How to create a story in motion

I was asked today if I would share how I create story in motions. I share in this video why creating a story in motion is beneficial and how I do it. I would love to hear from you if there is something you do different or find beneficial! 🙂

He stooped to draw in the dirt

I have been asked to teach on John 8:1-11 and this morning as I studied it once again, I was caught by the beauty of God once again through His Son. 

This controversial passage has been debated on whether it should be in the final canon of Scripture. One thing is certain. The character of Jesus depicted in this story is consistent with the whole counsel of God. It teaches and convicts.

It is when the religious leaders bring the adulterous woman to Jesus to be stoned. These accusers were eye-witnesses who caught her in the "act" of sexual sin. 

After asking my typical questions, I was caught by the word "stooped." Upon hearing their accusation and question, Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dirt as if He didn't hear them. 

A holy pause.

A humble position.

Something powerful happens in intense moments when we just add a holy pause and humble position. 

It allows the emotional or intense one to hear the echo of their own words.

It allows the one receiving contempt or accusations to see the posture of the one who can condemn them. 

He was bent low just like her.

When the accusers continued to press in asking questions. Jesus stood up. He met them eye to eye. Face to face. He wanted His words to be on their level. "He who is without sin may cast the first stone." Jesus faced the evil in them head on. It deserved face to face confrontation because they were not considering their own sin in this offense.

Then he "stooped" again now covering their shame as well as hers as He drew in the dirt. Allowing them to save face.

One by one from the oldest to the youngest they left. Jesus didn't watch. He just drew in the dirt feeling the effects of a crowd's noise slowly becoming silence.

Then Jesus raised himself up and asked, "Woman, is there no one to accuse you?"

She said, "No one."

Do not miss this. Jesus was the one who could accuse her. He is who they brought her to. 

But she felt safe with Him. 

Why? 

It was His posture.

He stooped low. He didn't stand over her. He knelt down to where she sat and in his stooping he covered her shame.

He knew her sin. He told her, "to go sin no more." Yet, He didn't stand over her condemning. He knelt in the dirt with her.

Do you understand that this short story is a simple telling of what God did for mankind.  

The Creator of heaven and earth stooped down to come to earth to be on our level. 

And as the accuser comes to accuse us, our Creator, stands up and faces off our accuser. 

Our Creator then stoops again with us until we understand that no one can accuse us because He has covered our shame.

Now go and sin no more. 

It is so important to be in the Word, to be with Jesus, to be transformed.

Shalom y'all!

Mighty Throng of Women

"The LORD announces the word, and the women who proclaimed it are a mighty throng." (Ps. 68:11).

I have been reading through the Bible since 1992 and God still surprises me with His Word.

Today, I am caught by the fact that this passage says women!  Wait!  Women are the proclaimers of the Word given by God. Hmmm.

I had to go do some research. Does it really say women in the original language?

First, we need to know that the author is King David. This is a Psalm talking about God leading the nation of Israel in victory.

Second, we must note that God is the One giving the word.  The word here for word is good news or the word we get evangelism from.

Third, a battle has happened. The enemy has scattered and God has protected the vulnerable ones.

Fourth, it is the women who proclaimed this good news.

So, why are women the proclaimers? 

Well, consider when the men went off to war, the women stayed home waiting for their return. Upon their arrival the women would set up the celebration and declare the good news. This might have included songs, dance, food, and praising God for what He had accomplished. They would go out celebrating and declaring to everyone about what God had done to bring back their men and that the enemy scattered.

The women would be the frontline in declaring the good news of victory.

With that said I still wanted to know if the Hebrew text said women. It did. In Hebrew this word was feminine plural and a feminine suffix. It was meant to be women. Some translations will use the word "those" but it was meant to be women.

"The LORD announces a word and the women who proclaimed it are a mighty throng."

Immediately, my mind goes to Matthew 28:1-10 and Luke 24:1-10. God chose women as His first messengers in spreading the goodness of Jesus.

I am a part of the mighty throng of women who proclaim the Good News of the victory we have in Jesus.

This verse so ministered to me today. I hope it encourages you or causes you to go encourage the women who are faithful around you.

It is so important to be in the Word, to be with Jesus, so we can be transformed.

Shalom, y'all! 

In the Name of Jesus

God never ceases to amaze. Honestly, I wonder at God allowing me to do what I do. As I prepared, I thought, why did I add this story in Acts 3:1-10 to my To Go and To Grow workbook? There isn't as much depth as I would like and then to top it off it was the week I was to teach them the process of an I AM POEM.

Once again, God taught me a lesson. LOL. Since, I was teaching them a poem strategy I didn't want to spend time with them creating the ONE WORD OUTLINE so I sat down to do it. As I created the divisions and wrote my simple outline, I noticed that the very middle phrase was in the Name of Jesus. Now, I froze and got goosebumps. It doesn't happen often but on occasion when I create my ONE WORD OUTLINE God will allow me to catch a hint in English what the chaism in Hebrew might be. The Hebrew writers would write a story so that the very middle will reveal the key point of the story. 

For this story, it is so important for us to know and catch that Peter is not the giver of the healing. Peter is not the focus. It is Jesus. This was so important for the early church testimony to the Jews. What was happening was all done in the Name of Jesus! Jesus is ALL POWERFUL. 

Of course, I know this but to catch it in a story that I was grousing at myself for choosing humbled me and delighted me in Jesus. He is sooo cool. I love it when He just shuts me up and shows me His glory.

They loved it! As we did the poem, God so caught them off guard. One lady said to me, "Teacher, I didn't know I could approach Scripture with my emotions. I thought I could only look at it for knowledge. This is so much deeper." We discussed that both knowledge and emotion are important in studying God's Word. We cannot emphasize one or the other. 

Another said, "I will use this with my family." I love this so much. She brought up how it helped reveal the faith.

This brought about the discussion of whose faith was the focus? The lame man, Peter, or the crowd? We discussed that after denying Christ Peter needed to have his own faith strengthened as he became a leader for the new church. Imagine what it did to Peter after reaching out and grabbing the man's right hand to see him dance and praise God!

Y'all, it is so important to be in the Word, be with Jesus, so we can be transformed.

Shalom, y'all!

It' not fair!

How to handle complaints,

a common grief we share.

There is always someone in the crowd who will cry,

"It's not fair. "

Listen up! 

Choose wisely!

Keep your priorities straight,

let the teachers teach,

keep your hearts turned to prayer,

seek the ones called to serve,

ensure all are Holy Spirit filled!

Then watch as the Spirit moves,

The church will grow as obedience grows.

Is it because of the laying of hands and prayer? 

Or is it the Spirit moving among them? 

The answer is yes!

The common thread will be

both draw you closer

to the one who in heaven BE! 

I wrote this poem this morning after reflecting on Acts 6:1-7. 

My Bible study feels dull after spending significant time deeply studying a section because I discover so much. So, I am using the strategies of what I teach as I spend time in the Word. I am seeking the Creator to create in me and it is so much fun taking a principle and trying to create with it. It requires deeper reflection and meditation on the truths held with in.

When symbol and simple sketches help tell the story

When symbol helps us tell the story...

When the first day didn't allow us to introduce using simple sketches, I really struggled internally if I should even introduce it because of the delays. But when I train my leaders, I always say, "Trust the process and trust the story." Since, this is a core value in my training. I trusted the process even when I struggled internally. I am so glad I did.

One leader that didnt say anything the first day spoke up after learning how to tell a story with simple symbols or stick figures. 

"Now, I feel I can tell the story. Since, I do not read or write this helps me to know how to share the story." 

He shared ALOT! This simple activity awakened in him a skill of honor. He felt better equipped because he was given a tool that matched his learning style. Since, he can't read or write no one had introduced to him how he could use the power of visual to help him remember things.

Here is a truth we should never forget. Just because a person hasn't been taught how to read or write does not mean that they cannot be a visual learner. We do a disservice to him if we do not provide the best strategy to help him discover and grow. We ministered to his learning style and he was ignited! This was one highlight I will never forget. His smile was radiant! 

The other, "Oh my goodness!" highlight happened when another man who could not read or write said, "When I was young and had the chance to learn how to read and write. I didn't care. I didn't listen. I messed around. But, now that I see how much the Bible says and has in it, I want to learn to read and write so I can know what the Bible says." The process of learning the 6 Acts and then drilling into the book of Acts revealed to him how vast is the story of God.

Both of these glorious quotes followed the activity of learning to tell the story through visual symbols and simple sketches. I could not have orchestrated what happened. Only God could do that, but there is something to be said about providing each group an opportunity to experience the many ways of encountering God's Word. 

God's Word is meant to be spoken, written, illustrated, and experienced! Amen! Amen!

Shalom, y'all!

Morning Cluck

One of my favorite things in Africa and in Israel is hearing the roosters crow at all hours of the day and night. Lol. Somehow, it just lends to greater atmosphere as I experience a new culture. Maybe it is because it reminds me of the country life in which I grew up in. 

This past week my friend, Gomer, cracked a joke when another friend,  Joshua, posted a picture of a chicken. 

"Morning Cluck."

I laughed so hard I knew I needed to paint a rooster and name it, "Morning cluck."

Thanks for the inspiration guys. I had great delight painting tonight.

My failed image

Sometimes as I am creating I panic because I really messed up. This seems to be a moment when I feel like it looks hideous and I just wasted good paper. But, I have learn that if I keep pressing in or through the ugh I might discover something beautiful. 

This piece supposed to be blue flowers. They were so bad I actually thought of ripping it up. Lol. I haven't done that yet mostly because I am trying to track my progress as I learn. So I decided to through away the idea of a simple flower I was trying so hard to crreate and I started creating uses sponges. 

It now feels very impressionistic. And I like it. It grew on me. 

Initially, I jokingly said to myself when I was creating, "Hmmmm, so my failed images become impressionsm." 

Did you know that "impressionism" the term was considered derogatory when it was first used about Monet. He didn't paint with a traditional stroke so he was criticized, but in time his style became a genre.

What kind of disciplemaker are you?

What kind of disciplemaker are you? 

Today as I pondered a lesson I learned many years ago I decided to try to paint the concept.

It takes 15 to 16 years before an elephant can have a baby. The gestation period is 22 months. They may have 12 babies in their lifetime.

Elephants are slow to start, slow to produce, and only have a few. They are fiercely loyal and stick to their pack. 

A rabbit starts having babies around 5 to 6 months. Their pregnancy only lasts 31 days. They can have 6 to 12 bunnies at a time. They might have 3 to 4 litters a year. Theoretically, a couple could have with their offspring 4 million babies in 4 years.

Rabbits are fast and productive. They fill a warren with a family unit. Their family structure is very communal and they stick together but each have their own place in the warren. Some rabbits might come and go but for the most part they stick together. They are rapid reproducers.

I am curious. In your culture, which one would be valued more as a reproducer?

Did Korah's kin have to suffer because of his rebellion?

Sometimes, I read something and it makes me ask questions. This morning I read "and the line of Korah did not die out" (Numbers 26:11). But I noticed no number in the census was given for them. Without the census number, they could not receive the land inheritance. Without land, how could they work?  It made me wonder, did Korah's kin have to suffer and become slaves because of his pride?

What I found humbled me so much. Even Korah's rebellion which caused instant discipline that shocks you because 250 men were swallowed up in a hole that day (go read it in Numbers 16:1-40), there is a redemptive story.

Did you know that Korah's descendants served in the tabernacle as musicians, gatekeepers, and custodians (1 Chronicles 6:31-37; 9:19; 9:31-32; ; 25:1-7; 26:9)?

Did you know that 11 Psalms are attributed to the descendants of Korah?  Songs of longing for God, the power and protection of God, the presence of God emphasizing joy and the desire to be with God (Ps. 42, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 84, 85, 87, 88).

Now, I know our God is a God of redemption. I know His presence, provision, protection, and joy. Yet, I caught myself assuming the descendants of Korah were doomed because of their fathers rebellion. I know better. I love that God stopped this erroneous thought process.

How often do we say, "So and so is unredeemable?"  How often do we imply a person, politician, people group, or nation could never be redeemed? I know I hear and feel the brunt of these often in my world. And yet again, God caught the lie in my head this morning.

Listen! God is in the business of redeeming people! No person, people, or politician is beyond redemption. We must be praying for souls!  It is not our job to judge, condemn, slay, catch in sin, etc. Our role is to draw people closer to God so they know know the love of the Father through His Son! 

I can't stop thinking of the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11. I am in aww that despite their sins or errors God chooses to have us remember their moment of faith. 

This morning I am celebrating the descendants of Korah that chose to help us draw closer to God. Just this week, I had a leader in Greater South Asia tell me how much it meant to the tribal people when they heard for the first time Psalm 42 in their heart language. 

Korah's descendants are still impacting kingdom culture today.

Shalom y'all.

Prayer for Cross-cultural ASL Sign

Yesterday, as I was working I really struggled to find a good sign for the Word cross-cultural. No matter how I phrased it, I couldn't find the word on ASL videos that I needed. I could find cross, culture, or cross country, but not cross-cultural.

I cried out in my heart. It was not a voiced prayer. "God, I just need to find someone that can help me in person to know how yo do this sign." 

Last night at the art show an old church acquaintance, Geri, came up to chat. 

As she was talking she shared that she is an interpreter. I hadn't known this or forgot.

I asked, "What do you interpret?"

She said, "For the deaf."

I couldnt believe it. God gave me Geri on the very day I needed it. I shared with her that I was trying to find the sign for cross-cultural but I couldnt and I needed help. She asked questions and I explained what I was doing. After processing several motions she helped me settle on a motion that would work. 

I now have my story motion for cross-cultures! I am so excited. 

I don't know why it always surprises me how God provides the answers to my heart prayers, but it does. I felt like dancing and skipping after chatting with Geri. 

God heard my prayer and He answered. He knows my needs and the why's. He answers so sweetly to show me He is so kind. 

Feeling very blessed!

Rivers of living will flow

Living water will flow!

This is my first attempt at painting water rings and droplets. 

Water is critical for life. Here are a few quick stats I found.

55% to 75% of the body is made of water.

Water is a shock absorber for the brain, spinal column, and unborn baby in the womb. 

Water flushes waste out of us.

Water enables growth to occur at the cellular level. 

It is estimated that 71% of the earth's surface is covered with water.

It is estimated that 96% of the earth's water supply is in the oceans.

Water is the fundamental component of every living creature. 

Water gives life.

Water sustains life.

Without water we die with in days.

Spiritually we need life giving water, too. It only makes sense that the One who created heaven and earth would be the One who will give living water.

Jesus once said, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Does anyone believe in me? Then, just as Scripture says, rivers of living water will flow from inside them.” (John 7:37-38)

We can have "rivers of living water flow from us" when we believe in the One who is the River of Life. 

Life giving water that quenches our thirst. 

I was trying to convey in this image how the life giving water has a ripple affect even if it is in just one little drop. 

I have to giggle because I just realized as I look at the image the water of life is smiling back at me. 

Father, Thank You for the gift of water and it's life sustaining power. Thank You for Your Son who gives living water that quenches our thirst. Help us to believe in Your life giving water and to give it freely. Let the ripple affect of Your sustenance bring life to all who receive it. In Jesus' name, amen.

What to do in relationships based on Matthew 7

I was listening to a podcast this week on Ask, Seek, and Knock by Dr. Tim Mackey with the Bible Project. He said that we should read Matthew 7 focusing on relationships when we ponder what we should ask for. 

Then as God would have it, I read this chapter this morning in my routine. 

So, I decided to read it with the focus of how to be in good relationships. This is the list of good helps that God showed me.

In relationships...

1. Do not judge.

2. Focus on fixing yourself not others.

3. Stay away from those that devour others or trample on people. 

4. Persistently seek God for wisdom.

5. You will know people by their good or bad character. Watch for it.

6. Do the will of God.

7. Listen to the Word of God and put it into practice. 

This is when we will be known as a person of authority.

Okay, so when we just don't know or we feel confused. We should persistently pray.

O Father, Help me not to judge. Please forgive me for judging. LORD, show me what I need to do, change, or let go. Please guard me from those that devour and trample on others and help me with this person that makes me feel devoured and trampled on. Please, guard me from being the person who tramples on or devours others. I beg you for wisdom in this situation.  Show me their character and the best way to respond.  Father, I do want to do Your will but I don't know how. Please guide me. Show me how to love, forgive, serve, walk, and guide others in all truth. In Jesus' name, amen.

A Thousand Touches with Watercolor

Have you ever done something for a thousand touches? 

It sounds so impossible. The first time I heard someone use this phrase was on the soccer field by my friend Tanya Franck Benning as she coached the women's soccer team at Grace University. I Googled the concept and I found out it is a challenge often given to athletes to do practice makes perfect or do this and you will awaken the involuntary responses needed so you no longer need to think about what you are doing. This is when you will play instinctively.

Tomorrow is my one year anniversary of starting to learn how to watercolor paint with Alice Swartz. She brought all her supplies so we could play. I mean paint.

I am definitely over a thousand touches. I try as best I can to watercolor if we sit down to watch TV. This way I am creating and learning while listening. 

When I look at what I created in the beginning and gave away, I laugh because people are so kind. Your encouragement all along has been so kind.

I discovered that the process of painting several nights a week became a time of rest and worship. But the actual process of learning wasn't easy. I kept creating even when what I saw in my mind's eye did not match what I created. 

I watched how others painted before going to sleep or looked at others paintings. At first it was easier to look at someone else's work, but more and more I found I am jealous for creating my own design. I want to create from my heart and vision not someone elses.

One day Grant Rye said to me, "In the art world, master artists will hire apprentices to paint copies of their original to sell. They are master copiers." I have no idea if he was trying to teach me a lesson, but as much as possible from that point on I started choosing images where I would take shapes, colors, and composites of photos so I could try to create on my own. 

It has been an incredible journey. God used this to bless me, encourage me, and challenge my mind. It has been hard trying to learn how to master shapes, color theory, and depth. I still don't get how to do these most of the time, but I keep pressing in.

The most important thing I realized. When I create something, it is my interpretation of what I see and I am able to do in that moment. This is good! Why? Because I am trying! I am creating! I am growing! And yes, a thousand touches works. I am improving. 

I also discovered that for art your supplies really matter. It was a powerful game changer when I had good paper, good paints, and the right brush. Oh my! 

I want 10,000 touches! Why? Because our God is a creative God and I want to see how HE might create through me. 

How about you? What have you given a thousand touches to?

Character and Consistency

Have you ever noticed that consistency and character are always revealed?  This can be seen for both the good and the bad. Whatever we do consistently it will reveal our core character. It can build trust or break trust. Our patterns whether big or small over time reveal so much.

This morning as I read Daniel 6, I am in awe because Daniel's character in his 80's was so consistent that the leaders couldn't find anything wrong with him. So they plotted to trap him. Does this sound familiar? It should since it is what the religious leaders did to Jesus.

At this point, you would think they would have caught onto Daniel's God's character as well. He consistently rescued and elevated Daniel as an exile in Babylon and when Persia took over. But one of their consistent patterns was not seeing God's work or believing. 

Both Daniel and His God were consistent in their character. It was observable that they were both faithful and trustworthy.

AND the government leaders were also consistent in their character. It was evident that they were jealous and power hungry. They liked to scheme and plot no matter who they deceived as long as they got what they wanted. Ugh. I have known a few of those in my life. 

It is so important we slow down, listen, and look at the motives behind the activity. It is also important to watch for what is revealed consistently in a person's behavior over time. Patterns reveal so much. Everyone has a one off moment where they can mess up, but patterns are a revelation of a core character trait. 

I find myself asking, "What is revealed by my character consistently over time to others?"

I also find myself praying, "LORD, give me the awareness of character and to watch for consistent patterns so that I can wisely navigate life for Your glory. In Jesus, Name, amen."

I promise it works. Watch for the consistent character patterns. This will help you know when to say, "yes" and when to say, "no."

Shalom y'all!

BY FAITH...

BY FAITH...  

If you could write one line that told your moment of BY FAITH that could go into a Hall of faith list what do you think it could be?

I thought of this idea in our community group last week as we studied Hebrews 11. I love that despite all that each of them did wrong in their lives the thing that God chose to have recorded in the Hall of Faith was their moment of choosing righteousness. 

Do you see the beauty in this? 

God does not see us in our mess or sin. He chooses to see us in our righteousness that has been made possible in Christ. He looks at us in who we are in Christ. Our moments of BY FAITH.

As Greg Rye and I drove home, I invited him to name his moment of BY FAITH or ours as a couple. He said, "Oh, Tara, I am a processor. I need to think on it."

God immediately gave me a few.

BY FAITH Greg believed God when ENRON collapsed that God had a plan in moving his family from Texas to Nebraska.

BY FAITH Greg and Tara believed God would give them children even when the doctors told them she would not be able to.

BY FAITH Greg and Tara continued to share Jesus even after losing it all in the floods of 98. 

BY FAITH when Grace University closed Tara started telling God stories and hasn't stopped trusting that God would provide her the right ministry opportunities.

BY FAITH Greg and Tara sold everything and bought a new house so they could move Papa, Mema, and Aunt Janie in with them. 

I have decided this is a really fun practice to do. In each of these moments, it was hard! Really hard! But we can look back and see our BY FAITH moments. 

It is in our BY FAITH moments that we are strengthened and encouraged. These are powerful reminders of God's work in us. They build hope in us. 

What is your BY FAITH moment? I would love to hear about them! 

BY FAITH...

Where does spiritual cleanliness come from?

Catching a theme or pattern can reveal deeper meaning.

Matthew 15 caught me this morning.

The religious leaders were complaining that Jesus' disciples didn't wash their hands before they ate.

Oh my goodness! They are so unclean! Or atleast that is the declared offense. 

Jesus points out it is not what goes in your mouth but what comes out.

As if to make Jesus' point clear, Matthew writes about two stories with bread to prove Jesus' point.

The first was a gentile woman begging for her daughter to be healed of a demon. Jesus at first didn’t listen because He was trying to reach the religious leaders. Jesus said, "It's not right to toss bread to dogs." She responded and said, "Even dogs eat crumbs from their master's table."

She knew where she needed to be fed even if it was a mere crumb. She recognized His power and authority. Her words revealed her faith in Him.

The second story to follow was Jesus feeding 4,000 at the Sea of Galilee. With an offering of 7 loaves and a few fish, Jesus enabled the disciples to feed 4,000 until they were satisfied.

I had to laugh. Crumbs on the floor and bread on the seashore would not lend to cleanliness of the hands! Ironically, the two stories that followed the religious leaders complaint of cleanliness almost embarrassingly showed that washing your hands was not the key.

The point is hunger for truth. The woman was willing to take crumbs if it meant her daughter was healed. She knew where the source of power and healing came from, the spoken words of Jesus. She was willing to seek Him and even beg Him for her daughter's healing.

The crowds hungered to hear Jesus teach. They gathered and listened even when it meant not physically eating for a long time. They knew the nourishment of listening and learning in order to understand. They knew where healing came from and wanted to take in more. Or if I dare say it, they wanted to "digest" Jesus' healing power and provision while listening.

The religious leaders weren't drawing near to Jesus to listen or understand. They were drawing near to condemn, complain, judge, etc.

What comes out of our mouths reveal what is inside! What we speak reveals if we are clean or unclean. It is pretty convicting for sure. 

The LORD cares more about our heart condition than anything else. He desires us to know the freedom of a heart washed clean and satisfied in Him.

Why I teach the 6 Acts of the Bible with motions

I was taken by surprise when I was asked, "Why did you teach that?" At first, I froze. I didn't know what to say because I wasn't expecting this kind of response. 

My silence gave room for more to be said, "This isn't new!" 

"You are right. This is not new. The Bible tells us, 'There is nothing new under the sun"( Eccles. 1:9). We are also "commanded to sing a new song" (96:1-3). This does not mean a new truth, but a new way. Each culture and each generation have a different way of communicating. It will never be the same, but the message always stays the same.

I created the 6 Acts of the Bible to help a group of women in an Asian context develop a basic metanarrative of the Bible. I discovered that their group loves to use the story in motions. I worked hard to take the entire Bible down to a simple outline that I could share simply, quickly, and it would be easily reproduced. 

The irony is I never got to teach it to them. Circumstances happened and we did not get together. I LOVE YOU MY DEARS AND I PRAY FOR YOU.

But God had a plan. I discovered that many of my partners worldwide love the story in motion, too. God opens doors weekly for me to share.

One leader in Africa this week told me that when he shared it in church the whole room went silent with anticipation. 

This morning a leader in South Asia told me that he and his team are discovering that this simple method makes the message clear. 

This is why I will teach this way. It opens people's hearts to hear the message of what God did through history clearly.

Is this dumbing down the gospel? NOT AT ALL! Quite the contrary. It is making people smarter. A good teacher will bring a truth down to the most irriducible part. Once the most basic truth is grasped then layers of knowledge will be added. It is through the layering of truth that greater depth can be grasped.

Please listen, share and teach so all can know how God has moved through history in their behalf. 

6 Acts of the Bible Story in Motion

The voice of reason with a mob mentality

Have you ever been the victim of a mob mentality? 

Mob mentality is cruel and unjust. 

Mob mentality is unreasonable and quite honestly foolish!  

History has proven over and over you join the mob today and tomorrow you will be the one mobbed. 

Do not think you will escape it. Because mob mentality has lost its voice of reason. 

Did you know it only takes one person to speak with the voice of reason to calm a crowd?  

This morning as I read about the unnamed clerk mentioned in Acts 19:35, I was humbled by this clerk's ability to calm a crowd and send them home. He dismissed a rioting group with the voice of reason.

It only took one person! One person!

It is wise to pray for the voice of reason. It is wise to speak up when it will calm a crowd. It is wise to step up, step in, and move forward even when it is scary.

Sometimes, when I read about or see such courage in others, I fear that in the moment I will not be reasonable. I will join in the emotion. I will celebrate the spirit of judgment and act as if I am justice and even worse act like God. 

This kind of behavior (a mob mentality) should not be tolerated or held up with esteem. It needs to be reasoned with and when it is not reasonable then held accountable for its actions.  

Hiding in the crowd will never hide before God the attitude or behavior acted upon. God sees. God does not forget. God will not be mocked.

So, how can I, we, become the voice of reason? 

As I said before, we must pray for it because each of us are only one short fuse from joining in the emotion of the moment as if we are justified. We are not!

When I taught preschool, there were three rules we enforced in the classroom. 

You cannot hurt yourself.

You cannot hurt others.

You cannot hurt property.

Let's remind this generation these three rules are the start of reasonable behavior! 

Shalom y'all!

OPEN BIBLES

God has put it on my heart to pray for OPEN Bibles. 

O bey the WORD

P ray the WORD

E ncourage with the WORD

to the N ations

This can be done through anything that enables someone to listen, hear, read, and respond with respect to God's Holy WORD which is His Son!

How do you declare His glory among the nations and His marvelous deeds to the people?

The Lion and The Lamb

The Lion and the Lamb. Jesus is both powerful and gentle. He is fierce yet sacrificial. His strength is beyond compare and His sacrifice gives life to all who believe! 

He is peace to those that know Him, but terrifying to those that don't.  

Because someone I love is battling cancer and needed the reminder, I am going to be practicing on various lion and lamb scenes as a reminder to her that He is strong and gentle. Do not be afraid!

The workhorse of orality is steadfast and faithful

God woke me up with a vision of a work horse. I was reminded that a work horse gets the job done because they are faithful and steady. They plod along as the worker guides them day after day and in time the field is plowed. It has worked the ground so that it is ready to be sowed so that it can yield its crop. 

The workhorse might look different in the open range than it does on a small field or in a rural jungle in how it works. The method might be different but the outcome is the same to bear a good harvest.

As I drifted in and out of sleep, I knew the workhorse was orality. The process of plowing the field of education has been done so with a faithful and steady team across the nations. Each one in its own field remaining faithful to the task at hand, to plow the field for a good yield. 

We are starting to see the fruit born on the backs of countless steady work horses. Some have been given names in showcases around the land, but most remain anonymous as faithful and steady contenders that faithfully prodded the field to make it ready. 

Thank you! 

Shalom y'all!

Why can't we see our spiritual growth?

I was recently talking with a friend who shared she was frustrated because she couldn't see her spiritual growth. Why is it that there comes a point in our spiritual walk where we are not as able to see the maturing as we had initially? God quickly gave me a thought.

Have you ever noticed that we cannot see with the visible eye the growth of a tree trunk?

Once a tree reaches a certain stature it's growth really is not visible to the human eye. In fact, I looked up later that depending on the tree the growth rate of the maturing tree will only widen by only a few milimeters a year. To give you perspective it takes 25.4 milimeters to make an inch.

Quite simply we cannot see the growth, but it is there. It is recorded in rings inside the core of the tree.  The first lighter part of the ring shows the early spring growth and the darker part of the ring is darker showing the summer and fall growth. Each ring reveals the history that has taken place. The tree's story is written inside revealing favorable seasons by a wider band to indicate bountiful rain. While a skinny or tighter band reveals drought and struggle. Different trees will reveal the climate change differently because their species and location play a key role in how they respond.

Regardless, the story is recorded in rings and reveals what the tree has endured and celebrated through the years.

What we must understand is that the tree kept growing.  It wasnt visible, but it grew. So do we!  We may not be able to see our growth any more than a tree trunk's growth is visible in the moment, but in time we see it's growth. The things we face in life become a part of our story. They will affect our core. And depending on how we respond, it will be recorded in our story ring.

Regardless, we will keep growing. If we water ourselves with truth (the Word of God), we will know the nourishment that gives us wide rings revealing the strength in us.

When we face the lean, hard, and drought seasons this is when our roots will dig deep looking for water.

Did you know on average a tree roots will grow .5 to 1 meter a year. It takes about 400 meters to make a mile. This is also a slow process that cannot be seen, but it is steady and certain. Healthy roots will never stop seeking nourishment. Aka, water.

In our lean seasons when we think we are not growing, we need to keep digging to find good nourishment through the Word of God. This is what will sustain us. We cannot see it sustaining us, but it is and in time it will reveal itself as God makes a tree planted by the river bearing good fruit in every season.

Growth isn't visible, but it is certain. Keep seeking Him, His Word, and His way.

Shalom y'all.