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Week Five - Jehovah Rohi: The Lord Our Shepherd

Debbie Briggs

I want to personally invite you to sit with me and with The Lord our Shepherd. It will be worth it to stop the busyness of your day and find a peaceful chair or spot to absorb the next few minutes with Jehovah Rohi. All of us tend to squeeze in all we can between activities in our lives. Don’t squeeze this in. Let’s take a moment and ask ourselves: “How did I make this hour, this day, this week, this month so complicated? Why can’t life be calmer? Why is it so crazy? Why do I have this rush to do more, go more, and not take time to enjoy the moments?” We order the most important item from Etsy for the birthday party we are hosting, and we find ourselves freaking out that it is not yet at our doorstep, when all along, we knew the delivery date was going to be a tight squeeze. Yes, we seem to squeeze things in. We are the squeeze experts. We are focusing on two portions of Scripture, Psalm 23 and John 10. We will be reminded how to live at a slower pace in our lives by the experts: Old Testament David and New Testament John. David was Israel’s most celebrated king who wrote many of the Psalms in the Old Testament. Although an incredible king, early in his life David was a shepherd who learned how to lovingly care for his sheep. John, the beloved apostle, was one of the original twelve disciples of Jesus who had a big heart and wrote about the shepherd and his flock in John 10. David chose to write a hymn of praise with the imagery of the shepherd and his sheep. Scripture is filled with these parallels. It is no accident. David had the credentials to speak into our hearts on this subject. His “resume” is filled with worthy entries, not only documenting successfully how he reigned as king, but how he cared for his sheep. When David speaks, we listen. And perhaps he is singing, because the Psalms were meant to be sung by individuals, groups, or soldiers on their way to battle. Although David was a highly acclaimed king, his humble beginnings as a shepherd boy taught him how to love and deal with people and life. His emotions pour out as he teaches us to calmly take in the Lord Our Shepherd who wants us to hear his voice. Why would that be? Because we have a shepherd who is watching over us. Take a deep breath, sip your coffee, or look at the blue sky and continue, because we are not meant to squeeze in the reading of the 23rd Psalm and portions of John 10. “The Lord is my shepherd …” (Psalm 23:1) It is no accident that in Scripture there are numerous references to God the Father as our Shepherd and Jesus the Son as our Shepherd. A shepherd is just that, a herder of sheep. Sheep need a lot of help. In fact, think about it, most animals do not need as much attention. Sheep are fearful and stubborn, and needy, they must be guided. They get caught in thistles. They thirst and cannot find water. They need to be led to greener pastures. They need someone to guide them and protect them. They can get themselves into messes without a shepherd. Sheep need a shepherd so that they can be guided to do what is best for them. I just told you there are numerous references to God the Father and Jesus the Son as the Shepherd in Scripture, but guess what? WE are in the Scriptures too! We are sheep and without a shepherd, if we choose to live without the Shepherd, we will lose our way. We get caught in the thistles and we do not do life well at all. “… I shall not be in want.” (Psalm 23:1) David provided everything his sheep needed: He guided them to their food, to their water, and he protected them from their enemies. Even when they did not even know who their enemies were. When sheep are calmly guided, they are content. Are we? Are you content in whatever situation you are in, knowing you are being led by the Master Shepherd? “…I have learned to be content in whatever the circumstances.” (Philippians 4:11) Reminder for all of us: The Good Shepherd is delighted to give us what we need. “He makes me lie down in green pastures…” (Psalm 23:2) Sheep will not lie down if they are agitated. Does that sound familiar to you? We get so worked up, so agitated that we cannot stop to get out of the muck and sit in the green. The shepherd MAKES the sheep lie down. He knows what is best for them. Are you so unsettled about a situation that you have to be forced to calm down? “… He leads me beside quiet waters.” (Psalm 23:2) Sheep need to be led to still waters. How many times do we need still waters more than anything else? In most cases we make the choice to go the “unstill” route. We need water for our physical health; we need quiet for our emotional health. “He restores my soul …” (Psalm 23:3) There are times when shepherds need to rescue their flock. Sheep need intervention, especially when they do not see danger coming. Do you know what the term a “cast sheep” means? When a sheep is cast, it is stuck … so stuck that it is on its back, flailing, needing the help of the shepherd to roll it over and get it out of the mess. Whoa! Don’t we find ourselves upside down, flailing, and asking God to get us out of this mess? We are crying out for God to restore our souls and put us back to where we need to be. “… He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” (Psalm 23:3) This is important to note: sheep do not know the right paths. Only by the guiding of the shepherd will they be able to do what is best. No doubt, we are just like the sheep. Without allowing God to guide us in the right paths, we do not know what is best for us. “For his name’s sake” is so immensely powerful! We view life’s path as OUR path. In Isaiah 53, verse 6 it states “We all, like sheep, have gone astray …” If we are journeying on a path, the path meant for us by God, we are leaning into the path truly meant for us (“for his name’s sake”), not the path we had defined as ours. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death …” (Psalm 23:4) As I mentioned, without the shepherd’s help, sheep get themselves in messes, over and over again! They need their shepherd. David was an expert shepherd who helped his sheep in their troubles. The valleys will happen, no doubt, but this is the question: how do we maneuver through the valleys? “… I will fear no evil, for you are with me …” (Psalm 23:4) I am so excited to share with you my life verse that has guided me through the hardest of times when I thought I could not bear the pain. It has taken away intense fear and allowed me to know that I could get through anything. To try to tackle life’s fears alone is daunting! “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7) Some translations substitute “fear” for “timidity” and “sound mind” for “self-discipline.” The bottom line for us here is that there is no need to fear because we are never alone when we go through life with Jehovah Rohi. “…your rod and your staff, they comfort me …” (Psalm 23:4) Sheep get entangled with thorns and briars, and the shepherd has to use his rod to bring comfort to the sheep. Wolves and other prey are ready to pounce on the sheep. The staff guides and protects the sheep where they need to go. We as sheep need the guidance, protection, and defense of the shepherd. “You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies …” (Psalm 23:5) The shepherd prepares a flat “table” or mesa for the arrival of the sheep, where they can graze and be on even terrain. The Good Shepherd goes before us to help us. “…You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” (Psalm 23:5) Summer flies and parasites travel to the moist nostrils of the sheep and cause excruciating pain, inflammation, and infections. The sheep are so distraught, they lose the desire to eat, and they bang their heads against trees to try to rid themselves of what is eating them up. The shepherd knows to pour oil over the head of his sheep to deter the flies and parasites, a calming relief. Our Good Shepherd takes care of every detail. He keeps us from banging our heads against the wall. He soothes us when we are attacked with the excruciating pain in our lives, even when our choices are the originator of the pain. God’s daily provision anoints us with overflowing grace. “Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life …” (Psalm 23:5) Look at the word “follow.” Follow cannot happen if there was nothing before it. If we pour goodness and love into our lives and the lives of others, it follows us throughout our life. “… and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (Psalm 23:5) A sealed deal right there. The Savior died for his sheep. You are the recipient of Jehovah Rohi’s love. When we accept Jesus as our Savior, we belong to Him … forever. There is only one way into the fold. “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.” (John 10:9) “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me – just as the Father knows me and I know the Father – and I lay down my life for the sheep.” (John 10:14) Next steps: 1. I challenge you to read the 23rd Psalm and John 10 daily this week. It is so incredibly rich and relevant for our lives. I know … life gets so busy, but again, resist the urge to “squeeze it in” and sit with your coffee or tea in your special “go-to” chair or better yet … by still waters or by green pastures. 2. Answer these two questions: What can I eliminate from my life so that I can better hear His voice? What can I add to my life to hear Him better? 3. Listen to the beautiful song by Fernando Ortega: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fIVTpzi0zU. Powerful! I could not have journeyed through life without the guidance and protection of Jehovah Rohi, The Lord My Shepherd. I invite you into the life of being more attentive to God’s watch and care. Whether it is initially asking Jesus to come into your life or whether it means to grow in the constant reminder that Jehovah Rohi is the most incredible Shepherd of your life, just know He delights in peacefully walking with you. He knows your voice and wants you to know His. “When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.” (John 10:4) “Lord Jesus, I am forever grateful that you are my Shepherd. Thank you that you delight in knowing my voice. May I intentionally seek to know Yours better.” Keller, W. Phillip, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1970, 2007). Fernando Ortega, “The Good Shepherd” from album Come Down, O Love Divine, 2011. All Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.

Week Four - Jehova Shalom: The God of Reconciliation and Completeness

Allison Mangrum

Speak now or forever hold your peace. I come bringing a peace offering. I could use a little peace and quiet. Have you ever heard any of the above phrases about peace? Have you ever noticed that our ideas and definitions of peace vary wildly, depending on what we are talking about? If I say, “speak now or forever hold your peace,” peace is defined by your acquiescence on an issue. But if I say, “I could use a little peace and quiet,” peace is defined by a lack of interruption to my day. What exactly is peace and why do we seem to have so many different ideas about what it means? With so many different definitions of peace, is it any wonder that we struggle to find peace both in our personal lives and in our world at large? In order for us to experience peace, we must first understand who God is and what His word says about peace. The Hebrew word for peace—shalom—is repeated 237 times throughout the Old Testament, including in the book of Judges, where it is used as a title, or name, for God. (Strong’s) “But the LORD said to him, “Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.” So, Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and called it The LORD Is Peace.” (Judges 6:23-24) In this passage, we see the Lord speak peace, or shalom, over Gideon to calm Gideon’s fear. We also see Gideon respond to the Lord by building an altar to Him and giving Him the name Jehovah Shalom, or The Lord is Peace. According to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, shalom means “completeness, soundness, welfare, or peace.” I love that word “completeness.” It means that with shalom, nothing is lacking—it is whole, content, perfect. When Gideon named the Lord “Jehovah Shalom,” he was calling God the Lord of Completeness, Wholeness, Contentment, and Perfection. All throughout the Old Testament, we see variations of the word shalom. The Hebrew word shelem (found 29 times throughout Leviticus) means peace offering, sacrifice for alliance, or voluntary sacrifice of thanks. Shillem (found in Deuteronomy) means recompense, retribution, or requital. (NAS Exhaustive Concordance; Strong’s) The Hebrew people were well-versed in the concept of shalom and they understood that shalom did not just happen by accident. It came through some kind of sacrifice of self, whether voluntarily (as in a peace offering) or as a result of retribution. While the book of Judges is the only place in scripture where God is given the title of Jehovah Shalom, there are other places in scripture where we see God embody shalom. “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.” (Isaiah 9:6-7) Here, the prophet Isaiah is foretelling the birth of the promised Messiah (Jesus), giving Him the title Prince of Peace, and promising the people that there will be no end to the shalom the Messiah brings. Just as Isaiah foretold the birth of Christ, he also foretold his death. “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5) In this passage, Isaiah foretells that our shalom will come as a result of the Messiah being punished for our sins. In other words, our peace and completeness as humankind would come through the suffering and death of the Prince of Peace we read about a few chapters earlier. This brings us to our big idea: True shalom begins with reconciliation to God. One of my all-time favorite passages of scripture is Colossians 1:15-23. I encourage you to take a moment right now to grab your Bible and read through the entire passage. It’s a beautiful depiction of who Jesus is. But for the purposes of this study, we are going to focus on verses 19-20. “For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” (Colossians 1:19-20) That word “peace” in verse 20 comes from the Greek word eirénopoieó and means to harmonize or to reconcile. (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon; Strong’s) Jesus came to reconcile humankind and bring shalom through his death on the cross. Without Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, shalom would be impossible. Take a moment to reflect on what we’ve learned so far about shalom. How does the definition of shalom in scripture change the way you think about peace? What is God revealing to you about Himself in these scriptures? How can we experience shalom on earth? What is our responsibility when it comes to living in shalom? Now that we understand who God is, and what His word says about shalom, let’s explore what scripture says about how we can pursue shalom in our lives. I believe scripture gives us a roadmap for living in shalom, here on earth, in the following relationships: Shalom with God, Shalom with Mankind, and Shalom with Ourselves. If you are seeking to live a life of peace, Shalom with God is the most important and crucial step. In fact, I believe peace with others and with ourselves is impossible if we aren’t first reconciled to God. Remember our big idea: True shalom begins with reconciliation to God. Shalom with God We know that shalom with God was already provided freely to us through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of our sins. Jesus made the voluntary sacrifice for us and paid our retribution, so that we could have shalom with Him. All that is required of us is to believe in Him and accept His love and forgiveness. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) Next Step: Pray and Accept—If you haven’t yet made the decision to receive God’s gift of shalom, I encourage you to do so now. He loves you deeply and wants to be in relationship with you. Take a moment to pray to Him right now. Acknowledge that you believe that Jesus died to reconcile you to God. Admit that you need Him and that you accept His gift of love, His gift of forgiveness, and His gift of completeness. Make a commitment to follow Jesus and live your life in a way that honors God and others. If you said this prayer today, congratulations! We know that Jesus and the angels are rejoicing! And we want to rejoice with you, too! Let someone know that you made this decision today! Email women@centralaz.com Shalom with Mankind When it comes to the pursuit of shalom in our world, peace amongst mankind is probably the most difficult for us to achieve. Whereas God made shalom with Him easy for us (He made the sacrifice and all we have to do is accept), peace with our fellow human beings requires sacrifice from us. In Romans 12:9-21, the apostle Paul gives instructions on how to live at peace with our fellow man. Open your Bible and take a moment to read that entire passage right now. Paul is illustrating for us that peace with one another comes through love in action: Honoring others above ourselves. Praying for one another. Feeding the hungry. Practicing hospitality. Being humble. Loving our enemies and caring for them. “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” (Romans 12:18) As far as it depends on you. We can’t control the actions of others, but we are responsible for how we act and for the words we speak. God does not promise us perfect shalom with mankind this side of heaven, but He does command us to live our lives in pursuit of peace. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:9) That word “children” comes from the Greek word huios and means anyone sharing the same nature as or resembling the character of their Father. (HELPS Word Study). In the same way that God has modeled perfect shalom and offered reconciliation to us, we must also seek to live in shalom with one another. Furthermore, we are commanded in scripture to help reconcile others to God. In fact, it was one of the last things Jesus said to His disciples: “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20) The apostle Paul reiterates this in his letter to the Romans: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. “(2 Corinthians 5:17-20a) If we want to be peacemakers and experience shalom with our fellow humans, we must take seriously God’s commandment to share the good news of Jesus with others. Next Step: Pray and Share—Think of one person in your life who needs to hear the good news of Jesus. Write the name of that person down and commit to pray for them daily. Ask God to open up their heart to hear the good news of Jesus. Ask God to give you opportunities to share His love and shalom with them. Shalom with Ourselves Shalom with ourselves can be difficult to obtain. After all, we are our own worst critics. It is often harder for us to forgive ourselves than it is for us to forgive others. The good news is that God has set us free from our shame and guilt. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 1:5) I recently heard an analogy about how to train an elephant—if you tie a baby elephant to a rope attached to a stake in the ground, he will not be able to run away. If you continue to tie the baby elephant to the stake, over time, the elephant is conditioned to learn that when he is tied to the rope, he can’t escape. Even after the elephant becomes an adult, he will not run away. Although he could easily walk away and pull the stake from the ground, the elephant has been conditioned to believe that he is stuck. Is that where you find yourself these days? Even though you know that Jesus has reconciled you to God, do you still live as though you are tied down by the shame and guilt of your past? Sisters, this shouldn’t be! You have been set free from your past and you are meant to live in perfect completeness. Sometimes, a lack of shalom in our own lives isn’t a result of our sin, but rather, a result of anxiety or depression. The ongoing battle in our minds keeps us from experiencing internal shalom. Other times our lack of peace is a result of our self-worth. Sadly, for many, our self-worth is shaped by cruelty, abuse, or neglect by others. Because of the sin of someone else, we are conditioned to believe that we are worthless. And that can be a difficult lie to overcome. Ladies, you are image bearers of God (Genesis 1:27) and your heavenly Father knows everything about you and adores you. (Psalm 139:13-14a) There is nothing about you that your Creator and Father doesn’t already know. Your anxiety that you can’t seem to break free from? He knows. The trauma that you suffered at the hand of another? He knows. That deep depression that consumes you in darkness for weeks at a time? He knows. And in your pain and darkness, he meets you there. “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7) “Answer me when I call to you, my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer. … In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety.” (Psalm 4:1,8) “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27) “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) Next Step: Pray and Let Go—Take a moment to pray to your heavenly Father. Ask Him to meet you in your pain, in your trauma, in your darkness, in your anxiety, in your shame. Pray that He would give you the eyes to see yourself as the valuable, complete, and beautiful daughter He created you to be. Ask Him for the grace to forgive yourself for the things that are keeping you chained to your past. Imagine yourself at the foot of His throne and release your fear and anxiety at His feet. Imagine his light and his love enveloping you in your darkness and loneliness. Ask God for his perfect shalom to fill you and give you peace. Friends, our God is Jehovah Shalom, the God of Reconciliation and Completeness! I believe God wants you to experience true shalom in your lives! True shalom begins with reconciliation to God, but it doesn’t end there—it’s a life-long journey of seeking to live in reconciliation and completeness with God, others, and ourselves. I hope you walk away from today’s study knowing how much God loves you and desires for you to live in perfect shalom! Let us pray. Lord, we read in Your word that You are Jehovah Shalom. You are the God of wholeness, completion, and perfection. You are the God who reconciled us to You through the death of Your Son, Jesus, our Prince of Peace. We thank you for providing a way for us to be reconciled to You. Thank you for setting us free. God, in the chaos of our world, we crave Your perfection. We long for the peace that only comes from You. Help us to love others the way You love us. Help us to serve others the way You serve us. Help us to sacrifice our preferences, our time, our finances, and our lives for others, the way You have sacrificed for us. May our lives reflect Your perfect peace as we seek to live in shalom with our brothers and sisters. Finally, Father, we ask for your perfect peace in the innermost part of our souls. That part of us that no one else sees. May we use kindness and grace in the words we speak to ourselves. Give us the eyes to see ourselves the way You see us—beautiful, complete, and enough. Silence the negative self-talk and replace it with the truth of Your word. Quiet the anxiety that leaves us feeling restless and restore our peace of mind. Surround us with Your love and light when all we can see is darkness all around. Jehovah Shalom, we thank you for the perfect peace that only comes from You. May we live our lives in pursuit of Your perfect peace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Week Three - Abba: Father

Alicia Klumpp

Imagine a perfect family. What would the family be like? How would you feel being in it? What would you do together? This might be difficult to imagine. And it might look different than the one you grew up in, or the family you connect to, or even the one you are creating or living in. I tend to regard coincidence as evidence of God’s providence. It makes me smile, that this summer series The Names of God, which started on Mother’s Day and includes the name “Abba, Father.” Memories and feelings you affiliate in relation to your father, mother and families can be beautifully heart-warming and bitterly heart-breaking. Sometimes, at the same time. Whatever your experiences include, human relationships often affect and influence perspectives and emotions relating to knowing God. What if, instead of knowing God based on your human relationships, the foundation of understanding family and relationships connected to knowing God as your “Abba, Father”? God is crazy passionate about his love relationship with you. His ways regarding relationships are higher, better, and bigger than you can imagine. Curious? Take a deep breath. Inhale. Exhale. Receive this prayer. May you be filled with childlike wonder and anticipation, as you discover what the name of God, “Abba, Father” means for you. Used only three times in the Bible, this name “Abba, Father,” illuminates God’s glorious story of love. The three referrals to God as “Abba, Father” illustrate intimacy, intent and inspired living. Reunited Intimacy First spoken by Jesus. He reveals what an intimate love relationship with God looks like lived out. Jesus reunites humanity’s intimacy with the Creator. In the gospel of Mark 14, verse 36 reads: “Abba, Father,” Jesus said, “Everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” This chapter in Mark journals a series of events. Jesus savored dinner at Simon the Leper’s house. That same evening, a woman poured expensive perfume over his head. Her fragrant offering symbolized Jesus’s royal anointing and burial preparation. During Passover, Jesus and his closest friends broke bread together for the last time and shared the sacred communion for the first time. Jesus predicted his betrayal and denial by these same dear companions. His holy cry in the garden of Gethsemane, is uttered in anticipation of Judas’s arresting kiss, standing trial before the Sanhedrin, Peter’s rejection and the eventual to the cross. Right in the middle, in the dark agony of a lonely night, Jesus knows the only thing to do is pray. Seeking guidance and connectedness, Jesus confidently cries out, “Abba, Father.” Jesus trusts completely in the love relationship he has as the Son of God. “Abba” is an Aramaic expression reserved for children regarding their father. In Jewish culture this term for God would be too familial, too intimate, for use in prayer. A Jewish prayer they never heard before. Jesus calling God, “Abba, Father” probably shocked anyone in the garden awake who heard it. Eavesdroppers may have thought, “Whoa, wait!? What did he just say? Who does this guy think he is? The Messiah?” Knowing exactly who He is, Jesus, the Messiah, in His passionate distress, maintains the integrity of His love relationship with God. This prayer forever shifts relationship to the Creator of the Universe. In a word, the Word (John 1:1-2) made fleshy the Father-Son relationship between God and himself. Jesus’s words declare love. His obedience on the cross, an act of love, reunites you intimately with God. Offering an invitation for abundant living in the security of your Abba, Father. “Abba, Father” becomes your privileged prayer, too! Restored Intent Captivated by Jesus’s love, the apostle Paul, uses this name “Abba, Father” for God twice in his writings. Once in his letter to the Romans and again in his letter to the Galatians. He clarifies the privilege and power inherited and inherent in knowing God as your “Abba, Father. Written to Jews and Gentiles, Romans chapter 8 verses 15-16 encourages a new way of living. A new way for you, too. “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” Paul’s conversion from judgmental Jew to freedom Follower changed his way of living and loving others. The momentum of his 180 changed the story in communities, churches and children everywhere. Paul intended his letter to the church in Rome to motivate fearless inclusion and inclusiveness. The word “inclusion” can trigger debates in certain arenas today. In the early days of the Christian church the idea did too. Born into an elite heritage, Paul related to adoption through Jesus in a unique way. Recognizing his own prodigal path, reunited with God because of Jesus, Paul’s heart and life changed. His message of adoption flips the script for Jews, Gentiles, men, women, rich, poor, slaves, widows, orphans and you. The life, death and resurrection of Jesus makes adoption and its full inheritance a gift for anyone and everyone. Inheritance is given, not earned. Jesus’s “Abba, Father” welcomes and embraces you. When Jesus shared the Parable of the Prodigal Son, the disciples, tax collectors, sinners, pharisees and teachers were in the curious crowd. It is a story of a father’s uncommon love, shamelessly running with lifted robe, sprinting to his wayward son as soon as the son shows up. Upon reaching him, the father embraces him and then throws a party. You may know this parable to be about the lost son and his older brother. And it is. But the main character is the dad. Once he comes into the tale, your eyes well up, overwhelmed by his reckless love. Jesus uses the power of story, intending to convince anyone who will listen about the rule breaking, extravagant love of his Father for all his children. Including you. You are the guest of honor at the prodigal party. The robe, the ring, you inherit them all. Celebrate the privilege and power; enjoy access to everything your Abba, Father offers. He is a good and generous Father. He promises faithful and unchanging love. A love, you do not earn and cannot lose. Fear no longer enslaves. Your freedom, ransomed by Jesus restores to you all your Father intends. Life intended for you is adventurously expectant (Romans 8:6, The Message), ridiculously abundant and dangerously different. Your freedom life, freedom in love and freedom from fear, does not begin someday, but today. Revived Inspiration The third time we read the name of God “Abba, Father” is in Paul’s letter to the Galatians. His own life intimately restored to a life of love; he writes to inspire the Church to revival. He proclaims in Galatians 4, verse 6 and 7, “Because you are sons [and daughters], God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So, you are no longer a slave, but [a child of God]; since you are [his child], God has made you also an heir.” In the Galatians series, Pastor Cal pointed out that the Jewish badge of honor was to be called a child of Abraham. This love letter from Paul outrageously relabels the badge. Adoption into God’s family through Jesus awards a bigger, greater honor. The greatest gift. You are called a child of God. An heir in Jesus, “Abba, Father” is yours too. Abba, Father’s adoption option is scandalous grace gifted as a choice for everyone, anyone. When Pastor Cal does that thing. You know, when he is reading or sharing and then uses the podium to launch himself from his hovered position over his notes. He steps out, walks closer to where people are sitting or watching. Eager and urging he’ll say, “Let me be clear. Pay attention. Stick with me. Stay with me here!” In sincerity his words come with his hands reaching out at heart level. He claps. It makes me smile. His seriousness feels like love; serious and excited, making sure I am awake and paying attention. It is like he wants my heart to get it. The absolute immensity of this gift, the intimate inheritance to know God as your Abba, Father, is so incomprehensible. The genius, Albert Einstein once said, “I want to know God’s thoughts. The rest is details.” I wish a friend of Einstein’s would have had the heart to clap his hands and say, “Stay with me here.” Since the beginning God’s thoughts are of His children. In His divinity, Abba, Father sent the Spirit of His Son into your heart. Not your mind. The Spirit of His Son, sent into your heart is the same Spirit that hovered over chaos and darkness in the beginning. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. (Genesis 1:2) Under the safety and security of the Spirit, good order and very good beauty was created, breathed into being. The genesis Spirit that hovered across chaos and darkness, over creation, peacefully breathes order and beauty into the dark chaos of your life today. Helicopter parents. You know what it looks like and feels like; maybe you had one or you are one. This is not how the Spirit hovers. In fact, the word is “relaxed.” The Spirit is relaxed, not anxious or fearful, but like a good parent, present. Your Abba, Father is present and loves parenting you. Trust in Him. He is encouraging you to live fearless and creative. His Spirit in you revives your timid heart. Restores your life, inspiring childlike faith, wonder and freedom living! When you find yourself in the dark middle of pain, loneliness, worry, rejection and suffering remember Jesus has been there too. And when He was, His eyes were on His “Abba, Father” so that you might trust and know your Father’s eyes. Brennan Manning tells a story in his book Ragamuffin Gospel that illustrates the kind of trust you are gifted through Jesus’s trust in God. A two-story house had caught on fire. The family-father, mother, several children-were on their way out when the smallest boy became terrified, tore away from his mother, and ran back upstairs. Suddenly he appeared at a smoke-filled window crying like crazy. His father, outside, shouted: ‘Jump, son, jump! I’ll catch you.” The boy cried: ‘But, daddy, I can’t see you.’ ‘I know,’ his father called, “I know. But I can see you.’” Whatever you are going through or in the middle of today, whatever pain, heartache or worry, may you have the humble courage to lift your eyes to Jesus’s Abba, Father. He hears you, sees you, and His arms are open for you. May you live in the glorious bounty of inherited holiness inspired to a life of love, freedom and redeemed royalty. Trusting His goodness, may you embrace and engage in relationship with your “Abba, Father.” Reflection Questions What would change in your life if you accepted the invitation of adoption? How does the reckless inclusion God offers anyone, everyone, including you, change your view of Him and others? Practice Inhale: Abba, Father Exhale: I belong to You Prayer Abba, Father thank you for intimately loving me. Thank you for including me in the inheritance of healing. With restored childlike faith, I embrace the whole-hearted living you provide. May I breathe deep, inhaling courage and exhaling inspiration. Amen.

Week Two: El Shaddai: God Almighty, the All Sufficient One, God of the Mountain

Keely Embleton

Deep breath. Inhale, exhale. Inhale, exhale. Good sturdy shoes? Check. Sunblock? Check. Enough water to drink? Check. This is the mental list and routine I go through as I rummage through my small backpack to verify everything I need is in there. I take another deep breath and look up at the trail that leads up the side of the mountain before me. “I can do this, I have everything I need.” I say to myself. It’s steep, and the trail looks hard and impossible in some places but I know that as I walk up step by step, I am not alone, the Lord is with me. He has equipped me for this, and in the places where I struggle, He will show up. Have you ever had this moment? Whether it’s physically hiking up a mountain or when you face a time in your life that feels like an unsurpassable or impossible mountain is in the way? This is where El Shaddai shows up! El Shaddai, a name of God that God actually claims for Himself, as it first appears in scripture. Turn with me to Genesis seventeen, verse one and two say, “When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty (El Shaddai), walk before me, and be blameless, that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.” Here we have Abram, ninety-nine years old, and the Lord who called him out of his homeland into a foreign place is now speaking to him again, telling Abram He will make a covenant with him. A covenant, a binding agreement or seal between two parties, a promise. A promise that Abram will be the father of a multitude of nations. “Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations.” (Genesis 17:4) I can tell you if I was Abram I would think the Lord is crazy! How can an old man who has struggled to have children with his bride, Sarai, during all their years of marriage, become the father of nations? This is impossible! Except, the Lord calls himself El Shaddai. El, in Hebrew means God. El the God of all things, like in the word Elohim, the plurality of the God-head three in one. God claims his deity, He is the creator of all things. Shaddai comes next in this introduction and is a bit trickier. There is much debate on how it should translate into our English language. Like many things found within scripture there is deeper meaning here. Shaddai in Hebrew has many sounds and meanings within this one word, so let’s pull back the layers. Shadu* a word in the Akkadian language that Abram spoke meaning of the mountain. The God of the Mountain. Saday* a Hebrew noun meaning a cultivated field or a wild place where animals abound. A God who is the creator of life. Shad* a noun spelled much like the one above, in Hebrew meaning breasts or relating to fertility. Giving the meaning of a God who nourishes or multiplies. Day* the ending part of this word or particle meaning sufficient, enough or an abundance. El Shaddai, so much deeper in meaning than just the Almighty One, and I can see how one would struggle to translate into English to convey the true meaning of this name or characteristics of God. El Shaddai, the God of the Mountain who created all things, makes life out of nothing, multiples it, is faithful to keep His promises, who provides all we need and even more in abundance. This is the way God introduces Himself to Abram. WOW! We see as we continue through the story of Abram, him becoming Abraham and the father of Isaac. Isaac then had sons and so on, all the way down to the line of King David and birth of Jesus. “I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations and kings shall come from you. And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant…” (Genesis 17:6) El Shaddai, had fulfilled His promise with Abram in abundance. This is just one part in scripture where we see the name and characteristic of God the Almighty, El Shaddai, show up. In Exodus six, verse two it says, “God spoke to Moses and said to him, “I am the Lord. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob, as God Almighty…” In a time when the Israelites are enslaved in a foreign land and feel forgotten and hopeless, the God Almighty appears again and speaks to Moses of remembered promises. How does El Shaddai show up in this story? I am sure most of us know it but, surprise! He delivers on His promise. Moses beseeches pharaoh to “Let my people go!” When that doesn’t work God Almighty sends plague after plague to encourage pharaoh to let them go. When the Israelites are freed and stand on the shore of the Red Sea with no way forward, an army advancing from behind to take them back to captivity, El Shaddai parts the sea so they may walk across. He overcomes what seems impossible odds and makes a way. We know that from this story of the miraculous deliverance out of Egypt the Lord brought them into the wilderness. In this place of the wild the God Almighty is still with them. He nourishes them when they grumble about food, providing manna from heaven. He makes water come out from the rocks when there is no water to be found. See Exodus chapter 16 and 17 if you want to read more about these things. More importantly El Shaddai truly meets with them. Turn with me to Exodus 19, verse two through six says, “…There Israel encamped before the mountain, while Moses went up to God. The Lord called to him out of the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” Did you catch that? The Lord spoke to Moses out of the mountain! Even more amazing though as you continue to read in this chapter you see the Almighty God descend down on the mountain in fire, wrapping the top in a cloud of smoke with thunder and lighting. How amazing that must have been!? The God of the mountain who nourishes us is all powerful and kept His promises even when the Israelites didn’t. This El Shaddai that we see in Old Testament scriptures is still the same God Almighty who appears in the New Testament. A God who desires to keep the promise of redeeming a broken world back into right relationship with Him. To make good on His everlasting covenant with Abraham, that all nations would be blessed. El Shaddai, who goes so far to keep His promise that He puts on human flesh. “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God (El Shaddai), Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”(Isaiah 9:6) Humbling himself to walk with us, heal us, comfort us, teach us, and suffer with us and for us, to redeem us. There is still so much to see of El Shaddai within the life and teachings of Jesus. Such as, how many times Jesus went to a mountain top to be alone with the God Almighty, or when Jesus multiples the fish and the loaves to nourish a crowd of thousands twice over. When Jesus gives himself up as a living sacrifice to do the impossible, to make a way for all nations, peoples to have a relationship with the creator of all things. I think my favorite is seen in the last moments the disciples have with Jesus before he goes again to be with the Father in heaven. “Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him… And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:16-20) El Shaddai, Jesus, meets them on a mountain top at the very end of His time on earth. He is the God of the mountain. He establishes His authority, He is El Shaddai and He tells them to go out. To go out to the places He has created and prepared to be a part of fulfilling the promises given since the very beginning. To trust in Him as El Shaddai to do the impossible and bring peoples from every tribe, tongue and nation back into relationship with Him, making good on the eternal covenant. All the while never leaving us. Filling in the spaces we lack, He is sufficient. This is His promise. El Shaddai, God Almighty, God of the mountain, the God of the impossible. The God who is the all sufficient one, who keeps His promises. Who nourishes us and invites us in to multiply His Kingdom with Him every step of the way. So, let me ask you the questions again. Has there ever been a time in your life where the things in front of you seemed impossible? Where you needed to be nourished back to life? Where you need to be reminded that we follow a God who keeps His promises and wants you to be a part of it? *Referenced from the Abraim Publications: https://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Shaddai.html Take sometime this week and reflect on what this name El Shaddai means for you currently in your life. What impossible thing can El Shaddai do for you? What promise from El Shaddai do you need to be reminded of? Who can you share the wonders of El Shaddai with this week? Let’s Pray: God Almighty, El Shaddai. Thank you for being the God of the mountain, the one who does the impossible. The one who always keeps His promises. Who has cultivated all of creation and nourishes it daily. Who never leaves me know matter what, and also invites me into this story of redemption. Who makes up for my every inadequacy, and is the all sufficient one. Help me remember this daily Lord. To tuck it deep in my heart and not forget. Jesus name, amen.

Week One - Elohim:Creator

Melissa Folliott

The Series: Studying the Names of God Week One: Elohim: Creator Long, long ago when my parents named me, they did so because they liked the name Melissa. They didn’t know the meaning of the name. But you know who did? God. And wow, my name couldn’t have been more fitting for me. Melissa means honeybee; industrious and creative. That’s exactly who I am. I enjoy building things with my hands and being artistic. God knew who I was going to be before I was knit together in my mother’s womb. What’s behind the name matters. Names are important to God. Let’s look and see what God’s name says about Him and why it’s so valuable for us to know. When we meet someone for the first time, they introduce themselves. God is no different. In Genesis 1:1 God introduces us to himself, and he uses the name Elohim. Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning God created…” The Hebrew word used here for God is Elohim. God reveals his different names for us to learn more about his character. His names are his spiritual hallmarks. Attached to each name is a set of qualities and characteristics. What does the name Elohim teach us about God? Elohim means strong one, sovereignty. The first book of the Bible is Genesis, which means beginning. So, in the book of beginnings, God shows himself as the supreme creator. He existed before any created thing, including time and space. He was before the beginning. He started the beginning. First impressions matter and they are what people remember most and that is quite the first impression. Elohim is letting us know He is distinct from His creation or transcendent. He is above or outside of creation. Wow! If that doesn’t blow your mind, I don’t know what will, but I am going to try, buckle up! Let’s take a closer look at what Elohim created. Here's some mind-boggling things to think about. Earth’s beaches contain roughly 5,000 billion grains of sand. Yet, God’s thoughts about you outnumber the sands. (Psalm 139:17-18). Let’s talk about the stars in the sky. Psalm 147:4 NLT says, “He counts the stars and calls them all by name.” Answersingenesis.org says, “The total number of stars in the observable universe is estimated to be 10 to the 25th (1 followed by 25 zeros). Nobody knows the actual number. “Let us now try to visualize the above-mentioned number of stars (i.e., 10 to the 25). No human being lives long enough to count such a large number, so we will use a computer, one of the fastest ones available. It can do 10,000 million calculations in one second, which is extremely fast! Even at this great speed it would require 30 million years of non-stop counting to count the stars, but no computer could last if that. God has foretold the result of such an endeavor through His prophet Jeremiah; the stars are, to all intents and purposes, countless, says the Bible, just like the sand grains on the seashore.” Psalm 8:3-6 reads, “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained; What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him?” How awesome is Elohim? Not only can He count the stars and name them. He created them out of nothing! And did you catch that? Elohim cares for you! If we want to know who we are we need to know our creator, Elohim. Genesis 1:26a says, “Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness”. There are a couple things to note here. First, Elohim said, “Let us”. Who is He talking to? The name Elohim gives us a clue as it is plural. This is a prelude to the trinity. There is only one God, but He has three distinct personalities. Tony Evans described the trinity this way. Imagine a twisted pretzel. It has three distinct holes in it, but it is tied together by the same dough. In the same way the Trinity has three distinct personalities but is tied together with the same divine nature. Genesis 1:2 speaks of the spirit of God as He hovers over the waters. The Hebrew word for spirit is translated wind or breath. This word is used in Psalm 33:6, “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.” This is showing the Holy Spirit present and at work during creation. John 1:1 takes us back to the beginning and says the Word was with God and the Word was God. The Word is Jesus. Here we have all persons of the trinity accounted for in the beginning, Elohim. Elohim is a personal God. He speaks, He observes, He calls, He walks in the garden. He personally interacts with his creation. He wanted to make mankind in His image. Only man was made with the capacity to mirror God. Elohim made us this way so He could draw others to himself through us. His fingerprints are on all of creation. Nothing in existence was created without him, that includes you and me. Psalm 139:14 states, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” That means you are a wonderful creation, a masterpiece. Elohim made breath taking oceans, forests, countless animals, and galaxies. After all those amazing creations something was still missing. Elohim’s creation was not complete until He made man. YOU are His crowning glory. Elohim is a purposeful God. He made the earth and everything in it for His children. He made his children for a purpose as well. Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.” Jeremiah 29:11 tells of God’s plans for our lives, “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.” Elohim created a plan for your life before the foundations of the earth were made! We serve a big God. He is everywhere, all knowing, transcends time and space. Yet, He loves you. He adores you. He longs for an intimate relationship with you. Therefore, Elohim created you. Isaiah 43:7 NLT says, “Bring all who claim me as their God, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them.” He made you so through you He would be glorified. Matthew 5:16 clearly says, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” We may not understand why Elohim has created us and called us into his story. Isaiah 55:8-9 says why we won’t always understand. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your way, And My thoughts than your thoughts.” Do you know what Elohim’s plan is for your life? Do you have a direction? If not, ask him to reveal it to you. “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8. Spend some time in Elohim’s creation. Take in all the wonder wherever you are. Maybe you are on a beach and can scoop some sand into your hand. Can you count the grains? Go outside during the night and gaze at the stars. How vast is the night sky? How awesome is Elohim? Let Him know. We will never be able to fully understand Elohim. Who would want to serve a God that we could understand? What would be the point? There would be no awe, there would be no purpose. Friends, we serve a God who demands awe and wonder, just look around. As amazing as all of creation is remember you are Elohim’s showpiece. We bear his image. What a privilege. He knit you together in your mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13). He knows your name and He calls you daughter. Psalms 139:16 says, “Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” What name were you given? What name have you made for yourself? When people talk of you, who do they say you are? Who would you like people to say you are? Do you need a new name? God provided a new name for many in the Bible. He did this so they would know who they are. Names are important and as we have seen they are important to God. Ask Elohim to bring to fruition who He you to be. Here are some names God calls you already. He says you are: Chosen: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” Jeremiah 1:4-5 Accepted: “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” Romans 15:7 Loved: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 Righteous: “God made him who had no sin to be sin[a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 His Child: “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--” John1:12 Forgiven: “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:13 Whatever you are facing in life, whether big or small. Elohim the creator cares for every detail. Is anything too hard for the Lord? (Gen. 18:14). He can create solutions out of nothing. He doesn’t need raw materials or ideas that have already been thought of. His name says it all. He is Elohim, the strong creator.

Introducing The Series: Studying the Names of God

Central Women

The Series: Names of God “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13. This is why we study the names of God. Paul didn’t always know this… He thought he “knew” God. He thought he knew the heart and purposes of God. He spent many years of his life persecuting, imprisoning and even killing people who didn’t think like him, because he thought he knew God. Then, on a dusty road, as he traveled to Damascus to inflict more pain and death, he encountered Jesus. And he called out, “Who are you, Lord?” A series of events followed, including becoming blind, and given instructions to go find a man in Damascus to talk to, he regained his sight, and his life would never be the same, (read all of Acts 9 for more context). What Paul experienced on that road was forgiveness, freedom from sin, and the righteousness that only Christ offers. So, when Paul writes to the Romans, he’s speaking from a place of experience, he desperately desires that all would know Jesus, would call upon the name of the Lord, and would be saved. We desperately desire this as well: that everyone would call on the name of the Lord and be saved. And it won’t help us if we don’t know who the Lord is. He is our Abba Father, Yahweh, the Lord who heals, and the God who sees, He is our Provider and Creator and the Good Shepherd. He is El Shaddai, the Jehovah Shalom. He is our Everlasting God. Let’s dive into the Word to discover who He is, the meaning behind His names, the revealing of His character through the conversations He has with His people. Here’s what you need to know: How does this work: Gather your friends and invite them in on this journey with you. Every Sunday go to the Central Women Blog and read about this week’s name of God. Every Tuesday tune into the Central Women Podcast for deeper community conversations. Every Thursday check out the Central Women YouTube channel for a video devotion. Grow in your love for the Lord and share that with us on social media.

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