Exemplify July Magazine

EXEMPLIFY MAGAZINE

July 2009

love joy

peace

patience kindness goodness

faithfulness

gentleness self-control Fruit of the Spirit Issue

FEATURE A Diet That Fills You Up

FEATURE Fruit Is A Verb

FEATURE Interview with Amy Beth

by Kelli Regan of Awesome God, Ordinary Girl

by LauraLee Shaw of Selah

of Ministry So Fabulous!

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WELCOME Galatians 5:22-23

I’LL NEVER FORGET ONE OF MY FIRST MEMORIES OF DRIVING AFTER GETTING MY LICENSE. My brother and I were on our way to the movies, the

This issue of Exemplify is a collection of articles with

open road our new playground, freedom to go where we

one purpose: to see the women of God grow and abound

wanted when we wanted, when we spotted the following

more in Him.

bumper sticker:

“God wants spiritual fruit not religious nuts.” Now, normally, I am not a fan of bumper stickers. But that one really tickled our funny bones that night and we laughed for days. Something about it struck me as so profound. And all

I am delighted this month to feature the writing of Kelli Regan of Awesome God, Ordinary Girl, LauraLee of Selah and an interview with Amy Beth of Ministry So Fabulous! I pray this issue stirs a hunger within you for more of Christ. Let this be the day we begin to truly cultivate the fruit

of these years later I still think about that bumper sticker

of the Spirit in our lives. Offering our hearts and homes

regularly.

as His garden and readily accepting whatever weeding

I want to be a woman who exhibits the fresh fruit of the Spirit in her life. Not someone who just recites a bunch of dead words in the name of religion. I want a real faith. With real promise. And real transformation. I want to leave this place better than when I started.

may need to happen to make us bloom beautifully. Today I pray love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control over you. May this issue find you blooming,

Kristen Schiffman

In This Issue Meet our writers

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fight with all your might !

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we belong ! !

30 days of silence!

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Spotlight: adding zest! !

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in 10 minutes or less!!

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a diet that fills you up: feature interview with amy beth ! !

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fruit is a verb: feature

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the book nook with katrina

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ministry: online!

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the outdoor sanctuary

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I AM HIS: fiction column

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help wanted

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© Exemplify 2009 - The contents of this publication are the copyright of either the individual columnists or Exemplify itself and cannot be reproduced in any form without prior written consent from the individual author or editor-in-chief, Kristen Schiffman.

Meet The Team Kristen is the editor and owner of Exemplify Online & Magazine. It is her desire to encourage women living lives that glorify Christ. She has a passion for relevant media and resources that fit that vision.

Katrina writes the Book Nook Column. She is Exemplify’s source on all things literary!

She is also the author of the bible study column.

Andrea is Exemplify’s Family Columnist. She writes about her adventures as a wife and mom of three seeking to know Christ more.

Christine is the Titus 2 Corner columnist. Drawing from her experience as a mom of four, she prayerfully offers sound advice. She welcomes your questions at [email protected].

Christy writes the Home Column for Exemplify. She writes with humor and creativity on how to make your house a home.

Jennifer is Exemplify’s resident Fashion Columnist! She has a love for fashion and a desire to see women, no matter what they are wearing, internally beautiful before our God.

Amy is the writer of our Tech Column, Ministry: Online. Using her experience in design, ministry and knowledge online, she shares practical and powerful ways to make a difference via the internet.

Shannon is the writer for Exemplify’s Health Column. Drawing from her current pharmacy schooling, she writes with the purpose of seeing women live healthy lives before the Lord.

Kristen Schiffman, Founder/Editor-in-Chief dancinginthemarginsblog.com

Kara is Exemplify’s Devotional Columnist. She writes with a passion to see others love Christ with their all.

Andrea, Family Columnist/ Blog Editor undergraceovercoffee.com Christine, Titus 2 Corner Columnist [email protected] Katrina, Book Nook Columnist callapidderdays.com

Rachel writes the Fiction Column. With the call to study and apply God’s Word, she writes with the purpose of teaching.

Christy, Home Design Columnist christyklein.wordpress.com Kara, Devotional Columnist karacwak.blogspot.com Rachel, Fiction Columnist afuturepastorswife.blogspot.com Amy Bayliss, Tech & Blog Columnist amybayliss.com

Carol has mastered the ability to get things done In 10 Minutes or Less. She writes her column with practical tips on how to make the most of that spare 10 minutes.

Jennifer, Fashion Columnist somanybooksblog.blogspot.com Jenifer,Marriage Columnist byhisgraceministry.com Shannon, Health Columnist asetapartgirl.blogspot.com Carol, In 10 Minutes or Less Columnist she-lives.typepad.com Visit our additional team members as well!

Jenifer, drawing from personal experience, writes Exemplify’s marriage column.

Christy M., Facebook Admin & Blog crittyjoy.typepad.com Patty, Blog Contributor pattywysong.blogspot.com Joanne, Blog Contributor joannesher.blogspot.com

© Exemplify 2009 - The contents of this publication are the copyright of either the individual columnists or Exemplify itself and cannot be reproduced in any form without prior written consent from the individual author or editor-in-chief, Kristen Schiffman.

Victoria, Blog Contributor letthesonshine.org Shane, Blog Contributor heartreflections.wordpress.com

Years ago, nursing a broken heart, I’d carry my bible and sad self across the sand of the beach up the block from my parent’s house, plop myself onto a towel, wrap myself in a warm sweatshirt and read the Word Alive.

“Silence is praise to you…God…and also obedience.” That verse was the fuel to get me through one of the single most trying times in my life. I still say those words daily and long to get back to those beach moments. Where I

It was on that beach, in that sweatshirt, sitting on that

would sit before my God, completely silent, offering obedience, listening.

towel I first read these words:

It’s so easy to get caught up in the needs and wants of

“Silence is praise to you, Zion-dwelling God; And also obedience.

our every day. Please hear me when I say it is NOT a bad

You hear the prayer in it all.”

thing to ask for things from our God! But I also think we need to be still and KNOW that He IS God.

(Psalm 65:1, The Message) There is no other. Those words changed me. Would we choose our words more carefully if we At the time I was at a crossroads: I had just left my job,

wrapped our minds around that truth?

seriously injured my back, broken up with my boyfriend and more importantly, I had just begun to sense the Lord calling me into ministry.

I want to shed my constant asking and quietly sit at His throne for the sole purpose of knowing Him more.

© Exemplify 2009

Last week I felt the Lord urging me to praise Him not only in obedience but in silence as well.

Details will be going up in the coming weeks on suggestions for this time set

So, it got me thinking.

aside. You do not need to do the whole 30

What if we did a themed Kettle Club for the entire

days! Maybe you can only commit to

month of August? What if for 30 days we were silent before Him?

This is not to say we will forfeit praying with words! We each have real prayer requests that we need to express in words.

once a week or every other day. This is not about the number of days, it is about the humble offering of a

This will be a 30 day promise to set aside time to be quiet before the Lord. To be still and know that He is. Because at the same time, I believe we each have real prayer requests that words don’t do justice.

collected group of women hungry to know our God. By Kristen Schiffman

Instead of speaking, we will listen. Our Zion-dwelling God is calling for some beach moments. There is none like Him.

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Starting August 1st, if you feel led to join, our themed Kettle Club will begin. We will meet up on August 31st with the discussion starters and then the first week of September, we will each post how our quiet time (literally!) went.

© Exemplify 2009

Details will be following throughout the month of July on our blog at exemplifyonline.com.

www.addingzest.net Our desire is to create a safe place for women to

• We believe that sexual intimacy in marriage is

discuss our sexuality as Christians. We believe sex should

intended to reflect our intimacy with Christ and as

be a delight, a treasure, and a gift to share with our

such, should be delightful, fulfilling, and joyous.

husbands.

• We believe that the marriage bed should be undefiled and pure.

Adding Zest has a three-fold purpose: • to promote a biblical understanding of sex and the marriage bed

• We believe that the Bible talks openly about sex. Therefore, we should not be ashamed to talk about this topic, always remembering to approach it with respect and discretion.

• to assist women who struggle with their sexuality

• We believe that one of our greatest resources is each other and that we can, and should,

• to provide a community of like-minded women

encourage one another to sexual purity, sexual

for accountability, support, and sharing of

service to our spouses, and sexual joy and

resources and experiences.

freedom in the marriage relationship. • We believe God’s intent is for the sexual ruins

Adding Zest believes:

in our lives to be rebuilt and reclaimed, building

• We believe that sex is given by God to be enjoyed in marriage between one man and one woman, a husband and his wife.

strong marriages to the glory of God.

Be sure to check out addingzest.net for more information!

© Exemplify 2009

By Jenifer of byhisgraceministry.com

“Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.”

Nehemiah 4:14b

Fight With All Your Might

Sometime back my three children and I went to a local store to buy groceries. For me, this is a task that must be tackled with a Starbuck’s Grande White Chocolate Carmel Mocha in hand. While I was waiting for my mocha a young lady who had been attending Bible Study with me came in.

who recite their wedding vows has previously been married. My friends, this daunting statistic tells me that the enemy has squirmed his way into our homes wreaking havoc on our marriages and families. Ladies, it is time we stand up and fight! You and I must fight and fight hard for what is rightly ours. Recall with me in the Song of Solomon when the Shulamite woman We greeted one another with the normal greeting, said, “I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine” (Song “Hey, how are you?” Then I told her that I’d missed of Solomon 6:3a); when God gave us our spouse, He seeing her in Bible Study the past few weeks. With tears gave them to us for a lifetime and we are to protect in her eyes she began sharing with me some struggles and cherish that union at every cost. she was having. I grabbed her hand and encouraged her the best I could. As I walked out my heart sank Some time back God, in His sovereign way, showed me down to my toes. “Another one God?” was all I could a verse about fighting for our marriages. Read with me think. What in the world is going on? Because of the from Nehemiah 4. calling God has placed on my life, I have the unique “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and often times heart-breaking opportunity to talk and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, with women from all walks of life; women whose your daughters, your wives, and your houses.” marriages and families are in trouble. Nehemiah 4:14b According to the latest Barna Group Study that was released in March 2008, one out of every three persons

© Exemplify 2009

in a deep pit of sin. My life was a complete and utter mess. I praise the Nehemiah and the Israelites had Lord today that I had parents who begun rebuilding the walls that were down on their knees fighting surrounded Jerusalem. Parts of the wall had been completely destroyed; for my freedom from this bondage of other sections contained holes where sin. Not only did they fight for me, the enemy could easily make his way but they also fought for my marriage; in. Upon hearing of the rebuilding of a marriage that was literally on the brink of divorce. When I couldn’t fight the walls, the enemies of the Israelites became angry and began to for myself, they, along with God, fought for me. God answered their conspire with one another to cause prayers and the Lord rescued me problems among God’s people. This from a deep pit. enemy didn’t want the walls to be rebuilt because that would mean the After God rescued me, I began city and the people inside would be fighting for my unsaved husband protected once again. and my marriage. I was not giving up. I prayed hedges of protection around When the Israelites heard their myself, my husband, and my enemies were conspiring against children. I was not going to allow the them, their hearts became anxious enemy even the tiniest of holes to and fear made its way in. What were squirm his way through. Yes, I had they to do? How would they protect hated my husband for a time. Yes, he their families and their city? had deeply hurt me and I had hurt Nehemiah called them all together him. Yes, in society’s eyes, the easy and first said to them- do not be afraid. Why? Why not be afraid? Their way out was to sign a piece of paper enemies had come together with one and give up. But, no I was not giving up. As hard as it was for me to open purpose, to defeat them; so why not my heart up and love this man again, be afraid? They were not to fear I knew that was the right thing to do. because their God was great and I fought and I fought hard. I prayed awesome. He was powerful and mighty. Nehemiah told them to fight- and prayed that God would first change my heart toward my to stand up and fight for what was husband; that He would give me a theirs. He positioned families with love for him that could only be from their swords, spears, and bows around the city where the walls were God, the God of unconditional, eternal love. the weakest and told them to fight. And when they felt like they couldn’t fight any longer, Nehemiah reminded them that their God would fight for them (Nehemiah 4:20b). The enemy has made his way into our homes and it’s time that we grab our swords, spears, and bows and fight. You may be thinking to yourself, “but you don’t understand what’s going on behind my front door- you don’t know how badly I’m hurting”. I may not know your exact situation, but let me tell you what I do know. For years and years, I lived

I also fought for my husband’s salvation. I was not going to walk alone on my spiritual journey. In 1 Peter 3:1-6, we are called to be submissive to our husbands even if they are unsaved, to model a life of obedience to Christ, and we are to respect their position as the head of our homes. My job was not to save my husband, but to fight for my marriage and be the Godly woman I knew God was calling me to be. God did save my husband and He has healed our marriage. But, it didn’t

© Exemplify 2009

happen overnight. We both fought long and hard for what we have now. I want you to know beloved; there is no problem too big for God. He can heal any wound you have and restore any relationship that’s been broken. There is an enemy today who is seeking to devour God’s people. He is doing everything he can to make his way into our marriages, our homes, our churches, our hearts. He may have already torn down part of the wall that protects you, your marriage, and your family. Precious one, TAKE IT BACK! FIGHT FOR YOUR MARRIAGE. FIGHT FOR YOUR HUSBAND. FIGHT FOR YOUR CHILDREN, YOUR BROTHERS AND YOUR SISTERS. FIGHT FOR WHAT IS YOURS! PUT ON THE ARMOR OF GOD AND FIGHT!!!! Don’t allow the enemy to take another inch of what belongs to you. You have a God who is great and awesome. He is ready to fight alongside you and for you.

Jenifer welcomes your input or questions. You can email her at [email protected]

By Andrea of undergraceovercoffee.com

We Belong the end, the real me will be revealed. And she isn’t very pretty.

I need to admit something to you. Sometimes, when I look at the list of the fruit of the Spirit compared to who I am as a mom, a wife, a woman, I just want to give up. Honestly, I can’t compare. Whenever I read someone putting their own name in place of “love” in the list of attributes in 1 Corinthians 13 (which is similar to the list of the fruit of the Spirit), I just want to cry. I am none of those things. I am not patient. I have moments of unkindness, rudeness, and selfishness. Many, many moments. I am not always gentle. My self-control when it comes to many areas of my life, most of all my quick temper, is lacking. There are days I envy other women their lives instead of being filled with peace over the life God has called me to. And love? Well, let me just say there are days where I wonder if I am even capable of the love God wants me to demonstrate. If left to my own devices, I will inevitably fail. As a mother, as a wife, as a friend, as a woman. I cannot do any of these things on my own. Oh, I can put on a good show, but in

Often times we women feel alone, don’t we? It doesn’t matter what we are doing or how many other women have gone before us, when we are struggling we feel absolutely, completely, and utterly alone. Like no one else could ever understand what we are going through. And like there is no one who can help us get through it. But we are not alone. In Galatians 5:24, right after that seemingly impossible list of the fruit of the Spirit, Paul says “we belong to Christ. We belong. You belong. I belong. It is in this belonging that we are able to do the things that seem impossible. In fact it is ONLY in this belonging that we are able to do the things that seem impossible! day we accepted the invitation to belong to Jesus, He gave us the power to live by the Spirit, through the Spirit. Our sinful nature, the thing that makes doing those good things impossible, is crucified. (Gal 5:24)

© Exemplify 2009

When we live by this Spirit, God “brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard.” (v 22, The Message) And those gifts are amazing. Love. Joy. Peace. Patience. Kindness. Goodness. Faithfulness. Gentleness. Self-control. Those gifts, that fruit, will manifest itself in every area of our lives. In our parenting, in our marriages, in our friendships, in our interactions with the many people we encounter daily. The impossible isn’t so impossible after all when you know you belong, is it? But.

“You are an original. You belong to Jesus. And HE enables YOU to live by the Spirit, to demonstrate those very things that seem impossible when your day is falling apart.”

It is easy to think we have it all figured out once things start going well for us. It is easy to get sidetracked. Because of this, Paul admonishes us to stay in step with the Spirit (v 25). “That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original.” (v26, The Message) So ladies, for those days where you feel like a failure as a mom, or a wife, or a friend, or employee, let me leave you with this. You are an original. You belong to Jesus. And HE enables YOU to live by the Spirit, to demonstrate those very things that seem impossible when your day is falling apart. Through Him, you will bear much fruit (John 15:5). Beautiful, wonderful, amazing fruit.

© Exemplify 2009

Refresh Yourself in 10 Minutes or Less By Carol Moxley of she-lives.typepad.com

The summer heat is on! Don’t let the temperatures wilt you. Here are a few, quick ways to perk up and cool off. •

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You already know lots of H2O is the way to go. Add a few pieces of frozen fruit to your water to keep it cool and add a hint of flavor. Fresh or frozen fruit added to plain iced tea offers a refreshing change. Keep a spray bottle with cool water handy. Give a spritz to arms and legs for a quick cool down. Tip: add 1 drop eucalyptus and 2 drops lavender essential oils for an extra restorative mist. Rubbing a piece of ice over pulse points keeps the heat at bay. Wrists, neck and behind the knees are key. Keep a rice bag in the freezer. Use to soothe and diffuse summer heat. Also doubles as an ice pack! For a cold, sweet treat, sorbet or gelato weigh in as lighter and more refreshing than ice cream.   Keep an extra pillow case in the freezer. Cover your

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John 4:13-14

pillow at bed time for cool dreams. Take a time out! Stop the world for 10 minutes and just breathe. (Pick a good spot in the shade.) Put on some music that reflects the mood you’re aiming for. Something light and airy if you want a lift. A few well-placed, cut flowers will brighten the house and your spirits! Revive yourself with a quick, tepid bath or shower. Lightly scented soap or body wash for a fragrant pick-me-up. Spend some time just stretching. That gentle pull on muscles and joints is both relaxing and energizing! Nothing refreshes the soul like Living Water. Spend some time with the Lord in his word and in prayer.

© Exemplify 2009

Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:13-14

A Diet That Fills You Up By Kelli Regan of awesomegodordinarygirl.blogspot.com

Every summer we women face the same dilemma: How to get this body into those shorts. On this trip, the fog of ignorance lifted and I saw To accomplish this feat, we catch up on the latest diet trends, gather tips from our girlfriends and try to survive on eighteen cups of water, three slices of cantaloupe and a rice cake. Once we strike the right balance of calories in and calories out, we lose weight. To track our progress (or lack thereof), we hop on the scale. If only it were so simple to measure the success of our spiritual diet. Years ago, as a new Christian, I attended a retreat that delved into the oft-misunderstood third leg of the Trinity—the Holy Spirit. I really didn’t understand the Holy Spirit, but I was anxious to learn more. The weekend culminated in an intimate time of oneon-one prayer where, among other things, we could ask for a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit. It seemed so mysterious and kind of scary. As the prayer time approached, butterflies flitted in my stomach. What if my prayers don’t work? What if something weird happens? How will I even know if “it” happens to me? So I went to the place where all nervous women go—the ladies’ room.

clearly: That’s it! The nuns gather ‘round the scale after their sacraments to check their spiritual fullness. That’s how I’ll be able to tell if my prayers worked…if I’m filled with the Spirit, I’ll weigh more! My imagination took the idea and ran with it. Like a Weight Watchers’ meeting, I pictured all of us retreatgoers lined up for our turn on the Holy Spirit Scale-oMatic. As we stepped on the scale, our pastor would report the results: “Wow, you’re up ten pounds! You’re really filled with the Spirit—way to go!” Or, “Oh, no! You only gained half a pound. I think you can do better.” Or, “You lost weight!? You’ve got some repenting to do!” Silly? Of course. But, wouldn’t it be great if we really could quantify the progress of our faith? It certainly would clear up a lot of confusion. Much to my chagrin, no such scale exists. But I’ve learned there is a measure for spiritual growth. It’s called fruit. The apostle Paul says, “…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.” (Galatians 5:22-23). As the God transforms us, we receive these fruits as evidence of the Spirit’s presence in our lives.

Each time I’d entered the ladies’ room in the Catholic motherhouse that hosted our retreat, I noticed something oddly out-of-place in a public restroom—a bathroom scale. With each visit I’d pondered its presence.

© Exemplify 2009

By divine power we find patience where we had none; joy instead of despair; peace in the midst of conflict, self-control instead of anger, and love where bitterness resided. At first maybe only we notice the changes, but gradually our fruit becomes apparent to others as well. While I did experience a life-changing encounter with the Holy Spirit at that retreat (and I didn’t need a scale to tell me), the fullness didn’t last forever. Impatience, doubt and selfishness started to creep back into my life. I wondered if the Spirit had left or I’d been mistaken about the whole experience.

need to look at the fruit in our lives, and adjust our spiritual diets accordingly. As for the scale at the retreat, I suppose the nuns use it to weigh themselves just like the rest of us. But, maybe they could still give me some tips on how to lose these five extra pounds.

Meet the Author

That’s when a wise friend pointed something out—I leak. We all do. Receiving the transforming power of the Holy Spirit isn’t a once and done exchange. We need a continual refilling. Just as a garden requires rain to thrive, our spiritual orchards require Living Water flowing through them. The more we receive the Spirit, the greater our harvest. Thankfully Jesus made his Spirit available to all believers and it’s not necessary to attend an intensive retreat or be prayed over in a special way to absorb it. As He told the disciples, “Ask and you will receive…” (John 16:24)

Kelli Regan is thankful for the victory Jesus offers and passionately shares that message with others through writing, Bible study and prison ministry. She’s published numerous articles and lives in Bucks County, PA with her husband, Dan, and their two children. Visit her blog at awesomegodordinarygirl.blogspot.com

As we all know, losing weight is hard work. It requires sacrifice, denial, obedience, discipline and perseverance. Growing our faith requires the same hard work. We can’t earn our salvation, but we must exercise our spiritual growth and development. As Paul tells the Philippians “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” (2:12-13) While the Holy Spirit Scale-o-Matic will never see the light of day, we don’t need a newfangled contraption to tell us if we’re too spiritually lean or overflowing—we just

© Exemplify 2009

“By divine power we find patience where we had none; joy instead of despair; peace in the midst of conflict, selfcontrol instead of anger, and love where bitterness resided. At first maybe only we notice the changes, but gradually our fruit becomes apparent to others as well. “

Amy Beth of Ministry so Fabulous!

One of our writers, Christy, virtually sat down with Amy Beth of Ministry so Fabulous! for an interview recently, check it out! CM: Amy Beth, What is an average day like for you? 

I’ll finish this interview, answer Amy Beth Bullard is a 20 something some correspondence for the blog blogger who has become a favorite and start thinking about what blogger for many, especially those of tomorrow morning’s post will be on.  us here at Exemplify! I’ll then spend anywhere from a half AB: I’ll describe today, since it’s Her blog, Ministry So Fabulous hour to hour with God; I like having been pretty average: I had a bit of (hwww.ministrysofabulous.com) is my devotion time at night, trouble sleeping last night and was one of my favorites that is a must especially on days that begin with unfortunately woken up by a workread. work-related emergencies that related call long before my alarm Amy Beth (affectionately known as seem to come out of nowhere.  I’ll went off, something that’s simply AB by her readers) writes of the be in bed by midnight, which is a bit part of the job.  I got ready pretty everyday life of a single girl who late for me (I would go to bed at 8 sometimes struggles and sometimes quickly, ate breakfast in the car on triumphs. my way to the office and spent most p.m. every night if I could!).  And then, tomorrow morning, it’ll all of the day working on several I was thrilled when offered the start over again!  Just thinking chance to interview Amy Beth different projects as well as because her writings encourage me answering some correspondence.  I about my day-to-day experiences and make me ponder this life. makes me realize all over again that had lunch with a mother who is Sometimes she is poignant and I really do have a fabulous life. struggling with her teenage sometimes she is hilarious. daughter and gave what limited Ministry So Fabulous makes for a advice I have in that situation.  I CM: Can you tell us a little of how great daily read! you came to know Christ?  We wanted to give you, the readers of then ran some errands after work, Exemplify Magazine, a chance to get the most fun being shopping for a birthday gift for a friend’s daughter AB: I didn’t have a relationship with to know Amy Beth better and we hope you love her as much as we do! (one of the perks of being single Christ until my middle school years. So, let’s get to know AB, the Woman and without your own family is the I was in an incredible youth group of God, a little better. fact you get to really celebrate your where I learned who Christ was friend’s big moments in life, whether it’s weddings, babies, etc!). 

© Exemplify 2009

and began to understand what it meant to be in relationship with Him.  I have such a deep love and respect for the work our churches are doing with children and youth because, like millions of other youth, my experience with God didn’t begin or really develop in the home.  It’s so important that we realize that what we’re doing with the children and youth in our churches has the potential to shape the direction of their lives forever. 

focus somehow shifted to my being an “employee” of His, not just His. That caused a few cracks in the foundation of our relationship which we’re working on right now.  For the first time in a long time, my main focus is my relationship with Him, not what “task” I should accomplish for Him next.   

“Relating” to God is such an interesting concept.  I find that I can relate fairly well to Him as a friend, but struggle with seeing CM: What bible passage is Him as a father.  I easily currently speaking to your understand Him as a counselor, heart?    but have to work hard to see Him as a lover.  He is designed to fill so many difference capacities in AB: Without a doubt it’s our lives that I imagine I’ll spend Lamentations 3:24b, which reads the rest of my life discovering new “… the Lord is my portion, aspects of the relationship therefore I will wait for Him.”    between us and learning to see CM: What has God been teaching Him as that role in my life.  you lately?  CM: What do you consider as your greatest success?  Failure?  AB: What has He not been teaching me lately is a better question!  I’m in a season of transition in almost every single area of my life, so I’m learning a lot about patience and trust right now.  It’s easy for me to type that sentence, but the reality of it really hits home when I’m staring at my ceiling at 3 a.m. saying “God, I trust You.” 

AB: I think my greatest success has been being obedient to God, because a lot of fruit has been able to come out of that, especially in ministry.  When I graduated from college, the faculty at my University selected me as the senior most likely to make an impact on the kingdom of God.  It was such a defining He’s also helping to shift my focus moment in my life to have a from what He can do through me couple hundred faculty members say that they believe God will use to what He wants to do in me.  me in that way both now and in With having been in very intense the future.      vocational ministry for the last seven years and now making the transition out of that position, my

© Exemplify 2009

My greatest failure has been placing other things before my relationship with God at times.  Nothing is more important than my relationship with Him, no matter how “good” something might seem.  He comes first, both figuratively and literally.  CM: You have a passion to minister to girls.   When did this start and why is it such a passion for you?  AB: I can remember thinking as early as age 12 or 13 that I wanted to work with youth one day down the road, but I think my passion for serving girls came during my early college years. I remember living in a dorm with 111 other girls and thinking “I wish I could live here forever!”  That feeling faded away after a couple of years of tiny living space, cold showers and mandatory room checks, but the desire to serve girls never left.  I think the main reason I love ministering to girls is because we’re such emotional creatures.  Throughout the Biblical stories of Jesus’ time on this planet, you see the different emotions and feelings He experienced: love, passion, anger, etc.  I think the way we women experience life and love through emotions is an incredible gift that God has placed in women that reflects back onto Him.  I see a lot of Him in us when I look at our ability to experience emotions in a way that is completely unique to women.

 CM: You often talk about fatherless girls, which is very common in today’s society, if you could tell them one thing, what would you tell them?  AB: I think, if I could say just one thing to them, I’d tell them how sorry I am that they don’t have a father in their life.  Every girl needs to know that she has a daddy who loves her.  I’m convinced that not having that can be one of the most impacting experiences a girl will ever experience.  Unfortunately, it almost always causes a negative impact.    I believe that the body of Christ is about to see an enormous opportunity to minister to that area of hurt as we’re already seeing early indications that show that more then half of today’s current youth are growing up without a father figure in the home.  I’m hoping that God will put me on the frontlines of the war we’re going to see as girls grow up with emotional wounds from the lack of having a father in their lives. 

vocational ministry, it can be easy for people to see your work before your relationship.  Hugh saw my relationship before my work, and he has helped me see it that way, too.  CM: What book(s) have most impacted you? Why?  AB: By far, Get Out of That Pit by Beth Moore has been the most overall impacting book I’ve ever read; I think I’ve recommended it to just about every girl I’ve ever counseled.  Whether you’ve been thrown into a pit, slipped into one or just run headfirst into one, Beth explains how God not only wants to get you out of it but will act on your behalf.  As someone who has found herself in all three of those types of pits at one point or another, I’ve found that I can read – and then reread – this book over and over.  Madeleine L’Engle’s book Herself has definitely impacted me in the area of writing more than any other book.  She talks about how the gift of writing is an expression of God; it made me think about every word I write in a whole new light. 

Vocationally, I’d love to work with youth alongside my future husband one day, if that’s what God calls us to do.  I think the husband-wife dynamic at the head of a youth group can be so successful in reaching the needs of the girls and guys in the group.  I also love the idea of having a “smaller” group to work with because you get to pour more into their individual lives.   Of course, it would be great if that role also somehow included being a killer whale trainer at Sea World, buying gifts for friends and writing on a regular basis.  Now, Let’s get to know AB, the blogger, better.... CM: How do you feel about how popular your blog is?  Does it add pressure to your life to perform for your readers? 

AB: I’m genuinely shocked that people come to read my blog on a regular basis, especially since most of them have never met me.  I went through my teenage and college years with the idea that CM: Who has had a profound my life didn’t really matter that influence on your life?  Why was much, so to have people actually their influence so important?  come to read about my life each CM: What would your dream job day is something I’m still not used AB: It’s hard to choose just one entail?  to quite yet.  I genuinely care person, but I think it would have to about every last person who be my college pastor, Hugh Hale.  reads my blog and so want them AB: I make no secret of the fact Hugh has always been interested that I’m looking forward to being a to be around for future stages of in helping develop the ministry wife one day down the road, which my life.  Every girl dreams about gifting God has placed inside me, her future wedding; I just dream I think might count as a job.  but he’s far more interested in Beyond that, I’m also excited about about having a reception site how my personal relationship with hopefully being a mother, too.  large enough to invite my blog God is developing.  When you’re in readers! 

© Exemplify 2009

I would say that there is definitely an opportunity each and every day to “perform” for my readers.  I’m in control of what I post, so I decide what the readers “see” of my life.  There’s an idea out there that, in order to have a large readership, you need to keep your posts short, lighthearted, never depressing.  I don’t care necessarily want a large readership; I just want my blog.  When I read back through my own archives, I want to see my life on the screen in front of me, not stories just to make a bunch of people laugh.   

hope they’ll keep that in mind when we meet for the first time!  CM: Are there times you wish you had not started the blog? 

AB: I struggle with that occasionally, especially when I receive written or verbal criticism about the topics I address or the way I address them.  When you’re writing about your own life, it can hurt when someone speaks negatively about it.  Thankfully most of that type of feedback has come from people in my life whom I’ve experienced that type of behavior from in “real-life” not I don’t feel the need to make just from the blog.  So, while it’s myself look “better” than I actually still a bitter pill to swallow, it am, not do I feel the need to make seems to go down a bit easier myself look “worse” than I am in when you can almost expect their real life.  I write about my reactions.  successes in life and I write about my failures, too.  I think the thing I I do wish I had more boundaries love most about my blog is that about certain situations I’ve one day I can be writing about written about in the past, something silly that happened to especially when it’s involved other me the day before and the next people’s actions and their day’s post might be written with influence in my life.  It’s a hard tears streaming down my face.  balance to write about difficult That’s real life and that’s what I experiences you’ve had without want my grandchildren to see assigning blame or even just when they read through my blog responsibility to other people, archives 50 years from now.    especially when the hurt came CM: If you could tell our readers one thing about you, what would if be? 

from them.  It’s a balance that I’m still struggling with because I don’t want to use my blog to hurt someone. 

AB: Just because I write about wanting to have “good hair” on my blog on a semi-regularly basis One Final Question... doesn’t mean I actually have that many good hair days in real life.    It’s a desire, not a reality and I

© Exemplify 2009

CM: The tagline for Exemplify is Living Lives that Glorify.  How do you think you are living a life that glorifies?  AB: I love quotes and I think my all-time favorite one is by author Annie Dillard: “The way we

spend our days is, of course, the way we spend our lives.”  I’m trying to glorify Him in not just the big moments or aspects of my life, but in the day-to-day, too.  I’ve found that it’s a constant struggle for me to focus on both the big and small picture at the same time, but I’m convinced that the more I work on it, the better it will get.  At the end of the day, it matters how I’ve loved everyone I’ve come in contact with, not just people that I might be “trying” to minister to or serve through a job.  

Thanks, Amy Beth, for letting us get a glimpse into your life. You definitely live a life that glorifies our God! ***

Visit Amy Beth daily at ministrysofabulous.com.

FRUIT IS A VERB Feature Article Written by LauraLee Shaw of lovinthearts.blogspot.com

John 15:8 ”This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” L et the Fruit of the Spirit come alive in you,

P ursue peace

V erb form,

T elling.

O beying the Word of the Lord in

A ctively, showing even more than

E agerly acting upon that which you have hidden in your heart.

C are about the underdog

Y ou should choose to lay down your life for others. P ractice what you preach,

E xude joy in work, as well as play, A sk God--beg God to

C omplete His work in you

E ach and every hour of every single day.

E nemy to break bread with you.

N otice when someone is alone and

J ust as Christ demonstrated His love for you, O pting to die for your sins, so

I nvite your

E specially. K I

now that the Lord will

gnite His Spirit in you as you acknowledge your

N

D N

eediness and complete ependence upon Him to do the work.

O WAY can you produce the practice of patience on your own! E

S S

ven when the enemy pursues you, God will helter you under the shadow of His wings.

imply trust and obey.

© Exemplify 2009

G o for it!

O bviously you are beginning to see that O bedience gives way to a fruitfilled life.

D o you have faith like a mustard seed? N o? You see…

E ven when showing kindness to others causes you pain, you are S haring in the

S ufferings of Christ.

G rowth—the spiritual kind. E nergy—the lasting kind. N ot only those, but also T ruth and

L ove—the faithful kind. E ndurance and N ever

E nding

S trength--the

S upernatural kind.

F or by His stripes your hurt will be healed, A nd

I t will give way

T o His goodness spilled out as blessings in your life.

H e will pour them out from the

S o let His gentleness be E vident to all by L iving this

-- ONLY HE CAN GIVE YOU THE SELFCONTROL TO BEHAVE THIS WAY.

F ullness of His love for you.

L ove in His form does not always bring happiness.

N o one will believe you love Him if you don’t show His love to others.

E xemption from

R epent if need be. Then respond by

U nderstand that He does not give as the world gives.

O bey Him. Don’t just say that you love Him.

N ever did He promise you a trouble-free life or

T ake a moment to pray on this living, active Word from Him.

S o why believe then? “What’s in it for me,” you ask?

”And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God…” *Scriptures taken om the NIV Translation *e uit of the Spirit is found in Galatians 5:22-23

F ruit-filled, Holy Spirit-filled life.

C an I share something else? If you love God with all your heart, then

S uffering.

Colossians 1:10

O ffering your body as a living sacrifice.

L et the Fruit of the Spirit be a verb in you.

© Exemplify 2009

Adapted om the following NIV Scriptures: Luke 11:28, 1 John 3:18, Psalm 119:11, Romans 5:8, 1 John 3:16, Matthew 5:19, 1 essalonians 5:14-17, 1 John 5:14, James 2:22, 1 Peter 3:11, Romans 12:20, Psalm 41:1, Romans 8:10-11, Galatians 3:3, Psalm 51:17, Philippians 1:6, 2:13, Psalm 57:1, Proverbs 3:5-6, Romans 2:13, Philippians 1:11, Matthew 17:20, Romans 8:17-18, Isaiah 53:5, Deuteronomy 28:2, Ephesians 3:18, John 14:27, 16:33, Ephesians 1:19, 3:20, Colossians 1:29, Romans 5:5, Philippians 4:5, John 14:15, 1 John 4:20, Acts 3:19, Romans 12:1

The Book Nook with Katrina Book Review: Love As a Way of Life by Gary Chapman

“Love as a Way of Life is an inspiring and practical book intended to help readers learn how to apply foundational aspects of giving love to every area of their lives. The result? Improved relationships, an increased sense of peace and purpose, and significant eternal impact on those around us.”

So when I had a chance to read one of Dr. Chapman’s most recent books, Love as a Way of Life, I jumped at it.

Each chapter is filled with examples of how individuals have learned to apply these characteristics in their own lives. I found these inspiring stories to be very motivating. Just hearing about how others have become more generous or patient made me want to do the same. Chapman also helps readers realize that becoming more kind, forgiving, generous, etc. is oen a matter of mindset. We need to remind ourselves regularly of basic truths: Every person we encounter is valuable. No one is perfect. Every interaction is an opportunity to positively impact others.

Love as a Way of Life is an inspiring and practical book intended to help readers learn how to apply foundational aspects of giving love to every area of their lives. e result? Improved relationships, an increased sense of peace and purpose, and significant eternal impact on those around us.

Finally, Chapman includes very practical advice for incorporating these seven traits into our everyday lives. Scattered throughout the chapters are helpful “habits to acquire.” And each chapter ends with questions for reflection and options for application that you can put into practice immediately.

Chapman dedicates a chapter of the book to each of seven traits that are essential facets of genuine love:

Following the chapters on the individual characteristics, the author has set aside a few chapters addressing the specific challenges and opportunities of making love a way of life in marriage, in parenting, and in the work place.

I’ve long been a fan of Gary Chapman’s books on love languages. e Five Love Languages was incredibly helpful for my husband and me in the early years of our marriage, and e Five Love Languages of Children has been a welcome resource on this parenting adventure.

Kindness: discovering the joy of helping others Patience: accepting the imperfections of others Forgiveness: finding freedom from the grip of anger Courtesy: treating others as friends Humility: stepping down so someone else can step up Generosity: giving your time, money, and abilities to others Honesty: caring enough to tell the truth

© Exemplify 2009

Love as a Way of Life reads quickly, but is packed with useful advice and application. I found myself underlining and taking notes continually. If you, too, have enjoyed the Love Languages books, or if you’re simply looking for some practical help in improving your relationships, pick up Love as a Way of Life.

Ministry: Online!

By Amy Bayliss of amybayliss.com

T h e r e i s o n e c o m m o n e l e m e n t o f groundwork for a genuine relationship. ministries that make them successful: they build strong relationships. In order to have a strong relationship there must be trust, sincerity, and communication. Though it may seem difficult to do this online it really is exactly the same as building a relationship in person. Just remember that there is absolutely no distance in the spirit realm and love knows no boundaries.

Find others with like causes or ministries and promote them. While it may seem strange to promote another blogger or Twitterer (sounds funny, doesn’t it?), in God’s kingdom it is all about serving others. In order to serve you must be selfless. If another blogger has a great post or point that really made an impact in your day then it is sure to impact someone else. You can serve yourself by

Here are some guidelines to follow in deciding to not post about it in fear of order to help you establish and maintain drawing attention to the other person or strong relationships with others: Communicate with those who communicate with you. There is no tried and true method of doing this. I tend to weave

you can go ahead and link to them and serve many people: the person who wrote it and all of those who will read it. This builds trust with everyone involved.

t o g e t h e r a v a r i e t y o f w a y s t o Realize that there is no competition in communicate with others and find that it ministry.

We can easily become

solely depends on the recipient as to how competitive in online ministry just as we they will respond. If someone emails you can with any other form of ministry. We then, of course, you should email back must hold fast to the truth that we are but if someone leaves a comment on your all on the same team and we can do blog, Facebook page, or other social more together than we can apart. Our media profile then it is common to ultimate goal is to build the kingdom of simply comment back. When commenting God and not our number of followers or be sure that what you are saying is readers. Whether you plant a seed that genuine and sincere. “Thanks for grants you a return reader or it directs visiting me,“great post,” or “Love them to someone else who will gain their the comment you left” seem to lack loyalty, the more important thing is that w h a t i s d e s i r e d f o r b u i l d i n g a they are being discipled by someone. relationship. Instead, take a minute to read a bit about the person and comment on something you may have in common. That will begin to lay the

© Exemplify 2009

Make sure God gets the glory. I don’t even think I need to clarify this but I will say that you should always be genuine in your testimonies. God cannot get the full glory of a situation unless we confess to the severity of the situation. I am not saying air all of your dirty laundry. You should definitely pray and be lead by the Holy Spirit but consider that the bible is one huge book of testimonies that glorify God and you don’t find any of them sugar coating the situation or downplaying it because they are afraid they might look bad. Be sincere and people will be able to relate to you and will look to you for help in their own lives. Then you can point them to the one who set you free – Jesus!

In future issues, we will discuss, in detail, the applications we can use to minister to others via the World Wide Web. If you have any specific questions about blogging (design and writing), twittering, or anything else pertaining to online ministry please send them to: [email protected]. I will try to answer as many questions as

Who is Apollos, and who is Paul, that we should be the cause of such quarrels? Why, we're only servants. Through us God caused you to believe. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. My job was to plant the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God, not we, who made it grow. The ones who do the planting or watering aren't important, but God is important because he is the one who makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work as a team with the same purpose. Yet they will be rewarded individually, according to their own hard work. We work together as partners who belong to God. You are God's field, God's building--not ours. Because of God's special favor to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. For no one can lay any other foundation than the one we already have--Jesus Christ.

possible in each issue.

© Exemplify 2009

1 Corinthians 3:5-11

The Outdoor Sanctuary By Christy Klein of christyklein.wordpress.com

Children splashing around in the swimming pool, plastic pitchers filled with iced tea, the twanging tune of the ice cream man cruising the neighborhood, sleeping in late...

excellent starting point. Or perhaps you could stalk some of your favorite thrift stores in search of a few pieces that can be restored for outdoor purposes. And you can never go wrong with an eclectic collection of antique pieces.

Yep, summer is here. And with the arrival of summer also comes a season of outdoor activities. These are the Do you have a shady spot where you can easily create days when families forsake the couch and telly in order your outdoor sanctuary? A covered patio or large trees, to gather around the barbecue and swimming pool. perhaps? If not, I would recommend investing in a patio umbrella. Having protection from the sun's rays is Ladies, it's time for us to extend our sanctuaries to vital when creating a comfortable outdoor sanctuary... include those spaces beyond the doors. helps to keep things cool, too. Purchasing patio furniture for the backyard turned out to be one of the best things we've done for our family. Having an inviting atmosphere on the patio has encouraged us to move our family time away from the telly to the great outdoors where we can truly enjoy one another's company. There are many different ways to create an inviting and comfortable atmosphere outdoors. Obviously, beautiful wrought iron or wicker furniture would be an easy way to create an outdoor sanctuary. However, in today's economy, that might not be an option for you right now. That's okay. Most retailers sell a wide variety of lovely plastic furniture which makes for an

Once you've selected the furniture pieces to suit your family's lifestyle and have a nice shady spot picked out, then it's time to accessorize, accessorize, accessorize! And what's a better accessory for an outdoor sanctuary than plants and flowers? A few potted plants will go a long way in creating a welcoming and relaxing environment. Place a cheerful flowering plant on the table, or have a small collection of your favorite plants in pots nearby. Add a couple of small statues for a more friendly and whimsical feel.

© Exemplify 2009

DON’T FORGET THE LIGHTING.. And last, but not least, don't forget about lighting. You will find that your family will spend just as much time enjoying the outdoor sanctuary at night as they would any other time of day. Enhance the warmth and coziness of the outdoor sanctuary at night with a few well chosen and cleverly placed lights. Add a few solar powered stakes near trees, shrubs, flowers, or inside potted plants. Hang outdoor candle holders from tree branches or decorate select trees with white twinkle lights. Use your imagination to create an outdoor sanctuary that will be cheery during the day and cozy in the evening. You will be surprised at how much time you and your family will spend there. And since many families have decided to combat today's economy by taking stay-cations this summer instead of costly summer vacations, having an inviting and comfortable sanctuary outside will enhance the quality of the summer stay-cation, as well as life in general. I challenge you to spend extra time in your outdoor sanctuary

enjoying God's creation all around you. It's soothing to the soul and an excellent place to spend time with the Lord.

Outdoor Sanctuary

Reminder: Only two months left to work some makeover magic for the Sizzling Sanctuary Summer Contest. You can read about the details in the June issue. © Exemplify 2009

Editor’s Note: If you are ever to sit down with your cup o’ tea and an article in our magazine, hear me when I say: this is the piece for you! Tara has ministered to me powerfully through her writing this month. --KJS

I AM HIS

By Tara Rachel of afuturepastorswife.blogspot.com

Author’s Note: This is not one of my typical works. Usually for my fiction columns, I find a character within the Bible who I feel exemplifies the month’s theme and write about one particular character with one particular theme emphasized. This month was much more difficult. How could I find just one biblical character who embodied all of the fruit of the Spirit? I search through Bible commentaries, book after book on biblical characters, and even did word searches in my online concordance for the fruit of the Spirit to see if it pulled up in multiple areas. Then I realized that out of all the amazing characters

in the Bible, there is really only One who truly portrays all the characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit. Now you might think of different scriptural examples than what I used, and obviously there are many to choose from. I picked these because they best spoke to me as an outsider looking in. And so with that, I give Jesus the (rightly deserved) place of honor. Without Him, how would we even know what the fruit of the Spirit should look like? ***

© Exemplify 2009

I am His disciple. I follow Him. Study Him. I am not one of his Twelve. Sometimes I stand in the shadows, watching, beholding. Sometimes I mingle with the crowds. Sometimes I sit in the temple courts and listen. Sometimes I dare to reach out to touch His robes. I leave His presence always wanting more. More of His wisdom. More of His knowledge. More of His power. More of Him. He is not much to look at. He is very plain. In fact, there is very little about his appearance that is definably endearing. And yet I can’t get enough of Him. Something about Him speaks to my heart and draws me in. He gives me instructions no other person can. He leads me and guides me. He has already taught me so much, and yet I know there is still so much to learn. I will follow Him to the end of my days, for without Him my days are meaningless.

people should be at home in bed! And yet they stretch themselves to the ends of endurance just to reach Jesus. We find Him seated in a cleft of the rock, resting. Perhaps He has been praying. I search His eyes as they light upon us. There is no malice, no bitterness, no resentment at the loss of His privacy. He rises and walks forward, greeting us warmly. His gaze travels over those who are weak, ill, and suffering. One by one, He begins to minister. One by one, He heals. His hands gently touch one body after the other. Energy restored. Health renewed. Life given. I am in no need of physical healing, so I continue to stand back and watch. Hours pass. The sun moves from its upright position to sinking down into the mountains. I watch Him, and He never seems to tire. He makes time for all who come to Him.

Lord for His gracious provision, how Jehovah always meets the needs of His people. When He finishes praying, He carefully breaks the loaves and gives some to the disciples. Gesturing to the crowd, He instructs for them to distribute the food. My heart sinks. I am several rows back, and those five loaves and two fish will hardly feed the first row alone. My stomach growls loudly, betraying me. I wonder how far it is to the nearest market. I wonder if I even have any money to buy food. But something interesting happens. The disciples continue to walk through the crowd, passing out food. Row after row, group after group. I wait and watch as a disciple draws closer and closer to me. Finally one of the Twelve stands before me. His skin is tanned and his hands are calloused. He smells strongly of fish. He reaches into the folds of his cloak, pulls out a loaf and fish, and hands The Twelve stand nearby, it to me. I take it with shaking muttering and whispering amongst hands. *** themselves. I see one break free “Should I ?” I begin. and approach Jesus, speaking too Surely the elderly and the ill need The sun is hot overhead, as quietly for my ears to hear. He the nourishment more than me. it always seems to be during this gestures with flailing hands at the The disciple smiles. “There is time of year. I follow along, crowd, and Jesus responds with a enough to go around. The Lord conspicuous within the large crowd. casual smile. He points to the has provided.” There must be thousands of us, all disciple’s hands. Even though I I thank him and raise the traipsing through the hill country. hear no words, I can tell the bread to my lips. It is fresh and Just to get to Jesus. disciple is protesting. Jesus laughs warm, as though it has just been Word is that His friend, and points to a basket sitting pulled out of the oven. I tear off a John, has been executed. Brutally nearby. Another disciple hurries to piece with my teeth and savor it, beheaded in the prison by bring Him the basket. Jesus hoists watching as the Twelve continue to Herod’s palace. Rumor has it Himself up onto a rock and turns work their way through the crowd. that it was to satiate the will of a to address the crowd. It takes hours to distribute the food visiting diplomat’s daughter. “Please, sit down, so that to such a crowd. Nonetheless everyone can see and hear,” He In the amazement of the I feel a stab of guilt within instructs. I quickly drop to the miracle I have forgotten Him. I my heart. Should I, should we, ground, intrigued. whip my head around to see if He entreat upon Him while He grieves? He lifts the lid off the is still sitting on the rock. He is. It has been a long walk. Jesus took basket and pulls out some bread A loaf of bread rests in His lap as the boat across the lake. We must and a couple of fish. Five loaves of He talks and laughs with those follow on foot. bread, to be exact. He must be around Him. He reaches out and I am amazed at the tenacity hungry. I wonder if He will ask ruffles the hair of a small child of the crowd. Nearby a woman one of us to prepare His meal. nearby. The disciples return, their coughs violently, and blood stains He lifts them high for us all baskets still loaded down with the ground below her. All around to see and begins to pray. I lower food. Everyone is full. Everyone me I see the illnesses of the body my head, but keep one eye open is healed. Everyone is happy. – maladies and plagues. These and trained on Him. He thanks the

© Exemplify 2009

Laughter rings out somewhere in the crowd. I look at His face and I am amazed. Jesus looks over His people, compassion etched in His countenance. I cannot remember the last time I saw such an act of kindness.

expectation around me, a stirring of excitement within me. The tides are turning, the world is shifting. Jesus is effectively telling us it is time for us to make a decision: we either believe or we don’t. The time of uncertainty is over. I wonder where I fall. I wonder *** if I am one of the unbelieving, perverse generation. My heart grieves to think of I have become a nomad for Him, the possibility of the answer. moving wherever He goes. I am I watch the boy from my post on wondering when the amazement of His the outskirts on the crowd. He is weak miracles will begin to subside, and yet from his long imprisonment but there is with each miracle He draws me even joy radiating from his face. Jesus sits more. talking quietly with the boy’s father. I am not the only one. I have I see the tenderness in His face, so constant traveling mates, those who different from the intensity a few want to be close to Him, to learn from moments before. I am overcome. Never Him, to be healed by Him. Those who have I seen such a display of patience have left everything for Him. where there was so much reason for We are approaching Him and His frustration. disciples, and suddenly one of our number breaks free and kneels before *** Him. He grasps the hem of Jesus’ Some days it is harder to follow Him robe and bows his head. “My Lord, than others, particularly on the days He please have mercy on my son,” he goes to the temple courts. I enjoy going pleads pitifully. “He has seizures and to see Him here, because it is always a is suffering greatly. He often falls into spirited exchange. I can tell the temple fires or into the water.” The man priests are growing weary of Him and pauses carefully, then speaks again. “I His presence. brought Him to Your disciples, but they For a fleeting second I question could not heal him.” my own position. I am a Jew. Is this The air changes, a discernible shift new obsession I have with Jesus from peace to tension. Jesus closes His bordering on idolatry? Where is my eyes and calls out for all to hear. “O standing before God? Am I breaking unbelieving and perverse generation, the Law? how long shall I stay with you? How And yet I know in my heart the truth. long shall I put up with you?” I believe He is who He says He is. My I feel a chill break out on my standing before God is that God is arms. He is not rebuking His disciples. standing before me, beckoning me to The rebuke is for us all. And with it, a Him. warning what does He mean by I am drawn out of my thoughts “staying with” us? by loud voices coming from the temple Jesus looks at the man kindly. courts. The Pharisees are livid; fury “Bring your son here to me.” The radiates from their faces. Jesus speaks man brings the boy forward, the boy again to them, His voice loud and thrashing about and drooling. Jesus powerful and carrying across the courts. lays His hands on the boy and rebukes You are from below, I am from above.” the demon within. The boy gives one He doesn’t accuse. He says it as final violent jerk and goes limp. He sits simply as He would comment on the up and smiles wearily at his father. weather. It is not incendiary; it is just a The father begins to weep, tears of joy fact. “You are of this world; I am not streaming down his face. He thanks of this world. I told you that you would Jesus, though no sound comes from his die in your sins; if you do not believe lips because of His emotion. that I am the one I claim to be, you will I stand and watch and feel a indeed die in your sins.” twisting in my heart. What I have just seen has shaken me more than anything I have seen thus far. There is an air of

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Malesuada eleifend, tortor, a fusce a vel. Mauris at suspendisse, neque aliquam faucibus. A priest steps forward. “Who are You?” he snaps. “Just what I have been claiming all along. I have much to say in judgment of you, but He who sent me is reliable, and what I have heard from Him I tell the world.” The priests look puzzled; a few laugh scornfully. “When you have lifted up the Son of Man,” He continues, “then you will know that I am He and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught Me. The One who sent Me is with Me, for I always do what pleases Him.” His final words seem to echo across the courts. Whispers arise around me, people crying and confessing Him as Lord. My own heart pounds in my chest. I am amazed at His faithfulness, at His complete devotion to His Father. And I want nothing more than to be like Him. *** It is an interesting time here in Judea. Jesus’ following is growing. Most recently He appointed 72 people and sent them forth, effectively making them apostles for Him. I am with His following on the day some of them return. Their faces are glowing, joy spilling out of them. They all talk at once to Him, telling Him stories of their travels and details of their deliverances. “Even the demons submit to us in Your name!” they exclaim. Jesus nods. “I saw Satan fall like lightening from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. But do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. Jesus looks over His apostles, smiling widely, and He is radiating from within. I sense a power, intangible and almost indistinguishable to the human eye, but something in my spirit tells me it is there. Jesus laughs aloud, so very uncharacteristic of Him since He is

usually subdued and oftentimes sorrowful. He lifts His hands and face to the heavens, and I feel an urging to imitate Him. “I praise You, Father, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes Father, for this was Your good pleasure.” My eyes fill with tears and I find comfort and joy in His words. I am blessed to be His follower, and I want to do whatever it is that brings so much joy to my Jesus. I decide it is not enough to just learn from Him; I want to be sent forth for Him. *** He sits on a rock, surrounded by little children. His disciples grumble almost inaudibly at the audacity of the parents bringing their children. Jesus reaches out and places His hands on the heads of the children. “Let the little children come unto Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” I watch and am amazed once again. How is it the same man who multiplies bread and fishes, calms the seas, and rebukes the Pharisees, can still be gentle enough to draw the little children to Himself? *** He is in trouble now. The Pharisees are obviously tired of Him and want Him silenced. One of the chief priests walks forward, a smug look on his face. “Teacher,” he says, his voice dripping with sarcasm, “which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus studied him for a moment before responding. “Love the Lord you God with all your heart and all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the prophets hang on these two commandments.” The Pharisees move together to discuss His response. He merely sits calmly, completely nonplussed by their determination to discredit Him.

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I think of what He told them, comparing it to everything I’ve ever learned of the Law and the Prophets. Love the Lord your God love your neighbor. I watch the Pharisees whispering mutinously together. I am confused. They devote their entire lives to the things of God. They know of His goodness. So how can they so blatantly go against one of the greatest commandments for goodness I have ever heard? And how can they deny the goodness of the One who said it?

hear Him this time as He cries out to the Father. “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me.” He bows His head and a sob escapes Him. He raises His head again. “Nevertheless, not My will, but Yours be done.” Something explodes within me, and my limbs shake. I cannot catch my breath for the tightening in my chest. Jesus reaches up and wipes the sweat off His face, leaving red stripes behind from the seeping blood. He stands and He is no longer shaking. In fact He seems taller than He was before He came into the garden. I look at His face and see a resolve there that could only be supernatural. His cup has not been removed, but He has been given the peace of the Father. He walks back to the sleeping disciples and shakes them awake. Men approach with torches. The hour has come.

The chief priests stand by, circling like vultures and mocking Him. “He saved others,” they taunt loudly, “but He can’t save Himself! If He is the King of Israel, let Him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in Him!” Rage boils within me. These men are wicked, wicked men, gloating in the suffering of another, of the Son of God. I have to turn back to Jesus and focus on Him because otherwise I will attack them with my fists, which will most likely get me arrested due to the presence of the Roman soldiers. *** Show them, I think in my anger. Show them You are who You I shift the branches of the say You are and You can do bush concealing me carefully aside anything! I know He can. I know so as not to make any noise. He is He could. walking into the garden, several of But as I see Him there, the Twelve close at His side. The hanging on that awful torturous tree, air is thick with anticipation. My I know He won’t. And that’s eyes adjust to the darkness and I why He is who He is, because He is can make out His face. The night the only One with enough selfshadows do not disguise the dark *** control to ignore the wickedness of imprints below His eyes. He is men and do what His Father asks of thinner than I have ever seen Him, I feel as though emotionally I cannot Him. and His face looks far beyond the take anymore. It is the hottest part youth of his 33 years. He stops in a of the day. Salty sweat pours into *** clearing and turns to the Twelve. my eyes, but I cannot complain His hands shake violently. “My about my eyes compared to the The skies darken. The soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to suffering of my Jesus. I have people grow fearful and impatient. the point of death. Stay here and followed Him all the way up to Jesus heaves his chest one last time keep watch with Me.” Golgotha, along with others who and whispers, “It is finished.” He He retreats a little into the love Him. I have to turn away as cries out and it is over. He is dead. garden and drops to His knees. I the crucify Him, but I cannot block The ground shakes. There is can make out red-tinged droplets of out the sounds of the nails making a commotion in the temple. Nearby sweat on His forehead, and His contact with the wood through His a man calls out, “Surely He was distress moves me to the point of flesh. Finally when the pounding the Son of God!” tears myself. I want to run to Him, stops I dare to look. He hangs I cannot think clearly. I wipe His face, and comfort Him, and forward like a broken puppet, cannot even wail and mourn with yet I know there is nothing I can gravity pulling down on his chest. I those around me. My entire life has give Him that will bring relief. So I can see every mark the Roman just been turned upside down. cry silently in the grass, lifting up soldiers have made on His body *** inaudible prayers on His behalf to with their whips. The wounds have His Father. swollen in the heat and seep trickles Several days have passed. I still Twice He prays and twice He of blood down His skin. A cannot sort all my thoughts. gets up and goes back to the makeshift crown of thorn bristles I have tried to keep a record of the Twelve. They are sprawled out on has been shoved into his brow, last three years. Part of me wonders the grass asleep. Granted the hour seeping blood into his eyes, blood he if they were even real. Part of me is late, but I agree with Jesus: could can’t wipe away because His arms wonders if they were just some they not have stayed awake for are pinned out beside Him in the wonderful dream. Him? Do they not see their Master macabre display. He pushes up on I have returned to my hometown, is in need? His feet to draw a breath and cries though it is no longer home since I He comes back a third time, and is out in pain. His chest heaves, have been gone so long. more desperate than ever. I can fighting gravity for a whisper of air.

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I don’t know where my home is. I hear a commotion down the street and look up. I see a woman running quickly, clutching her skirts to her knees so not to trip. “He is risen! He is in Galilee! If you want to see Him, you must come to Galilee!” She whips past me, repeating her message for those who stick their heads out their doors. I jump to my feet and run after her. Perhaps I still have yet to find my home. *** I finally arrive in Galilee and follow the crowd down to the sea’s edge. There must be around 500 people converging on the shoreline. And then I see Him. He is the same, yet He is so incredibly different. I look on His hands and I can see the wounds from the nails. And yet He stands before me, breathing. Living. “I watched You die ” I whisper, barely able to comprehend the sight. Snippets of His words come back to me, words that at the time I brushed over because I didn’t understand but now they ring clear and true. “Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days ” “I have not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it ” “You must be born again ” “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life ” “Just as Moses raised the snake up in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life ” “ eternal life ” “ eternal life ”

And everything clicks into place. I see His wounds, still fresh and raw, dried blood black around their edges. I see the scratches on His brow from the crown of mockery. And I realize He did this for me. He took my punishment upon Himself, for no other reason than so I would be set free. I fall down on my face in worship, not caring about the dust mingling with my tears and staining my face. Never in my life have I been so loved. Never in my life will I be loved like that again. *** The day fades slowly as the sun sinks beneath the water’s edge. Finally He gets up to speak to the group as a whole. “All authority in heaven and earth has been given to Me.” I nod vigorously, seeing the living proof of His statement. “Therefore go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” I feel a stirring again in my chest, a warmth, a passion, a new desire. I will return to my town and tell of Him and His life. I will share His testimony with anyone who will listen. I will take with me all the characteristics I have learned at His feet. I will model myself after the Son of God. And I will tell, because He has sent me forth. I am His apostle.

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“I have learned at His feet. I will model myself after the Son of God. And I will tell, because He has sent me forth. I am His apostle.”

Adapted from Matt. 14, 17, 19, 22, 26-28; Luke 10; John 8; 1 Cor. 15 Copyright May 2009

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