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Lindsey

Grand Vision

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Deaf 316 Ministries

The Grand Vision

Here you’ll find a detailed explanation of Deaf 316’s grand vision, starting with where we came from, where we currently are, and where we feel God is leading us.

 

From an island to the Deep South

The idea of Deaf 316 Ministries casually began in 2015 as my husband Andrew and I were finishing a year of living on an island in the pacific. We realized we were nearly done with our volunteer teaching year and had to ask ourselves, “what’s next?” We had no job prospects, little money and no plan. Thankfully right before we returned to the United States, Andrew secured a job which would take us into the heart of the next step of our journey – Columbia, SC. Because of the great need for sign language interpreters across the country, I knew I would be able to easily find work for myself. 

 

A new idea

After a few months in SC and working freelance for two different agencies, I thought about this casual idea we had while on the island for a nonprofit start up and out of frustration asked God boldly, “What is it you want me to do?!” I don’t think I have ever in my life heard the voice of God more clearly and with more direction and force than I did on that afternoon in our apartment. I grabbed my computer as ideas began to flood my mind and in a short time, I had several pages typed out and a heaviness in my heart wondering how in the world will this happen.

Fortunately for me, I didn’t make up the ideas and the reality that because God gave it to me, He would surely guide my every step moving forward. The ideas were innovative, unique and completely unaccomplished by anyone serving the population of the deaf, both reached and unreached by the gospel in the world. The first step was to write devotionals, followed by translating that content from English into written American Sign Language (ASL) and then finally filming myself interpreting them in ASL. These are the very devotionals that now appear on the website.

 

Going all in

In 2017 I quit my job to work full time on this ministry and in 2018 we moved forward to obtain nonprofit status. We were very focused about wanting others to perceive us with the same serious fierceness that we felt inside. We also moved back to Texas to be close to our support network. In October of 2018, Andrew and I went all in. He quit not just his full time job, but stepped away from his career in order to partner with me in the workload and also with childcare for our son. 

 

First step: Current status

In January 2019 the ministry and website went live. We began adding devotionals that are uploaded every week. We also started fundraising full time in hopes for others like you to partner with us and understand that this isn’t a hobby or a casual idea, but a vision and ministry no one is pursuing to reach deaf people with the gospel. Otherwise, they end up lost, wandering and separated from God for all eternity. 

 

Leaning on God

It’s been a challenge, but this is only the tip of the iceberg. The beginning. The grand vision isn’t even close to being accomplished. 

So just how big is Deaf 316’s vision? 

Ummm, big. Well, big would be nice. It’s more than that. It’s impossible really. At least under my own human power. But like I said before, it’s not my vision, it is God’s. And He has the power to achieve it.

If this project was easy enough, I wouldn’t need God. Too many people run away from the assignments God gives them because they think they are too big, so they dream small and use their own power. Nobody likes to ask for help, or worse, feel helpless. After all, if they can do it themselves, they won’t need help, let alone God’s help.

If it sounds easy, it’s not big enough.

 

Next Steps: The Grand Vision

Now that you know where we came from and where we currently stand, see below for the next steps in order to accomplish Deaf 316’s grand vision.

 

Step 2: Translate existing content 

One of the biggest problems facing the unreached deaf community is the lack of biblical resources available to them in their heart language. As a hearing person, there are so many resources at our disposal that we take for granted to grow in our walk with Christ. There are books, audiobooks, podcasts, blogs, commentaries, sermons and the list goes on and on. 

Sure, deaf people can read, but ASL is not structured in the same format as written English. Their language has no verbal or written components, it is purely visual. There are a lot of nuances in the written English language that do not translate in a visually clear way into ASL. 

There are a few organizations currently working hard to translate the bible into a signed format so then it can also be translated into other sign languages around the globe. This is amazing and I am so happy those organizations are doing that much needed work. 

However, there is a lot of content that is being pushed aside as well when it comes to really diving deep in allowing for understanding and clear comprehension to take place among deaf seekers of the truth. As a hearing person, if we don’t understand something we read in the bible, we have a limitless supply of resources to turn to. The deaf do not.  

Books

Books can be a tremendous resource to both the new and seasoned Christian. However, because of the language barrier, few deaf individuals routinely read books, let alone Christian ones. We aim to remedy that by translating books into sign language videos, much like how the hearing community utilizes audio books.

Commentaries

Have you ever had a question about what you just read in the bible? Well, no problem. You can just turn to your trusty bible commentary on the shelf or perhaps online. The deaf do not have that option. Much like the general Christian books we plan to translate, we desire to do the same with bible commentaries.

Sermons

While being involved in a local church is great and recommended, we recognize the benefit of utilizing the sermons of other biblically sound pastors as well. Unfortunately, that is another resource the hearing world takes for granted. We plan to translate the expository sermons of both local and nationally known pastors that have proven their commitment to preaching the Word of God.   

Other material

Given the technological advances of our time, great biblical resources exist in a variety of forms outside of traditional media, such as online blog posts/articles and podcasts. Our goal is to translate any and all of these biblical resources, regardless of its original medium for the utilization of the deaf community.   

As you can see, Deaf 316 desires to provide a myriad of content to deaf users in ASL in the form of visual books, commentaries and other rich resources, so as they are learning the gospel, these other tools can be used to assist and equip them to understand scripture in the most profound way. 

Step 3: Provide ASL courses – Limited supply, too much demand

I hear it time and time again… “Oh wow, I would love to learn sign language! But I don’t have the opportunity to take a class.” Or “I’m on a 600 person wait list.” This reality saddens me greatly. If only there were resources that fully engaged those hearing individuals feeling the tug to learn ASL, but face limitations in being able to actively do so. 

Deaf 316 feels passionately about placing knowledge in the hands of hearing people who feel called to learn the language in order to communicate with a family member, fulfill the desire to learn another language, or even better, fulfill a calling to engage deaf with the gospel. There are a few online resources that are fairly in-depth when it comes to learning ASL, but the need is great and we want to help fulfill that need too. 

More specifically, we want to equip other believers with the tools they need in order to engage the deaf community.  

So how would we accomplish this?

At the time of this writing, the idea is that we would use a combination of written material and video classes, as well as the utilization of virtual live instructors. We would also provide in person classes at churches who wish to participate. The course material would go further than just teaching language skills, but would also go into the specifics of deaf culture and deaf ministry in order to engage the deaf successfully for Christ.

 

Step 4: Translate into other sign languages 

Wait, what? Other sign languages? Isn’t there just one?

Nope. Contrary to popular assumption, sign language is not universal. American Sign Language is most prevalently used in, you guessed it, America. Nearly each country worldwide has their own sign language created to fit their unique language needs and cultural intricacies. 

Because Deaf 316 cares deeply about the need for biblical resources to be available worldwide to all deaf peoples, we hope to provide separate versions of the ministry website that contain translated content in other sign languages. In other words, we hope to someday have different versions of the website such as Deaf 316 China, Deaf 316 Uganda, Deaf 316 Russia, etc. You get the idea. 

 

Step 5: Boots on the ground – Our own backyard

Right now, Deaf 316’s focus is connecting users online to the gospel through devotional content and other soon to come biblical resources. However, we feel led to take it a step further by helping to start local in-person church sponsored ministries. In this scenario, Deaf 316 would act in a consulting role to help churches who desire to reach the deaf start successful ministries. 

What would this look like? 

For starters, we would try to change the perception that all a church has to do in order to have a “deaf ministry” is to simply provide a single interpreter and boom!, now they have a deaf ministry. Unfortunately, that is not enough. 

Many deaf people who attend church, which is not many, come away from a Sunday sermon with limited understanding. This is caused by a variety of factors. For one, interpreters cannot possibly catch and interpret everything that is said. While very skilled certified interpreters can catch more than others, it is never 100%. This is because an idea or concept that only takes a single sentence (or word) in English to convey, might take several in sign language, which takes more time. Now the interpreter has to somehow catch up, possibly missing some information. To mitigate this problem, they might not take as much time expounding upon the info in order to keep up, thus leaving the deaf with less understanding. 

Compounding this issue further is the reality that most interpreter services end there. This leaves them with no access to Sunday school programs, weekly bible studies, discipleship and potentially pastoral care.

Deaf 316 aims to help churches realize that in order to bring deaf people in, keep them there, and disciple them so that they actually begin to grow in Christ, it can’t end with service interpretation. It only starts there.

 

Step 6: Boots on the ground – Overseas 

If I’m honest, a major issue in my heart brings me back to the place where God led me to the realization that deaf people were lost…overseas.

What if Deaf 316 could have a global impact with real face to face people outreaching to the deaf all over the world? This vision includes boots on the ground missions and evangelism connections. There are not many engaged in carrying the good news to the ends of the earth for the deaf and we want to change that. Our hope is to train those with that desire and equip them for field missionary work in order to have an even greater impact among lost deaf peoples. 

 

Step 7: Overcoming access to technology

These resources are truly going to be great, specifically for those that have internet access. After all, the core of this ministry is a website. But what about those who do not have access to the web or even a computer? We know in every community, locally and internationally, whether in a bustling city or a rural village without electricity, deaf people are everywhere. Many of them live in places where internet and electricity are not common luxuries. 

What can be done? 

These resources that are created will have little impact on them if they don’t have any way to view or use them. 

While ideas may change and evolve over time, one idea is to download all ministry content onto a weatherproofed tablet computer paired with a solar charging device in order to have access to these resources in the language they know. They would also need the ability to contact us for any tech issues they may have. Ideally we would have a missionary in the home country that could be a point of contact for tech and content updates.

Now there may be deaf in some of these isolated communities worldwide that have minimal language skills or even no language. This could consist of simple home signs they invent with those living life around them or very little to no language at all. I have met a few deaf individuals who match this label in the United States and I am confident if they exist in the U.S., they most certainly exist in the most remote cities, villages or even bustling cities worldwide.

The goal in these situations would be to have local missionaries in their area live and work with those who have suppressed language and give them language. When language exists, knowledge of the gospel can thrive. 

 

Why so big?

I know all of this may sound grand, and quite frankly, impossible, but we serve a big God. If the goals for this ministry seemed easily attainable, then that would be an insult to God. The goals and vision for this ministry are purposefully so ambitious, that they would be unattainable without God’s help. 

That is what Deaf 316 Ministries is, God’s ministry. 

 

Ground Zero

Deaf 316 Ministries is at ground zero with a basic website and one employee. This is a very exciting time for the ministry and we are asking the Lord to provide the necessary resources to get this ministry off the ground and running so the deaf can start experiencing God’s love and be reached for the gospel.  

 

We need your help!

Now that you know a little more about how this ministry started, where we stand and where we want to go, please consider talking to God about the possibility of partnering with us. 

 

What we need:

Financial resources. 

We are in need of funding to not only run the website, but to also hire and train staff to fulfill Deaf 316’s mission. We can only grow as big as funding allows, and as you now know, we have BIG goals!

 

Experienced people like you. 

We are also in need of people who have experience doing this kind of work. That would include sign language interpreters as well as people who have experience in the ministry and nonprofit sector. This could be in a consultant role or payed position (funding permitting).  

 

Awareness of other great biblical resources.

We are always on the lookout for great biblical tools to translate. If you know of a book, sermon, podcast, blog post or some other resource that you think would be beneficial and should be translated, please let us know and direct us to that material. 

 

Prayer

Please pray for us, this ministry and the deaf that need to hear, or rather “see” the gospel in their own language, sign language.

 

Answering the call

Are you willing to partner with us and receive the joy and blessing of bringing the gospel to the deaf? If so, please CONTACT US. 

Maybe you know someone who may be interested in helping, or perhaps you are a business owner or church that is interested in corporate sponsorship. Please reach out to us.

If you have read this far, at the very least please pray for the ministry, the deaf who are dying lost, and that the gospel of Jesus Christ would advance in the deaf community.   

 

Additional resources

For information on how to become a financial partner, check out our SUPPORT PAGE.

For a general overview of the need and how Deaf 316 Ministries aims to meet those needs, please check out our ABOUT PAGE.

November 17, 2019
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UNCONFESSED SIN

By Devotional

UNCONFESSED SIN

1 John 1:5-10

5 “This is the message we have heard from Him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.
6 If we say we have fellowship with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his son cleanses us from all sin.
8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

Imagine yourself in elementary school science class. A beautiful white carnation is placed in a tall thin vase with water and put on your desk. Each one of your classmates is given their own flower to gaze upon independently. Your teacher tells you to admire its pure beauty. You look at the delicate petals and intricacies of its shape. You see its radiance. Just as you are smiling in your childlike wonder, your teacher walks up to your desk and squeezes several drops of blue food coloring in the vase. She explains part of your classwork for the next several days will include recording observations of your flower. The next day as you arrive to class, you notice your flower has maintained its healthy stance, but the color is no longer white, but blue! All your classmates cannot believe it! Just a day ago your flower was natural in color and a few drops was all it took to alter the edges of the flower, dramatically changing its appearance.

Think of your heart as the beautiful white carnation and your sin as the food coloring. Sin originates inside us and seeps outward, much like the discolored edges in the flower. Sometimes the appearance of sin is dramatic, while other times it’s so slight we nearly deceive ourselves.

Sin taints our human shade much like food coloring drops alter a flowers pigment. You see, the colored drops absorb into the stem of the flower and transform the outer flower shell into something different. When we sin, we are transformed from looking like Christ, to looking like the world.

James 1:15
“Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.”

Sin can lead us to have various responses, depending on our level of denial. On one hand, we immediately recognize our need for repentance. On the other hand, we deny any trace of dirt. Leaving it unconfessed is dangerous.

ADAM & EVE

When God created Adam and Eve, they were undefiled. Sin had not yet entered the world so they lived in harmony with the blessings God gave them, unaware of the dangers of temptation lurking in the garden. God gave them only one rule; eat anything you want from anywhere in the garden you want, except that tree in the middle of the garden. God named that tree the “tree of knowledge of good and evil.”

Well one perfect day in Genesis 3:1-2, Eve is doing her thing, minding her own business, when she comes face to face with the tempter, Satan. “Did God actually say, you shall not eat of any tree in the garden?” Satan uses God’s own words against Eve in hopes to confuse her and make her question what she really remembered hearing. Satan’s words crumbled in Eve’s response, “We may eat of the fruit of the garden, but God said, you shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.”

Satan goes for shot number two, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:4-5). After Eve listens to Satan’s pitch, she gazes at the tree and suddenly sees the fruit’s lush appeal. So she eats, gives some to Adam and he eats, then like the flip of a switch, it occurs to them they are naked and need clothes.

Sin was born.

It is of course sin which causes division between us and God, but God willingly forgives if we seek it mercifully. Worse can befall us when we live in denial to our sin, not making much of it.

Remember 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.” Even when it is hard to admit, we MUST confess our sins. This is a stark contrast to verse 10, “If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” By living in arrogance we deny sin and therefore miss out on the opportunity for the cleansing and wisdom that would follow if we seek after His purity.

Living in denial and letting sin remain unconfessed only hurts you. The process of renewal in Christ can be challenging, but if you let Him, He can wipe your slate clean and create peace and joy within your soul.

September 24, 2019
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Making Jesus a Priority

By Devotional


“In the morning, when I rise, give me Jesus.”
“When I am alone, give me Jesus.”
“When I come to die, give me Jesus.”

Jesus.

When I think, speak and sign His name, a harvest of emotions surface. I want to hold on to the power of His name. The greatest cataclysm in this life is the awareness of so many “Christians” existing in the world. Those who attend church week after week, those who have a general belief in God, yet sadly those same neighbors, friends, coworkers and family believe those factors are enough to identify themselves as a “Christian.” Where is the passion to live with Christ-like conviction and purpose? Where is the urgency of pursuit and refusal to walk through each day suppressing the joy of the Lord in your heart given to you by Christ when He made you new? We express our love for Him, but we are more satisfied in going about our day to day, loving only ourselves.

I’m learning more and more that the days I don’t start with Jesus and spend time with Him, my flesh suffers. He deserves the highest honor by the first fruits of my time, but it is more than what He yearns for me to do. It truly has become a deep tangible desire in my being, to place Him above all else and really know Him as a close intimate friend.

It is not merely enough to go to church once a week. It is not merely enough to say a prayer and be baptized. It is not merely enough to ask and hope your needs will be fulfilled. Would you eat only once a week? Would you bathe once a week? Would you talk to your best friend only once a week? In order for your body to remain healthy physically, we must eat appropriately and practice good hygiene. To grow in relationship with our family and friends, we must communicate and spend time together. To have a solid growing fruitful connection with Christ, He MUST become a priority. He must reign over all else.

The term “Christian” comes from the Greek word christianos, a word formed from the Roman style meaning, “an adherent of Jesus.” This literally means those “stuck to” Jesus.

This term was not commonly used until after His ascension. Are you “stuck to” Jesus? Do you believe He is with your every step, every word and every action whether minuscule or significant of every day?

2 Peter 1:10 urges us to consider our options. “Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.” We can choose to follow Christ or not, but if you say “yes,” your daily growth should be exponential.

It is time to wear our “Christian” royal sash proudly. We have the richest gift by choosing to follow Him. His riches are unfolded every moment of the day if we seek and earnestly desire to walk close as a brother with Him.

In the gospel books of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John, we meet the twelve disciples. Nearly all of the accounts of the calling of the disciples are similar in nature. Jesus chooses them, greets them in person commanding them to, “follow me,” and immediately these men stop what they are doing and abandon their post to be with Jesus. James and John even leave their father to follow Him. “Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed Him.” Matthew 4:22

Some other examples of obedient people in scripture are these:

In Genesis 6 we see one of the first examples of an obedient believer. Abraham was told in Genesis 6 to “leave your father and mother and go to the land I will show you.” He did not argue, He simply took his family and left.

The Apostle Paul said “to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21

Jesus even spells out to a crowd in the book of Luke, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:26

I recall an instance in my life many years ago in which I knew God was calling me to walk away from a friendship. It was a difficult decision. This friend and I were very close, but every time I saw her, I was put in compromising situations. I knew the Lord was asking me to cut ties. I did and it was a lonely time in my post college years. After many months of absence from this friend, the Lord blessed me with friends who, to this day, continue to build up my life and consistently point me towards the Father. These friends did not ask me to choose between my faith convictions and the world. A true follower in the faith will come along side you, they will pour into you with truth and they will always point you to the One who holds tomorrow.

In closing, think about these three questions:

What would it take for you to live with reckless abandonment for Christ?

What are you willing to sacrifice to be His child?

What is holding you back?

September 10, 2019
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DESIRES OF THE HEART

By Devotional

Studying scripture as a whole is crucial for gaining true Christ like wisdom. Christians often end up traveling down a dangerous road, extrapolating a verse and molding it to mean something it really does not mean. Digging deep into scripture allows for God to enlighten our mind to truly see in His word for what He really means. Psalm 37:4 is a popular example. As a society, this verse is often misinterpreted to mean, “if I do good, good will come to me.” Nowhere in scripture does God promise this and it is certainly not the intended meaning for verse 4 either.

Psalm 37:4 reads, “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” According to Webster’s Dictionary, it defines “delight” as “a high degree of pleasure.” Essentially, live with the delight, pleasure or joy of the Lord at all times.

A true redeemed believer’s goal is to passionately know God, for who He is as the One True Creator God, for the sole purpose of delighting in Him. When we know God, His desires become our own desires. It may seem at that point we are getting what we want, but we are actually receiving what God has intended for us all along because we are walking in unison. Our hearts begin to beat to the same desires.

Pastor John Piper helps us understand this verse even better. He says, “When we enjoy God himself, the desires of our heart are shaped in accord with our delight in him.”

Then our dreams, goals and heart felt desires never oppose God’s desired plans for us. Actions of immortality are not of God and therefore not what He desires for you. Sin, remember is what causes separation between us and God until we come to the saving knowledge of what was done through His Son Jesus. By doing things apart from what scripture teaches us, even if we like it, is never God’s design for us.

Now that we have a clear understanding of what it means to delight in God, how can it be implemented in our lives day to day? First, you must establish a relationship with God. If you have not put your faith in Christ fully by asking forgiveness over your sins and deciding to follow Him, that must be your first step. It is only then can we look at how to actively delight in the Lord.

One of the biggest perks to becoming a believer in Christ is the way your mind begins to work. God begins to show you things you could not comprehend before. Learning His qualities and seeing His nature through one on one time with Him is not only essential, but exciting! The more we acquire knowledge through His word the more we see His divine nature in the Person of God.
Secondly, God is personal and intimate. He is not only ruler of the universe, but our Savior and dearest friend. We need to have both reverence for His high standing and confidence in building a friendship with Him.

Finally, we delight in God when we worship. One thing I love is the beauty of the ocean. I love to look at it and swim above and below it. When I am away from it, I long for it. (I could say the same about the Lord). When I got certified to SCUBA dive with my husband, I remember our first trip out sixty feet underwater. I was stunned by the beauty. The colorful coral reefs and varieties of fish. I was in constant awe thinking, “God you are amazing!” What we experience in the naturalness of His creation, He created it all for our enjoyment. He designed beautiful landscapes and creatures for us to be overwhelmed with thanksgiving, being led to worship Him.

Psalms 150 says, “Let everything that has breathe praise the lord.”

August 31, 2019
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The Testimony of Jesus

By Devotional

Jesus Christ has the ultimate testimony. The tendency to put Jesus in the category of the human testimony is interesting because He is both God and man. It is impossible for us to know everything which occurred during His human existence, but as we study Him it quickly becomes obvious what we can gain from His time on earth.

Jesus was God incarnate. This means God made Himself flesh and walked among us as a man. Although He was fully man, He was also fully God. His testimony gives us hope and is paramount in understanding our own.

The birth, life and death of Jesus Christ was revealed through hundreds of biblical prophecies recorded long before He was born. Here are just a few:

BIRTH:

Isaiah 7:14

“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”

LIFE:

Zechariah 9:9

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

DEATH:

Isaiah 53:5

“But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed.”

Even though the prophecies recorded were abundant and very clear, many doubted He truly was the Christ. Others firmly believed in His arrival.

Mary and Joseph were seen in God’s eyes as righteous and were chosen to be earthly parents to Jesus. On two separate occasions, Mary and Joseph were visited by Angels who foretold what would take place. (See Matthew 1)

After His birth, Wise Men traveled to visit and worship Him. Still others, like King Herod, sought to seek Him out to kill Him.

The only glimpse we have of Jesus in scripture before His adult ministry was when He was about twelve years old. He traveled to Jerusalem with His parents and for the Feast of the Passover they unknowingly left Him behind. After several days of traveling back and forth, Mary and Joseph finally found Him in the temple sitting among the Teachers. They were fully enthralled at His teaching and even astounded by His understanding and answers. (See Luke 2:41-52) After a reprimand from mom and dad expressing their worry and searching, Jesus’ reply is almost comical. “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49)

As Jesus began His adult ministry, I want to point out a few key characteristics that strike me as phenomenal. I believe them to be paramount in understanding what He exemplified while on earth.

Jesus was a Selfless Servant:
He gave up His seat at the right hand of God. (Philippians 2:7)
He let John the Baptist, baptize Him. (Matthew 3:14)
He washed the disciple’s feet (John 13:1-20)
He forgave countless sinners (Luke 7:48, Acts 16:31)

Jesus was Sinless:
Satan’s temptation (Matthew 4)
He willingly went to the cross (Mark 10:45)
He was perfect (Matthew 5:45)

Jesus was Relational
Chose the disciples (John 1:35-51)
He taught crowds (Matthew 5-7)
Jesus preformed miracles (John 6)

Jesus was Mistreated
He was subjected to ruthless physical abuse (John 19:1-7)
He was mocked and faced rejection (John 18:39-40, Mark 15:29-32)

Jesus was Obedient
He came to die. (John 19:16-30)

He. Came. To. Die.

Yes, He did incredible things and spoke with mind numbing righteous conviction while on earth, but the ultimate purpose for His coming to us was His own physical death. Physical Death, so He could take my dirt and wipe it on Himself and in doing so breathe into me Spiritual Life. The fullness of death is not something anyone has undergone and survived, except Jesus. It is because of Jesus, when our physical life ends, if we have been redeemed, we will glory with Christ in our eternal life.

Jesus led (John 16:33), called (Matthew 4:18-22), befriended (John 13:23), taught (John 13:1-17, Matthew 5-7), healed (John 11), and sacrificed (John 19). He was fully God and fully man. He experienced acceptance, rejection, joy, emotional pain, physical pain and death. He walked on this earth like us, so when it came time for Him to die on the cross, His testimony would prove His true desire to be connected to us. He was willing to experience all the same earthly trials we do because of sin, except He did them without sinning. This gave us a perfect example to follow in hopes that our lives could have less sin once we decide to seek after Him.

He is Jesus. He is the Son of God. He is our Savior, friend, healer and redeemer. He is what we should aspire to be like.

August 26, 2019
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A True Friend in Jesus

By Devotional

I am honored this week to share another powerful devotional written by my friend Jeff Braunns. Jeff, thank you for seeking the Father’s guidance on what to share with others to help them grow closer to Christ. ~Lindsey

Devotional Author: Jeff Braunns
ASL translation provided by: Lindsey Berger

As you grow and mature in your faith you will find that the worldly things you use to find joy in will leave you.
You will start to see what is truly right from wrong. God will open your eyes and let you see the way this world is. You will no longer have the desire to live like you did. Don’t get me wrong. You will be tempted! Even Jesus was tempted.

Micah 6:8
“He has told you O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.”
When you come to know Christ and really start to follow what God has for you, people will notice.
At some point in your new life you may have to make hard decisions with the people you call your “friends.”

1 Peter 4:4
“They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, and wild living, and they will heap abuse on you.”
It’s hard to turn from the world. For many years you found so much comfort, and fun in it. The world fills you with that “feel good” feeling.
However, when you’re all alone and your “friends” all have left, you see this world for what it truly is!
Sacrifice is part of being a Christian. Following God, you will sacrifice much daily. Your body will start to get tired and you will feel like it would be a lot easier if you just gave in and just went back to the way things used to be!

It is easier to do that. I don’t know a true follower of Christ that wouldn’t tell you different.
Remember, you have found a new friend in Christ. God will bring great and wise people into your life that you can call a true friend.
Don’t ever feel alone when you are walking the path of Christ!

August 18, 2019
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The Grip Strength of God

By Devotional

To succeed in this Christian life, we must be tethered to our Heavenly Father’s side. Many of us claim Christ but live like the world. Recently, I asked myself this question, “If there was documented footage of your daily interactions with others, your habits and your internal thoughts, would your life point others to Christ?” I want you to ask yourself the same. Unfortunately, I could easily answer this question in complete honesty. It led me to a low place covered in embarrassment over how I allow my flesh to lead me at times.

Fortunately for those of us who are believers, we have an extremely loving God that desires relational intimacy with His sons and daughters who come after Him. In my shame, the Lord lead me to a quiet place to communicate with Him my faults, my fears and my current failings. I did not feel chastised, but rather, I felt a flood of His love and forgiveness.

In Philippians 1:6, Paul tells us:

“And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

God does not draw us to Himself for the purpose of abandonment. If you have accepted Christ and repented of your sins, your heart is no longer dead but alive. Christ has washed you white as snow.

Often, we give up on ourselves and we should for good reason. As people, we cannot be trusted, without Jesus, we will always be sinful. Temptation leads us to be swayed by the lies of the world and sometimes it can be easy to buy in. We trust the world to know our heart and judge us for our shortcomings, rather than looking inward to the one that lives inside us by trusting His perfect promises.

We accept this personal defeat and follow the lies Satan has shouted at us. We become bombarded, tempted to look for joy in other things. We wonder why we feel unfulfilled, sad and alone. TOO OFTEN we let Satan win. BUT WHY? What would happen if instead, we looked to heaven and asked God for rescue through His mighty power? What would happen if we used our knowledge of scripture to speak truth over the lies? We would push back the darkness. We would joyfully embrace our identity with confidence because of the One who created us and set us free. We would truly love God above all else.

R.C. Sproul said it best; “I like to look at it this way: I’m walking the Christian life with my hand in God’s hand. If my perseverance depended upon my holding tightly to God’s hand, I would surely fall away because at some point I would let go. But I believe that the Scriptures teach us that God is holding my hand, and because he is holding my hand, I don’t have to fear that I will fall ultimately and finally.”

August 12, 2019
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Persecution

By Devotional

When you give your life to Christ, Satan, who you formerly served in your life apart from God, becomes consumed with thwarting your plans to remain free from sin. This can manifest itself in a variety of ways and when you are targeted because of your faith in Christ, you can experience persecution. Every Christian at some point in their walk with God will experience persecution. If you are not experiencing it now, you will eventually. If you are experiencing it now, stay positive, hope has come for you already.

A lot of us think persecution is strictly for those who are in heavily populated areas of other religiously fruitful locations. Christians in the Middle East or Christians in China. Christians in America are targeted today like never before. This American culture we live in is evil. Persecution impedes on our human liberties on a daily basis. We are bombarded from every angle, backed into a corner to support ideals that spit in the face of everything our Jesus stands against.

Plenty of people in scripture felt the oppression of persecution in their day. Let’s look at a few examples.

The first example I want to mention in scripture is a man named Stephen. In Acts 8, Stephen is martyred for his faith in Christ. Saul of Tarsus, persecutor of Christians blinded on the road to Damascus, is believed to be responsible for the stoning of Stephen.

Acts 7:54-60 says, “Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, ‘Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’ But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”

Of course we know Saul of Tarsus was redeemed on the Damascus road in Acts 9 and given the new name we know him lovingly by in the New Testament, Paul. He suffered immense persecution for the sake of the Gospel. He recounts his struggles in 2 Corinthians 11: 24-28 and says, “Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.”

Aside from all of this, Paul is believed to have been beheaded by sword after his last imprisonment for his faith.

Another amazing example is John the Baptist. John the Baptist was a cousin to Jesus and a great man of faith. In the first chapter of John he was baptizing men who came to him at the Jordan river. Many thought he was a prophet and he confirmed he was merely set to prepare the way for the true Messiah soon to be appearing to them, Jesus. He devoted his life to serving Christ and sharing of His miraculous works.

In Matthew 14, John the Baptist is thrown into prison after angering Herod the Tetrarch. Herod had a brother named Philip. Philip’s wife was Herodias. Herod wanted Herodias for himself, so he divorced his wife and Herodias divorced Philip. John was vocal about this union being unlawful, so because of his outcry, he was put in prison. Later on, the daughter of Herodias danced for Herod at his birthday celebration. He promised her that whatever she wanted would be hers for her lovely display of affection.

Matthew 14:8 says, “Prompted by her mother, she said, ‘give me the head of John the Baptist on a platter.’ And the king was sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to be given. He sent and had John beheaded in the prison, and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother.”

Jesus said in John 15:18, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.” We want the world to like us, but the choices we make to follow Christ will always put us in opposition with the world.

Peter said in 1 Peter 4:13-14, “But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.”

I LOVE the power of this verse. If you are insulted, it is because the Spirit of glory rests upon you. When you face trials, persecutions and rejections from this world because of your faith in Christ, do not be dismayed but rejoice. This means the worlds sees Christ in you and because of that they shudder. They do not want to change so they will attack you because you expose their evil. Christ is always fighting on your side and the great heroes of the faith have shared in your same feelings. When you are rejected or cast aside remember God is glorified by your commitment to your faith.

August 4, 2019
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Joseph’s Heart to Follow God

By Devotional

Joseph’s Heart to Follow God
Devotional Author: Jeff Braunns
ASL Translation provided by: Lindsey Berger

Remember the story of Joseph and the coat of many colors? What a great story. It can be found in Genesis 37-50. I truly encourage you to read the entire story. If you read the whole story you will find that Joseph always found favor with God, but many people were jealous of him. Joseph was very obedient to God. Joseph’s brothers hated him and they were filled with jealousy because he also had great favor from his father. His brothers would eventually throw him into a pit and then sell him into slavery, but even then, he remained obedient to God. Joseph was blessed by God in everything he did.

 

Genesis 39:5
“From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had, in house and field.”

God will bless you in everything you do, but you must first remain obedient and trust Him. Being obedient to God is not easy. It will get harder the more you learn to trust and rely on Him.  Joseph never wavered in his trust and obedience to God. He was tempted by his master’s wife to sleep with her many times, but he remained strong in his faith with God. Joseph was thrown in prison because he would not sleep with his master’s wife and she lied to have him put there. Joseph eventually got out of prison and became a very powerful man in Egypt.
God wants to bless you and do great things for you, but bad behavior is not rewarded. We’re God’s children and although He does love us very much, jealous people like Joseph’s brothers will not find themselves in favor with God.  Here is another great verse to remind us of people who are like Joseph’s brothers.

2 Timothy 3:2
“For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy.”
Even people who didn’t know God could see how much God blessed Joseph with wisdom, knowledge and understanding. Throughout Joseph’s story we see something God gave him, the great gift of being able to interpret dreams. This is what helped Joseph be freed from prison.

 

Genesis 41:38
“And Pharaoh said to all his servants, ‘can we not find a man like this, in whom is the spirit of God?’”
Pharaoh saw that the gift Joseph had was from God. As Christians we are called by God to stand out from the world. The bible tells us to live in this world, but not to be a part of it. Jealousy can tear down even the strongest of people! Jealousy is of this world and has no place in the life of a Christian. That’s why we as Christians must be obedient to God and listen to what the bible has to teach us.

July 28, 2019
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