Hi, it’s me, Jennie Kind. I was thinking of sending an email of introduction to the parents at CTK, but then I thought, hey, why not share with everyone. It is one thing to say that I have a heart for kids and God’s word, which I do! But it is another thing to give you some of the foundational beliefs behind that passion.

First things first, I believe that children are precious and have value. I believe their value is not less-than or discounted or kid sized, but full-on, absolute and unmitigated in the kingdom of God. I also believe that children have an inherent ability to understand the things of God, that we all have an in-born theology, if you will. We are created to connect with our creator and kids are no exception.

I have learned a few things in my experience as a children’s ministry director. I have boiled down some of my findings with this dumb but effective analogy: a three-legged stool. Told you it was dumb. Here’s what I mean… the seat of my stool is Jesus, the legs hold up Jesus and he is the point of having a stool at all. The legs of my stool are: truth, relevance, and fun. If any one of the legs are missing or inadequate, conveying Jesus fails. The ultimate goal is helping to connect kids to the Living God and then help foster that relationship.

The truth of course is God’s word! Whether by story or theme or even basic navigation skills we must include the word of God. It is how we know His character, His rescue plan and His great love for us.

Relevance is what the gospel looks like in a walking around world. It is our response to the truth we learn in God’s word, what living for Jesus looks like in real life!

Okay, let’s talk about fun! I am all about fun! The Jennie definition of fun is anything a kid wants to do again. If the truth and relevance is packaged in an academic or boring manner kids will not want to “do that again.” I want kids coming back for more and more, so FUN it is!!

I am eager and hopeful for the new year, I always am, maybe particularly this year, can I get an AMEN?! I am excited to figure out what Kid’s Place in the time of Covid will look like and continue to meet more of you as the year unfolds. I am so grateful to God for bringing me to CTK, such a brilliant way to end 2020 and look forward to 2021.

 Jennie Kind

John 1:1-5
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Unprecedented

This word came to mind as I reflected on the prior year, recent devotional life, and conversations with friends. Jesus was and is, unprecedented. No one was, is, or ever will be like Him, though we are called to emulate Him. A humble virgin birth amidst more chaos than most living today have ever experienced; a jealous earthy king kills every infant in the land in an attempt to kill the Messiah; the first to know of the birth of the Messiah are lowly shepherds. Jesus comes of age and lives perfectly; doesn’t mince words; resists temptation; miraculously heals the sick and in real time forgives those who seek to kill him and have spent their earthly life steeped in criminal activity. Jesus was obedient, even unto His own death so that we can experience life with Him, in eternity. Surely, He was the Son of God. He lived then and He lives now. Hallelujah!

Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Thank you for full access to your life and love. Through you, and by your grace, help us to work every moment to live a life that like yours, was and is, unprecedented. Amen.

Karl Wolfswinkle

This year has been a very strange year, a year unlike any other, not only for Leizel and I, but for our friends and family, as well as our country and the world at large. Some in our church and around us have wondered what God is doing, what is He trying to teach us.

In April, the leader of our small group, a very close personal friend, best man at our wedding, passed away from pancreatic cancer. Bob Hyde was a wonderful man of great faith and wisdom. He was heavily involved in CTK and our community. Bob never stopped praising God, even amidst the cancer ravaging his body. He never stopped praising God for His love and His mercies. Because of Covid, we never had the chance to celebrate his life.

In September, as some know our life had a drastic event happen. Leizel lost her best friend, her mom. She died unexpectedly of heart issues. This was an incredible loss for Leizel.  Leizel's mom Celia was a remarkable lady. She was a model of Christ's love in really simple earthly ways, and I will never forget her acts of kindness. Leizel returned home to the Philippines with help from our wonderful family, our church family, and our fantastic small group. This continues to be a blessing through this most difficult time for Leizel. Once again, because of Covid, we did not have the opportunity to celebrate a life well lived.

Now we are approaching Christmas. This is when it dawned on me that maybe this year is meant to show us that we need to always learn to celebrate, and remember. On Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus, but let us never forget that the reason for His birth was ultimately to be the sacrificial lamb for our sin. His birth leads us to the cross where we remember the horrible death He died at Calvary. God would ask us as Christians to celebrate His birth but never forget the life He led  and the price He paid for our salvation. He loves us so much. Maybe that is what 2020 is trying to teach some of us. Celebrate and Remember.

In Christ's Love,

Darryl and Leizel Shepherd.
PS.... May we always remember to be entirely His.

I hope this finds you well. I wanted to pass along a reflection as we all enter into this first week of Advent.

“He was a valiant soldier but he had leprosy”
 -2 Kings 5:1

In the account of Naaman the leper, we encounter a mighty man. He is smart and useful yet fatally incomplete. His affliction of leprosy is a mark that leads to death of one kind or the other. In our message last Sunday I hinted at Naaman’s condition being an allegory for our human condition. God made us and He made us good yet we have this condition of sin. We’re born into it. It’s a part of our nature. Though this condition leads to death, we can still function in this world. God made us to be creative, clever and productive people. Even in our sin we can still invent life changing technology, we can harness knowledge and science and achieve historic results. We can fly a rocket to the moon, walk around on its surface and return to earth unharmed. We are mighty. We are smart. We are useful but we are fatally incomplete.

We can use the gifts God gave us to achieve amazing things but if our sin condition goes unchecked we are impaired, limping around biding our time until old age or illness forces us to stop and take stock of what comes after this life. Our sinful nature forces us to live incomplete lives. There’s no other way to describe a life lived separated from the gracious God that made us and the eternal life He offers. We see this reality play out in the lives of many of those who achieve great things in this world. This makes me think of musicians and actors. So often musicians like Jimmy Hendrix, Kurt Cobain and Janis Joplin possess a remarkable gifting that elevates them and inspires the masses. At the pinnacle of their careers, in too many of these cases, these mighty, talented and smart artists struggle with a nagging emptiness that drives them toward substance abuse and eventually a tragic, premature death.

Though these cases represent the most extreme case in point of humanity’s incompleteness, we all can relate to this condition. We all must relate to this condition or there’s no reason to long for a savior in these days of Advent. God’s entire testimony from Genesis to Revelation is an initiative to save us from the death that this incompleteness leads to. From the disobedience of Adam, we have all chosen our own path that strays from God’s original design. Every human born on earth walks this incomplete path at some point in their lives. Our Maker is too compassionate, too gracious and too merciful to allow this to continue. His desire is to make His children whole. He achieved this by giving us the fullness of Himself in a helpless baby. He assessed a world incomplete and He gave us His one and only son to make it complete once again. This long awaited savior was born in barn, in a tiny town in the middle of nowhere. He came through humble and lowly means so that we might humble ourselves. That is the cost of the salvation that he brings. Faith as well as humility and obedience is our part. Just like Naaman’s pride was broken as God cleansed him of his leprosy, so too God is humbling us so that He can impart His salvation.

God assessed an incomplete world and He applied the completeness of his son Jesus Christ. In this Advent season, we symbolically wait for God to reveal Himself in this way. We actively wait for him to return and complete his cosmic equation by ushering in a complete, eternal age where death is felt and feared no more! Advent is an invitation to be made whole. If you’ve given your life to Christ, you no longer have to limp around, limited by your condition of sin. Remember that Jesus Christ paid it all and that old condition no longer governs the way you live. Through His blood shed you have been made whole for eternity. Feel the freedom to run the race and not grow weary! Feel the freedom to evaluate the incompleteness of life right now and apply Jesus Christ’s wholeness. Covid has made our social lives, our education experience, our holidays and our work glaringly incomplete. Today, wherever life feels incomplete, apply the wholeness of Jesus Christ. Close your eyes and say to yourself, “this thing is incomplete but Jesus your are complete and in you I am made complete.” In short make it a practice to allow the incompleteness of life right now to push you closer to Him.

-Ben Boatright

2020 – We all have experienced a lot this year. Our first ever pandemic (for most anyway), working from home, isolation, homeschooling (when not planned), job insecurity, food insecurity, the death of a loved one, major moves, a contentious election, holiday gathering restrictions…Some have experienced the other end of the spectrum as well: Family dinners, health, love, marriage, scholarships, graduations, new jobs…All of us will relate to some of the above (or be able to add to it) and more than likely when we think about it we will see that we’ve experienced both and oftentimes simultaneously.

How do we handle this as Christians? To what are we called? Since we are heading into Thanksgiving week I thought I’d share one of my favorite Thanksgiving traditions and then encourage us with some helpful reminders from God’s word.

My home church in West Seattle always used to host a Thanksgiving Service. It was always well attended and anyone could participate. Really it was just a gathering of God’s people expressing to one another, to and in front of God what they were thankful for from the past year. I loved this service immensely as a kid and looked forward to it greatly for many years. What is it about thankfulness, gratitude and gratefulness that drew me? I heard stories of loss but filled with unwavering hope and gratitude for the time that had been. I heard stories of reconciliation as a result of God’s transformational intervention. Thanks to God for his goodness, for His provision, for His creation, for His Spirit at work…Young and old, needy or wealthy would share alike and it felt as if it could have been a slice of heaven as God’s people gathered to give thanks.

Regardless of where you have been this year or where you currently find yourself, I know it’s been quite a roller coaster, I want to remind us of a few exhortations that we, as followers of Christ should hold in the forefront not just now but always.

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!
Psalm 100:4

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!”
Psalm 107:1

Come to him with a spirit of thanksgiving, acknowledge him for his goodness, for his faithfulness. This week, whether you gather with family and friends or find yourself in moments of solitude spend some time coming up with a list of what you are thankful for. To borrow a phrase from Dr. Tony Evans: “God is thee source; everything else is resource” Take a moment and dwell on the fact the almighty, all powerful God of the universe cares for you. Thee source of all that is good has your back. And then, regardless of circumstance: “Give thanks…for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

- Paul Weisz

During the years we lived in England,  we celebrated Remembrance Day. On the Sunday nearest to November 11 (Armistice Day, commemorating the end of World War I) we pinned red paper poppies on our coats and went to the village war memorial for a solemn ceremony of remembrance with prayers, hymns, and wreath laying. There was a shocking number of names on the war memorial for a community the size of Anacortes; and there is a similar memorial in every town and village in England.

This year I joined a Remembrance Day service online, remembering those who have died in wars, conflicts and terrorism, and the over 7000 medical professionals who have died fighting COVID 19 this year.

It was a sobering service for me. It reminded me of the violence, hatred and evil that is in the world and in us, and that costs so much in human suffering and loss. It reminded me of how wars can begin: I thought of the Balkans, where we had many friends and co-workers when the Balkan War began in 1992.  Terry travelled monthly to Yugoslavia in those days to visit our campus missionaries, and I remember his concern about the ethnic and religious hatred being stirred up - hatred and mistrust that ultimately resulted in war and genocide.  Orthodox Serbs, Catholic Croatians, Muslim and Jewish Bosnians had lived together, married each other and were friends and neighbors. No one imagined that there could be war between them - until there was angry rhetoric, one shooting, then another, and violence began to escalate.

A German soldier said of killing a French soldier in 1914: “How can we have this veneer of civilization yet so quickly become so cold to other human beings? How quickly we can depersonalize them.”

So on this Veteran’s Day, I am praying. Praying for peace, for understanding and forgiveness and for the coming of the Kingdom.

Almighty Father,
whose will is to restore all things in Your beloved Son, the King of all:
govern the hearts and minds of those in authority,
and bring the families of the nations, divided and torn apart by the ravages of sin,
to be subject to His just and gentle rule;
who is alive and reigns with You,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.

- Carolyn Culbertson

I am working my way through a great book by Jen Wilkin called None Like Him: 10 Ways God is Different Than Us (And Why That’s a Good Thing).  One of the ways God is different than us is that he is immutable. He doesn’t change.  To illustrate her point, the author describes a mountain peak in New Mexico and how every morning she looks at that mountain peak. While seasons may alter the mountain face, the mountain itself remains an “unchanging silhouette enduring across time.”  

This concept brought to mind an old homestead cabin in Grand Teton National Park, the Cunningham Cabin. The cabin is all that is remaining of a homestead built in the 1880s and has a magnificent view of the Teton mountain range. Life was so different when the cabin was built.  Everything from daily chores like tending to crops and cattle, preparing meals, and doing laundry to communicating with neighboring homesteads, obtaining world news, and traveling has improved significantly in the past 200+ years. Think of events that have occurred since that cabin was built - storms, wars, elections, viruses, scientific discoveries. When you walk through the remains of the old cabin you can really get a feel for the way things where and how things have changed.  But guess what isn’t any different today? The mountain range itself has not changed.

So, the good news is that God does not change.  God’s promises do not change. The truth of Scripture does not change. God’s plans for us do not change.  Despite what is going on in our lives at this moment - the current storms, wars, viruses, and elections - we know that our heavenly Father is good and is in control.  He knows what He is doing.  In fact, He already knows the election results.  Romans 13:1 says, “… there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”   He places people in positions of authority for His purposes, whether those people believe in Him or not.  God’s great plan is not going to change because of whoever is elected to office in 2020. In fact, God’s great plan involves whoever is elected to office in 2020.  So while we don’t have to understand what He is doing or why He is doing it, we can rest in His promises and let Him be in control. That kind of takes a little pressure off, doesn’t it?

“…There is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which one can say, ‘Look! This is something new’? It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time.  There is no remembrance of men of old, and even those who are yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow.” Ecclesiastes 1:9b-11


Ecclesiastes says there is nothing new under the sun.  We, self-centered humans that we are, tend to think our situations are new. Bigger. Better than ever before.  Or worse than ever before. But really, none of it is new.  Read the Bible and you will see that humans just repeat history.  If you study the beginnings of our own country, you learn that our founding fathers set up our government knowing there would always be strife and contention.  When you look at our country’s history, there has always been turmoil, whether it is internal politics or external wars.  There is nothing new under the sun.  God has seen it all before. He has a plan, and His plan won’t change. He sent his Son down to die for our sins, for our redemption.  He won’t change his mind about our salvation.  We will spend eternity in heaven with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  That’s not going to be altered because of politics in Washington DC.

Instead of losing hope in mankind and the current state of affairs, think about God who, like a mountain, has not changed.  Take a step back and look up. Get away from the noise and really view the unchanging scenery.

“The raging of the nations can be navigated only by keeping a fixed point in view: The Lord God seated on his throne.”
-Jen Wilkin

Pattie Rosson

Ok I admit it; I love sports! I know this is somewhat odd for a woman of my age to openly admit, but I do. Since I was a young girl I have enjoyed just about every sport there is (except Curling, it looks way too much like housework for me. Sorry to my Canadian friends).  As a tennis coach at  Anacortes High School I am always saying the same thing over and over again to my players; KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE BALL! Really good athletes are able to not only see the ball, but they can see the spin, curve and movement from the moment it hits their opponents racket. Good athletes are hyper aware and focused. Today I am writing this to you as a coach. For your benefit, but also mine. I am screaming this in your ear. I am waving my arms to get your attention over all the noise and business of this world. How quickly, often, and naively we take our eye off what is really important, Jesus. How easily we fear for the future, and work to control everything in our life. We miss out on the blessing and invitation God has given us to rest in Him, and the work He has already done.

So many people I come in contact with are genuinely anxious about the upcoming elections. I get it!  This is a crazy time in our nations history, even our worlds history for that matter. But God is calling us to keep our eyes on Him. Let the things of this world fall away. This past Sunday Kirsten Cummings introduced a new song to our congregation and these are the words to the chorus “Anything apart from You Let it fall away, let it fall away. If it's not what You want to do. Anything apart from You. Let it fall away, let it fall away”.

My prayer for us this week is that we keep our eyes on Jesus. That everything else just falls away. That we have a hyper focus and single-mindedness that strips away everything but Him.

Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed - that exhilarating finish in and with God - he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God.( Hebrews 12:2 MSG)

For those of us who can remember newspapers and Sunday comics. Keep your eye on the ball Charlie Brown.

- Elaina Myers

If this season of COVID-19 has done nothing more for us than to teach us to slow down, it has been good.  Our lives of busyness were forced to slow down.  The first month was tough.  Something we have never experienced.  The following seven months have slowed us all down to where I feel God wants us.  I believe that this time has given us more avenues to “seek His face”.  Prayer time has become more alive.  Reading God’s Word is more vibrant.  As we age, we feel time going faster and faster with no off ramps. In this time of slowing down I challenge you to be more obvious when speaking about your Savior to others.  Be bolder about doing godly deeds.  The feeling you get from these acts is not prideful but of selflessness from God.  Romans 12:9-13 sums it up for me.  “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.  Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

-Rob Hoxie

"There are three images in my mind which I must continually forsake and replace by better ones: the false image of God, the false image of my neighbours, and the false image of myself.”
-C. S. Lewis

I’ve been thinking about this for the last few days, this idea of constantly surrendering up what we think we know about God, others, and ourselves, and be open to more, because there is always more.

I look around and there are incredibly strong opinions on so much out there with fiercely guarded sides and thoughts and somewhat constructed ideas. I see it in my own heart and it is the opposite of this continual surrendering that I believe we are called to in the Kingdom of God.

My husband, Luke, and I have this quote we challenge each other with very often, “it’s hard to hate up close- move in.” How quickly do we jump to our own conclusions on others without being aware of the full story. How often do we assume we know God and His actions based only on limited understanding no matter how many times you have read the Bible or how many years you have attended church or been a Christ follower. Can you count how many times you’ve tried something new being pretty sure you wouldn’t enjoy it and ended up surprising yourself and realising something new about who you are?

This life is a constant evolving adventure, think you have it all figured out and you will be missing out on what lies ahead. Be open to new explorations and unveilings and you will constantly be blown away when you get closer to God and see Him for who He is. My guess is you will be more prone to kindness and love with your fellow neighbor when you move a little closer to forsaking your initial thoughts and being open to learn. And guess what, you are bound to discover more about yourself and who God made you to be in that process too.

Basically I think it all comes down to abiding….be with Jesus, move in, get close, right now, right here in the midst of 2020 He has new adventures for us, new things to learn. Be entirely His.

John 15:5 ESV
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
 
- Jolene Larson

In this time of turmoil it would be strange to say that God has brought me peace, but the truth is never easy. Peace, whether it be in the innocent hours of the morning, before the sun has even had the chance to peek over the horizon, or in a clearing of trees where the light casts gently through the leaves. Peace, wherever it finds you. In the comfort of your own home, or out in the wonderful world that God has created (wearing a mask of course because that's the nice thing to do). Finding peace is not easy, and if you go searching for it, there's a good chance it'll hide itself from you. That's why in this era of the pandemic, it feels the biggest blessing God has given us is peace. Peace of mind, peace of heart, and peace of spirit. No matter where, no matter how, no matter when, peace is what we all need.

   Despite this, these past nearly 8 months have not been easy. We’ve been stripped of the routine, and thrust into the unknown without much guidance other than God’s aiding hand in our lives. Being stripped of the routine, being stripped of the ordinary, and being stripped of the comfort has left us with little aside from fear and discomfort, but in fear there is growth. That's the second gift God has given us. The ability and the desire to grow. Of course the natural response to the term grow is to grow stronger in our faith, grow closer to God, but it feels that we’ve been called to grow in other ways. We’ve been called to grow as people. We’ve had to adapt to new ways of living. We’ve had to expand our thoughts and prayers beyond the tip of our noses, as God often calls his people to do. It has not been easy, but nothing worth doing ever is. All this growing, socially, psychologically, and for some of us even physically, can leave us tired. Sometimes it feels like it would just be better to lie down in the dust, and just stay put. “The growing is too hard,” we say, “It's uncomfortable, it's hard, it's scary,” we cry. But God is there with us. Sitting beside us in the dust, reminding us that we don’t have to go through it alone. We don’t have to pick ourselves up by the bootstraps, because He’s here to lend a helping hand. God has called us, and is here to help us grow. Spiritually and socially, God has given us this opportunity to become better people, and become stronger in our faith in Him.

-Ian Lujan

This last season has been hard with new normals, new rules and regulations. We walk out the door taking a mask, gloves, sanitizer, and often, anxiety. We are isolated from friends, family, church, and our elders in retirement communities who are physically and mentally dying without us. We work up the courage to venture out, but it seems so hard and heavy, like our shoes are stuck in the mud.

In the midst of experiencing all this, God gave me a dream that I was being threshed like wheat (or beaten down) on the threshing floor. It was very uncomfortable. But as I looked again, there was Jesus being threshed beside me. I wasn’t alone. The chaff, the empty husks, and the dirt, were flying off and I was getting purified. I left the threshing floor, clean and pure. Now I see myself as a beautiful bride with Jesus by my side; my heart stirring with joyful intimacy and new hope.

My venturing out became a little easier. God gave me ideas about how to pour into others; bringing flowers, cards and food to people. I partnered with a friend who made masks and delivered Ziploc bags with snacks and juice boxes, gloves and masks to those on the streets and into the food pantries around town. I became lighter. I prayed around the town asking for an increase in angels, of Holy Spirit, of God’s blessing to protect us and heal us. I prayed for many and witnessed so much healing. God‘s glory was spilling out. I just had to become a willing vessel of heaven; on earth as it is in heaven! That is the great commission. Go and spill it out. Pray it out. Walk it out. Speak it out. You are essential in this battle! Listen to Holy Spirit for His direction and marching orders and follow His lead.

Yes, you are an essential worker in this new era. Jesus is coming back and every dry bone of every believer is needed, to rise up with the Holy Spirit breath of life and fight, take the devil by the throat and crush him.  There is a war in the heavenlies and God is calling upon us to pray. Pray off the oppression, apprehension, even depression. Continue to pray that the blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony hurls the accuser down. Revelations 12:11

It is time to celebrate Jesus' homecoming. This is the time to keep oil in your lamps in preparation; to pray and fast and repent of the complacency and lethargy. Ask Him to direct your path every day. “Let Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”  Be seasoned with the essential ingredients of prayer and fasting so you can encourage your fellow brothers and sisters. You are an essential component with your unique gifts and abilities in this new season of preparation!

Encourage those (even a quick call or text) whom God places on your heart. Many are truly apprehensive living lives of loneliness, fear, perhaps even shame or guilt. Turn off the TV and don’t let the news of Covid, racism, politics, or the economy dictate your mood. Let God be your news! Jesus calls us to pray for our enemies and bless them. Your prayers are essential! Pray for our president, government, military, IRS (yes- ha ha), our nation, and our world. Pray for your household, family, friends, church, and pastors. You will come out of this threshing floor purified, lovely, wiser, full of grace and mercy for the broken and less fortunate. Give what you don’t have and you will receive all that you need.

His Spirit will direct you and if you are unsure of your relationship with Him, re-dedicate your life to Him right now.

“Lord I love You. I’m sorry for losing touch for so long. I confess I am a sinner. I confess I’ve been doing it my way for so long. I throw down my counterfeit gods and ask You to fill my heart, my body, my soul, and my spirit. Wash me clean, washing away the dirt of sin, and those words that have brought me death and killed my heart. I ask for Your eternal joy and love to fill me. Wash away every lie and strategy of the enemy.
Lord, let me feel Your presence. Let me stand before the throne of grace and see Your lovely face. Let Your arms sweep me up in Your forgiving embrace. I give it all up for You. I renounce every idol, every wrong thought, every unkind word.  I nail it all to the cross of Jesus. I am free from Satan‘s bondage and from this day forward, I will follow only You! Yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory! We are in this together. I am not alone. We are in it to win it because it has already been won through You, Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, and Your shed blood. Take every part of me I am Yours.  Thank You! I love You.”

Wendy Bents Patterson

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

This exhortation is so relevant to us in these tense days. In general the words humility and gentleness are lost in our modern society. This type of virtue isn't exactly celebrated. In fact, when these characteristics are exemplified in the way Paul is encouraging, they're hidden. We're not going to find them easily in our world leaders, our rock stars, our celebrities or even our top athletes. I know they're there, but you have to look around for a while to find them. Jesus' words illuminate this reality when He said that those who are first in this world will be last in the Kingdom and those who are last will be first. Humility and gentleness are Kingdom qualities, as Jesus said, "blessed are the meek."

In this world these characteristics are often labeled as weakness. If you want to see the difference between weakness and meekness, go hunting for true meekness. Look past the neon billboard of the mainstream and search for humility and gentleness through the eyes of Christ. You'll see the love and care from teachers toward their students, you'll see the love between a mother and father for their kids.  Look at the love and care from a mom and dad, nurse or caregiver to the kids or adults with disabilities and special needs. Look closely at any situation where an individual endures suffering and sacrifice for the sake of another individual. This type of love is patient, it's bearing with one another. It's hard to find! But when you find it, you will see that this type of endurance, this type of love, is the pinnacle of strength. This type of engagement and love holds our culture together. It isn't flashy, it isn't boastful, it is strong and it is powerful. Look up from these quiet unadvertised examples and see the cross as the source of these virtues. This love, this endurance is at the heart of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

For a culture that is at each other's throats, armed with quips, zingers and one liners to conquer their fellow human who disagrees with them, we are being offered a better way to live. A way forward as a culture. A way that begins The Way, The Truth and The Life through Jesus Christ. The Way that embodied humility, gentleness and patience as He died for a sea of sinners hurling insults at Him and one another. Healing for our nation looks like the church being strong in these days by practicing meekness. Much like the afore mentioned examples of humility and self sacrificing love, the believer's campaign of meekness may be hidden but this is the seat of true power and true leadership in our broken world. Humility and gentleness are the seat of Jesus Christ. What seat do you find yourself in these days?

Ben Boatright

In July 2019 my wife Heather and I moved to Anacortes from Sammamish, WA with our 3 children, Sophia (16), Owen (12) and Della (10).  Our move not only included a change in address, but ultimately a change in career which has taken us on a new adventure while teaching us how to trust in God completely, clinging to His provision and promises.  

Our journey to Anacortes began several years prior and started with a desire I had for something different for myself and our family.  At the time I remember being unsure what this desire really meant as we had been living there for 12 years, in a great neighborhood with great neighbors, friends, schools, job and church.  All was very familiar and comfortable in Sammamish.  Needless to say, it caught me by surprise when I started to recognize a change, a pull to seek out new experiences.

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a creature of habit and not one to make quick decisions, especially of this magnitude.  So, I kept quiet for a long time, wrestling with the possibility of what change might look like.  I also kept quiet from God and ignored the possibility that this tug might actually be coming from Him.  I remember thinking to myself, "I got this, it's no big deal, it's just a phase that I'll get over".  Besides, why would I want to disrupt what, up until that point, had been a relatively comfortable life.  I didn't want to admit that I had put God in a box and that I wasn't trusting Him with my future.

I finally approached Heather with the idea of making a change.  At that time, I still had God in a box and approached her based on my desires and not God's.  I remember Heather being surprised but open to the idea but only if it's what God has for us.  She wanted us to be patient and prayerfully seek God's direction in all of this, so wise.  So, we prayed, seeking God's direction, all the while exploring the possibilities of what plans God might have in store.

Fast forward a year, God uniquely placed Anacortes on our hearts and directed us to an incredible piece of property on Gibralter Rd. which far exceeded all expectations.  After some up's and down's God blessed us in many ways through the quick sale of our existing home to the ability of closing on the new house in the middle of a competitive market.  God also went above and beyond by blessing us with a property that, in addition to being a great place to live, provided me with an opportunity to make a career change and carry on a business (Greenfield Farm & Gardens) that had already been established.

We can look back now and see His provision and handiwork through this process, and still, He continues to surprise and bless us as we transition and settle into our new home and business.  He has provided every step of the way, especially during those times when we lost sight and felt hopeless with uncertainty, questioning Him, and second guessing our decisions.  He is faithful and is teaching us to trust completely, in every way, with no strings attached.  Isn't that just the way God works?  He sees far beyond what we can see in our limited vision.  He desires to bless us but draws us close to Him in the process.  We just need to keep our eyes fixed on Him and hang on!  God is the only thing that is for certain and it is with joy that we are experiencing the adventure He currently has us on.
 
Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Mike Carlson

Well, I have worn out the soles of my favorite walking shoes! I am putting in lots of miles and it is perfect for "prayer, praise, pondering, and podcasting". (And most often, the podcasts make me pray more fervently). There is just so much to pray for: health crises, stress of finances, stress of navigating COVID, disappointments, shattered dreams, loneliness, school decisions, and much more.

I was convicted recently that I was forgetting to PRAISE God, and have just been concentrating on prayers for this unusual time we are living through. (Ferocious, fierce prayers for this time!)
I realized the ratio of my praising God was on the low side. Proclaiming and praising Him for who HE is, and what He has done. It is time to get my focus off the "wind and waves". They are so huge and frightening and distract me from God's presence. So I pulled out some of my most treasured Scriptures of praise. And as I began to recite, repeat and dwell on them, I began to feel my heart changing!!! A transformation and renewal from anxiety and negative thoughts.

"I praise you, God, because "who is like you, LORD God Almighty? You, LORD, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you"Ps 89:8

My circumstances have not changed. But my heart and perspective began to change in the middle of my circumstances. I can actually see Him working in circumstances that are frustrating, disappointing and painful. (I can think of many more negative adjectives).
Praise isn't just putting a smiley face on the situation. It is putting the focus on God Who is "able to do exceedingly, abundantly beyond all we can ask or think". Eph 3:20,21
Prayer and praise is not the power of positive thinking. It is the power of Jesus Christ Who conquered sin, death, redeemed us and brought us into fellowship with Him. And He calls us His children!

"But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ".
1 Cor 15:57
And He loves when we worship Him and praise Him for Who He is.

Isaiah 12:2
"Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation."

Yesterday, I was pondering the Scripture, Psalm 91: 1,2. "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust". And I kept thinking, "where are my thoughts dwelling? Where do I want my heart to dwell"? I want to abide in Him.
But the constant assault of our situation - both health and political, hinders me many times.
It is a discipline, a choice to focus on God, not on the wind and waves. The voices will always be clamoring for me.
Today I choose - choose His Voice, His promises, His presence.

Suzanne Dull

Over the past year and a half I have received two blessings from the Lord, that have helped sustain me during my tiring days of Motherhood and now during Covid.  One was an image, and the other a book.  

While exiting the Salvation Army building, I saw a bulletin board decorated with brown and black construction paper.  I studied this image for awhile, which someone had clearly worked hard to create, cut and staple.  I could have taken a picture, but I didn't need to as it was already filed away in my mind and heart.  The image was the base of a tree trunk, whose roots grew angularly into the black soil.  The roots were tangled in some places, but in the middle the roots clearly forming the word CHRIST.  

This tree, which was almost completely hidden from view, displayed its source of life, and it reminded me who I am.  In the midst of mothering 3 little kids, and mothering without a mother (or father) of my own, I have often felt hidden and unseen by the world around me.  Yet, my roots grow deeper each day in my friendship with the Lord, and my understanding of my identity in Christ.

After Rosalia was born I was given a book entitled "Unseen" by Sara Hagerty.  I was intrigued by the title, and while it took me a year and a half to read it (3 little kids ;) it really taught me how to enjoy this time of feeling hidden and "unseen" by the world around me.  I am seen by my Father, who stands next to me at the kitchen sink, who sits with me as I read a book to my children, and who walks with me as I push the stroller.  He - and most of the time, only He - sees, knows, and understands all of my many - oh, so many! - ups and downs of Motherhood.  And, I can never escape His View.  Where can I go from your Spirit?  Where can I flee from your presence?  If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.  Psalm 139:7-8.  And, not only does Jesus see me, He understands me.  You have searched me, Lord, and you know me Psalm 139:1.  Even on days when I don't really know what I'm thinking or feeling!  He knows - and He loves what He sees.

He created us to be known.  As Sara Hagerty writes, "we hunger for significance - to be seen and understood and loved, to be and live marvelous - because we are made not only to know God but also to be known by Him."In the midst of Covid, I remind myself that I am created to be known by Him.  He wants to listen to my complaints, my fears, and my laments.  He also wants to hear my gratitude, my affection, and my adoration.  He wants to know my questions, my conflicts, and my wanderings.  And, with each conversation a root grows a little deeper, planting myself in His rich, life-giving soil.

Candace Boatright

God Has A Plan

For those that do not know me my name is Ellie Chambers, I am the oldest daughter of Rick and Kristen Chambers. I have attended CTK Anacortes since I was very little and have grown up in the church. I have also had the opportunity to be a part of the middle and high school ministry, YoungLife, where we come alongside middle and high schoolers and show them a little piece of God's love.

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

I have this verse on my blue keychain. It has also been circling my mind over these past months involving covid-19 and our global pandemic/panic.

God has a Plan.

I was a senior at Anacortes High School this year. "Class of 2020 … virtually the best class ever … Go Seahawks!"  The past several months have been a challenge for everyone and the graduating class was no exception.  It was not at all a typical senior year.  I tried to look at the situation and keep this verse in mind, that God has a plan for me.

At the beginning of the shutdown, when we all thought this was going to be an extended spring break, I tried to focus on things I could look forward to instead of things I was missing out on. For example, when I started to feel frustrated about my cancelled golf season, I would shift my focus to look forward to graduation, being with friends and family before leaving for college… etc.

But, as we all know now, this was not an extended spring break.

Everything was different.

In person graduation ceremonies were changed to a YouTube video. We were no longer allowed to celebrate our accomplishment of completing 12 years in school together as a class. This was a crazy change and it was extremely hard because we had been looking forward to walking across the stage with our friends and family surrounding us.

With all the new changes, families were restricted from traveling. My extended family that lives in California was no longer able to come celebrate. The thing I had been looking forward to, the idea of the perfect graduation with my family cheering me on was gone.

That was when God's little miracles started to appear. Small things that people in our town were doing to love our senior class.

I am not sure if you remember,  but one day the Seattle news did a story on this little town of ours. It was about the amazing people that helped to put our senior photos up on the streets of Anacortes. The folks at the  "Little Tugs" store in downtown Anacortes, hand made masks for each of us Seniors.  Then someone started talking about a parade.

When graduation day arrived my expectations were not very high. My family and I jumped in the car and headed to the high school. Slowly cars started trickling in, in a little over 30 minutes my entire class was in the parking lot, smiling and waving at each other! Most of us hadn't seen one another since the last day of school in March.

Then we started the parade and drove down Commercial… and all I can say is WOW!

 As a senior I want to say thank you to the town for showing up and cheering us on. There were way more people than I could ever have imagined and out of the darkness of not having that "perfect graduation ceremony" we saw the light of our town pulling together to make 200 now graduates day.
 
So my little reminder to everyone is to remember this verse, because even in the bleakest moments we can still find little pockets of joy and love that we would have never known before.

God will always have a plan for us, even when there is a giant global pandemic.

I would like to make a prayer request to anyone who has read this far… Please pray for the 2020 Seniors, many are still being affected by the pandemic as it is taking away their opportunity to go in person to school or the adventures they had planned in the fall.

Ellie Chambers

Most of us are talking about the disruptions of normal life, news, elections, Covid-19, and getting very fatigued by the hostility of the world around us. We are getting tired of not gathering, and some of us are gathering, and being judged by those who aren't. When you think you can isolate and ignore everything something happens right under your nose to keep the discouragement going.

We have recently had some very strange health situations come into our lives that have caused my husband and me to go Hummmmm? One of our health ordeals was caused by an allergic reaction to a medication that brought on the most terrible head to toe covering of hives. The other, a big diagnosis from some testing the doctor had done.  All of this fixable, but very discouraging when added to the world we are in right now.

How do we remain the light in this dark, discouraging environment we find ourselves in daily?

Over the next week of coping with the hives, in a moment of discouragement I heard the still small voice of Jesus ask me, "what do you believe?" I answered, "I believe You!" It then came to me to start saying out loud over my situation that, "what the enemy meant for evil, You will use for good."  (Gen.50:20) Then a song came to mind.  Waymaker.  I began to sing..."You are waymaker, miracle worker, promise keeper, light in the darkness, that is who You are, that is who You are, that is who You are," until I believed it!

Light was dispelling the darkness with the truth of who HE is!
I believe this nudge from Jesus to speak light into the darkness is how we are to rise above our present times.

Keep our eyes fixed on Him! (Heb.12:2)  Speak truth to what we are dealing with according to His Word! Jesus spoke over 70 times by saying " I tell you the truth" or "very truly I tell you"  The truth matters to Jesus!  He overcame darkness with truth.   Keep our minds washed by the water of the Word. (Eph.5:26)  Are we walking in that truth that brings peace, so that we might actually be a light to those who are lost and need Jesus "Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil." (Eph 5:15)
James puts it this way: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2-4)

Maybe this strange time we are going through is challenging our belief and control issues? Preparing us for a much larger battle?  Reminding us HE is in control!

Finally, be strong in the Lord  and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ehp.6:10-13)

STAND FIRM!  HE'S GOT THIS!

Traci Miles

As one we can say we are tired of COVID 19 and all the circumstances that surround it.  Most of all, we are all just so tired of uncertainty.  Personally, I like to have a plan for life's ride, the direction, how fast, and when.  I like to know where things are leading, and currently none of us do.  For me there is a lot of "I" misplaced there.  God has always been in control, and He always will be.  
 
God has a plan, and He wants what is good for me. "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11  While Coronavirus has taken a lot away, and continues to do so, God is in control and has good in mind for us … but the ride may not necessarily be what we expect,  we may even have to shift.  God's promise is good, but how do we put that into our day?  Silver Lining.
 
With every uncertainty and every canceled or rescheduled event, we have the opportunity to make a choice, to look for the silver lining to find the hope and the promised good future.  For me that produces mixed results.  Sometimes it is easy to find, sometimes not at all and brings with it frustration and other emotions, but, God is in control.
 
So what is on my silver lining list of good and hopeful things?  Likely it contains some of the same things that are on your list.  In my case, more choice over how time is spent appears to come up in several ways: a slower pace with my family that has given me more time to really know them, opportunity to choose deep over efficient conversations, time to extend into God's Word, time to think, time to miss fellowship and all that it gives me, time to savor what fellowship I do have, and time to care for myself.
 
Let's look for the silver lining.  While a lot has been taken away from us and it is devastating and tiring, it stinks, and, well, enough already with this pandemic!  Let's desperately hang onto the search for a silver lining and the promise that God has a good future for us and will lead us home, like He eventually did the Israelites in Jeremiah.  In fact, let's return to His truth, and hang onto it with white knuckles.  God is in control in uncertainty.

"Say hi first" is possibly the best, most impactful piece of advice/training I have ever received. It is so simple to say but in real life not easy to do.

I was at a week long training event when I joined Young Life staff. Throughout the week we heard really good content but there is one presenter who cut through all the "information" and presented a three word statement encapsulating way of thinking about life and mininstry. I have tried to implement in my life, forgot about it, and then remind myself again (over and over).

"Say hi first"

"Say Hi First" is about being the one to initiate or move toward people, Everyone wants someone else to initiate toward them. It feels good when someone else says Hi to us or invites us over to dinner. We all want to be wanted. In all relationships someone has to say hi first. His encouragement to us was to be that person. He said "be the one to take the risk."

God says hi first.
He spoke everything into existence. He called Moses.
He spoke to the prophets.
He came to us in the person of Jesus.

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" Romans 5:8

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us" John 1:14

Jesus says hi first.
Jesus didn't post a craigslist ad "NOW HIRING Apostles. ONLY 12 spots available, apply today" and then sit back, review applicants and set up interviews.
To Peter Andrew and Phillip all responded to "come follow me"
James and John were called by Jesus and they followed

Jesus said hi first to Zacheus while he was up in a tree.
To the woman at the well he started a whole dialogue by asking for a drink of water. To Saul the voice of Jesus called out "Saul Saul, why do you persecute me?"

These are weird times. It's harder than ever to connect with people. We don't have situations where we just "run into folks." Say hi first could help kick start some of those connections.

Maybe you could try it? Good things may come out of it.
Let me prime the pump with some practical ways to say hi first.

"Say hi first" to the folks you normally would sit near on a Sunday morning by making a phone call.
"Say hi first" by bringing fresh cut flowers, or zucchini or sourdough bread to a neighbor or friend.
"Say hi first" when you are walking by people.
"Say hi first" by texting someone that you were thinking of them and that you hope they have a great day.
"Say hi first" without expectation that it will be reciprocated.
"Say hi first" by starting a small group.
"Say hi first" to the leaders in your life. Especially the ones that initiate toward you.
"Say hi first" to people of different cultures, colors, ages and lifestyles.
"Say hi first" to those closest to you. Family and friends, even your spouse.

Please share a way you might "Say hi first" in your circumstances.

John Hackstadt

In the last months have you found it easy to go down the rabbit hole of fear, uncertainty, or even despair?

I'm assuming we all have gone from what we thought was some sense of worldly security to what seems to be all unknowns. Who would have thought that we'd be talking about, researching, and worrying about any of these things- sickness, unemployment, furloughs, isolation, masking, or social distancing?

Who could have guessed when the year 2020 started it would turn out like it has? 2020 was supposed to a celebration year for me. It was 20 + 20 years since I began my career as an optometrist. 20/20 is a term I use every day. It means to see clearly. I wish I still had that 20/20, clear, optimistic view of the year. It feels like I'm seeing a fuzzy 20/400 view when I try to see through the blur of the current uncertainties we face.

I know I should have enough faith not to be scared. To be honest, sometimes I feel okay, yet sometimes I so easily go down that rabbit hole of despair. The last months have been a prime example of the whole world in chaos. We are fighting against dark spiritual forces, and the enemy wants us to be afraid.

What can we do when we find ourselves heading down that rabbit hole? There is no worldly answer that gives real comfort and lasting peace. The experts can't tell us when we will be "safe", if this screening test is reliable, or when we can worship and sing together again. The world as we have known it has been turned upside down and fails to give us any dependable advice.
The only answers are in the unwavering and everlasting promises of Jesus Christ. God has given us the tools to survive and even to find joy in the middle of this mess. Is it a constant joy? No, we all will be tempted to head down that rabbit hole. What are some tools God has given us? His Word and the ability to pray. God's Word can be read, recited, or memorized, to pull us out of the hole and place us on the path of trust, joy, and even hope. God has given us the gift of prayer to unburden ourselves. Not knowing the perfect words to use doesn't matter to Him, and starting with a passage can help us reflect and release our burdens to Jesus.
God wants us to use His Word and ask for the gift of enduring peace, the peace which defies understanding, the peace which only He can provide, the peace He offers to us not just once, but over and over again. With that peace will come the gift of hope, a hope for each of us and one we can share with others. What an opportunity we have during the mess of this world to share the unchanging, enduring promises that God gives us.

God's Word does not change, it is alive, and is the true source of comfort.
For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. Isaiah 41:13

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

Mark McEathron

When I was a teenager there was a popular rock 'n' roll song , "there's a whole lotta shakin goin on."  The title popped into my thoughts yesterday as I was contemplating what I might write for this blog post.   While that title and it's lyrics have nothing to do with what God has to say on the subject, still I found the title applicable to where we all reside at this current moment in our history.  


We are rattled, shaken....by COVID-19, by quarantine, isolation, by civil unrest, by uncertain finances, job losses, by lack of social interactions in and out of church, by faces hidden by masks, by illnesses, death, and losses, by the inability to give and receive handshakes or hugs, by lack of school for our children, lack of weddings, funerals, celebrations,  sports, and community gatherings, and the list goes on.


What does God say about all this?
Hebrews 12:26 b -28 NLT
" Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens."
The words "once more" indicate the removal of what can be shaken-that is the created things- so that what cannot be shaken may remain.   Therefore , since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire"


The writer to the Hebrews says everything that can be shaken will be shaken. Are you feeling it? There's nowhere to hide. There's a feeling of an ongoing earthquake rattling everything beneath our feet. This has only just begun.  
God says He's removing some "created" things, so that what's eternal will remain.


We've been given a road map to navigate through this strange time.  
We are encouraged to be thankful and so worship God acceptably and with awe.  Our very act of thankfulness is worship. I cannot be thankful without a spirit of submission to the providence and goodness of God.


When my daughter's house burned last November, in the midst of all the emotions of loss and shock she began a thankful list.  Suddenly homeless, on the day of the fire she told her girls she was watching for what God would do in the circumstance.  The list grew and grew as God walked with them and provided everything they needed...and she was thankful.  
And so she worshipped with reverence and awe.


How can I worship God today?  I can consciously thank Him in the midst of God's shaking of everything.

Kathy Mckenzie

Jesus says in John 15: 1-5 (NIV): I am the vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit, he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
I am a doer. I often get restless if I stay in one place too long. "Remaining" feels like hard work! I would much rather be doing, moving, creating, fighting for a cause…..
If I am "doing" I know I have a purpose; I know I am propelling towards something worthwhile.
And yet, Jesus promises that I will bear fruit when I remain in Him. Somehow the slow, quiet process of remaining in Jesus generates good things beyond anything I could ever produce on my own.
Isn't bearing fruit my end goal? If I really think about it, isn't bearing fruit what I want my doing, moving, creating, and fighting-for-a-cause to result in? If so, then I must stop trying to do it all on my own.
What a privilege and gift! When I remain, Jesus does all the work and I get to be a bearer of things that last - like goodness, gentleness, and patience (yes please!!).
A while back I realized my "doer" mentality.
I came across these verses in John and the Holy Spirit wouldn't let me forget them. One way I like to process is through songwriting. I wrote a song that confessed my struggle to remain and my desire to push all distractions aside.

I wanted to reserve my "Hallelujahs" - my expressions of worship - for Jesus alone.
Here is the song I wrote. My hope is that it does not push you towards anything new to "do." In fact, I hope it can slow your "doing," settle you into remaining, and let Jesus do the rest of the work. He loves bearing fruit with you!

Remain

"Remain" – such an easy thing to say,
Not such an easy thing to do.
Oh God there are so many distractions
Pulling me away from You.
I need some sort of realignment,
Like an instrument in need of repair.
Finetune me so that the songs I sing
Are for You, and You only, to hear!

I'm giving back to You, "Hallelujah."
I'm giving back to You, "Hallelujah."
I'm giving back to You, "Hallelujah."

"Remain" – the absence of going astray.
The contentment of knowing I'm here to stay.
Like a branch growing from a vine,
Permanently and undeniably alive!
Surely this is how it's meant to be.
It must be the greatest irony.
That in all the world the only way
To really live is to just Remain.
I'm giving back to You, "Hallelujah."
I'm giving back to You, "Hallelujah."
I'm giving back to You, "Hallelujah."
"Remain" – It's not about what I say.
It's not about what I do.
Jesus, I just want to be….with….You

Luke Stanage

Lately, God is teaching me through seeing parallels between the work He's given me as a teacher and the truths He wants me to own in my walk with Him as a follower.

In my work as a math teacher, I frequently talk about strengthening students' "math identity." I know this isn't something you might think much about, but it's become a powerful label for so much of what I am passionate about in my work.  To increase a student's identity as a math thinker, I am intentional about creating opportunities and an environment that fosters the beliefs a student holds about themself as a mathematician.  When they have this identity they have confidence to take risks, to offer their thinking to others to solve a problem and see solving difficult problems as something to enjoy and choose.  

How then do I hold on to my "Christ identity" as a precious daughter of the King?  What beliefs and practices reinforce His truth about my identity in Him, so that I can confidently go into this world overflowing with what I've been gifted.

It is finished!  Having our identity in Him assures us that the circumstances we live in are only a small sliver of God's unfolding story. The 'what ifs' and 'maybes' are vain imaginations.  Our world has a loving Father.  "It's as if we're looking at a picture and seeing  only what's within the frame.  We've lost the ability to recognize the hand of the artist.  Any causes from outside the frame are dismissed." (Tim Chester; Enjoying God)   He is always working.  Knowing this we can not worry about what others think of us, or even what God thinks of us.  We can trust that He  is always just outside the frame, present and available.  God has done the work, we need to rest in that and risk joining Him in His work beyond our frame.
The practice of gratitude draws us nearer to God.  When we practice gratefulness we are reminded of the divine, the blessings that are hidden in plain sight. Gratefulness is a pause button that allows us to acknowledge His love.  The result of being aware of what we have received from our heavenly Father, is loving others well.  "Christian love is the overflow of God's love to us." (Tim Chester; Enjoying God)  
Scripture calls us to draw near….The discipline of choosing Him regularly and listening to Him speak through His Spirit is what will anchor us.  "Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it…...Strength! Courage!  Don't be timid; don't get discouraged, God, your God, is with you every step you take." (Joshua 1: 8-9)  Who wouldn't want to claim that promise!  As our identity grows we will choose Him. We will want to spend time walking with Him and joining in His kingdom plan.  Our desire to hear His voice will increase and strengthen our identity in Him.  

He's been gently encouraging me to claim my own identity, not as a mathematician, but as Christ's chosen daughter.  As my core beliefs change and take on more of His truth I know I will more confidently believe I am His and beloved.  From this place of truth and strength, I can act confidently to take risks, engage with others from an overflow and choose Him as my first source of comfort and hope.

Michelle Hackstadt

I find in the gospel that I'm woke to the right view of myself, and others, no matter where they're from, their gender, their sexual orientation, or their race. You see the gospel won't let me think too much of myself, but neither will it allow me to think myself as lowly. What I'm called to acknowledge is my fallenness, my need for redemption, and then I'm asked to look to the cross. I can take no credit for Christ's work on the cross, but I can claim it. I can't earn its rewards, but I can receive them. I heard it said this way "the Christian knows he is more broken, sinful, and wicked than he could ever imagine, yet at the same time more loved, accepted and restored than he could ever hope". It is awareness and acknowledgment of this reality that fosters the unique humility which marks a Christian. You see only in light of the gospel am I fully aware of who I am. Only at the foot of the cross do I understand the grace I've been shown, and this understanding fosters within me a sense of gratefulness, gratitude, and most of all humility. I carry this awareness with me as I go about my day, as I meet others, as I interact. Should I fail to grasp this reality even for a moment, and I sometimes do, the Holy Spirit is there with his hand on my shoulder. Yet he is not there to berate me, condemn me, or accuse me in the midst of my shortcomings and failures. He is there to lovingly remind, correct, and restore me. So you see the gospel is unmatched and unparalleled in all of human history. No other religion, no philosophical teaching, no social, cultural, or political movement can touch it when it comes to fostering a right understanding of oneself and others. Why? because it's grounded in God's truth. That truth says that all God's creatures are created in his image and likeness, all are precious to him, and all are to be treated with dignity and respect. Remaining woke to this understanding is what I will seek all of my days.

Brett Rosson