him. Whether expressed inwardly or with arms lifted high and my voice crying/singing out, praise and worship are no longer affected by worry or fear of the people around me. To borrow another line from the journal – “it is a wholehearted, I’m-all-in-until-the-end kind of love.”

As I was writing and the term abandoned worship flowed from my fingers to the keyboard, I stopped to see if there was a definition for what I was trying to convey. I looked up the phrase, and while I am not a fan of AI, this AI overview of the worship song, “Abandoned“, was spot on with what I was trying to say: “… complete, unreserved surrender to God in response to the profound sacrifice of Jesus Christ.” Oh friends, may this be the way we serve and worship and live out our life on earth, with the hope that others will see/hear Him in us.

Who Am I? By Casting Crowns also came to mind as I was typing out the blog … “Who Am I is one of the most powerful and enduring contemporary Christian worship anthems by the band Casting Crowns. The song captures the humbling contrast between human frailty and God’s infinite love and sovereignty. Inspired by Biblical truths from Psalm 8 and James 4, the lyrics remind believers that God’s care and grace are not earned by human merit, but given freely because of who He is.” Is there any better reason to love and worship Him than this?

Who Am I

Who Am I, That The Lord Of All The Earth
Would Care To Know My Name,
Would Care To Feel My Hurt?
Who Am I, That The Bright And Morning Star
Would Choose To Light The Way
For My Ever Wandering Heart?

Not Because Of Who I Am
But Because Of What You’ve Done.
Not Because Of What I’ve Done
But Because Of Who You Are.

I Am A Flower Quickly Fading,
Here Today And Gone Tomorrow.
A Wave Tossed In The Ocean.
A Vapour In The Wind.
Still You Hear Me When I’m Calling.
Lord, You Catch Me When I’m Falling.
And You’ve Told Me Who I Am.
I Am Yours, I Am Yours.

Who Am I, That The Eyes That See My Sin
Would Look On Me With Love And Watch Me Rise Again?
Who Am I, That The Voice That Calmed The Sea
Would Call Out Through The Rain
And Calm The Storm In Me?

Not Because Of Who I Am
But Because Of What You’ve Done.
Not Because Of What I’ve Done
But Because Of Who You Are.

I Am A Flower Quickly Fading,
Here Today And Gone Tomorrow.
A Wave Tossed In The Ocean.
A Vapour In The Wind.
Still You Hear Me When I’m Calling.
Lord, You Catch Me When I’m Falling.
And You’ve Told Me Who I Am.
I Am Yours.

Not Because Of Who I Am
But Because Of What You’ve Done.
Not Because Of What I’ve Done
But Because Of Who You Are.

I Am A Flower Quickly Fading,
Here Today And Gone Tomorrow.
A Wave Tossed In The Ocean.
A Vapour In The Wind.
Still You Hear Me When I’m Calling.
Lord, You Catch Me When I’m Falling.
And You’ve Told Me Who I Am.
I Am Yours, I Am Yours, I Am Yours.

Personal Reflection and Application

  • Mary held nothing back when she expressed her love for Jesus. What is one area of your life where God is inviting you to love Him more extravagantly and hold nothing back?

Response of Prayer

Father, thank you for who You are and all that You have done. From creation to the giving of Your Son in human form, His death on the cross, His resurrection from the grave, His ascension into Heaven where He sits at Your right hand. Thank You for loving me and forgiving me. Thank You for giving me Your Spirit that I might love as You love and for all the ways that You have made a difference in my life. I am forever grateful and my heart is filled with love for You which I pray will forever overflow in word and deed from my life ~ for Your glory. Amen ~

The More We Know

2. (3) Mary anoints the feet of Jesus.2

Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.

a. Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus: In the midst of the supper, Mary gave a remarkable gift to Jesus. It wasn’t unusual to wash the feet of a guest, but it was unusual to do it during the meal itself, to use very costly oil of spikenard to do it, and to wipe the feet with her hair, using the hair as a kind of towel.

· Mary’s gift was remarkably humble. When a guest entered the home, usually the guest’s feet were washed with water and the guest’s head was anointed with a dab of oil or perfume. Here, Mary used this precious ointment and anointed the feet of Jesus. She considered her precious ointment only good enough for His feet. “To attend to the feet was the task of the most lowly slave. Thus Mary’s action denoted great humility as well as great devotion.” (Morris)

· Mary’s gift was remarkably extreme. She used a lot (a pound) of a very costly oil of spikenard. Spices and ointments were often used as an investment because they were small, portable, and could be easily sold. Judas believed this oil was worth 300 denarii (John 12:5), which was worth a year’s wages for a workingman.

· Mary’s gift was remarkably unselfconscious. Not only did she give the gift of the expensive oil, she also wiped His feet with her hair. This means that she let down her hair in public, something a Jewish woman would rarely do.

i. Oil of spikenard: “Both John and Mark describe it by the adjective pistikos (Mark 14:3). Oddly enough, no one really knows what that word means. There are four possibilities. It may come from the adjective pistos which means faithful or reliable, and so may mean genuine. It may come from the verb pinein which means to drink, and so may mean liquid. It may be a kind of trade name, and may have to be translated simply pistic nard. It may come from a word meaning the pistachio nut, and be a special kind of essence extracted from it. In any event it was a specially valuable kind of perfume.” (Barclay)

ii. “It was very costly, but it had not cost a penny too much now that it could be used upon him. There was a pound of it, but there was none too much for him. It was very sweet, but none too sweet for him.” (Spurgeon)

iii. “The act is all the more striking in that a Jewish lady never unbound her hair in public. That apparently was a mark of loose morals. But Mary did not stop to calculate public reaction. Her heart went out to her Lord and she gave expression to something of her feelings in this beautiful and touching act.” (Morris)

iv. In all of this, Mary is a study of devotion to Jesus. “The life of Mary is painted for us, in three memorable pictures, in each of which she is at the feet of Jesus.” (Erdman)

· Luke 10:39: Mary sat at Jesus’ feet and learned.

· John 11:32: Mary fell at Jesus’ feet and surrendered.

· John 12:3: Mary anointed Jesus’ feet and honored Jesus.

v. “You must sit at his feet, or you will never anoint them; he must pour his divine teaching into you, or you will never pour out a precious ointment upon him.” (Spurgeon)

b. The house was filled with the fragrance of the oil: The sense of smell makes for long-lasting memories and John remembered how Mary’s essential oils made the whole house smell good.

  1. Bibleref.com, 1 John 4:8 ↩︎
  2. by David Guzik ↩︎
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, prayer, Quiet Time

Why Start Your Day With Jesus?

Posted on by MaryEllen

“Starting with Jesus doesn’t mean the day will be easy—it means we’re reminded who walks with us through all of it. Before the schedules, responsibilities, worries, and noise take over, spend a little time in His presence. Let His truth steady your heart before anything else has the chance to shape it.” Quote and photo borrowed from Salt & Light ~

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. â€“ Psalm 143:8 NIV

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. â€“ Lamentations 3:22–23 ESV

Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.
– Psalm 30:5

It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening.
– Psalm 92:2

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
– Mark 1:35 NIV

Through the years, I have learned that starting the day with Jesus can make a huge difference. Whether in attitude, strength, peace, hope, joy, and ~ well, pretty much any other emotion a person can have. Our outlook on the day ahead can be affected by what we’re facing ~ worries, fears, a tough day at the office, a dreaded appointment, overwhelming daily tasks, leftover anger or hurt from the day before… However your day starts, whether it’s when your eyes open or after your feet hit the floor, there is one sure way to get even a good day off to a better start ~ and that’s with our eyes on Jesus. A verse, a study, a prayer … time in His presence is a difference-maker in attitude, heart, and mind. It can change how we see, speak, and listen to others. It can alter how we hear others, forgive others, and serve others. The presence of God, before us – behind us – and in us changes us from the inside out. It makes life sweeter and brighter because, as this ‘oldie but goodie’ by the Gaithers says: “Just a little talk with Jesus makes it right.”

Pilgrims and musicians crossing a mountain path toward a distant chapel
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word

Worship Over Worry

Posted on by MaryEllen

“The battle is not yours, but God’s.”

— 2 Chronicles 20:15

Happy Tuesday, friends! God is so good to give us another day – let’s live it well for Himđź’ś Today’s devo, borrowed from Salt & Light, is an excellent source of encouragement for any given day of the week. Check it out – and take heart, my friends. The battle(s) ahead of us are not ours; they’re Gods! (2 Chronicles 20:15) – On any given day, we may feel outnumbered; we may be overwhelmed; we may be weak, and tired, and too weary to continue on – BUT – as today’s devo encourages us, we can praise God and declare His goodness before we ever see the victory!

Let’s “let worship speak louder than fear. And trust the God who fights for His people.” ~ Salt & Light

In 2 Chronicles 20, King Jehoshaphat received terrifying news: a vast army was coming against Judah.

They were outnumbered. They were afraid. And they didn’t know what to do.

So Jehoshaphat called the people together and sought the Lord.

And God gave them a powerful reminder:

“The battle is not yours, but God’s.”

— 2 Chronicles 20:15

Then came the most unusual battle strategy.

When Judah marched toward the enemy, Jehoshaphat sent singers ahead of the army.

Not the warriors… Not the strongest men… The worshipers.

They went before the soldiers, praising God and declaring His goodness before they ever saw the victory.

And as they began to praise, the Lord set ambushes against their enemies, and the enemy armies turned against one another. By the time Judah arrived, the battle had already been won.

What a picture of faith.

They praised before the breakthrough.

They worshiped before the victory.

They trusted God before they could see what He was doing.

Maybe you’re facing a battle right now that feels bigger than you.

You may not know how God will make a way.

You may not know when the answer will come.

But you can still praise Him.

Because praise isn’t pretending the battle isn’t real.

Praise is remembering that the battle isn’t yours to carry alone.

Put praise on the front line.

Let worship speak louder than fear.

And trust the God who fights for His people.

“The battle is not yours, but God’s.” 🙏🏻🤍

📖 2 Chronicles 20:15–22

Winding dirt path through a sunlit forest with tall trees and ferns
Posted in Devotion, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, prayer, Quiet Time

A Journey of Self-Reflection

Posted on by MaryEllen

“Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the hearts.” —

Proverbs 21:2, NASB 1995

I recently read a post by Salt & Light that included the above verse, but what stood out to me was this quote: “This verse makes me stop and look at myself. It’s easy for me to think I’m right. I can explain how I feel and why I think something should happen a certain way. But God sees deeper than my explanations. He knows my heart, even the things I don’t clearly see in myself.“

Oh how true this is in my own life, and what a blessing – though one that convicts and allowed me to truly resonate with the author’s prayer. Lord, search my heart, like David prayed in Psalm 139:23–24. Show me what needs to change. Help me trust You enough to receive Your correction and follow where You lead.1

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 Point out anything in me that offends you,
    and lead me along the path of everlasting life. ~Psalm 139:23-24 NLT

These verses made me think about a chorus that I’ve sung for years. Particularly when I’m struggling with something that doesn’t align with God’s will, or when He’s leading me in a way that stretches my faith and trust. One thing I have learned through the course of 64 years of life is that God’s way is always right and always best. Knowing He is the Potter truly leads me to not just sing this chorus but to trust Him to mold and make me after His will

Change my heart, O God, Make it ever true;

Change my heart, O God, May I be like you.

Chorus You are the Potter, I am the clay;

Mold me and make me, This is what I pray.2

  1. Prayer borrowed from Salt&Light post ↩︎
  2. words by by Eddie Espinosa  ↩︎
Posted in Bible study, Christ is All I Need, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, The Gospel

Finish The Work

Posted on by MaryEllen

A Handwritten Note From Paul

The following is the final page of the LGG, Christ Is All I Need Journal. It is sweet evidence of Paul’s sincere love and concern for these believers in Colossae whom he had not even met. It is evidence of a bond that believers experience within the church body – even when they haven’t formally met – to pray for and share needs with one another. I took particular delight in this, as it is in some form an example for us as we meet day after day, through these online written formats.

May this encourage each of us to be devoted to praying for and encouraging one another daily. May we be purposeful in our participation, allowing God to knit us together, whether near or far apart, that we might be strengthened in our faith, hope, and love in the Lord.đź’ś

A personal note from Me

Will you especially join me in praying for the Love God Greatly Ministry and the team of women behind the scenesđź’™ ~ This study and the others that we have done come about from the hard work and faithful stewardship of women devoted to prayer and studying the Scripture, with the intended purpose of reaching other women with the Gospel message and encouraging us to grow in our faith. It also comes from the painstaking work of the many translators who make it possible for women around the world who would otherwise have no hope of participating in these invaluable studies.

Be part of the story…

We’re so glad you are here! Our story is about what God can do through a team of women, each using their gifts for a common purpose. Did you know that more than 61% of women globally don’t have access to Bible study materials or a Bible study community? We are here to meet that urgent need, and we’d like to invite you to be a part of the story…

More than Bible study tools… we are a community

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Week 6 / Day 5

Friday / Finish the Work
Read: Colossians 4:7-18; 1 Peter 4:7-11 SOAP: Colossians 4:17-18

And tell Archippus, “See to it that you complete the ministry you received in the Lord.” I, Paul, write this greeting by my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. – Colossians 4:17-18


Paul ends his letter to the Colossian believers with some personal notes and greetings. One of the people he mentions is Archippus, whom Paul cared about enough to tell the whole church to encourage him to complete the ministry he had received.

God has given each of us some special work to do. And we need to be reminded to keep going in that ministry, to get back to it if we have quit, and to complete it if we feel like giving up. Do you know what God is calling you to do? Have you left your work unfinished? Sometimes we get tired, distracted, or discouraged, and we leave our God-given ministry in order to find something easier. But God says to us, “Don’t quit. Finish the work.”

As in all of his letters, Paul ends by saying, “Grace be with you.” Grace, or God’s unmerited favor, has come to us in His Son, Jesus Christ. Paul has taught us that being a Christian is about sharing the very life of Jesus, being called to join in the eternal purposes of God, and having all His limitless resources available to us.

As we live to complete the work we have been called to, let’s look to Jesus. He has loved and redeemed us. He has nailed all our sins to the cross, and He has raised us to new life. By our faith in Him, we have been made gloriously rich. He is enough.

Let’s continue to be faithful in our God-given ministry. Let’s join Paul when he says: “I also labor, struggling according to his power that powerfully works in me” (Colossians 1:29).

Dear Heavenly Father, please help me to finish the work you have called me to do. I praise you for your gracious gift that is salvation and life in Jesus. Amen.

Posted in Bible study, Christ is All I Need, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time

Understanding the Necessity of Prayer

Posted on by MaryEllen

Thursday / Devoted to Prayer
Read: Colossians 4:2-6; 1 John 5:14-15 SOAP: Colossians 4:2

Be devoted to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving.

Colossians 4:2

Attitude matters. It matters in our relationships and conversations. It matters in classrooms, in the home, in the office, in the neighborhood, at church, in difficult situations. Honestly, attitude matters in just about any scenario we can name, even (or perhaps especially) prayer. Why? Because our attitude spills forth in our words and actions. From smiles to frowns to tears and scowls…from kind words/actions to hateful ones; our attitudes feed our behavior.

A settled way of thinking or feeling about someone, something, or an idea, which is typically shown through a person’s behavior. 1

When it comes to prayer, Paul teaches that our attitude is to be one of devotion, alertness, thankfulness, and of course, faith. We are to be committed to praying. We are to be watchful, making sure we pray purposefully and not offering up empty prayers. This requires effort and intentionality from us to know who and what needs to be covered in prayer. This helps us to pray with purpose and to align our prayers with God’s expressed will and/or character. We may not always know what God wants in a situation, but we know that He is the great physician, so we can pray for healing. We know that He came to save sinners, so we can pray for the lost. We know He can do more than we ask or even imagine, so we can pray for the seemingly impossible. We know that He wants us to know peace and to have rest – so we can and should call out to Him for both.

To be clear, for a believer in Jesus Christ ~ prayer is communication with God based on the promise2 that He hears and answers us according to His will. It is a privilege to come boldly before His throne…it is calling out to Him in fear…pain…desperation…It is lifting up praises and thanksgiving for things He has done…It is a relationship builder and strengthening agent of our faith.

Friends, Paul makes it clear throughout this letter and others that we need to exercise our faith, and one way we do that is through prayer. That’s right, prayer strengthens our faith in God. Go back and read Paul’s prayer for the believers in chapter one of Colossians.

So how is your attitude toward/in prayer?

  • Do you see it as simply a duty or a privilege and joy?
    • Is it a hurry and get it done attitude or cherished time with God?
  • Do you pray in faith, or does doubt creep in?
  • Do you come to Him as a Father/Friend or as an unseen deity?
  • Do you come with your heart and mind on Him or with the distractions of the world?
  • Do you pray with an attitude of thanksgiving that flows from trusting God?

We exercise our faith by going to God and asking Him for everything we need, especially spiritual fruit, trusting Him to provide and thanking Him for it.

Christ Is All I Need / LGG digital Journal / p 190

As John wrote in 1 John 5:14, when we pray, we can have confidence that, when we pray according to His will, God hears us. In other words, our confidence doesn’t come from praying, but from the One we pray to… and praying in accordance with His will ~ ie., the things we know He wants (salvation for the lost3, obedience4, unity5, love6, peace7, understanding His Word and will8, wisdom9, His help10…)

And this is the confidence that we have before him: that whenever we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in regard to whatever we ask, then we know that we have the requests that we have asked from him. ~ 1 John 5:14-15

Whether you pray in a quiet room or a noisy office, in your car on the way to work, or as you wait in line at the grocery store – pray. Prayer is not relegated to a closet (though those moments are priceless); it is an ongoing, open line of communication with the Creator of the universe. Remember, while Jesus got alone with God in the garden, He also called out to God from the cross. The One who spoke the worlds into place has invited us to come, not just with certain things but with all of our cares (1 Peter 5:7). And He doesn’t invite us out of obligation but because He loves and cares for us. I have found that the more we devote ourselves to prayer, the more we find ourselves devoted to God – and vice versa. From this devotion comes a growing confidence in and understanding of God, as well as an unshakable faith – that allows us to say with the Psalmist, I keep my eyes always on the Lord; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

“I keep my eyes always on the Lord; because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” (Ps 16:8)

Prayer demands ongoing attention, just like the guard at a city gate. In practical terms, this means prayer is not supposed to be a careless, casual, or frivolous act. We should pray with specific purpose and with deliberate intent.

Bibleref.com / Colossians 4:2

Paul is nearing the end of his letter and is impressing on the people that they will need to be people of prayer. He knows they will need courage and help in the call to be witnesses and that they still have much to learn about living the Christian life. They will face trials and carry burdens, and they will need God’s help. Paul understands that their source of help, strength, and wisdom is from God and that they only need to ask. So he urges them not just to pray but to devote themselves to the habit and practice of prayer. Like breathing, it is to be a way of life for every believer. They will need to make time for prayer, and friends, we need to do the same ~ which is why we must understand the necessity of prayer. As we called out to God for our salvation, we must continually call out to Him for our daily needs, for the forgiveness of sins, and for the help we need to escape the temptations to sin. He is our strength and our fortress, a very present help in times of trouble – all we need to do is call to Him, and He will hear and answer us.

Response of Worship

Reflection and Application

  • As we are called to be devoted to prayer, what things do you need to take in prayer to Christ today?

Prayer Response

Father, thank You for the privilege of prayer. Thank You that You want to commune with Your children and for the promise that when we call out to You ~ You will hear us and answer according to Your will. Thank You for being such a personal God, inviting us to come with just ‘certain things/needs’ but with all of our cares. You are a good, good Father, and we are most blessed to be Your children ~ Amen and Amen!

The More We Know

Studying the book of Colossians has really shown us how much we need prayer if we want to live wisely. The Christian life cannot be lived any other way except by faith. We exercise our faith by going to God and asking Him for everything we need, especially spiritual fruit, trusting Him to provide and thanking Him for it. Christ Is All I Need / LGG digital Journal / p 190

Jesus taught us to never give up praying. He has given us wonderful promises: “Ask and it will be given to you,” (Matthew 7:7) and “whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you” (John 15:16). And then there is this sobering statement by James about lack of prayer: “You do not have because you do not ask” (James 4:2). Christ Is All I Need / LGG digital Journal / p190

  1. Merriam-Webster and other online sources ↩︎
  2. 1 John 5:14-15 ↩︎
  3. 1 Timothy 2:3-4. ↩︎
  4. John 14:15 ↩︎
  5. John 17:23, Ephesians 4:3 ↩︎
  6. Mark 12:29-31; John 13:34 ↩︎
  7. John 16:33 ↩︎
  8. Eph 5:17 ↩︎
  9. Prov 4:7, James 1:5 ↩︎
  10. Psalm 121:1-2 ↩︎

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

Our Best ~ Our All

Posted on by MaryEllen

Commentary Based on Christ Is All I Need

Week 6, Day 3 / For the Lord, not for People

Read: Colossians 3:22-4:1; Matthew 25:34-40 / SOAP: Colossians 3:23-24

Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. 24Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ. 

Colossians 3:23-24 NLT

Our Best1, a hymn that has stuck with me since childhood, became one God has used over the years to whisper this reminder: “Do then the best you can, not for reward, ~ Not for the praise of men, but for the Lord.” In a recent post from another’s day journey, we talked about how God can use music to cause His Word to “richly dwell in our hearts”, and this is a prime example for me. I had to look up the hymn today to share all of the words with you, but these two lines and the chorus, particularly the last line, have never been forgotten: “Do then the best you can, not for reward, ~ Not for the praise of men, but for the Lord… but unto Him is due our best, our all.” God has used it as a check and balance for me, prodding me to consider why I am doing something and/or whether I am doing my best.

Similarly, He often prods me with the words from Living for Jesus, making me ask myself: am I living true to Jesus, am I striving to please Him in all that I do, am I yielding my allegiance to Him, or is it divided between Him and the world, as Jesus admonished Peter in Matthew 16:23 and as James wrote to the “twelve tribes” of Jews scattered throughout the world, warning them to not let their minds be divided between God and the world (James 1:5-8).

Friends, the words of these songs are prime examples of how God not only keeps His Word dwelling richly within us but also how personally He is involved in and concerned about our lives, our minds, and the choices we make. He is a protective and proactive God. He is loving and gentle in His correction and teaching methods. He is faithful and true and an ever-present help, not just in trouble but in helping us to avoid trouble. Who can question these truths when this feeble and forgetful mind remembers such obscure songs from ages past (five to six decades ago), and not for the purpose of singing but for God’s correction, guidance, or help?

The point of Paul’s words in the closing verses of Colossians chapter 3 is to, once again, remind the people that they have been given a new life, one they are meant to live for God’s glory and not man’s. I love the words of the New English Translation here: “Whatever you are doing, work at it with enthusiasm as to the Lord and not for people, because you know that you will receive your inheritance from the Lord as the reward. Serve the Lord Christ.” As in verse 17, the word whatever literally means whatever or everything. Whether it is in the home, in an office, or helping someone in need … whatever we do, we are to do it with excitement, with the Lord in mind and not the people around us. Doing it for the accolades or notice of those around us may bring temporary applause and/or recognition, but doing it “as to the Lord” is Paul’s way of reminding believers that our real rewards are not received in this life. And, as bibleref.com explains: “God’s inheritance, our eternal dwelling place with Him, will far exceed the trials and limitations of this life. Paul sought once again to focus readers on things above rather than the daily concerns of this life.” He wanted them to understand that living for Jesus is a way of thanking/honoring God for our salvation through His Son.

Living for Jesus is a way of thanking and honoring God for our salvation from God through His Son.

Mefromthensideout.com🦋

Living for Jesus2

Response of Worship

Hey friends, I couldn’t find either song that I used in the blog to share here in the worship response. But this one by the Gaithers caught my attention with the reminder that, having done the best that we can, not for the praise of man but for the Lord, we will one day wear a crown. When we are found “doing each duty in His holy name; willing to suffer affliction and loss, deeming each trial a part of our cross …” I can only imagine we will hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” May this lift your mind upward to think about the things of Heaven and not the things of earth ~ as Paul encouraged us in his letter; and may it move all of us to live and work with enthusiasm for the Lord, and not for people, for we know that we will one day receive our inheritance from the Lord as the reward.

Prayer of Response

Oh Father, may we live this life You have given us well. May we live it for Your glory and not our own. May we live it in love and kindness, showing mercy and grace to others as You have shown to us. May we live it, not in our own strength but in Yours. May we strive to please You in all that we do, yielding our allegiance with joyful thanksgiving – not just for blessings that You give – but that we might, even in some small way, bring You pleasure and joy. May the things we do out of duty be done not begrudgingly but in love and thankfulness for what Christ has done for us on the cross. Thank You that He is our Lord and our Master; may our hearts forever and faithfully be His throne and our lives given to live for Him alone. And Father, as we live out our lives like this, please use us as lights to draw others to You. May everything we do and say be done for Your Glory – now and always – Amen.

Reflection and Application


What does it mean to do all our work “as to the Lord and not for people?

  • Is this how you are living?
  • What, if anything, can you work on in this area of your life?

The More We Know

But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” Matthew 16:23

5If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. James 1:5-8

  1. Hymnary.org ↩︎
  2. Hymnary.org ↩︎
Posted in Bible study, Christ is All I Need, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, prayer, Quiet Time

The Call of A Wife

Posted on by MaryEllen

Today’s focus verse is tough for me to speak on because I’m no longer a wife. I realize some may not know my story, but the bottom line is…

  • Ending the marriage was not my choice…
  • I prayed for God to save it…
  • I actually begged him to stay…
  • I am thankful for the 27+ years God gave us and the daughters He blessed us with …
  • I regret that He left…
  • I wish I had been a better wife and…
  • Shame and regret still taunt me…
  • I am glad every day to know that God is working all things together for the good of those who love Him and have been called according to His purpose…
  • God has used the failures/divorce to strengthen my faith and understanding of His grace…

Please understand that I am thankful for the many who are reading this and are happily married and able to speak to this passage ~ please feel free to share whatever encouraging words you may have on the subject. However, you will also find a link below that will direct you to the commentary from bibleref.com on this verse. I believe that it will be both helpful and encouraging on this very important topic for the life and health of your marriage. Please know that while I may be divorced, I am a huge advocate for marriage and encourage those who are married to consider these words of Paul, God’s spokesman, concerning your role and that of your husband.

Think back, or look back if necessary, to our conversation on yesterday’s journey – namely, that if we want to live like Jesus, our goal must be to bring glory to God in whatever we say and do.

The More We Know

(My prayer for each of you who are married is that these words will bring hope, encouragement, and strength to you and to your marriage. Do not grow weary in doing what God has called you to do as a wife. Love your husband well, pray for him, and enjoy the blessing of your husband. May God richly bless both you and your husband as you seek to honor the Lord in your marriage relationship.)

Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. – Colossians 3:18

Borrowed from the Christ is All I Need LGG Journal/week 6/day 3

The concept of submission to a husband has been totally despised and ridiculed in our Western society. Our culture has rejected the biblical idea of different roles between men and women in marriage, and the result has been countless family breakdowns.

Yes, God’s Word tells us that men and women are equal in value, equally loved by God, and equally in need of His grace. Submission does not impact this equality. Rather, it is a choice by the wife to submit to her husband because God has made him the head of the family. He is not the head, or leader, because he is more gifted, capable, or spiritual. Rather, God has given him that authority. It’s so important to marry someone we feel we can respect and follow.

Submission means to willingly (even joyfully) surrender myself under my husband’s leadership. It means responding to him with the kind of respect that is due his position. It means doing whatever I can to help my husband do what he’s supposed to do. It means accepting the decision he makes, even if I had to state my arguments for why I disagree.

A wife is to submit as a response of obedience to Jesus, knowing that He would not ask her to do anything that would harm her. Because Jesus is still her ultimate Lord, she can never follow her husband into sin, nor is she to submit to abusive behavior. Husbands are to model their actions after Christ.

It’s true that the man we are called to submit to is far from perfect. Yet, our role is to submit to him in such a way that it will be easier for him to lead and love. When things are difficult, we need to look up, put our hope in God, and ask Him to renew our respect toward our husbands.

Lord Jesus, please help me to honor you in the way I respect my husband and submit to him. Amen.

Reflection and Application

  • If you are married, how can you submit to your husband by encouraging him in his God-given role of leadership?
  • If you are not married, what are the main traits in a godly man you should look for?
  • Spend time praying for the marriages around you and for future marriages.

The More We Know