The Faith Life

When God Grows Your Faith

Tammy M CardwellLeave a comment

I’ve been thinking a lot about this quote from Hudson Taylor lately.

“There are three stages to every great work of God;
first it is impossible, then it is difficult, then it is done.”

God has been asking me to do things, lately, that seem impossible, so I guess it’s no surprise that this quote came to mind.

“What do you mean by ‘impossible,’ Tammy?”

I mean that, when you look at my circumstances and experience, God is literally asking me to do things I cannot possibly do. 

Have you ever considered something and, even as you thought, “No,” you undeniably heard God speak to your spirit a solid, “Yes”? I did earlier this month. On the outside I looked calm and collected. On the inside a battle raged. My flesh, which was being told to step out of the way, was in a heated argument with my spirit.

But my spirit was leaping up and down. God had spoken to me, clearly, about this specific situation. And when God speaks that clearly, not only am I limited to one option – obedience – but I also have a guarantee that He’s not going to let me fail.

My flesh didn’t believe a word of it.

Flesh: “But you know how you get when learning new things frustrates you; you shut down.”

Spirit: “Not this time! God’s standing right here assuring me I won’t!”

Flesh: “What about the financial commitment you’re making? You haven’t budgeted for anything like this!”

Spirit: “God has, obviously, or He wouldn’t be telling me to do it.”

During the battle I was reminded of both Hudson Taylor’s quote and something a character in a book once said. I can’t remember what he said, exactly, but it was along the lines of, “Of course I don’t know how God is going to work it out. That’s what makes it so exciting!”

Even then, the battle wasn’t over.

The next morning, I was still struggling, doubting that I was truly hearing from God, so I fell back on my tried-and-true decision making strategy. It’s a principle my pastor taught many years ago: God always leads with peace.

So, when faced with a hard decision, I decide. In this case (because I had a feeling it was the wrong choice), I first decided I wasn’t going to do it; I was going to pass up the opportunity I was being given. And I was filled with…complacency.

I will interject here that I’ve advised people about this process many times and I always explain that only God can give you peace; the closest the devil can get is complacency. I’ve never experienced it like this before, however. Generally, the wrong choice has resulted in a churning stomach.

But yeah, I felt total and complete complacency, like a sleeper who chooses to roll over and go back to sleep because he isn’t in the mood to face the day. It disturbed me so that I quickly decided to obey God.

Not only did peace instantly flood my soul when I said, “Yes,” to God: I got excited!

And then something occurred to me. Actually, I’m going to say God revealed it to me, because this is a thought I’ve never had.

We are to live by faith. We know this. Scripture after scripture tells us we’re to walk by faith, to grow and strengthen our faith, that we’re to have works associated with our faith, that we can’t please God without faith…

I’ll stop. But you get the idea.

My faith is as strong as it is because living with my husband required it. When you’re moving essentially from one crisis to another, either you’ll build your faith up or you’ll let yourself be torn down – and I was not going to let myself be torn down!

Even in the year after he passed, my faith grew as it was stretched by my financial and housing situations, but in the past year or so…not so much. And I didn’t realize it until recently, but that steady season had quietly allowed my faith muscles to relax. 

But, again, that’s not what we’re called to do. I have come to believe that, if we’re not consciously choosing to stretch and work our faith, which is what is required for it to grow, God will lead us into situations where stretching and building up our faith is a necessity.

Now that I think about it, this is the second time He’s done that in recent months. Something else happened a few months ago that demanded I put my faith out there and trust Him, and I was excited to find I was able, that I was looking forward to seeing how He would take care of things. I still am.

So…yeah… Faith – trusting God – is not just important; it’s essential. We can’t just say we trust Him; our lives have to show it. And when they do, He’ll often lead us straight into the impossible.

But once our focus is fully on Him, we’ll realize it was never impossible after all. It may be difficult, yes, but at some point…it will be done.

Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C

The Victor’s Crown: Why Our Struggles Matter

Tammy M CardwellLeave a comment

“Why does life have to be so hard?”

Now there’s a question we’ve all asked more than once. Clearly, I don’t have the whole answer, but I saw something in the Word today that reminded me of one of the reasons life is hard.

Everyone goes through hard seasons. Mine may look different from yours, but they are hard nonetheless. This is a good fact to remember: Everyone around you is dealing with something, probably many somethings. Never assume your neighbor has it easy, because it’s highly likely they don’t.

Everyone goes through tests, trials, and temptations. How we respond to them matters. I’m speaking to Christians here, so I’ll leap right into temptation. Have you felt God prompt you to give up a habit and you’ve tried, but you just couldn’t do it – or did it for a time and then went right back to it?

I’m not even talking about outright sin here. My point is that any time God asks us to do something, or to stop doing something, and we are tempted to disobey, that is a test. Our flesh may be testing us, or demonic influences might be pushing the temptation our way. Regardless, it’s a test.

Now look at James 1:12 in the New Living translation:
“God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”

I went to the Renner Interpretive Version: James & Jude for Rick Renner’s notes on this crown of life and he explains that “crown,” the word James used here, referred to a victor’s crown such as those given to winning athletes. These crowns made of laurel wreaths marked them as people to be esteemed and honored; they also guaranteed the winner would be provided for for the rest of his life. 

But James didn’t stop there. He called it the crown of life or, properly translated, the victor’s crown of zoe life which, according to Renner, “brings a physical and spiritual reward, both in life now and for all eternity.”

This is clearly something that is not to be taken lightly!

But we have to remember where we started.
“God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation.”

Now let’s look at this verse in two other translations.

James 1:12 (NKJV) – “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”

James 1:12 (NET) – “Happy is the one who endures testing, because when he has proven to be genuine, he will receive the crown of life that God promised to those who love him.”

How we deal with test/trials/temptations is what determines whether or not we are approved, whether or not we have proven ourselves to be true lovers of God.

Am I saying those who fail aren’t saved? Not necessarily, no. I’m saying that when a runner enters a race he goes in with his eyes wide open, knowing he will be tested to his limits. He may face distractions, bumps in the road, weather issues, interference by other runners, and major objections from his own body.

He will face the temptation to slow down, with a voice whispering that second or third place wouldn’t be so bad. He will face the temptation to throw up his hands and quit. But if he wants to win, he determines in his heart that we will press on through to the end no matter what obstacles are in his way.

This is what the Apostle Paul did. In 2 Timothy 4:7 he explains to Timothy that he knows his time is up, that he won’t be alive much longer, and he assures this one who was like a son to him that:

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

We know from his own accounts and history that Paul faced more trials, tribulations, and temptations than most of us can conceive, but he ran his whole race determined that, no matter what he faced, he and God would win.

Those tests, trials, and temptations give us the opportunity to prove that our love for God is real, not just something we feel when life looks good. They also, according to James 1:2, help us grow into maturity.

Yes, life can be hard, but we can be strong. If Paul did it, we can too.

Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C

What Do I Say?

Tammy M Cardwell2 Comments

I was in an uncomfortable position, recently. (Understatement Alert)

I’d received a message – heartfelt, pain-filled, and laced with anger – that I knew I needed to respond to. But I didn’t know how.

So, I waited.

I’ve learned that, when my heart is stirred like it was at that point, my first reaction is not usually going to be the best one. In this instance I wasn’t even being asked to respond, not directly, but it was clear I was expected to. So yes, I waited.

I waited until I’d had time to step away from it, to breathe, to do other things and give God a chance to speak. Interestingly, He used TikTok, of all things, to remind me of truths I already knew, but hadn’t put together to apply to this moment.

When God nudged me, letting me know it was time, I returned to the message.

Before I started typing, I prayed:
“You’ve got to give me the words. I can’t do this without you.”

I knew the direction He wanted to go. I knew my heart was in the right place. I just didn’t trust myself to get it right.

And God did what He always does.
He gave me the words.

They sounded like me: If you read them, you’d know I wrote them. But I only typed what He told me to say. Even a part I initially left out, feeling like it would be “too much,” He had me go back and add, and I’m glad I did.

Because I waited.
Because I listened.
Because I trusted.
He gave me the words.

I Knew He would.

I learned this lesson long ago, before my first experience as a conference speaker. I’d done everything I knew to do. I’d researched, studied, prayed, outlined… But I was still unsure of myself. 

As I’d talked to Him about it, God had reassured me:
If He gave Moses the right words, He would do the same for me.

And He did.

My workshops went well, and I’d learned something new and vital. What God did for Moses He really is willing to do for me.

And for you.

He created us. He knows our strengths – and our weaknesses. He understands our messy emotions and our tendency to speak when silence is the better choice – or to hesitate, remaining silent when someone needs hope.

He knows how much we want to represent Him well – not misrepresent Him!
He knows we want to make things better – not worse!

The good news is…

He’s willing to help.
Not just with strength.
Not just with courage.
But with the very words we need to say.

Left to our own devices, we might make a tense situation even worse.
We might miss an opportunity to bring peace, healing, or truth.

But with God?

With God, yes.

We can know what to say.

Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C

The Weight of the Calling: A Reflection on James 3:1

Tammy M CardwellLeave a comment

Every time I read James 3:1, I pause and examine my heart and motives.

I’ve never claimed to be a teacher; I’m not one. I’m merely someone who shares what she learns as she learns it – what God shows me as He helps me understand it.

James 3:1 is a strong warning:

“My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.” (KJV)

Most modern translations use the word “teacher” instead of “master,” which is another reason I don’t claim to be a teacher. I’ve certainly not mastered Scripture well enough to teach it!

This verse hits me harder now than it ever has. Reading Rick Renner’s Renner Interpretive Version: James & Jude has given me a deeper understanding of this verse than I anticipated.

The one verse warrants two whole pages in his book. He has a lot to say and it’s all important. For brevity’s sake, I’m limiting myself to sharing just two points here. They’re things we should already know, but still…

There is no room for ego and pride in ministry.
At any level.
Period.

Whether one is a Christian or not, ego and pride are the most common culprits when it comes to desiring labels, titles, and recognition. Actually, let’s get real; they are the culprits. Whether we admit it or not.

Renner writes, “Humility serves as an unmistakable hallmark of any great teacher, and all genuine ‘masters’ have first been mastered by their own submission to truth.”

I saw this humility in action once when a guest minister arrived early and saw us setting up tables in the foyer. He didn’t miss a beat but immediately jumped in to help in spite of our efforts to stop him. He was our special guest! That didn’t matter to him. I wish I could remember exactly what he said as he picked up his end of a table. All I can tell you is that it made a huge impact on us.

Like Jesus did when He washed the disciples’ feet, this man demonstrated true servant leadership. He wasn’t chasing acclaim – he was living his calling with humility. Even those who rarely see him could tell it, and you know God noticed! Because…

God is always watching.

If someone sets themselves up and declares, “I’m a Christian teacher,” they really need to consider the magnitude of their decision. God, who cannot be deceived, sees every word, every motive, everything we hide in our hearts. We may fool man, but we can’t put anything over on God.

James doesn’t pull punches. In the NET this verse reads:

“…because you know that we will be judged more strictly.”

That’s heavy! Imagine James – the brother of Jesus – saying, “If I mess this up God is going to come down on me – HARD.”

But James didn’t write this to scare his readers. He wrote it because he cared. He wanted to protect them from false prophets and teachers; he also wanted to protect them from the self-deception of pride. He was trying to help them count the cost of leadership.

Renner’s notes unpack what it meant, in that culture, to be a teacher, master, or revelator. It required a level of preparation and knowledge that few were willing to pursue – study that took years, even decades. It still requires such effort today.

Do you feel called to the ministry?

Then prepare your heart. Study like never before. Live close to Jesus. And check your pride at the door.

Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C

If you haven’t read it already, you may want to check out my review of the Renner Interpretive Version: James & Jude.

Message Cards: A Simple Way to Witness

Tammy M Cardwell2 Comments

Sunday’s post on tipping and my latest project come together for this one.

As Christians, we have Good News worth sharing, but the thought of stepping out and speaking up can feel overwhelming. Trust me; I get it. I’m a serious introvert (if you’ve never picked up on that) and sharing Jesus used to intimidate me in a big way. But I discovered that it didn’t have to.

A Missed Opportunity and a New Idea
Many years ago, I realized I was missing a golden opportunity. I ate out frequently and wanted to share Jesus with the servers I met but was too shy to speak up. I am a good tipper and I soon decided I needed something I could leave with my tip.

Note:
If you don’t tip well,
you might want to check out my recent post,
Don’t Let a Bad Tip Ruin a Good Witness.

I settled on what I call message cards; I designed and ordered them fairly inexpensively from VistaPrint. My message was simple: “God loves you so much He asked Jesus to die for you. Jesus loves you so much that He did. John 3:16” After some thought, I decided to include my URL so people would have somewhere to go if they had questions. These little cards became a quiet way for me to witness without feeling awkward or pushy.

I prayed that each card would reach at least one person, then I left them with tips, used them as business cards by jotting my number or email on the back, and at one point even stapled dollar bills to a bunch of them and hid them in products in stores – coat pockets, wallets, etc. (I’m not necessarily advising this, but it was fun!)

These little cards were affordable and easy to hand out, but potentially powerful.

Time for an Upgrade
I recently realized my supply was getting low, and also that it was time for a new look. I had an idea of what I wanted them to say, but no design skills, so I turned to someone I trust implicitly: my son Terry, the owner of PixelDripStudio. He’s working on my website redesign, so he knows my branding (which he also created) and my heart.

I scribbled two lines on the back of one of my old cards and told him, “This is what I want to say.” After asking several questions to help refine the idea, he got to work… and he gave me more than I was expecting.

Watching him work was a joy (If you’re a mom, you know), and I’m proud to be able to share what he created. As silly as it sounds, I’m particularly delighted with the gloss accents! You’ll see them better in these two smaller pictures.

My message is two-fold.

1. John 3:16 is Personal
Yes, God sent Jesus “for the world” but, specifically, He sent Jesus for you. He was thinking of you when He asked His Son to become one of us, to live without sin, to show us how to live, then to give His life – knowing exactly who He was dying for.

…and…

2. Jesus Chose the Cross
Sometimes we gloss over Gethsemane, choosing to pass by the pain, but we shouldn’t. Read Luke 22:41-44 and you’ll see that Jesus was under so much torment in the garden that He sweated drops of blood. (Yes, it’s a real condition! Look up Hematidrosis.) Our Savior knew what was coming, what He would endure. He had every right to back out, but He didn’t. 

“Nevertheless, not my will, but thine, be done.”

He chose the cross. He chose you.

This is the foundation of every piece of encouragement and advice I offer here and in my newsletter. Jesus’ love for us, for you and me, is beyond comprehension. The more I think about what it cost both God and our Lord to free us from bondage to sin the more in awe I am.

The Takeaway
These new cards carry my heart, and my contact information for those who have questions. They present a message that matters and they let me share Jesus without saying a word. 

Evangelism doesn’t have to be scary and hard. It can be as simple as handing someone a card.

Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C

Don’t Let a Bad Tip Ruin a Good Witness

Tammy M Cardwell2 Comments

More and more lately, I come across social media reels from non-Americans asking why we do certain things. One common question is, “Why do Americans tip their servers?”

It’s a fair question, especially since it seems we’re the only nation, or one of the few, that does it.

The answer may surprise you.

Here in the U.S., the federal government classifies servers as “tipped employees.” Depending on the state, this means restaurants can pay their servers as little as $2.13 an hour on the assumption that tips will make up the rest of their pay. Yes, really. Tips are the bulk of their income.

That young person who brings out your steak and refills your tea? They literally depend on your tip to help them pay rent.

This is where I pull out my soapbox; as a Christian, this is an issue I feel strongly about.

A Conversation I’ll Never Forget

Several years ago, a devoted Christian friend, one who was also a server at a popular local restaurant, shared something that’s stuck with me ever since.

She told me no one ever wanted to work the Wednesday night closing shift.

Why?

Because every week a large group from a local church would come in minutes before closing. They’d order big meals, linger over their food, make demands long after closing, and then leave without tipping.

Like I said, this wasn’t a one-time thing. It happened week after week.

Everyone at the restaurant knew exactly which church these people came from, and that church’s reputation took a serious hit. Even worse, their bad behavior hurt the reputation of Christians in general.

That was when my friend taught me a phrase I’ve never forgotten: “Church People”

It’s what the servers she worked with called “Christians” who showed up with entitled attitudes and left no tips. Some even “preached” to their servers about Jesus, but they didn’t act much like Him.

A Higher Standard

The world will do what the world is going to do. I get it.

But Christians are called to a higher standard.

When I hear someone who claims to follow Jesus say, “I only tip if I get exceptional service,” it makes my stomach turn. It’s a good thing God doesn’t hand out grace using that standard!

If we want others to see Jesus in us, we must walk like Him. We should be the kindest, most generous, most appreciative customers in the building.

Yes, even if the service is slow.

Even if the food isn’t great.

Even if we’re hangry.

It is possible to deal with issues in love rather than entitlement.

Because our witness isn’t just about the right religious words coming out of our mouths. It’s about how we treat people, all people.

So… Please…

If you’re going to be rude and demanding…

If you’re going to skip the tip…

Don’t tell your server you’re a Christian.

Don’t write a Bible verse on the receipt.

Don’t wear your Christian t-shirt to the restaurant.

Don’t ruin your witness over a few dollars.

Let’s do better.

Let’s not be known as “church people,” but as people who show the love of Jesus one generous tip at a time.

Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C

Tip Challenge:
The next time you eat out, leave your server an extra generous tip just because you can,
and say a prayer for them as you lay it on the table.

Wake up, Church! The Alarm Has Already Sounded

Tammy M CardwellLeave a comment

Imagine you’re the boss of a large company and one day while walking around the jobsite you discover some of your employees asleep. Perhaps you’re a merciful person and, after waking them up and warning them not to repeat the offense, you move on.

But they don’t stop taking naps while they’re supposed to be working.

Someone else catches them at it again, sleeping right out in the open as if it were perfectly acceptable and they had no reason to be concerned about anything. But once more they get off with a warning.

Then a day comes when something goes wrong in their area and a raging fire breaks out. Perhaps it happens because of their inattention, perhaps not. Regardless, they’re so sound asleep they never hear any alarms, never have a clue until it’s too late, and they perish.

Because they were asleep.

Does it sound like something from a movie script? Maybe, but I’m sure similar things have occurred. Probably more than once. If, like me, you happen to live surrounded by chemical plants, you know what I mean. I’ve heard stories all my life.

I was thinking about one such story this morning and, as He often does, the Holy Spirit led me in a spiritual direction. Consider the same scenario…not in a company, but in the Church.

I thought about those sleeping employees and how they had been lulled into complacency. I mean, if you’re obviously sleeping on the job and not trying to hide it, you must feel like such behavior is ok. Why? Who did you see doing the same thing? Have you convinced yourself you’re above the rules? Or have you just stopped paying attention?

The truth is, we see the very same thing happening in the Church today. I’m not talking about sleeping in the pews; yes, this happens but is nowhere near as dangerous as what I’m referring to. I’m talking about the large percentage of the Church that has been lulled into complacency and is asleep on the job.

How many think they’ve “got it covered” just because they showed up? They fill their pews on Sunday morning and believe that’s good enough. But it’s not!

Romans 13:11 (NKJV) warns us,

“And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.”

In Revelation 3:1-3, to the church at Sardis Jesus says,

“…I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead… Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain…”

And in 1 Thessalonians 5:6 we see the clear warning,

“Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.”

Complacency is from the devil. I mean that literally. God leads us in peace. The devil can’t copy peace. The closest he can get is complacency, and he uses it skillfully. He distracts the Christian from what he needs to be doing, encourages him to get comfortable, and drapes a shroud of complacency over him to lull him to sleep.

When I had that thought this morning, alarm bells went off: The Ten Virgins!

In sharing this parable in Matthew 25:1-13, Jesus made it clear that we can’t be complacent. In verse 13, He says,

“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.”

Unlike the five foolish virgins, we must be prepared so that we’re ready to move the instant we hear the alarm. The consequences of failure in the parable were huge to those women.

And they can be huge to us.

The parable of the ten virgins has long been thought to be a reference to the Rapture of the Church, a warning that we must stay prepared if we don’t want to miss that call. Those who study End Time prophecy are well aware that Jesus’ return is unimaginably close, especially given the most recent events in the Middle East.

Don’t let the devil drape you in complacency. Put on the cloak of a warrior and stand up. Keep your eyes on our Lord and go where He leads.

Stay in the Word, stay in prayer, and keep sharing Jesus with everyone you can. Pray for the salvation of those around you. Yes, even pray for your enemies. God doesn’t want anyone to go to Hell, and neither should we.

2 Peter 3:9

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise… but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

1 Timothy 2:3-4

“…God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

Don’t let complacency be your downfall.
Stay awake. Stay prepared. Stay in step with the Spirit.
The time is short – and Eternity doesn’t wait.

Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C

Hard-Fought Hallelujah: Choosing Praise in Pain

Tammy M Cardwell4 Comments

The first time I heard these words…

I’ll bring my hard-fought, heartfelt been-through-hell hallelujah
And I’ll bring my storm-tossed, torn-sail story-to-tell hallelujah, oh, oh
‘Cause God, You’ve been patient 
God, You’ve been gracious, faithful, whatever I’m feeling or facing
So, I’ll bring my hard-fought, heartfelt it-is-well hallelujah

I knew I was hearing a song that spoke to my life, perhaps more deeply than any other. Brandon Lake’s Hard Fought Hallelujah has touched countless hearts, but in that first listening I felt heard – in a way I’m not sure I ever had before.

If you know me, you know I’ve been there!
During some of the darkest days of our marriage – when I knew that, as soon as we got home from church, he would head out to meet the other woman – choosing to worship God with the congregation gave me strength to breathe, to keep standing, to keep showing up.

Once, when one of my sons was heading in a completely wrong direction and I was alone in the house with the pain, I cranked up the worship and poured my heart out to God.
That was my, “storm-tossed, torn-sail story to tell hallelujah.”
And it got me through.

Here’s the thing.
Thanksgiving, praise, and worship aren’t just for the good times. Anyone can offer up a “thank God” when something goes their way. Unbelievers do it all the time. But when you offer up a hallelujah while walking through hell barefoot in the dark? That’s different.

That kind of worship releases something powerful.
Choosing to worship God not because of what we see, but because of Who He is transforms us.
It alters how we see Him.
It alters how we see the storm.
It deepens our relationship with The One who is always there.

Does the storm leave? Maybe. Maybe not. But we rise above it regardless.

I encourage you:
Bring it!
No matter where you are, no matter what you’re walking through today – bring God your hallelujah!
Let your worship be more than a song. Make it your lifestyle.

If you’ve not heard the song for yourself, you can watch Brandon Lake sing it with Jelly Roll on YouTube.

Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C

PS: Here is an eye-opening video of Brandon Lake and Jelly Roll being interviewed by KLove.

The Breath of Heaven: Lessons From the Deep

Tammy M CardwellLeave a comment

Image Copyright Clarissa Pardue

Ever think about how a creature that lives its entire life in water can drown…or suffocate?

Like us, whales and dolphins must breathe air, which of course requires rising to the surface. Unlike us, they have a voluntary respiratory system. Some part of their brain must always be on the alert to prepare for and trigger each breath. It’s fascinating, really. I did a “quick” web search that turned into a deep dive into what it means to be a marine mammal and how, even when they’re sleeping, part of the brain is always alert to what’s going on around them. These amazing creatures are constantly aware of any potential dangers as well as the state of their own bodies.

Studies have shown that when a bottlenose dolphin sleeps, half of its brain sleeps while the eye on that side is “awake.” You’ve heard the expression “sleeping with one eye open”? This is it, literally. I tell you, the more you think about it, the more you study, the more fascinating it gets; and as usual my reading opened my spiritual eyes. I came here to post, because I’ve realized something: Marine mammals live their whole lives in water but, in a sense, they are not of the water.

Did that sentence trigger a memory? How many times have I heard it said that we are “in this world, but not of it”? Too many to count, for sure. John 17:14-16 makes it clear that this is not our home; we do not belong to this world. With that in mind, the more I think about whales and dolphins the more I see those of us who believe reflected in the way God designed them. They paint a beautiful picture of what it means to not just live but thrive in a place you’re not ultimately made for.

We were created to spend eternity with Him; this life is merely a training ground, our opportunity to get a taste of, and prepare for, what’s to come.

We are so much like these animals. Spiritual speaking, we too must be conscious about our very breath. It takes intentional effort to get into God’s presence, to receive the breath of the Holy Spirit. We must live ever aware of our spiritual condition, where we are in our walk with God. If we dive too deeply into the world, drawing further away from Him, we can be like a dolphin that gets disoriented and fails to surface. That way leads to death for the dolphin and spiritual death for us.

While we live here, hopefully thriving and reproducing – drawing others to Christ, we must remember that we were created for a different life, one where we dwell constantly in His presence. In the here and now, sensitivity to what is going on around us, the company we keep, the examples we set, and where we are in our relationship with God… These are necessities we cannot ignore.

May we live like these glorious creatures – with our spiritual eyes wide open and regularly rising into His presence where we can inhale the breath of Heaven.

Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C

The Bondservant’s Choice: A Deeper Look at Commitment to Christ

Tammy M CardwellLeave a comment

Many years ago, when it first became fashionable for men to get ear piercings, I was told it was an ungodly practice because, “In the Bible, only slaves got their ears pierced.” I don’t remember having had an opinion one way or the other at that point, but once the Bible had been brought into the conversation so definitely, I decided to check it out for myself. What I found was truly fascinating.

This person was correct about the piercing of the ear marking someone as a slave, but their surface level interpretation was lacking. In Exodus 21:2-6 we learn what it meant to become a permanent slave or bondservant. One who had worked his full six years as a slave would be set free in the seventh year. However, if this man loved his master and wanted to continue serving him permanently, he could choose to do so. When he did, he was taken before the judges to testify to his wish and then his ear was pierced as a permanent mark of his freewill choice.

So yes, his ear was pierced to mark him as a slave or bondservant, but it was by choice and a decision made out of love for someone he wanted to devote his life to. This all reminded me of New Testament authors referring to themselves as slaves or bondservants of Jesus Christ. Thinking back to the person’s statement, I had to laugh because, by their reasoning, every man who has genuinely committed to serve Jesus should be required to get his ear pierced.

No, I did not seek them out to correct their wrong assumption. It seemed pointless.

So fast forward to today, or recently when I began reading from Rick Renner’s new offering, the Renner Interpretive Version: James & Jude. If you’re unfamiliar with Renner and this first step towards a complete Renner Interpretive Version of the New Testament, know that this man has a firm grasp not only on the Koine Greek, but on the cultural significance and application of the original language. Where I could technically look up the Greek word and its literal meaning, Rick Renner’s knowledge goes deeper, into how the original reader would have received the words.

So let’s look at the first part of James 1:1.
In the King James, it reads, “James, a servant of God…” But in the RIV we get…

I am James, first, foremost, and forever a completely committed, lifelong servant of God. As is the case with all such servants, this means my life is dedicated exclusively to doing His will and to faithfully carrying out any assignment He will ever entrust to me.

I only thought I understood what it meant to be a bondservant when I read Exodus 21 all those years ago. I mean, I did understand it in a sense. Everything James says here is included in what I had learned intellectually. I knew it was the servant’s choice. I knew it was a lifelong commitment. I also knew such a servant had one primary purpose in life, and that was to fulfill the will of his master. Seeing it expressed in such a new way, however, and from James, who didn’t believe his brother’s claims until after the Resurrection, hit me firmly in the heart. Can I say the same? Could I honestly speak the words James penned?

I’ve maintained for years that for a man to call himself a Christian while living a life that is not truly dedicated to Christ is a violation of the commandment, “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.” Looking at Christianity in light of the way this version presents this verse makes my conviction even stronger. Let’s break it down.

first, foremost, and forever

Is my commitment to God, to Jesus, the first thing I think about? Is it always foremost in my mind, and what inspires all my actions? Is it unconditionally forever? Absolutely yes to the last question; I’m in this for eternity! However, I must really examine myself when it comes to “first and foremost.” I say God is my #1 and He is, but I would be lying if I implied that my flesh doesn’t rise up on occasion, that self never demands to be first in line. Unfortunately, I’m not perfect and I battle self on an ongoing basis. When I lose the battle what do I do? Repent, and determine to do better next time.

a completely committed, lifelong servant of God

I am committed. I am completely committed to squash self and the flesh. I sometimes fail, but the commitment is there, and it is eternal. As we’ve already established, my heart is set to serve God throughout this life and forever.

Next he goes deeper. “As is the case with all such servants,” he says, “this means…”

my life is dedicated exclusively to doing His will

Here we go. All bondservants choose in advance to dedicate their lives to doing the will of their master and only the will of their master. There is no picking and choosing. I can’t say, “God, that other thing you told me to do? I am all in on that, but please don’t expect me to do this!” Well, I can say it. In fact, I have said it during some of our honest and occasionally gut-wrenching conversations. It’s at times like this that I truly appreciate the fatherhood of God, because He has an ability to be loving and merciful while also being decisive and firm that earthly fathers could really learn from. Generally, He sets me right and, when I obey, I see joy in that obedience. When I don’t obey, that’s when He calls me to repentance and, occasionally, gives me an opportunity to make things right. (At other times, I have to face the natural consequences of my disobedience, but that’s a topic for another day.)

and to faithfully carrying out any assignment He will ever entrust to me

I really appreciate the way this is phrased, because it reiterates the fact that I made the decision in advance when I chose to accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior. As my Lord, He has the right to give me any assignment, to tell me to do anything. As one who has, of my own free will, accepted His lordship, I have the responsibility to do anything He ever asks of me at any point today or in the future. In thinking about this, I’m reminded of Abraham’s reaction when God told him to go to the mountain and offer Isaac up as a sacrifice. Talk about a stomach-churning command! But Abraham had already established his relationship with God and wasn’t about to disobey. God, of course, provided the substitute sacrifice once Abraham demonstrated his commitment – and this proved to be a foreshadowing of what would transpire later at Calvary. What would have happened if Abraham had refused?

So yes, I too am a servant of God, a bondservant of Jesus Christ. An imperfect servant? Oh yeah, but I strive to keep my heart right at all times and I look forward to an eternity of carrying out any assignment He will ever entrust to me.

What about you?

Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C

You may wish to read my review of the Renner Interpretive Version: James & Jude.

Review: Renner Interpretive Version: James & Jude