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6/29/2021 Comments

TINY THEOLOGIANS - A Great Way to Get Kids In The Word!

6/29/2021 Comments

FROM THE MAGAZINE - Looking For Peace

This article originally appeared in She Heard Magazine, Summer 2021. Click HERE to find the Summer issue in our shop.

What is anxiety?
anx·i·e·ty [aNGˈzīədē] NOUN
a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.

I woke up at 2am one morning feeling anxious. I looked up the definition. Synonyms for anxiety include but are not limited to: worry · concern · apprehension, unease · fearfulness · fear · disquiet, disquietude, fretfulness, stress
After looking up the definition I asked, what does the Bible say about anxiety? This is what I found:

Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, ...” -- Joshua 1:9a
..Be strong; do not fear! ... — Isaiah 35:4
Do not fear, ...; do not be afraid, ... — Isaiah 41:10 HCSB
So don’t be afraid, ... — Luke 12:32 NLT
Don’t worry about anything, .... — Philippians 4:6 HCSB

But, what is the root cause of our anxiety? Unaddressed grief is often a cause of anxiety. Because I was always told not to show emotions, I stuffed them to earn the approval of my parents by appearing strong. But, I found that whether it was a death of a close friend or family member or breaking the heel on my favorite pair of shoes I couldn’t deal with it. No matter how all this pent-up hurt manifests, it is always ultimately negative. For me, it meant every stress or hurt just piled up until I felt so fragile I thought I would shatter and never come back. Eventually I attempted suicide. I didn’t really want to die, I just wanted to sleep. I wanted a break.

Anxiety can also be caused by rejection, and rejection comes in many forms. It can be as simple as a friend who quietly quits sharing with you or as soul-wrenching as a spouse being unfaithful. It can be seeded in a heart by parents or grandparents who don’t accept you or siblings or friends who take your forgiveness, generosity, and love for granted and view these things as weaknesses to be exploited.

In my life, I have experienced much rejection. I don’t say this to garner sympathy, but so that the reader might understand that I know what rejection (feelings of abandonment, aloneness in a crowd, a yearning to belong, insecurity of worth) feels like, and I can empathize with anyone who feels this way and give no harsh judgement for those feelings.

The only place I have found anxiety’s antidote is in the Word of God and cultivating a relationship with Jesus. Too many times we take a part of scripture and don’t look at the context. In looking at the scriptures above, we often see only the part that admonishes us not to worry, fear, or be anxious, and we berate ourselves for these feelings.

We try to stand strong, but because we are not looking at the rest of the scripture, we try to do this in our own strength.... and fail... then the self-condemnation comes. It stifles our growth and limits God’s work in us and through us.

Let me share the parts of a few of the above scriptures that I left out.
... for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” — (Joshua 1:9b)
“... for your God is coming to destroy your enemies. He is coming to save you.” — Isaiah 35:4 NLT
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand. — Isaiah 41:10 HCSB
... little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom. — Luke 12:32 NLT
So, you might be wondering how we go about ridding ourselves of a life of anxiety. This is the context of the last scripture mentioned above:

... but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." — (Philippians 4:6)

There is so much freedom in recognizing who we are in Christ and coming to Him to express our doubts and humbly asking Him to ground us in the knowledge of His love for us. His love is perfect and it washes away all the negative (1 John 4:18). If we allow ourselves to grasp the depth of God’s love for us (John 3:16; Romans 5:8; 1 John 3:1), we can live the victorious life He came to give us (Psalms 34:4, 94:19; Romans 8:37), learn to trust Him (Psalms 56:3; Proverbs 3:5-6; Jeremiah 17:7-8), and apply His promises to take our anxieties (Psalms 55:22; Matthew 11:28-30) and exchange them for His peace and joy (Psalms 30:5; John 14:27). If we pray in faith, with a correct heart and motive, He will hear and give us what we need. He will either build our endurance by telling us to wait, or build our faith by showing us how to properly ask according to His will by providing or denying what we ask for (James 4:1-3).

What do you seek today? Is it fleshly or spiritual? Do you look for gratification in this life, or for an eternity with the Creator of all things? Are we looking for recognition of humanity or of God? I pray that we might all endure to the end, not fearing the rejection of mankind or the attack of the devil, so that we may obtain eternal life. A life where we may receive our reward and lay the crown He gives us (Revelation 2:10) at His feet.

Lori Burke

Lori is a wife, mother of two, grandmother of five, and great grandmother of five. Most importantly, she is beloved of God. Her education and training are in business/HR, but she ditched her dresses and heels and left the corporate office to work as a Hand on ranches in Colorado and Wyoming. She learned so much during this time and still enjoys the physically demanding work such a life entails. She lives in a small town in Texas (the greatest state in the Union) with her husband and three dogs. She doesn’t have a lot of letters after her name, she doesn’t own her own business or have a spectacular ministry, but what she does have is a heart to encourage and empower others, especially women. Her husband and she have led praise and worship together for over twenty years and are now part of a ministry where the motto is “One Tribe Under God”. It is also the motto of their hearts. The unchanging love of God, and His gracious longing that none should perish, is as true and real as it was millennia ago. It is what reached and saved Lori and her husband and their desire is to show this truth to others.

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6/28/2021 Comments

FROM THE MAGAZINE - Life Giving Water

This article originally appeared in the Summer 2021 Issue of She Heard Magazine. Click HERE to find this issue in our shop.

One of the most treasured gifts I received on Mother’s Day this year was from my 15-year-old daughter. She is a kind, creative and talented young lady who always uses her God-given abilities to bless others. My heart leaped with joy when I gazed upon the pastel chalk-painted mason jar wrapped in jute. I saw one just like it at a recent craft open house. However, the one I observed was much too overpriced. So, my sweet girl made one just for me! She also hand-picked beautiful dainty spring flowers to place in the jar to make it complete. It was precious and oh so pretty!

As we visited with family around my kitchen table that rainy spring afternoon, something began to happen to my lovely new centerpiece. The once fresh vibrant flowers gradually began to wilt. After some time, they began to droop and cling to the side of the mason jar. They lay limp with exhaustion and looked sickly. The once live flowers appeared lifeless. I was sad.

My mother-in-law exclaimed that my daughter forgot to put water in the jar! That explained why they began to die. My mom quickly took the jar and carefully poured in cool fresh water. I immediately thought, we should just throw them out. There is no hope for these now. They simply will not survive.

Revelation 7:16-17:

“‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat.
For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd;
‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’
‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”

However, after hours of visiting, conversing, snacking and enjoying company, we began to witness something happening…not one, but two and three tiny flowers begin to pop back up. Just a few out of the bunch began to appear perky that afternoon.

Early the next morning, I got up and routinely went downstairs to feed our pets and make coffee. To my surprise something absolutely amazing happened! I gazed at my handmade gift and my jaw dropped wide open! The once dead and wilted flowers appeared completely restored. Yes, they looked just as they did when I first received them…beautiful and vibrant! I actually thought that someone put new flowers in the jar. They just couldn’t be the same bunch! ALL of the flowers, not just a few, desperately needed fresh water and some time. I simply could not believe how revived they looked! I quickly took a picture and sent it to both my mother and mother-in-law because it was such an amazing transformation!

This story caused me to instantly connect with and think of the woman at the well and the life-giving water of Jesus. I’m not sure if you have heard of this story? To give a brief description, Jesus and his disciples were traveling, and He wanted to stop for a drink. His students went into town for some food. Jesus knew that He had much more planned than to simply ask for a drink of water while at Jacob’s well. He had a divine appointment scheduled.

Jesus and His disciples were traveling through Samaria. Jews and Samaritans were enemies and did not speak, so this was a most unusual place to make a pit stop for food and water. Jesus sat in the scorching heat of the day by the well…waiting. Who was He waiting for? Around noon, a Samaritan woman journeyed out of town to the well for a drink. This was another interesting situation because most women came to draw water early in the morning due to the intense heat. This woman was ashamed to come to the well with the townswomen. She simply could not bear to face their stares and whispers because of her lifestyle choices one more day.

When she approached the well and prepared to draw a bucket of fresh water, Jesus spoke to her and asked for a drink. She replied in astonishment because not only would Jews not speak to Samaritans, but neither would a man speak to a woman in this manner. In John 4:10, “Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” The woman then inquired about where to get this living water and Jesus proclaimed, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” She then asked Him for this living water. After more conversation and questions, the woman finally saw and understood that Jesus knew her and all that she had done. He saw her, and yet pursued her still. Her eyes were opened as He revealed Himself as the Messiah and she ran to tell all the people of the town this good news! This is the kind of transformation that Jesus alone can bring forth.

Friend, are you worn out and thirsty? Do you feel that you simply cannot take another step? Are you ashamed of your past or current lifestyle and avoid being around others, like the woman at the well? Is life just too unbearable at this point in your job, marriage, sickness, mental state, parenting, or finances? Are you sitting in an empty jar lying limp and lifeless like my flowers?

Perhaps you were once emerged in the water living a vibrant and full life, but you let the well run dry. You have become disconnected and distant in your relationship with the Father and feel parched and withered. Maybe you never knew or heard about the Living Water before. Your life choices have been all about doing the best for yourself or your family and putting so much effort into living a successful life, but you remain empty and dry. You are unsatisfied and even feel dead.

Then it is time to look to the Life-Giver. The one who restores and makes all things new. The one who quenches our thirst and brings about real transformation and refreshment. It is time to fill the jar! Lift your weary head and look into the eyes of Jesus, our Savior, Redeemer, and Friend. For He is the only one who will ever satisfy our weary. Ask and you shall receive His life-giving water in which you will never thirst again.

Nicole Drayer

Nicole is a teacher at heart and has a deep passion to share the love of Christ with others and to see lives changed. She led Children’s Ministry programs and assisted her husband for years in youth ministry. Nicole fully embraces the importance of sharing the gospel message with others as she has mentored teenage girls, participated in discipleship with other women, and volunteered at the Women’s Care Center. Since the release of her first book, Peace by Piece: Surrendering all that is Beautifully Broken, Nicole enjoys speaking at Women’s retreats and encouraging others to find healing and hope through Jesus Christ. Nicole is the mother of three amazing children: Caleb, Eden, and Elijah (and fur babies, Sadie & Shadow) and is married to her best friend, Greg. She is honored to serve alongside and support her husband in ministry as he pastors Rolling Hills Church in Verona, Pennsylvania. She enjoys shopping for antiques, taking long walks in the wooded area behind her house, drinking coffee, and spending time with her family. Nicole is an outgoing and warm personality who loves people. It is her desire to serve Jesus with her whole heart and give hope where it is lost through her story…ALL for God’s glory!

Website – Nicoledrayer.com
Facebook – NicoleDrayer@LivingPeacebyPiece

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6/5/2021 Comments

Does Your Life Say "Welcome"?

I love driving through neighborhoods and seeing glimpses of the life that happens within the houses I pass. Families sitting at the table, kids playing on the front lawn, neighbors gathered together in garages. I've noticed more recently though that this is a rare sight to see. With the past year's pandemic and "social distancing" becoming isolation, there is less interaction and "life" visible to the casual passerby. It makes me sad.

Now, when I drive through my own neighborhood, most of the houses are closed up tight. Front window blinds are drawn, front doors are closed, and few take the time to mingle with their neighbors while the sprinkler sprays screaming kids.

Our front door is a farmhouse style door that is almost completely glass. Many may not understand why we'd choose to have a direct line of vision into our home on a regular basis, but I absolutely love it. I want others to catch a glimpse of the life within our four walls as they pass by. As an appreciator of "home" I hope for others to notice that cozy quality about our house. But I had to ask myself recently, does it end there at my front door? Because while I allow glimpses into the entryway of our house, make no mistake...there is still a deadbolt lock fastened to keep out those I do not invite in. What you may see in 3-second intervals as you cruise past is not an accurate representation of what happens within the rest of our square footage. What you see as an outside spectator is what I can carefully craft. You'll see only the beginnings of our home and have no idea of the things jammed in closets, swept under beds, or haphazardly stuffed in drawers.

Is my life like that? Do I allow others in only so far, carefully locked away behind a deadbolt of protection from those I may not want to see "all" of me? Does my life say "Come in...but only so far" or does my whole life say "Welcome!"?

The early Church was a community of believers. They shared with and helped one another. They ate together, worshiped together, and lived life...together. It wasn't perfect, I'm certain, but I imagine neither was it life lived in isolation with blinds drawn and doors locked, figuratively speaking.

How am I going to reach my neighbor for Christ when I never look out my window? How will I share the love of Jesus if I never take a minute to chat with the woman walking her dog? How can I live out the Commission to share the Gospel from my fenced-in back yard?

Are these questions an indictment? Yes, of myself. My convictions may not be yours. Regardless of what is happening in the world, I have to remember I am not a citizen of this world. This place is not my true home. I'm a traveler passing through, going about my Father's work. And that work, like He exemplified while on earth, is to live a life that says welcome.

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TINY THEOLOGIANS - A Great Way to Get Kids In The Word!

FROM THE MAGAZINE - Looking For Peace

Lori Burke

FROM THE MAGAZINE - Life Giving Water

Nicole Drayer

Does Your Life Say "Welcome"?

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