Broken but Priceless Ministries

A War Cry of Faith

9/21/2017

By Erin Elizabeth Austin

Floods. Fires. Hurricanes. Earthquakes. If you’ve watched the news at all in the past month, you know it seems like our world has been cast in an apocalyptic movie. Everything has seemingly gone wrong all at once, and it’s scary.

As I’ve watched what’s happening, I admit I’ve found myself following social media and I’ve been shocked by people’s responses, particularly in regards to Hurricane Irma. I lost count of the number of Christians who posted something to the effect of: “It’s okay. I prayed, so God will turn the hurricane around.” Let’s be real for a moment. Demanding God answer our prayers the way we deem best is not faith. It’s arrogance! Now before you start sending me emails about the power of prayer please note I believe, as God’s children, we are called to pray. Not only that, but God answers prayers. He is in the miracle-making business. Having said that, I think many Christians have missed an important point about prayer and faith.

Somewhere along the way, many of us have been led to believe that if we pray and believe God will do what we ask, then it will happen. That’s not faith!!! True faith is never about what God can do for us. Faith is all about God. It’s why this Believing God series has been interwoven with the names of God. If you look at the original Greek word used in Scripture for faith, the word used is “peitho,” and it means “to put confidence in God.” Note that it doesn’t say “to put confidence in God, so He will answer your prayers the way you think He should.” Genuine faith is saying, “God, I trust You no matter what. I lay my requests at Your feet, and if You don’t answer my prayer the way I wish You would, I will trust You know best. I will still believe.”

And that right there is why faith is so terrifying. It’s letting go of our need to be in control and admitting that we can’t see the whole picture. It’s looking at the truth of Hebrews 11:39-40 and understanding that sometimes we won’t receive what we asked for because God has something better waiting for us in heaven. Faith isn’t a math problem, where if we do a + b then we’ll get our desired result. Faith is a daily choice of choosing to believe God no matter what, and when we start to live this out, then God will show up and show out.

I love the promise found in 2 Chronicles 7:14 which says, “If My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” That, my friend, is what prayer is all about. It’s about seeking God and admitting we need Him. It’s surrendering all that we are and trusting Him no matter what.

So many of us have missed the mark when it comes to believing God. We’ve misunderstood what faith really is and we’ve been operating in our own strength. Ephesians 6:16 tells us to “take up the shield of faith so that we can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” Interestingly enough, the definition of shield in this verse actually means door. Think about that. When our faith is in God, He is a door that protects us and stands between us and Satan. It doesn’t mean the attacks won’t come, but the door is firmly closed.

At the beginning of the summer, I went to the beach with my family. A tradition I have with my three nephews is I take them out into the ocean and we go boogie boarding. One day, while my brother-in-law played with my two youngest nephews in the shallow surf, I took the nine-year-old further out into the water. The current that day was extremely strong, and I was constantly on guard so that neither of us would get pulled out to sea. Needless to say, my strength didn’t hold out for long and after twenty minutes, we had to come in where I promptly collapsed in my beach chair thoroughly exhausted. Barely a minute passed before my three-year-old nephew came running up to me asking why I wasn’t playing. I responded by telling him the water was too strong and it made me tired. After asking if he could use my boogie board, I did what any good aunt would do and told him to be careful. In the innocence that only a child can have, he looked at me as serious as can be and said, “It’s okay. I’ve got this.” Then he grabbed the boogie board in his left hand, turned to face the water, threw his right hand up high in the air, and shouted, “I AM BATMAN!!” He let out what can only be described as a war cry and took off running into the water…straight into the arms of his daddy. The current was still strong and overpowering, but it didn’t matter because he was safe in the arms of his father.

That image has stayed with me months later. Countless Christians have been operating in their own power, and they’ve run out of strength. They find themselves sitting at the edge of the water, overwhelmed by its sheer enormity and power, and they wonder why God isn’t actively working in their lives. I’ve been there, and I want to encourage you. Turn your eyes onto God. Surrender everything – your hopes, your dreams, your desires, your needs – and let God be God. His plan is so much better than anything you could ever do. Let go of the need to be in control, shout out your war cry of faith, and choose once and for all to believe

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” ~ Hebrews 12:1-3

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Peace in the Storm

9/14/2017

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By Josie Siler

We live in trying times. The world around us seems to be falling apart, yet if you look closely, you’ll see people coming together. Neighbors helping neighbors, friends helping friends, complete strangers stepping up to help those in need; it’s a beautiful thing to witness, even from a distance.

I live in Wisconsin and today is a beautiful summer day. After a cold stretch last week, this week it’s back in the 80’s and the sun has come out to play. When I look out my window I see flowers blooming and dozens of butterflies flitting about from one bloom to the next. It’s peaceful and calm.

Yet I’m not untouched by the tragedies happening around the country and the world. I’ve been keeping my eyes to social media and the news, following the battles that friends and others around the world are facing.

While at work, I chatted with a customer who was visiting from Montana. As we stood in a children’s boutique watching her daughter play, she calmly told me her account of the fires raging out west and the air that is unbreathable. People are unable to leave their homes and so many others have had to be evacuated.

A friend living in Nepal shared about the monsoons and terrible flooding happening in Nepal, India, and Bangladesh. Thousands have been killed and millions of people are displaced. If she hadn’t shared on Facebook, I would have never known.

Videos and photographs from friends and strangers alike have filled my screens as stories of devastation, survival, kindness, and miraculous rescues have been shared from Texas to Florida and so many places in between.

With tragedy striking in so many places in such a short period of time, it’s not surprising to hear people asking where God is and why He isn’t intervening. When you add in each of our own personal struggles and pain it’s easy to feel completely overwhelmed.

Friends, let me be perfectly clear. God has not abandoned His people. God’s words of encouragement to the Israelites are still true today.

But now thus says the Lord,
He who created you, O Jacob,
    He who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
    I have called you by name, you are Mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
    and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
    and the flame shall not consume you. (Isaiah 43:1-2, ESV

If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you belong to God. You are His and there is nothing and no one who can change that. We are His, and there is no fire, flood, hurricane, tornado, monsoon, or chronic illness that can harm us.

“But how can that be,” you may wonder. I know, many people have lost their lives, so how can I say that nothing can harm us? I can say it with complete confidence because we are more than just our physical body.

We’ve been going through a series on what it means to be united with Christ. We’ve learned that when we place our trust in, and choose to follow Jesus, our spirit is united with His. We become one. We recognize that our spirit, united with Christ Jesus, died with Him, was buried with Him, and rose from the dead with Him. We are now seated at the right hand of God, in Christ. That my friends, that’s who we really are.

The thing that makes us special and unique, the essence of us, is our spirit, not our physical body. That’s why I can say with confidence that nothing can harm us. One day our physical body will die, but our spirit is already living united with the eternal Christ. That won’t change.

When we understand this, we can experience God’s peace in the midst of any situation. We can extend God’s love to those around us who are hurting and suffering as much as, or more than, we are. What an incredible gift!

I’ve been thinking a lot about the destruction and total loss that so many have recently experienced. It’s hard for me to fully understand because it’s something that I haven’t personally experienced. I think about all of the inheritances that have been destroyed, never to be passed down to children or grandchildren.

There is a lot of heartbreak there, yet what I’ve been hearing over and over is that stuff can be replaced. And even the things that can’t be replaced are nothing compared to the safety of a loved one. You see, it’s people who are important.

When I read Ephesians 1:11 (NLT) this week, I knew I had to share it. It says, “Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for He chose us in advance, and He makes everything work out according to His plan.”

What earthly inheritance could ever compare to the inheritance we get from God? To be chosen by God and united with Christ is the greatest gift we could ever receive. It’s the most important gift that can be given to friends and family, and it can’t be destroyed by fire, flood, storm, illness, or anything else.

So what is our response to the devastation the world is experiencing and that we may be experiencing? First of all, we remember that God isn’t surprised. He told us in His Word that we will experience these types of trials, yet He also told us that He is with us and will never leave us!

Second, we grieve and we rejoice. We grieve with those who are experiencing great loss and deep emotional pain and we rejoice with those who have seen miraculous provision.

Third, we do what we can to help. We offer a hand of assistance, a shoulder to cry on, and a listening ear. We donate needed finances and supplies as we’re able. We search out the most reputable organizations so the help we send gets to the people who need it the most.

Finally, and most importantly, we pray. We pray for rain, we pray for restoration, we pray for healing, and we praise God for all of the ways that He has already intervened and assisted. We praise Him because no matter what hardships we face, He is still God, He is still on His throne, and He is still worthy to be praised.

Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love,
a tender heart, and a humble mind.
- 1 Peter 3:8, ESV

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Surviving the Climb

8/31/2017

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By Erin Elizabeth Austin

When I decided to write a series on believing God, I knew it was going to be a challenge. I’ve often been told I have a remarkable faith in God, but secretly, I knew my trust in God was greatly lacking. Don’t get me wrong. If there was a litmus test to measure a person’s faith, I probably would have done fairly well. But there were cracks in the foundation of my faith – areas where I struggled to fully trust God and take Him at His word. It’s why it took me so long to finally write this series, because I wasn’t looking forward to tearing down the walls around my heart and do an honest assessment of my trust in God. Yet I’m so glad I did! Not only have I learned why I struggled to believe God would fulfill His promises in certain areas of my life, but I’ve also learned so much about who God is.

There are many facets to our Creator, as evidenced by His variety of names. I know I don’t know everything about God there is to know, nor have I reached the pinnacle of my faith. However, one of the greatest things I’ve learned through this study and I pray you have as well is that God is trustworthy. He has made hundreds of promises to us, His children, throughout Scripture and He will fulfill those promises. He only calls us to believe.

For such a small word, belief is a hard word to learn when it comes to believing God. Sure, we believe in God, but do we believe He will do what He says He will do? That’s why daily spending time with God and reading His Word is so vital. We can’t believe Someone we don’t know. I think that’s one of the reasons why God has so many different names throughout Scripture, because they describe the character of God. Not only is He a light in dark times, but He’s our strength, our defender, our refuge. He’s the God who is mighty in battle, the One who will provide, who gives us victory. He’s the One who will deliver us. He is mighty, the horn of our salvation, our great redeemer. He is God Most High.

"Knowing all of this, sometimes, we have to simply choose to believe. When our world is shaken and it seems like everything is falling apart, we have to choose to listen to what God says rather than what circumstances tell us. I learned this lesson the hard way this summer. After studying the awe-inspiring attributes of God and learning He is trustworthy, I found myself in one of the most challenging times of lupus treatments I’ve ever experienced. As those of you with a chronic illness know, most of the time we judge how bad we’re doing physically by comparing it to previous bouts of sickness. Although it’s not been my worst, this summer has ranked in the top five of all-time worst periods of sickness, which is saying something for me. Every day I have felt like I’ve been hit with a semi-truck. I’m not sure what’s been worse – the mind-numbing pain I feel down in the depths of my bones or the never-ending fatigue. What’s made this even harder is I felt great the first half of the year, but when June came, it was like I’d been sucker punched. The sickness came out of nowhere and, I admit, my first instinct was to cry out to God, “What are You doing?!” It was in that moment I was reminded that faith is a choice. It’s saying, “God, no matter what happens, I will my plant my feet and stand here choosing to believe You. I will keep my eyes on You rather than my circumstances. I don’t know how or when, but by Your grace, I will overcome this."

As I went through my list of the names of God, I kept coming back to one in particular that’s found in Jeremiah 16:19. It’s Jehovah Ma’ozi and it means “The Lord is my fortress.” For those of you who don’t know, fortress is an interesting word. It means “stronghold.” And here’s where it gets interesting. The word stronghold means “a place of safety or protection.”[i] Think about that for a moment. When it feels like our world is caving in, God is our place of safety. No matter what, we are secure and safe in Him, but we have to make Him our fortress.

As I spoke with my doctor about why I was suddenly so sick, she told me this battle I’m currently fighting is a good thing. In her words, “It’s your Mt. Everest. There will still be some mountains to climb once you get past this, but God is going to use this mountain to get you where you need to be.” Sometimes, we have to climb a mountain to step into the next phase of life. It’s treacherous and challenging, not to mention exhausting. The only way to survive is to choose to believe God is using this mountain to do something amazing. He hasn’t abandoned you while you climb. Let Him be your fortress. Choose to plant your feet, stand firm in your faith, and believe God no matter what.

“I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; from where shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber.” ~ Psalm 121:1-3

[i] The Strongest Exhaustive Concordance; 2004

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The Power of Transformation

8/24/2017

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By Josie Siler

Jesus is in the business of transforming lives; it’s kinda what He does! When I think of biblical examples of transformed lives, one person in particular comes to mind. Off the top of my head, I can’t think of any greater transformation than what took place in the life of Paul, also known as Saul[1].

Saul was an Israelite; he was not only part of God’s chosen nation, he was from the tribe of Benjamin and had been circumcised when he was eight days old. He grew up to become a Pharisee, living in strict obedience to every detail of the Jewish law, and demanding the same of others. He was zealous in His faith, so when the church started to grow he did everything in his power to destroy it. (Philippians 3:5-6)

Saul was present when Stephen was killed and he fully approved of his death (Acts 8:1). He then traveled the area, literally dragging followers of Christ out of their homes, men and women both, and throwing them in prison. His intention was to destroy the church (Acts 8:3). Scripture tells us that “Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers (Acts 9:1, NLT).”

I can’t help but think that Saul thought he was all that and a bag of chips. People probably admired him, feared him, and/or wanted to be him. But then, one day, everything changed. Saul encountered Jesus in the most dramatic fashion.

He was on his way to Damascus, with permission from the High Priest to gather up any followers of Jesus he could find and deliver them to Jerusalem in chains (Acts 9:2). As he neared the city, a bright light appeared and Saul heard the voice of Jesus asking why he was persecuting Him. He was told to go into the city and await instruction. The light vanished and with it, Saul’s sight. He was blind. (Acts 9:3-8)

He remained blind for three days until Ananias, a brave follower of Jesus, obeyed the Lord’s command to go and lay hands on Saul so that he could regain his sight. When he did, scales fell from Saul’s eyes, he was baptized, and he immediately began preaching about Jesus. (Acts 9:9-20)

Wow, what a transformation! So, what really happened? What changed? Yes, there was a dramatic vision, but the real work happened in Saul’s heart. He encountered Jesus and He decided to follow Him. That was the real dramatic encounter, and it’s something we can each experience for ourselves.

We can go about our lives saying all the right things. We can be zealous in our faith by doing all the right things, but heart transformation isn’t about what we say or do, it’s about what Christ has done. True change and growth only happen when we encounter Jesus and decide to follow Him. We can read Paul’s own revelation about this truth in Philippians 3:8-9.

I once thought these things [heritage, zeal, and persecution of the church] were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with Him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with Himself depends on faith. [Note and emphasis mine.]

Our own personal transformation occurs when we understand that salvation and unity with Christ are gifts that are given to us, not because of anything we have done, but because of what Christ has done. This can be hard to accept because we humans are all about “doing” and “earning” things. It’s hard to believe that we don’t have to do anything to earn God’s love and acceptance.

But really, what could we ever do that would be enough? God’s standards are so high that we could never meet them, not in a million years. But God knows this, and that’s why He sent His Son, Jesus. Through Christ, and our unity with Him, we’re reconciled to God. We’re loved, accepted, given new life, and are heirs with Christ.

When we encounter Jesus and decided to place our faith in Him, we instantly become royalty, a son or daughter of the King of kings and Lord of lords. It’s why Jesus came. “For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent His Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through Him (John 3:16-17).”

Do you believe, not just that God exists, but believe in Him? Have you placed your faith in Jesus and decided to follow Him? If so, rejoice in your unity with Him and remind yourself that life isn’t about what you do, it’s about who you know!

If not, you can do so right now. Pray with me, “Jesus, today I have encountered You and I believe in You. You’ve opened my eyes and my heart and I choose to place my faith in You and follow You all of my days. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me, loving me, and being my life. Continue to reveal Yourself to me as I follow You. I love you, Jesus! Amen.

“Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was!
He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus.”
– Paul, 1 Timothy 1:14

[1] www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/no-saul-the-persecutor-did-not-become-paul-the-apostle

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Heated Up and Melted Down

8/10/2017

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By Josie Siler

This week I got to eat two of my favorite meals. While similar, there is one big distinction that struck me as a good analogy as we’re learning what it means to be united with Christ. I’m a visual person; maybe you’ve noticed. I love word pictures, examples, and stories that help me understand spiritual truths. I hope you like them too, because I’m going to tell you about the one I discovered in the midst of a couple of tasty meals!

Earlier this week I went to my parent’s house where mom made Paleo Dutch Babies. You use a whole lot of eggs and get this delicious, giant, fluffy pancake-like creation that completely fills a large, deep skillet. We top it with fruit and real maple syrup and it’s really healthy. We also top it with ice cream – which isn’t quite so healthy, but it sure is delicious!

We used raspberries, but they were frozen. So my mom heated them up and melted them down on the stovetop so they turned into this thick, rich sauce. We spooned it over the fluffy pancake and wow!

Yesterday mom and dad came over to my house and I made another favorite meal, a fruit soufflé. It is also made with a lot of eggs and turns out fluffy and delicious. This time I used fresh strawberries that I purchased yesterday at the local Farmer’s Market. Mmmm, fresh!

In this recipe you layer sliced fruit on the bottom of the dish and put all of the fluffy egg mixture on top of the fruit. Top with a few chocolate chips and you have another perfect meal.

These meals are similar, but the difference in the fruit is important. A lot of times we think of Jesus as being close to us. He walks with us, He leads us, and He never leaves us or forsakes us. This is true, but there’s more to it than that.

When I think of the relationship I just described I think of the strawberries layered in close. Jesus is right there next to us, close and intimate. But those strawberries keep to themselves. As close as they are, they are all still individual berries.

But the raspberries we had earlier in the week, they were unified. When they’re heated up and melted down, they blend together so well that there’s no way you could ever pick out one berry. It’s impossible. The berries have become one; they have become part of each other. In fact, you can’t really even call them raspberries anymore because the individual berries are gone. They have become something new entirely, a sauce so thoroughly combined that you can’t tell where one berry begins and another ends.

That, my friends, is unity, and that’s the relationship we have with Jesus. If we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we’re united with Him. It’s who we are, whether we realize it or not. It’s not something to be hoped for or to long for, it has already been accomplished.

Ephesians 2:13 (NLT) tells us, “But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.” Not only are we united with Jesus, we are brought near to God through the blood of Christ.

You see, through His death and the shedding of His blood Jesus paid the price for our sins and gave us new life – His life. When we choose to follow Jesus we’re united with Him, becoming one with Him. The trials of life heat us up and melt us down until we come to the end of ourselves.

That’s what happened to me. I was walking through life like a strawberry. I was close with Jesus, and I knew Him well. I trusted Him, I followed Him, and I did my best to honor and serve Him. But trials in life – chronic illness, tragedies, and the like – heated me up and melted me down until I had a meltdown. I was done. I didn’t know what to do and I was so very weary.

But that’s right where the Lord wanted me because that is where I finally realized that I was living a life I wasn’t meant to live. I was striving hard and trying to do life in my own strength. I had Jesus as close as I thought He could get, but I was wrong. He wanted so much more for my life, and He wants so much more for your life too.

When I understood who I was in Christ, that we were united – truly one – the pressures I had placed upon myself were lifted off my weary shoulders. God didn’t intend for us to carry heavy burdens. He sent Jesus not only to save our souls, but to give us new life. Like the raspberries turned into sauce once we realize our unity with Christ we understand that we really are a new creation. The old has gone, the new has come, and this new life in Christ is good. It’s so very good!

Do you know Jesus? Do you know the power of being one with Him? If not, talk to Him about it. Tell Him that you’re weary and that you want to live life united with Him. Ask Him to reveal to you the truth of who He is and who you are in Him. That’s a prayer He will be thrilled to answer!

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” ~Jesus
(Matthew 11:29-30, NIV)

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Unity Produces Living Water

8/3/2017

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By Josie Siler

It was a beautiful summer afternoon; the kind where towering thunderclouds peppered the soft blue sky, making me hungry for vanilla ice cream piled just as high. Humidity soaked into every fiber of my being and movement was restricted to a snail’s pace. Severe thunderstorm watches were issued, and I waited for the summer thunderstorm that never came.

A few days later…

It was a beautiful summer afternoon; the kind where the sky is so blue you’re not sure it’s even real. I had been out and about earlier in the day, but I was hiding from the humidity in my air-conditioned office, hard at work on something very important, I’m sure.

I have a tendency to lose track of time while I’m working, so when my office grew dark I thought it was getting late. Oh bother, I forgot to eat supper, again! I glanced at the clock that’s hidden behind my computer screen and realized it was still early in the evening, not even 5:00.

Huh. It wasn’t supposed to rain today. All of the weather forecasts predicted beautiful weather and clear skies. The deluge that pounded my house a few minutes later proved the forecast models wrong, yet again. Rain poured off my roof and shot out cracks in the gutters. The wind blew so hard and so long I was sure I was going to lose some trees. No weather watches had been issued, but I found myself watching weather that was doing some damage.

This has been the pattern across western Wisconsin this summer. The forecast models just can’t predict what the weather is going to do. One town can be getting a doozy of a thunderstorm while two miles away there’s hardly a sprinkle. Thunderclouds threaten the worst and then pass us by without incident.

There has to be a lesson in all of this, right? It didn’t take me long to see the connection. Like the thunderclouds that promised rain, Christians can look the part. Especially if we grew up in the church, we know how to play the game. We know how to look spiritual, talk about God, and hide our shortcomings and sins.

We know how to appear holy, but without the power of Christ, we’re all show. Just like the thunderclouds in the summer sky, we’ll blow on by without producing a thing. We’ll be stuck in the same old patterns of hiding our sin and weaknesses and pretending that everything is “fine”.

Friends, we don’t have to live this way. Romans 7:4 (NLT) says, “So, my dear brothers and sisters, this is the point: You died to the power of the law when you died with Christ. And now you are united with the one who was raised from the dead. As a result, we can produce a harvest of good deeds for God.”

When Jesus died on the cross for our sins, we died with Him. Our spirits literally died with Christ. We died to the power of the law, we died to the power of sin, we died to the need to pretend all is well, and we died to our flesh. But like Christ, we didn’t stay dead. We’re alive in Christ. We’re united to “the one who was raised from the dead” and our spirits are raised from the dead too. We can now walk in the Spirit, united with Christ. As we walk in Christ, we can “produce a harvest of good deeds for God.”

It is Christ who lives in us and through us, as we allow Him to. We can stop trying so hard; we can stop puffing ourselves up like a giant thundercloud and instead allow Christ to work through us. The harvest of good deeds comes as a result of being united with Christ. It isn’t a result of our own efforts or striving, it’s a result of Christ in us.

When we live out of our unity with Christ we can be like the surprise thunderstorm, always ready to pour out rivers of living water to those who are parched in this dry and thirsty land.

“He who believes in Me [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Me], as the Scripture has said, ‘From his innermost being will flow continually rivers of living water.’” – John 7:38, AMP

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The Ultimate Networking Connection

7/13/2017

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By Josie Siler

So many things happen in life because of who you know. As I delve into the world of writing and authors I’m finding this truth enforced, and reinforced. It’s all about connections. Of course, talent and skill are part of the equation too!

They call it networking. True networking is more than a connection, it’s a relationship. We don’t connect with someone only looking for what we can get out of it – what they can do for us. There’s give and take, supporting each other, and helping each other fulfill our dreams in any way we can.

My first published work, a book that I could hold in my hands and smell as it came out of the box all fresh and new, came because of a connection. An opportunity was presented to me and I said “yes.” My dear friend Katy (you know Katy Kauffman, she designs Broken but Priceless: The Magazine) asked me to write a guest post for her blog. It was part of a series and I was happy to do it.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think saying “yes” to writing a blog post would lead to my first published work in a compilation when Katy turned that series into a book. That blessing came to me because of a connection, a relationship, a friendship.

Spiritual blessings also come to us because of Who we know. Ephesians 1:3 (NLT) says, “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ (emphasis mine).”

We’re blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we’re united with Jesus Christ. Think about that for a minute. Every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms is ours. Fausset and Brown define blessings as:

blessings--Greek, “blessing.” “All,” that is, “every possible blessing for time and eternity, which the Spirit has to bestow.”[1]

And how do we get these blessings? Through our unity with Christ. Jesus is the source of every spiritual blessing. He’s our ultimate networking connection. It’s the most important relationship we’ll ever have.

Unlike connections and advancement in the field of writing (or any other field) I don’t need talent or ability, I just need Jesus. He will give me the talent to do the work that has been prepared in advance for me to do. He will give me the ability to love God and love others.

We’re blessed for the same reason Abram was blessed way back in Genesis 12:2. “…I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.” We’re blessed so that we can be a blessing to others. Just like networking, when we’re blessed and advance, it’s our job to bless others and bring them up with us.

So what are some of the spiritual blessings we receive through Christ? Ephesians 1 (NLT) goes on to list several spiritual blessings:

1.      God chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes (verse 4)
2.      God adopted us into His own family (verse 5)
3.      God brought us to Himself through Jesus Christ (verse 5)
4.      God poured out His glorious grace on us (verse 6)
5.      God purchased our freedom with the blood of Jesus (verse 7)
6.      God forgave our sins (verse 7)
7.      God has showered us with kindness, wisdom, and understanding (verse 8)

All of these blessings are found in one paragraph. There are so many more! What other spiritual blessings can you think of?

Today, let’s say “yes” to the spiritual blessings God offers us through His Son, Jesus Christ. Let’s celebrate our unity with Him. Remember that God blesses us so that we can bless others. Share in the comments one way that God has blessed you or one way that you have been able to be a blessing to someone else.

*If you aren't on our email list to receive Broken but Priceless: The Magazine and would like to be, please let us know!

[1] Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 341). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

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Jesus Doesn't Come in Miniature

6/29/2017

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By Josie Siler

So many things today come in miniature. Candy bars, cakes, artwork, furniture, clothing, books, luggage, horses, dogs, and certainly technology – just to name a few. I’ll admit I’ve never understood the idea of miniature candy bars or cake. I’m a king-sized kind of girl!

Why do we think that things are suddenly better when they’re smaller? Sure it’s great to be able to fit a small cell phone in your pocket, but what happens when it gets so small your fat fingers can’t hit the buttons? We all know that auto-correct is anything but our friend!

Some artists are miniaturizing books and turning them into necklaces. First of all, I kind of want one. I mean, they’re stinkin’ adorable! But you can’t read them. At least my 30-something eyes can’t! Like many miniature things, their purpose is purely decorative.

I hate to admit it, but for a very long time I pictured Jesus in miniature. I grew up believing that when I accepted Jesus into my life He came and lived in my heart. Now don’t get me wrong, this is true, but it isn’t the whole picture.

When I thought about Jesus living in my heart I pictured a miniature Jesus, almost like a little plastic G.I. Joe, camping out in my heart. Of course I knew that’s not who Jesus really was, but that’s often how I pictured Him. I couldn’t quite grasp what it meant to have Jesus living in my heart. I took the statement too literally. Once I began to really grasp what it means to be united with Christ, it changed my life. My world was rocked and there’s no going back!

There are some things that we just can’t fully understand until God reveals them to us. Friends, let me be very clear. Jesus doesn’t come in miniature. He isn’t some plastic action hero we play with. He’s God incarnate, living in us. We get all of Him and He gets all of us.

That’s what it means to be united with Christ. We can’t tell where Jesus ends and we begin. We’re all His and He’s all ours. He lives His life through us, as us. When I take the time to remember this, I can feel all the pressures of life lifting off my shoulders. I don’t have to worry what other people will think about me because it’s not me who lives, it’s Christ in me. When I allow Him to live through me, I don’t have to worry if I’m going to say or do the right thing or make the right decision. I can walk with Him each day in confident assurance because I know that the things that happen are in His control, and He is good. And that, my friends, is the feeling of freedom.

Ephesians 3:17 (NLT) says, “Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.” When we trust Christ in us we establish deep roots and grow strong. We aren’t just given a portion of Christ’s love and strength; we have access to all of it because we have access to all of Him. We’re united with Him so the things that He has, we have too.

The Apostle Paul doesn’t stop there. He goes on to write, “And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God (verses 18-19).”

Paul is praying that we will be able to understand the depth and strength of God’s love for us. In fact, the only way we will ever comprehend any truth is if God reveals it to us. No person can make us understand God’s truth no matter how hard they try, but God can reveal it to us. He can help us understand the mystery of His deep love for us, and of Christ in us. He can help us understand that our spirits are literally united with Christ’s Spirit.

Once I understood that this wasn’t just a concept or an idea, but a literal reality, my mind was blown. It’s as if the heavens burst forth and for the first time I realized that I didn’t have to live in defeat because Christ has already overcome everything and His life is my life. He lives in me so I’m an overcomer too.
And you know what? His life is also your life. He lives in you so you’re an overcomer too! It is my prayer that each day God will not only remind us of this truth, but also remind us to walk in this reality. Jesus may be united with little ol’ us, but He will never come in miniature. He’s big and He’s mighty. He’s powerful and He’s perfect – and He’s one with us. Praise His Holy Name!

Dear Lord God, thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus. Thank You that He didn’t just die for us, but that He lives for us too – He lives IN us! Wow God, what a concept! Will You reveal to each of us what that really means for our daily lives? Will You help us to understand what it means to be united with Jesus Christ? Will You give us patience when we don’t understand? God, thank You that Your timing is perfect and that You reveal to us things just when we’re ready to hear them – not a second before and not a minute too late. You’re always right on time, Lord! Thank you for Your gifts and for Your deep love for each of us. Help our roots grow deep and strong, Lord. We love You! In Jesus’ precious and powerful name, Amen.

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Lessons from Wonder Woman

6/22/2017

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By Josie Siler

Do you want to know a secret? I kind of want to be Wonder Woman. I’ve always loved Wonder Woman, and I don’t even know why. I haven’t read any comics, I haven’t seen any other Wonder Woman movies, and I’ve only watched the old TV show a couple of times and, well, that was pretty cheesy. But for some reason, I’ve always identified with Wonder Woman. She’s “my” superhero. Needless to say, when the previews for the new movie came out I was pretty excited.

When Erin and I were together a couple of weeks ago we went and saw the movie and I loved it. The entire movie I was making comparisons in my head between the movie and the Christian life. (Note: There are no major spoilers coming so you can keep reading if you haven’t seen the movie yet. Personally, I would not take young kids to this movie. Parents, see it first and judge if it’s appropriate for your child.)

I didn’t have a clue what the movie was going to be about, so everything about it was a surprise. If I had to sum it up in one sentence I would say, “Wonder Woman is a movie about a girl discovering who she really is and learning to walk in that knowledge.” And isn’t that what the Christian life is all about?

As Christians, we’re on a journey to discover who we are in Christ and how to walk in that knowledge. Diana, aka Wonder Woman, didn’t know the full extent of who she was. As she slowly discovered the truth about herself she became more confident and powerful. As we discover the truth about who God really is and who we are in Him, we become less fearful and more powerful. We discover that our power comes from Christ, and when we allow Him to live His life through ours, we have no limits. We have nothing to fear. We’re prepared and equipped to face any battle, any fight.

I’m so excited to introduce this new series with you. Each week I’m going to be writing about our unity with Christ. What does it look like to be united with Him? How does it affect our daily lives? Does scripture really say that we’re one with the King of kings and Lord of lords?

Galatians 3:26-27 (NLT) says, “For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.” Isn’t it nice to put on new clothes? They’re fresh and clean, not yet faded, and we feel like a million bucks. We want to show off our new clothes so others can see how good we look in them. Being united with Christ is even better than new clothes! Clothes rest on your body, but being united with something or someone is much more intimate.

Is there a time when you felt really close to Jesus? I’d love to hear about it in the comments. Also, please let me know any questions you have about being united with Christ. I’ll try to answer them throughout the course of this series.

Before I go, I have to share this video with you. Singer/songwriter Jamie Grace made a video that perfectly sums up the way I felt after watching Wonder Woman. Sorry Jamie, I think Gal Gadot is more graceful than we’ll ever be (even if Grace is your last name)!

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An Identity Crisis

5/11/2017

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By Erin Elizabeth Austin

Who are you? I had the privilege of attending the Women of Joy conference this past weekend, and this question was asked several times. I’m thrilled to say I knew the answer to the question, something I couldn’t have done a few years ago. Now, I know what you’re thinking. “How can you not know who you are?!” Believe it or not, most people get the answer to this question wrong, and for years, I was one of them.

Most people, when asked this question, respond with answers like, “I’m a wife and mother of two children; I’m a nurse who loves to have adventures, etc.” Yet none of these answers tell who you are! They describe what you do. Intrinsically, at our very core, very few know their identity.

I was reminded of this after the massive response from last week’s devotion on expectations (see http://www.erinelizabethaustin.com/blog/great-expectations). Although the devotion was about our unrealistic expectations of God, it triggered many of you into thinking about the unrealistic expectations you place on yourself and how you struggle because you don’t measure up. That’s why this week’s name of God is my all-time favorite. I think it’s one of the sweetest, yet most revealing names we see throughout all of Scripture. The name is Abba, which means Father in Aramaic.

When we see our need for a Savior and repent of our sins, Scripture tells us we are adopted as God’s children. He becomes our Abba, our Daddy God. Romans 8:15-17 says it best, “For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, ‘Abba! Father!’ The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.”

Let that truth sink down deep into your soul. God doesn’t care what you can and cannot do. He doesn’t care about the size of your portfolio and your bank account. Your net worth in God’s kingdom isn’t dependent on your job. A CEO of a corporation isn’t considered more valuable than a homeless person. If you have a personal relationship with Christ, then God says you are His child. You are valued. You are cherished. You are wanted!

For years, I could not comprehend this. Life had beaten me down to the point I was beyond broken. I was shattered in a million tiny pieces. In my mind, I knew God had to love me because He was God, but that didn’t mean He was happy about it. Twisted though it was, I honestly believed I was the black sheep of God’s family. Just because God loved me didn’t mean He liked me, so I worked hard to be the best possible person I could be. And then sickness happened. I couldn’t work because my body wouldn’t allow it. I will never forget having to quit my job because I was too sick to work, thinking “What am I going to do now? I was doing all of these things to show God I deserved His love, and now I can’t. How am I going to show Him I’m valuable?”

That time in my life was one of the darkest times I’ve ever experienced, and I am so grateful for it! As odd as this may sound, sitting on the couch doing absolutely nothing helped me FINALLY begin to understand who I am and Whose I am. Now I know, I am Erin Elizabeth Austin and I am a daughter of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. If I ever become a best-selling author and world-renown speaker, my value will not change from the beaten, broken down girl eight years ago.

God’s love never changes. Even better, it’s unfailing. It’s unshakeable. It’s unstoppable. He is a good Father who loves you when you think you’re unlovable. Do you believe that? Do you know who you are? Do you know Whose you are? Do you know that the King of Kings and Lord of Lords says you are somebody?

If you don’t, know you’re not alone. Ask God to show you the truth of who you are in Him. Pray that He will help you see the beauty of your life through His filter of truth rather than society’s unrealistic expectations. Ask Him to help you block out the lies you have believed for so long. You, my precious friend, have a Daddy God who loves you in ways you can’t begin to fathom. Choose to believe what your Abba says about you. I promise, your life will never be the same.

“So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.” ~ Ephesians 3:17-19