Lessons on the Inside: One Word

How many of you have created New Year’s resolutions in the past?  What are some of them?  How has that gone?

The definition of a resolution is a “firm decision to do or not to do something.” It typically stems from a need we identify to make a change in ourselves and the way we live our lives. Do you know that on average, only about 45% of people make New Year’s resolutions? 24% of those people never succeed.

What I hear most often from people who don’t make New Year’s resolutions is that they don’t work. The question I have is – which doesn’t work, the New Year’s resolutions or the person making them?

Resolutions don’t carry themselves out without real resolve in the person making them. You need to be committed to seeing them through and turn to God for help. We can’t change ourselves, but God can change us. 

Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” ~ Luke 18:27

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. ~ 1 Corinthians 15:10

The trouble with many New Year’s resolutions is that they’re often a laundry list of things we think we “should” be doing, but if we’re honest with ourselves, we’re not really committed to them.  We think we should lose weight, or get angry less. We think we need to exercise or we should be doing a better job of staying in touch with the people we care about. But thinking you should and being committed to making a change are very different things. And that laundry list of “shoulds” can become another excuse for beating ourselves up as days and weeks go by and nothing is changing.  Can anyone relate?

I was introduced to “Get One Word” two years ago. It started out as a website with some helpful information about creating a way to focus on just one word that could really create change in our lives. I still set goals for the year, but I don’t do resolutions any more. I get that one word for the year that God puts on my heart and it makes a bigger difference than all of the resolutions I might feel guilted into setting.

The first year, my word was "Abide." That was a powerful one for me because I really needed to learn how to abide in Christ. It was completely abstract to me previously. When I made my focus for the year abide, I finally learned as I progressed through the year what it means to abide in Christ and how to do it. That is now a permanent part of me that is still growing, but took a huge leap in 2014.

In 2015, my word was "purpose." I finally finished reading the Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. I started a blog and I signed up to go back to college for what I now feel strongly is my life’s purpose.

This year, my word is "Strength." I know I need to lean on God for strength to do all that is in front of me as my organization grows, as I grow and as I move forward with greater commitment to my life’s purpose. I need strength to avoid distractions, to stay focused and to not give into the desires of my flesh, but rather to keep my eyes fixed on Jesus.

The fact is, it’s easy to over-complicate life and get busy with too many things. One word simplifies where you will grow in the New Year and gives you a focus.

Lessons on the Inside: Your Story For God's Glory

Recently, one of our lessons from the inside was the story of Joseph and how God used his story for more.  God used Joseph's story for HIS glory, the good, the bad, and the ugly.  We hope you enjoy this lesson:

Bishop Desmond Tutu is a bishop that lives in South Africa. Decades ago he was appointed by the South African government to bring healing to his nation after decades of civil unrest.  When asked who he wanted on his committee he said, “I want the victims.  I want the victims that were raped, saw their parents killed, and saw their homes be burned to the ground.  But,” he said, “they cannot have stayed victims.  If they serve on my commission, they must be people who have forgiven their oppressors.  These people,” he said, “will be the wounded healers of South Africa.”  

The story of Joseph in the Old Testament follows this same theme. He even says as much in Genesis 50:20, “You (referring to his brothers) intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.”  We are not going to read the entire story of Joseph because it covers thirteen chapters in the book of Genesis. But we are going to make note of some high points and low points and what it all means for you.

The life-theme of every major character in Scripture, every leader who follows God is the same: They are participating with God to save many lives. Noah, because of his friendship with God saved his family thus saved a generation. Moses, because of his obedience saved the Israelites from slavery. Esther, saved the Jews in the book of Esther. Jesus, saved us ALL through His sacrifice.  

The story is no different with Joseph:

• His dad’s favorite son.

• Able to interpret dreams accurately.

• Thrown into a pit by his brothers.

• Sold into slavery by his brothers.

• Becomes a servant for Potiphar.

• Earns Potiphar’s trust and becomes the manager of his household. 

• Gets hit on my Potiphar's wife.

• Literally, runs away from her.

• Potiphar puts him in jail for what his wife said about Joseph.

• Earns the trust of the guards in jail.

• Gets put in charge of the jail.

• Interprets the dreams of prisoners.

• Interprets Pharaoh’s dreams accurately.

• Gets a high ranking seat with Pharaoh. 

• His brothers come to him in need (not knowing its him).

• He eventually gives his brothers what they came for (food).

• He reveals himself to his brothers and shows them kindness.

• Finds out his father is dying.

• Given special privileges by Pharaoh regarding his father’s death.

That’s were we pick up in Genesis 50:14.  Read through verse 21.

Joseph had plenty of opportunities to play the victim card.  But at every negative turn in his story he persevered.  Several times he could have called it quits and stopped excelling and stopped doing his best but he kept pursuing something bigger.  Victor Frankl says this, “When we find a redemptive perspective toward our suffering, it ceases to be suffering.”  

I’m giving you all some stuff to work on if you are interested in turning your story into a redemptive story.  I want to challenge you to think about your past.  All the good and the bad and tag your story with a theme. This probably won’t be done in one day but it may take several days, maybe even weeks but once you figure it out, it could mean a totally different future for you and your family.  

Kaitlin Wernet says, "Nothing in God's will is isolated from the abundance He intends for us."

After this lesson we broke into smaller groups and discussed what the ladies wanted to do once they were released and if they could see God's hand moving even while they were in prison. Like any good teacher when you study the scriptures you want to put yourself in the character's shoes to truly grasp what is happening. The same can be said for these ladies. Put yourself in their shoes: they are away from family, possibly kids, possibly husbands, they are trying to make themselves better. Some even get saved in prison. 

We pray daily they get saved on the inside so when they are released they have the hope of Jesus to get them through the struggles that put them in prison. We want to challenge you to do the same. Pray for these ladies daily on the inside. Pray for those that are so close to making a decision for Christ. Pray for those that have made a decision for Christ but their spouse on the outside has not.

She Who Is Able: Mary & Elizabeth

This Summer I attended a luncheon for Ladies of Grace Ministries and the term, “she who is able,” was mentioned to be a sort of subtitle for this ministry.  I mulled on that the rest of the day.  When I googled, “she who is able,” the verse Luke 1:45 showed up in the search results.  Luke 1:45 says, “Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished.”

This verse is at the end of the story when Mary visited Elizabeth.  This statement came from Elizabeth. Remember, she was old and supposedly barren…but God had other plans for Elizabeth and her child, just as He did for Mary and the child inside her womb.  Elizabeth would have been one of the ladies in charge of the church tea, she was married to a priest, she was mature in her spiritual walk, and now people were starting to see how great her faith really was.  She must have been such an encouragement to a naive Jewish girl named Mary.  She must have encouraged her because directly following verse 45 is the famed, “Mary’s Song,” where she gives God all the glory and honor for what she is able to do for Him.

Mary and Elizabeth were both able. They were kindred spirits. God made them able to carry two boys that would later fulfill His prophecies. Both of their sons would both die a martyr’s death. The difference in these women is that Elizabeth would not witness her son’s death as Mary did.

Put yourself in Mary’s shoes. She was an eye-witness to her Son’s crucifixion. She was a good Jewish girl, she knew what was said about the Messiah and she was the one chosen to carry Him and bring Him into the world.  She would also be witness to the day when He was beaten and taken from this earth.  She who is able … God made Mary able.

He can make us all able.

He can make us able to get out of bed and live our life after watching a child die.

He can make us able to wake up every three hours for a child that will not sleep.

He can make us able to pray for a child that has gone astray.

He can make us able to pray everyday for a child of our own.

He can make us able to love unconditionally all people who are made in His image.

He can make us able to forgive people who have wronged us.

He can make us able to overcome addictions.

He can make us able to pray and help a child that has an unknown diagnosis but your mother’s intuition knows something is not right.

He can make us able to care for a husband that is sick.

He can make us able to walk another day with a disease that has no cure.

He can make us able to care for parents that once cared for us.

He can make us able but we have to be willing to let Him. Mary allowed God to work through her just like Elizabeth allowed God to work through her. Both of these women gave glory to God for making them able.

Are you giving God glory for making you able? Are you letting God make you able?

Image is art by Corby Eisbacher.

How We Did It: Stronger

Recently, one of our facilities completed the workbook, "Stronger," by Angela Thomas. Whenever we tell the story about residents doing a workbook study we get a lot of questions so I'm going to take sometime today to answer the questions we get asked the most:

How did you get the books?

First, we asked the chaplain for approval.  Next, we posted a social media post on Instagram and Facebook asking for people to sponsor a book for each resident that had committed to the study.  Within a week we had almost every book paid for in full!  There are several benefits to asking for sponsorships. First, it's less of your ministry's budget that gets used for the books. Second, it gives more people on the outside a genuine interest in your ministry. Lastly, it lets the residents know people on the outside really care about them.    

Did you show the videos?

Yes, we did.  Again, we asked the facility for approval to use a TV/DVD cart to show the DVD each week.  Our weekly time at this facility is about an hour by the time we account for headcounts and introductions.  We asked several of our volunteers to come and assist to lead smaller groups within our large group time.  

How did they do?

They did great! They were honored to know that women on the outside had paid for them to have their very own book. To keep the celebration going we provided certificates for the ladies that completed all seven weeks. If you are interested in doing, "Stronger," you can click here to use the certificate we created for this study.

Reminders: ALWAYS ask for approval before starting any workbook study inside a facility. To keep your ministry going you need to follow the rules. Be a good example for the residents.

Depending on why the residents are on the inside they might have some trouble completing the homework in their workbook. Be patient with them and allow some time to answer their questions each week. The night we started, "Stronger," we went through the workbook from the beginning talking about the Introduction, Author's Note, and Table of Contents. The night we passed out their books we asked who had completed a workbook study before and only 15% raised their hands! 

Lessons on the Inside: Manners & Etiquette Part Three

Today what it means to "be a lady" is lost among the sea of messages of what one wears, what one talks about, who she hangs out with or where they dine, vacation, and hang out.  That is hardly accurate at all!

Here are some common misconceptions about being a lady:

1. A lady has to know all the rules of etiquette.

2. A lady is boring, she doesn't say what she really thinks.  She's no fun. 

3. A lady can't be fashionable.  She has to wear clothes that look like they are from the 1800's.

4. Being a lady means you're old-fashioned and boring.

5. A lady is so feminine that she doesn't like sports.

6. A lady is not carefree or free-spirited. 

There is nothing more desirable to a man than a confident woman who holds her head high.  Ladies of Grace believes that self-image should be based on what God's Word says is true of us.  The world says you are worth a certain amount because you look a certain way or can perform a certain way.  God says you are valuable regardless of society's standards.

Remind yourself of the true basis of your personal identity.  Who you are is rooted in Christ and who He has made you to be.  Replay the fact that the most important part of your life is the part that only God sees.  His deepest concern is about the inner you.  True beauty is inner beauty, and it does not diminish but deepens as you grow older and your friendship with Him develops.