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beloved

What Does it Mean to Be Beloved by God?

Leave a Comment / Discipleship, Scripture Truth /

Beloved is a word used in Scripture both as an adjective (“My dearly beloved Son”) and a term of address, but what does it mean to be beloved by God?  Paul, John, and Jude all use the word to describe the people to whom their letters were addressed. The Greek word translated as “beloved” (agapetos)* indicates dearly loved, highly esteemed, or favorite. We, those who follow Jesus, are dearly loved, and, in way, we’re favorite children. Consider the words of Jude as he opened his epistle: “Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to those who are the called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ.” Jude 1:1 I am beloved by God, and so are you. Ponder that a few moments, then say these words aloud: I am beloved by God. Repeat them and let their beautiful truth soak into your soul. God spoke from heaven at Jesus’ baptism and He used the same word. “This is My beloved Son. (Mark 1:11) My agapetos Son.** The word describes the depth of God’s love for Jesus and His love for us. The never-ending, unconditional, unlimited love of God is not only lavished on His only Son; although underserved, the same love is also lavished on each of us. Selah. Pause and ponder that for a moment then consider this… Being beloved doesn’t equal an easy life. Several years ago, I thought and talked about the love of God quite often, but maybe not for the reason you might expect. After a long siege of hard, followed by a long siege of a different kind of hard, I wondered what God intended. It was an excruciatingly difficult time during which I was so overwhelmed I wondered if there was a lesson in the suffering at all. I had a lot of questions for God. Was there a point to the suffering? If I learned whatever lesson was included would it bring my trial to an end? What did it mean to be beloved by God in the midst of such suffering? Answers came slowly, if at all. Eventually, I learned an important truth in the long season of agony. Suffering is common to the human experience, but it does not diminish the love of God by a single iota.  I spent more days than I care to admit wailing before the Lord. Finally, I took action. Offered to repent of sins I didn’t have after repentance of the sins I did have failed to break the siege. In case spiritual warfare caused my problems, I rebuked the evil one and quoted more Scripture than I realized I knew. It didn’t help. Because a sacrifice of praise turned things around once before, I gave thanks for the blessings I have, the problems I don’t, and the gifts of God I might or might not receive. Powerless to fix it. Finally, I admitted something terrible. I had no control over the duration of the siege of hard. I was powerless to shorten it or to make it easier. My job was to get through it and honor God while I did. Unfortunately, I felt a little like a coyote in a trap who gnaws off his own leg to save his life. The needed medical treatment was a drug so potent most people who take it feel terrible. Imagine first-trimester pregnant, a severe case of influenza, and a football concussion all at once. Yeah. Bad. With a dazed brain, generalized aches, fatigue, and persistent nausea writing was hard. No, nearly impossible. I’m a writer. It’s who I am, what I do, how I process life. The biggest, best part of my life (next to my faith and my son, Ryan) vanished and I missed it dreadfully. Blog posts? Impossible. Novel edits? Out of the question. New stories and Bible studies? I couldn’t put together a sentence, much less an entire book. After twenty years as a writer, I didn’t know how to function without writing. The hardest months of my life weren’t wasted. The long-haul of hard taught me one important fact: Being beloved by God doesn’t always equal feeling loved. What I knew and how I felt didn’t match. I knew I’m God’s dearly beloved child but I didn’t necessarily feel beloved. My problems didn’t feel fair but it wasn’t about fair. In truth, fair would equal eternal damnation. Grace allowed a temporary difficulty that would, in some not-recognizable-at-the-time way, mold me into a more Christ-like Leanna. It was sensible, at least from a human perspective. The difficulties made the work to which I’m called harder, not easier. I wanted to know the why behind my suffering. The decision to give up my perceived right to an explanation was a hard step. I didn’t know why those agonizing months were necessary. I still don’t. Eventually, I realized “why” didn’t matter and I determined to endure with grace, even if it lasted the rest of my life. That, my friends, was one of the hardest steps in the journey. What does it mean to be beloved by God? We don’t always see what God’s doing. Jude also wrote about God’s generous gifts to us. Eternal life. Mercy. Peace. Love. None of them seemed pertinent to my experience at the moment, nevertheless, they were still given in abundance. The longer the hard time persisted, the more time I spent in God’s presence. Sometimes all I could pray was “Jesus, Jesus,” but it was enough. Despite the pain and anti-viral-induced brain fog, peace reigned. Grace carried me through.  The other side I read the story of Job more than once during that time, especially the “after” part when God restored two-fold. I clung to the hope of “the other side.” When it finally came, it was worth everything I went through. God worked when I could not and did things I never imagined. In my writing. In my ministry. He answered prayers that were nothing more than longings in my

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how to make a fresh start

How to Make A Fresh Start

Leave a Comment / Discipleship, Scripture Truth /

If you wonder if you can make a fresh start, or how I can make a fresh start, this guide on how to make a fresh start can help. Perhaps your social media feed is similar to ours. It’s not filled with suggestions for how to serve others or how to lay down your life for something you believe in or someone you love. Instead, it’s filled with recommendations for how to optimize your time,  practice good “self-care,” improve your appearance, or work less but get more done. Judging by a recent review of social media, we might be a bit self-absorbed. Before we talk about how to make a fresh start, let’s pause for a moment and consider the end goal of life. Do we want to die with tight skin, a tiny waist, and a well-organized planner? If so, the self-help gurus may be of assistance. If we want to leave a heritage and a legacy instead, perhaps it’s time to look elsewhere for guidance. Where do we go for information on how to make a fresh start? If social media isn’t handing out the best information on how to have a life that counts, and it’s not, who is? Ponder that question for a moment, then consider John 14:6: “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life…” If we want our “best life now” as well as transformation and victory in the coming years, we won’t find it in a self-help book unless our “self-help” book is the Bible. We won’t find what we seek in a “word of the year” unless our word reflects surrender and obedience to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Our best life may not be what we think we want. According to Jesus, He’s the only one who can give us our “best life.” He didn’t use those words, but it’s what He meant. “…I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly.” John 10:10 The word translated as abundantly is perissos and means “Over and above. Super-added. Exceeding. Abundantly. Supremely.” (1) Here’s the “Faith Lived Out Loud Paraphrase”: “I came so you can have your best life.”  Selah. Pause and consider. We find our best life now in Christ alone. How do we make a fresh start and achieve the abundant life Jesus offers? It’s amazingly simple. It’s astoundingly hard. Three easy steps can take us to the kind of life most people only dream about. Repent Follow Repeat How to Make A Fresh Start: Begin with Repentance Our life may look great by the world’s standards, but our best life begins with a careful look at our hearts and an honest appraisal of our mistakes according to God’s standards. We’ve all done wrong actions and entertained wrong thoughts (sinned). We deal with those by confessing them to God and asking for His forgiveness. Let’s take a moment to consider and confess our failures. Scripture tells us He removes our sins as far as the east is from the west and remembers them no more.  If God lets our mistakes go, we should do the same. It’s not repentance if we hold on to our sin, so let’s quit rehashing and give our mess to Him. No more take-backs. How to Make a Fresh Start: Begin to Follow Jesus called His disciples with two simples words: Follow Me. They left their old lives behind and spent every available minute with Jesus. They did what He did. Went where He went even when it was not politically correct. Lived as He lived. They obeyed. If we follow Jesus, we spend time with Him through Bible study and prayer. We do what He says. Love as He loves. Forgive as He forgives. His priorities become our own. We let go of our desire for more stuff and find our contentment in more of Him. We obey in big and small areas, even when it’s hard.  How to Make A Fresh Start and Maintain it? Repetition It would be convenient if we could repent one time and be through for eternity but it doesn’t work that way. We all fail—whether by the hasty word, impure thought, unkind deed, or neglected obedience. If we want to maintain the sweet closeness Jesus intended, we must be consistent in repentance and obedience. If we make a mistake, we repent, shake it off, and get up again. In a way, we make another fresh start. Repent. Follow. Repeat. For the disciple of Jesus, it’s more than a mantra. It’s a way of life and the key to how to make a fresh start now and throughout the years to come. When we unload our sin burden by confession and repentance, we have a fresh start. We enjoy a sweet relationship with Jesus through time spent with Him and a lifestyle of obedience. Only then do we experience the abundance He intended. Abundance doesn’t mean stuff Jesus didn’t promise an easy life or earthly wealth. In fact, He promised us trouble and trials. Does that sound like the “best” kind of life? Maybe not. The “best,” however, can be found in His presence despite our trouble and trials and the resulting fruit of the Spirit: Love. Joy. Peace. Patience. Kindness. Goodness. Faithfulness. Gentleness. Self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23) We don’t have a smorgasbord of spiritual fruit from which we must pick and choose. Instead, we have the opportunity of a lifetime filled with all of it. A glimpse of “best” When we repent of our sins, receive Christ’s forgiveness, and make a fresh start by following Jesus, we find in Him our best friend, comforter, guide, healer, and teacher. We are never alone and need never despair, no matter what we face. Over time, He fills our life with love, joy, peace, and all the other aspects of His fruit. We may not have worldly abundance but we can be content with what He gives because Jesus is always enough. If you’re ready

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how to stop school shootings + how to help end teen violence

How to Stop School Shootings + How to Help End Teen Violence

4 Comments / Culture /

Another school shooting this week left many of us asking the same questions: how to stop school shootings and how to help end teen violence. I, too, am sickened by the wanton destruction and meaningless loss of life as a result of the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, just as I’ve been sickened and heartbroken about teen violence in my own city. Author’s Note: Four years ago, another school shooting rocked our nation. The original version of this post reflected my outrage. Instead of anger, this time I’ve taken a long moment to settle my heart and reflect on the myriad of influences that lead to acts of violence. The original post has been completely rewritten to reflect a more contemplative approach based on the knowledge gained through years of direct work with troubled teens and those who work with them. This article is written for the body of Christ from a Judeo-Christian perspective. You may wonder if the changes discussed in this article are fail-safe actions to stop school shootings or end teen violence. The answer, unfortunately, is no. These recommendations are core-belief actions for disciples of Jesus. Can they make a difference? Yes. Can they help end teen violence or stop school shootings? Yes. If even one death is averted, if even one violent act is avoided, the changes recommended here will be worth it. How to Stop School Shootings: Consider Hurts and Scars Let’s begin by considering children living in impoverished, difficult family situations. They aren’t blind to the lifestyles of those who have more financial resources and they want what others have, including a peaceful home, love, and sufficient healthy food. For a child whose family doesn’t live by the Judeo-Christian ethic (or for the child who chooses not to), it’s not a far stretch to think they should have the same things other children have and, if they can’t, they should be able to take what they want. In addition, poverty can lead to difficult or abusive situations which often seem as if they will never end. Physical and emotional abuse leaves scars that last for years. Words hurt, just as punches and rape hurt. They can take root in the minds of the recipients and linger for decades. Bullying can come from adults or children and it always wounds. Children learn from the examples of the people around them, including the examples of abuse or other poor lifestyle choices. These seemingly never-ending challenges can breed anger and lead to violence. The addition of adolescent hormonal surges can be, and sometimes is, a recipe for disaster. Children who don’t know the basics of the Judeo-Christian ethic or the unending, unconditional love of God, lack the filter of this basic God-centric moral code. If you’ve never heard “thou shalt not murder,” you don’t know God’s view on murder. If you’ve never been taught, “love your enemies,” hate and retaliation seem like reasonable responses. According to Scripture, our actions reflect the condition of our hearts. For wounded children and teenagers, angry, wounded hearts lead to angry, wounding actions. It’s that simple and it’s also that hard. The Influence of Affluence “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23 niv We need to look no further than social media to see a shocking picture of the heart of the church and affluent America. Our lifestyles may not seem extravagant by American standards, but they do to someone living in the poorest areas of our world and often to those living in poverty in our own nation. We want what we want and we expect to have it, even if it means we have to work long, hard hours or stretching our budgets near the breaking point to get whatever is the next great thing. Most of what we want is not inherently evil but our propensity toward extravagance and entitlement does say something about our priorities and our hearts and may lead others to choose the same. Please don’t misunderstand me. The affluence of others does not cause school shootings and an end to affluence is not the way to end school shootings. Instead, poverty and difficult, abusive situations can be contributing factors to violence in frustrated, hurting adolescents. We do not suggest an end to affluence or to the enjoyment of resources but an awareness of the needs of those experiencing great trials in life and how difficult the contrast between rich and poor can be, especially for the one trapped in poverty who sees no way out. Those who enjoy affluence have a God-given responsibility to care about and help those who do not. How to Help End Teen Violence: The Crown Conundrum and Our Servant Savior As people of God and children of the King of Kings, it’s easy to embrace the idea of ourselves as princes and princesses, but the only crown Jesus, Prince of Heaven, wore here on earth was a crown of thorns. (John 19:2) The garment he donned was that of a servant. (John 13:3-5) As children of the King, can we expect to do differently? Jesus waded into the darkest situations and gave light and life to the most hopeless. His light shined in the darkness, and the darkness DID NOT overcome it, and it still doesn’t. (John 1:4-5) He set the example for us all. How can those living in darkness embrace the light if they never see it? Never experience it? As disciples of Christ, we are the designated light-bearers and we must take the light of Christ to those living in darkness, even when they’re outside our comfort zone. (Matthew 5:14-16) How can we help end teen violence? Share the light and love of Christ with hurting teens and their families. How to Stop School Shootings: Change Begins in the Heart If our heart condition determines our actions, and it does, only heart change can bring about different actions. We cannot expect people who don’t know Jesus personally to

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the last days

When The Last Days Come: What Will it be Like?

Leave a Comment / Discipleship, Scripture Truth /

A quick look at current events can leave us wondering if what we’re experiencing is merely a lead-up to when the last days come and what to expect when the last days come. Are we living in the last days? How much worse can it get? What comes next? What will the last days look like? Many of us struggle with questions about the future. On the night before He was betrayed, Jesus’ disciples were filled with questions, too. He reminded His disciples of the truth He’d told them several times before. Jesus would die, be buried, and come back to life. He would return to heaven to prepare a home for them and He would one day come back to earth to establish His divine rule. The disciples expected an earthly kingdom, riches, position, and power. Instead, Jesus was a suffering servant Messiah whose Kingdom reigned in hearts, not on a throne. He offered the power of the Holy Spirit, not the power of a mighty army, and His kingdom riches were stored in Heaven, not on earth. We can’t answer all the questions about end times in a single blog post, but one thing’s for sure. The end times likely won’t be easy but there will be some good mixed in there, too. The stark reality of  the last days Isaiah’s prophecy begins with a stark dose of reality. (Leanna paraphrase coming up.) “You’re a bad mess of sin and consequences, Israel. God won’t put up with it much longer, so you’d better change. Pronto. Nothing good’s headed your way if you don’t straighten up.” Those weren’t his words, of course, but they convey the essence. Isaiah’s actual words leave us reeling. When the last days come, they won’t be full of sunshine and flowers. Instead, public humiliation. Burning. Unquenchable thirst. Thirty-one verses of too-harsh truth paint a dire picture of the future. No one wants any of what Isaiah predicted in his opening chapter. The next chapter is more of the same, but sandwiched in between a description of crushed sinners and the need to hide under a rock because of God’s judgment to come is a little oasis of words. One day, hearts will change “Now it will come about that in the last days, the mountain of the house of the Lord will be established as the chief of the mountains, and will be raised above the hills; and many peoples will come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that He may teach us concerning His ways; and that we may walk in His paths.’”  Isaiah 2:2,3 nasb When the last days come, Isaiah tells us, hearts will change. Many people will want to go to God’s house. They won’t be there to be seen or show off their new outfits. It won’t be the “in” thing to do before lunch at the country club. Instead, many people from all over the globe will stream to the house of God because of one very important reason. They want to learn God’s ways in order to obey. We don’t always go to the house of God to learn His ways in order to obey now, do we? But one day we will. What will the last days be like? One day, the evil one will be defeated and there will be no more weapons, no war, no conflict. Imagine a time when people everywhere want to learn AND obey God’s ways. The fruit of the Spirit will be in abundance. Can you wrap your mind around a world in which people’s hearts are full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control? (Galatians 5:22-23) That’s quite a change, isn’t it? We long for that day, yet most of us are not quite ready. We’re not yet full to the brim with the fruit of the Spirit. There are days when pride or anger or judgmental, critical spirit raise their ugly heads and speak through our mouths. If we’re honest, most of us probably have a little not-like Jesus in us, but wouldn’t it be nice to be rid of all the old sin so we can be ready for those last days? How do we prepare for that time when the last days come?  Here are two easy steps to make sure we’re ready: Diligent Bible study. Open our Bibles and allow God’s words to cleanse and transform us. Learn God’s ways. Surrendered obedience. Once we know what God wants, we must choose to obey.  Learn what God expects and do it. “And many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord…that He may teach us concerning His ways; and that we may walk in His paths.” Isaiah 2:3 Want to know more about how to prepare your heart for the last days and what will the last days look like? Here are a few blog posts you might enjoy: Promises of God Fulfilled How to Pray the News and Why We Should How to Trust God in Hard Times The Benefits of Repentance What Does it Mean to Be Beloved? What Does it Mean to Be a Disciple of Jesus? Why We Should Choose Humility and Let Go of Pride Thanks for sharing your time with us today. Before you go… Sign up for our twice-a-month newsletter to receive exclusive stories, freebies, and more. Leave a comment and share this post on your social media pages or through email. Bookmark our website so you can visit us often. Take a look at Today’s Encouragement before you go. We add to this every weekday. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest Here’s an in-depth, life-changing digital Bible study to help you learn God’s ways in order to obey. (It’s an Amazon affiliate link. If you make a purchase, we may make a few cents but it won’t increase the

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All Faith Culture Scripture Truth VIP Posts Prayer Discipleship Resources How to Pray Scripture for Ukraine and Eastern Europe Faith, Culture, Prayer After the recent invasion of Ukraine, you may wonder how to pray for Ukraine. Maybe you wonder how to pray for all the nations in… Read Full Story… What Does God is Love Mean + Bible Verses About God’s Love Faith If you’ve wondered what “God is love” means for you or what the Bible says about love, read here to learn the answers, as well… Read Full Story… How to Have a Blessed New Year and How to Have a Blessed Life Faith, Discipleship Have you wondered how to have a blessed life or how to have a blessed new year in an ever-changing, stress-filled world? Scripture offers ample… Read Full Story… How to Bless Your Pastor During Clergy Appreciation Month Faith, Discipleship Are you wondering how to bless your pastor or other clergies during Clergy Appreciation Month?  We have suggestions for how to bless the ministers in… Read Full Story… What does He must increase and I must decrease mean? Faith What does He must increase and I must decrease mean for a website? Does He must increase and I must decrease impact a revamped website?… Read Full Story… Best Ways to Help the Homeless: Practical Tips Discipleship, Resources If you’ve wondered how to help the homeless or how to help a homeless person, here are a few practical tips and creative ways to… Read Full Story… Homelessness in America: Up Close and Personal Culture, Discipleship, Resources Leannahollis.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising… Read Full Story… Miracle From Heaven in the Middle Drawer Discipleship Welcome to the second part of a series entitled “Miracles Still Happen.” The miracle from heaven I’m sharing today wasn’t born of as much desperation… Read Full Story… Miracles Still Happen: The $100 Miracle Discipleship Have you ever wondered if miracles still happen? Keep reading to learn about one of my experiences with miracles from heaven. Several years ago, I… Read Full Story… Load More End of Content. Join Us Now! Sign-up for twice monthly newsletters with exclusive stories of finding Christ in everyday life, devotionals, Bible studies, and more. Subscribe * indicates required Email Address * First Name * Last Name *

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Today’s Encouragement

Today’s Encouragement:  In a time when hope is often in short supply, here’s some good news. God has a plan and it’s not only a good plan, it’s full of hope.  This verse was written to people who were captured by an invading army and now lived in exile far from home. Life was nothing like what they wanted or hoped. You can probably imagine how they felt. Dejected. Forgotten. Afraid. Alone.  Now imagine what these words, delivered by the prophet Jeremiah, meant to them. They weren’t forgotten. God had a plan and it was good. What they experienced today was not the end. Their future might not look like it yet, but hope and blessing waited on the other side. Do you feel like the exiles did? Dejected? Forgotten? Afraid? Alone? Take hope in God’s truth. Today is not the end. He has a plan and it’s good. You can have the beautiful future He designed when you put your trust in Him. How can we pray for you today? We’d love to hear from you. Comment or message us here: Let’s connect! Want to know more about God’s plan for your life? How to Have a Blessed Life While you’re here, why not sign up for our twice-a-month email to receive exclusive stories, devotionals, freebies, and more. Encouragement for today: “Keep me as the apple of Your eye. Hide me in the shelter of Your wings… Psalm 17:8 The word translated as “keep” means considerably more than to store something for later use. The picture this word conveys is that of a gardener tending a beloved garden or a shepherd “keeping” or caring for his flock. It implies close attention to every detail, protection, and tender, loving care. When we ask God to “keep us as the apple of His eye,” we ask Him to watch over us, provide for our needs, protect us, and care for us both tenderly and carefully. Have you ever seen a mother hen with her chicks? If she senses danger, she gathers her chicks and hides them under her wings. They are enclosed, close to her heart, sheltered by her wings, safe from the enemy. So, too, we ask God to enclose us with the shelter of His wings. Protect us from all our enemies, whether from our own struggles or those who would wish to harm us. Keep us close to His heart and near to Him. Hidden and safe As the wild violet is hidden in the leaf litter of the forest, so our lives can be kept and hidden in the shelter of His wings where we are loved, cared for, and safe. For those who struggle with dangers both within and without, who bear unimaginable burdens today, we pray for shelter under the wings of the Almighty, for peace, hope, and a profound sense of how loved you are. We’re glad you stopped to check out our encouraging Scripture for today. How can we pray for you today? We’d love to hear from you. Comment or message us here: Let’s connect! Want to know more about God’s love? Start here: What Does God is Love Mean? While you’re here, why not sign up for our twice-a-month email to receive exclusive stories, devotionals, freebies, and more. Moldable in the Master’s Hand: This verse spoke to us during our first pottery lesson more than twenty years ago. The miraculous process of whirling clay on a wheel, pressed and pulled as it spun, transformed into vessels of beauty stunned us.  When we tried our hand, it didn’t go so well and we soon learned the difference between a master potter and a novice. The master potter knows how much pressure is needed to accomplish his plan. The novice is as apt to send clay flying across the room as to actually form something usable. It’s the same in life. God molds us in exactly the right way at exactly the right time to transform mere lumps of human clay into vessels of beauty designed to glorify and honor God. The process isn’t usually fun and we seldom appreciate it in the midst of the molding, but how sweet it is when the work is done. (Personal experience speaking here. It took a lot of molding to get us where we are today…and He’s not done yet.)  What about you? How have you seen God at work, molding your heart and life into what He intended? Are you in the midst of the process? Take heart. It doesn’t last forever. If you’re on the other side of the molding, celebrate the work of God and the vessel you’ve become. We’d love to hear from you. Comment or message us here: Let’s connect!  You can also sign up for our twice-a-month email to receive exclusive stories, freebies, and more. Don’t leave without checking out our How to Pray Scripture for Ukraine and Eastern Europe prayer guide and our blog page. Today’s Encouragement: “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will boast in the name of the LORD, our God.” Psalm 20:7 Psalm 20, a prayer for the king, was written by David and reads almost as if David answered the question, “how can I pray for you?” with a psalm. Some commentators believe it was written in anticipation of an upcoming battle. The preceding verses ask God for protection and for His presence as well as for victory. David’s response is one of affirmation and adoration. He understood the battle was not His, but God’s when he fought and defeated Goliath and he still understands it, years later. Some men put their trust in worldly weapons of war but David’s trust is in God alone. Where David described the weapons of war as horses and chariots, we might list nuclear weapons, chemical weapons, hired mercenaries, and assassins, or tanks and missiles. If we are to paraphrase this verse for today’s circumstances, we might say, “Some men put their trust

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what is evangelism and how to share Jesus with an un-believer

What is Evangelism? + How to Share Jesus when it’s Uncomfortable

1 Comment / Discipleship /

If, as a Christian, you wonder, “What is evangelism?” or how to tell others about Jesus, how to share Jesus with a non-believer or someone different from you, how to share Jesus when it’s uncomfortable, or by door-to-door evangelism, you’re not alone. We’ve asked all those questions, too. In this blog post, we’ll share stories from personal experience in evangelism, including how to share Jesus when it’s uncomfortable, to help answer your questions. href=”https://leannahollis.com/seven-evangelism-truths-every-christian-needs-to-know/”>/> What is evangelism?  Merriam Webster Dictionary defines evangelism as “the winning or revival of personal commitments to Christ.” Simply stated, evangelism is nothing more than sharing the good news of Jesus. How do we share Jesus with non-believers? Some people describe the process of sharing Jesus with others as “one beggar telling another beggar where to get bread,” specifically the bread of life. If we accept the dictionary definition of evangelism, we may assume our efforts have failed if those with whom we share Jesus do not make a commitment to Christ. Scripture, however, tells us some sow seeds, others water, and some harvest but all are a part of the evangelism effort which results in a believer’s commitment to Christ. (1 Corinthians 3:6-9)  Many people prefer to use a tract or an app to help them share the story of Jesus to a non-believer, and both can be very effective. They can be particularly helpful in situations where sharing Jesus is uncomfortable. In the early church, however, neither was an option. Instead, people practiced the kind of evangelism Jesus recommended in John 13:34-35. What is Evangelism? The Evangelism of Love “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.” John 13:34-35 We prepare to share Jesus with a non-believer long before the first conversation with them. To practice John 13 evangelism, we begin with a choice to love our fellow believers in the same way Jesus loved us. This is not romantic or “good friend” love, but unconditional, agape love. Jesus loved us regardless of our flaws and differences and willingly died to save us from our sins, therefore we should do the same. We are to care for our fellow believers as if we were caring for ourselves or our family members and sacrifice when needed. In the years after Jesus’ returned to heaven, the disciples’ willingly died to defend His name. Their love for each other was so evident, people recognized them as Christians and would ask, “What does this mean?” The believers took every opportunity to share Jesus with non-believers, even when it was uncomfortable or dangerous. Despite the threat of arrest and imprisonment, they continued to share Jesus when it was difficult. It was hard to argue with such obvious love and, as a result, many people believed in Jesus and followed His ways. The love Jesus expected is deep and rare. The love Jesus intended His followers to demonstrate is deep, rare, and often stunning in a world consumed with self. If we want to know how to share Jesus with someone, especially with a non-believer who is different from us, or how to share Jesus when it’s uncomfortable, we can make a good start by involvement in a church, love for our fellow Christians, and prayer for those who don’t know our Savior. When someone asks, we simply tell them about Jesus and how He changed our lives. Truth, not a formula of special words, is the only requirement. The Evangelism of Prayer In Nottingham, England we partnered with a sister church for community-wide evangelism outreach. A woman there introduced me to a family friend who didn’t speak English. He attended their church often, drawn by the love and welcome he received, but he wasn’t a believer. Since the first step in any effort to share Jesus with a non-believer, especially if it is uncomfortable, Is always prayer, we stepped away and prayed for him immediately. We asked God to draw the man to Him, help him see the love of the church and their willingness to welcome him, and soften his heart to Jesus. We prayed he’d want the faith he saw in the church members. The Starting Point Why is prayer so important as a starting point before we share Jesus with a non-believer? Jesus said no one could come to Him unless the Father drew them.  We can’t interest someone in Jesus and we certainly can’t make them trust Him unless God is already at work in them. Our job in evangelism is not conviction over sin or to drag unwilling people to God. Our job is to pray for God to move and say what God gives us to say to the non-believer when He gives us an opportunity. The work of conviction and drawing belongs only to the Holy Spirit. A well-timed testimony of God’s faithfulness, an explanation of how we came to Christ, and an introduction to Scripture can all help as we share our faith with an unbeliever, including one who is different from us, or when it’s uncomfortable. We prepare through Bible study and understanding what we believe so we can answer questions from those who seek the truth of Jesus. When he/she asks, we take the time to answer, but love and pray first. Door to Door Evangelism: Our England team began each day with prayers for the community, specifically the housing complexes we intended to visit, and the non-believers we would meet. We prayed for grace to help us share Jesus even when it was uncomfortable. Afterward, we divided into teams for door-to-door evangelism. My job was to greet those who opened their door to us and make a quick acquaintance. My partner, a university student on holiday, used a Christian booklet to go deeper. He talked with them about the church and gained permission to ask a few questions about faith and belief. People didn’t hesitate to

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What Does it Mean to Be a Disciple of Jesus

Leave a Comment / Discipleship /

Have you ever wondered what does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus or how to follow Jesus as a disciple? Keep reading to find out what a disciple is and what a disciple does and doesn’t do, and the characteristics of a disciple of Jesus. One night at church, we gathered in small groups to pray. A woman in our group prayed the most striking, and oddly beautiful, prayer I’d heard in a while: “Thank you for putting up with our ridiculousness.” The prayer resonated in my heart at the time and it still does. “Ridiculous” is not a term of flattery. Unfortunately, I fear there’s more of it in all of us than we’d like to believe, especially when it comes to living as a disciple of Christ. As much as I hate to admit it, I know there’s far too much ridiculousness in me. What is a disciple? According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a disciple is a follower of a teacher or leader and is one who assists in spreading and promoting the doctrines of the leader. A disciple spends time with the teacher and listens with rapt attention and the intention of learning what is taught. He (or she) makes an effort to be more like the teacher and to live out the way of life they are taught. The longer they are with Him, the more they develop the characteristics of a disciple of Jesus. What are the characteristics of a disciple of Jesus? Disciples are Learners: First, disciples learn how their teacher lives and the lifestyle He recommends, then they put what they’ve learned into action in their own lives. Disciples do what their masters do and teach. Jesus fasted, spent hours in quiet prayer and meditation with His Father, and loved sinners like us. He embraced the lost and the prodigals and called them to come home to their Heavenly Father. Jesus spent time with thieves, drunkards, and people trapped in all kinds of sexual sin. He loved them and when He told them to stop their sin they did. Many of these lost people had no “church” experience at all before they joined Him as a disciple. Instead, they figured out how to be a disciple of Jesus as they listened, watched Him, and did what He did. Loved as He loved. Forgave as fast as He forgave. Served with abandon and humility. First-century believers understood how to be a disciple of Jesus. They left their old lives behind and embraced the new lives Jesus offered. They tried to be like Him in every area. Theirs was not always an overnight, 100% perfect metamorphosis but there was an immediate change and progress over time. Why did they change? Because they knew they could trust Him. They knew He loved them as they were but wanted more for them. Jesus invited them to know their Heavenly Father, inspired them to choose a different life, and helped them to change. He had both the power to forgive sin and the willingness to forgive it. No matter how vile the sin. He still does. How to follow Jesus as a disciple? Say yes, not no. The people who were a part of the religious establishment heard Jesus’ words and said, “I’m not doing that. I like my life the way it is.” They did the “religious” things people could see – fast, go to church, make public donations – but they didn’t love the lost, embrace the unlovely or spend time with people trapped in a lifestyle of sin. They didn’t want to do any of those loving acts, so they didn’t. The Pharisees (the most religious people in the country) were hopelessly trapped in a lifestyle of prejudice, hate, and unrepentance. Worst of all, they wanted to stay trapped. I do not want to be a Pharisee, do you? I want to be the follower who says, “I’ll do whatever you do, Jesus,” but I wasn’t always that kind of person. There was a time when I was trapped in a sinful lifestyle. I was miserable but I couldn’t figure out why I wasn’t happy. People probably didn’t want to spend much time with me for fear my sin would rub off on them. I thank God for the people who cared enough to point me to Jesus. They kept on pointing me to Him until I saw my sin as He saw it, repented, and asked Jesus to save me. I shudder to think where I’d be if a few followers of Jesus had not loved sinners like me. Love big and love all. Our world is full of people trapped in darkness, trudging through life with a crushing burden of sin. They need someone to love them out of the darkness and into the light but most of them don’t even know a life of light and love is possible. Unfortunately, many have experienced the judgmental, critical spirit so prevalent in the first century Pharisees. That same ugly spirit is alive and well in our day, too. It does not point them to Jesus, the Father, or His love. Instead, it offers only condemnation and rejection. In a world filled with darkness and hopelessness, we can be the light-bearers. The way-leaders. The hope-givers. If we follow Jesus as a disciple, we not only can be light-bearers, way-leaders, and hope-givers, we must be. It’s not optional. “Love your neighbor as yourself” means we love, even if our neighbor does things we don’t like. It means we love our neighbors even if we don’t like them. (Mark 12:31) “Take up your cross and follow Me” means we follow, even if we don’t like where Jesus wants us to go. (Luke 9:23) How to follow Jesus as a disciple? First, we must understand one basic principle: thehe life of a disciple is not about what we want or what the world offers. It’s about Jesus and what He wants. “Christian” and “disciple” should be

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tools to become more like Jesus

What does He must increase and I must decrease mean?

8 Comments / Discipleship, Faith /

What does He must increase and I must decrease mean for a website? Does He must increase and I must decrease impact a revamped website or mpact your life? Does More Jesus, Less me really matter? Yes to all three questions. An explanation follows but first, a little history… Eight years ago, a restless longing in my spirit directed me to 1 Chronicles 4:10. You probably know this verse as the Prayer of Jabez in which he asked God to expand his territory. In an unexpected turnaround, God said to me, “I’m going to expand your reach.” It wasn’t clear at the time, but an expansion of “my” reach included more of Jesus and less of me. The idea of “expanded reach” didn’t generate great enthusiasm. “What does this mean?” “Is further expansion possible?” The questions were met with one still, small Whisper: “start a blog.”  Google answered the “What is a blog?” and “How to make a blog” questions and, in less than an hour, the Faith Lived Out Loud blog was born. Nearly five years, more than 2,000 blog posts, and over 700,000 views later, the blog moved to this website. Professional writers need a “real” website to promote their blog, or so the experts said. Soon, we had a lovely, author-named website. It was all about Leanna. Photos of Leanna. What Leanna was doing. Too much Leanna. Needless to say, God didn’t bless the new website. I’m ashamed to admit it took nearly three years to ask why not. The answer was simple and found in John 3:30.  “Too much Leanna. Not enough Jesus.” What did He must increase and I must decrease mean in terms of the website? Massive change. We needed more Jesus, less Leanna. Our team worked diligently the last few months to correct this problem He must increase and I must decrease defines our focus. The basic problem was the focus. He must increase and I must decrease means the focus can’t be on any single person. Instead, it must be directed toward Him. There was also another problem. Experts say you need to write for your audience but what if you don’t know your audience?  After many struggles, one thing was obvious. You were there all the time. Thank you. Another Important truth also became obvious: We provide resources for the body of Christ to help them live the life of a real disciple of Jesus. Sometimes those resources are stories about everyday events in which we can see Jesus and learn from Him and sometimes they’re Bible studies, prayer guides, or how-to instructions. If you want to dig deep with Jesus, we can help. If your idea of the Christian life is to attend a church service now and then but make no changes in your life, you may not find what you’re looking for here…unless you’re ready for a challenge and change. Are you ready to ask what does He must increase and I must decrease” for yourself? We’d love to help. So…this newly designed website is a (still flawed) attempt at obedience. You won’t “see” as much Leanna but we pray you will see lots more of Jesus here. How to use the new “More Jesus, Less Me” website: 1. The Faith Lived Out Loud section This is the blog location. This is the only “new” blog post for today, but you can expect more to come. Will there be stories again? Yes. Definitely. Storytelling is one of my core values so there are definitely more stories in the future. 2. The Resources Section This section provides an organized structure for lots of resources in the areas of community outreach, discipleship, and prayer. The Women’s Ministry resources take you to our Whisper Gathering website for now. We’ve included quite a few resources, including some to help you embrace what it means for Him to increase and you to decrease, but there are more to come in the next few weeks. If you don’t see something you need or the answer to a question, use the Contact form to let us know. It may take a bit to get it done, but we want to provide the resources you need. 3. The Freebie page. We offer a free printable resource every month and it’s usually theme-based. Since we celebrated Labor Day this month, our free resource is how to pray for co-workers. We’ll also offer new one-day-only freebies this week, so be sure to check back regularly. Subscribers to the devotional newsletter (Faith Lived Out Loud newsletter) will receive all the freebies in their email so be sure to subscribe. 4. The About section This includes introductory information about many of the areas of outreach in our ministry. We’d love it if you’d decide to get involved. There’s plenty of work to be done. 5. The Get Involved tab This tab has multiple sections so you’ll need to use the drop-down menu to navigate. You’ll find the Contact form and all the newsletters from our Global Outreach ministry. If you’ve prayed, participated, or given in any way, these newsletters tell the story of your work so take a few minutes to read about what God’s doing through you. You can also sign up for the devotional newsletter too. (Please note: This is not the sign-up for the “paper” ministry newsletter but you can sign up to receive the snail-mail ministry newsletter version via the contact form.) What does He must increase and I must decrease mean for your life? The life of a Christian, a disciple of Jesus Christ, must be focused on Him and not on ourselves. The more we know Him and experience His love, mercy, and grace, the more we want to please Him by ridding ourselves of sinful actions, thoughts, or attitudes. We want to rid ourselves of the “deeds of the flesh” listed in Galatians 5:16-21 and allow Him to fill us with the fruit of the Spirit, found in Galatians 5:22-23. How does more

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Discipleship Resources for Living the Christian Life

Discipleship Resources: Tools for Living the Christian Life A disciple is someone who chooses to live by a set of doctrines, teachings, or rules. These are usually defined by the leader of a particular movement. A disciple of Jesus, then, is anyone who chooses to follow His leading and live by His teachings. Discipleship can be defined as the way one follows Jesus, the lifestyle of a disciple, or the training involved in learning to live as Jesus taught. These discipleship resources are designed to help you begin and continue a lifestyle of obedience to the teachings and example of Jesus. Regardless of our definition, a disciple of Jesus must live according to the teaching of Jesus found in the Holy Bible. This lifestyle involves more than praying a particular prayer, walking down an aisle, or attending a church service, although all of those may be a part of the experience of a Christian believer. Disciples, however, do not stop with an introduction to Jesus. They seek to learn all they can about His ways and His will. The learning process involves an intimate relationship with God, consistent, in-depth study of the Bible, God’s Word, and planting His Word in our hearts through Scripture memorization. Our goal is to help equip you for the journey of discipleship. You’ll find information on everything from how to become a Christian to in-depth Bible studies. Discipleship Resources: How to Become A Christian This printable PDF is available for free download and explains how to become a Christian. To download, click HERE Discipleship Resources: How to Deal with Sin How to Recognize and Get Rid of Sin: Putting Sin to Death Bible Study: This basic Bible study and prayer guide on getting rid of sin is available for free download and uses Scripture to explore God’s view of sin in comparison to our own and help as we strive to break free from the power of sin in our lives. To download, click here: PUTTING SIN TO DEATH STUDY Here’s a prayer guide that may be helpful and deals with our love for the world, sense of entitlement, and unconfessed sin. What to Do When God’s Heart Breaks Check out these blog posts on repentance: Repentance: It’s Not Optional: Learn about why importance matters and how it changes us. Repentance and the Benefits Package: Learn about the 12 benefits of repentance. When We Replace Rules with Generosity and Repentance: How repentance changes our behavior. Discipleship Resources: Obedience If We’re Liberated, Why Don’t We Live Free? Learn how obedience sets us free. Discipleship Resources: Scripture Memorization Check out these blog posts About Scripture Memorization: Why Does Scripture Memory Matter?  How to Memorize Scripture: Three Easy Steps Discipleship Resources: Free Bible Studies Whisper Connect In-Depth Study of Ruth Video Series: This study began 9/10/21 and continues twice weekly. Check back often to keep up with the study.(click on the link to access the YouTube video. It’s accessible only by this link) #1: Ruth Chapter 1:1-7 #2: Ruth Chapter 1:8-22 #3: Ruth Chapter 2, part one #4: Ruth 2, part two #5: Ruth Chapter 3 #6: Ruth Chapter 4   Featured image Photo by Small Group Network on Unsplash Subscribe * indicates required Email Address * First Name * Last Name *

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