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The Blessing of Knowing God

01.28.2021 by Megan Abbott //

FACET family, I am so thankful for this space.  I am thankful for every word God has given me to share, and to hear such wisdom from Tracy, Jen, and our guests.  This is a holy space.  A space where blessings have been received, and blessings have been given.  Thank you for joining us here again this month.  Please take a look at the wonderful post Jen wrote earlier this month, and check back in a couple days as she rounds out “the Blessing”.

 

 

Sometimes we want to have all the right words, and know all the right things to do and say.  Sometimes, though, our minds and hearts just aren’t equipped.  That is where I exist lately.  After a long season of mourning, finding joy, mourning, searching for joy, mourning, clinging to any glimmer of joy, I am here coexisting with both. I find myself turning again and again to the promises of God as my source of hope for the future, peace for now, and for joy.  There is blessing in knowing His character.

His love is unconditional and inescapable:

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any power, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  – Romans 8:38-39

He is the giver of peace: 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”   – Philippians 4:6-7

He promises His presence is with us always:

The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by His love; He will exult over you with loud singing.”  -Zephaniah 3:17

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” -Isaiah 43:2

He promises joy:

You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”  – Psalm 16:11

For me, the blessing is being able to hold on to the promises of God when I no longer see where the path is leading.  That I can know fully that He is trustworthy, He loves me, He sees me, He is good, and He is sovereign.

And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.”  – Psalm 39:7

Signature: Megan Abbott

Categories // Megan Abbott's Perspective, The Blessing, The Blessing: January 2021 Tags // hope, Isaiah 43:2, Joy, Mourning, Philippians 4:6-7, Promises of God, Psalm 16:11, Psalm 39:7, Romans 8:38-39, zephaniah 3:17

A Tale of Two Kings

05.26.2020 by Pastor Ted Margis //

Welcome to FACETS of Faith where we’ve been exploring what it looks like to walk in awareness of the royal treatment God has for His precious daughters.  We thought it would bless you to have a man’s perspective on how a royal daughter of the King should be treated. If this is not your present reality, we pray you listen to God’s voice, allow Him to treat you as the righteous, regal daughter you are as God leads and guides your steps.  For our male audience, we pray God engages your heart as well, so you enjoy the fruit of your efforts and God brings forth a bountiful harvest in your life.  Without further ado, please join me in welcoming Pastor Ted. I pray the truths God placed on his heart minister to yours.

Do you give her the royal treatment? (Guest)

Once upon a time, in fact the beginning of time, there was a beautiful garden. In the garden were two people, a king and queen. The queen was the most beautiful woman on the planet; actually, the only one. She lived in the perfect environment without any problems. Can you imagine? It was paradise.  No, really, it was bliss created by God’s vision come to life, a home prepared for His precious creation.

Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.” So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.” Then God said, “Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food. And I have given every green plant as food for all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, and the small animals that scurry along the ground—everything that has life.” And that is what happened. Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day. Genesis 1:26-31 NLT

Now the man and his wife were both naked, but they felt no shame. Genesis 2:25 NLT

This is a beautiful fairytale and one we all would like to live in whether we are a man, a woman, single, or married. What would you say if I told you this is not a fairytale? This is real life and how God wants it to be.

God created us and put us in this perfect world without problems. We walked around naked with no shame. But something happened. The bible tells us a serpent came into the perfect place and deceived the king and queen.

The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the LORD God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.'” “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.” The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.  Genesis 3:1-7 NLT

Their kingdom would never be the same again.

When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the LORD God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the LORD God among the trees. Then the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?” He replied, “I heard You walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.” “Who told you that you were naked?” the LORD God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?” The man replied, “It was the woman You gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.” Then the LORD God asked the woman, “What have you done?” “The serpent deceived me,” she replied. “That’s why I ate it.” Genesis 3:8-13 NLT

There are three things to take notice of here about how the king (Adam) treated the queen (Eve).

  1. The king did not properly protect his queen from evil.

God gave the king dominion over the kingdom (garden of Eden), and he was supposed to protect his queen. The serpent was able to walk right into the garden and slither his way to the queen. Adam had her hanging out under the forbidden tree when she could have been lounging under any other tree in the garden. God had given a clear edict. “Don’t eat it. Don’t touch it, or you will die.” They were in a tempting situation, and the serpent managed to sneak past the superior king. This king was not prepared in the good times for when an enemy would come in; his guard was down. He failed to protect his queen by allowing her to be in a vulnerable position.

  1. The king hid his queen from God because of his shame.

When God came to walk with them in the garden, the king and queen were hiding from him. The king was ashamed, so he influenced his wife to hide from God with him. While he was trying to deal with his own problems, he caused her walk with God to cease. He had done this horrible thing and his strong leadership led his queen to hide from God. Instead of being the spiritual leader of the household, he contributed to his wife’s spiritual stumbling.

  1. The king taught his queen to blame others.

When God asked, “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?”,  the king’s response was to blame his queen. And he even blamed God saying, “It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit and I ate it”.

The king was afraid and full of shame. He did not take responsibility for his own actions. Instead, he shifted blame to his queen. Because of his example and influence, she did the same when she responded to God when He asked, “What have you done?”

Eve replied, “The serpent deceived me that’s why I ate”.

The king pointed his finger at his queen, and she pointed her finger at the serpent. They both admitted to eating the forbidden fruit, but blamed others for the reason why.  Neither took responsibility for their actions.

The treatment from this king (Adam) is not “royal treatment” by any means. This story doesn’t end with this king. There is another King and kingdom we read about in scripture. This King is called the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. His name is King Jesus. Let us look at the “royal treatment” He gives His bride.

  1. Jesus cast out evil from His kingdom, so you can be free from evil.

When the 72 disciples returned, they joyfully reported to Him, “Lord, even the demons obey us when we use Your name!” “Yes,” He told them, “I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning! Luke 10:17-18 NLT

When evil showed up in the kingdom of heaven, it was cast out in a blink of an eye under the reign of King Jesus. When Peter tried to rebuke Jesus in Matthew 16:22-23, Jesus said, “Get behind me Satan”.

Jesus didn’t allow any evil to persuade Him. He gave this same authority to His bride.

Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:19-20 NKJV

  1. Jesus resisted sin and became sin, so nothing can separate you from His love.

In the book of Hebrews chapter 4:15, it tells us Jesus was tempted in every way but did not sin. In 2 Corinthians 5:21 we read that Jesus never sinned and became the offering for our sin. And in Romans 8:38-39, we learn in Christ nothing can separate us from the love of God. You see King Jesus never let sin influence Him, so you can walk with God─blameless, righteous, His.

  1. Jesus made you blameless, so you can be with Him for eternity.

King Jesus presents you holy and blameless before God.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. Ephesians 5:25-27 NIV

When we look to men to get what only Jesus can give, we find ourselves unprotected, hiding from God, and thrown under the bus in blame. When we look to King Jesus, we get the “royal treatment” and we live happily ever after.

Let Jesus be the King of your heart. His leadership brings love, hope, and freedom.

I will finish with a call to all the men. In Ephesians 5:25-27 it is noticeably clear how we are to lead women. We can lead them in the right direction or lead them in the wrong direction.

I hear men all the time say things like, “If she would have…” or “If she didn’t do…”.

Listen men. We are called to lead. When we do the wrong thing and make excuses because of her behavior, we are leading her astray. If the woman entrusted to our care has a weakness, wash her with the water of the Word. When she makes a mistake, wash her with the water of the Word. If she is having a bad day, wash her with the water of the Word. If she is having a good day, wash her with the water of the Word. Men I challenge you to follow the example of Jesus. Live a selfless life, and continually wash her with the water of the Word. Your life will be better because of it and hers will be too.

Join the conversation on our Facebook page FACETS of Faith.

 

Categories // Do You Give Her the Royal Treatment?, Faith, Guest Perspectives Tags // 2 Corinthians 5:21, Blame, Blameless, Daughter of the King, Ephesians 5:25-27, Genesis 1:26-31, Genesis 2:25, Genesis 3:1-7, Genesis 3:8-13, Hebrews 4:15, Kingdom, Leadership, Luke 10:17-18, Luke 10:19-20, Matthew 16:22-23, Protection, Regal, Righteous, Romans 8:38-39, Royalty, Shame, sin, Spiritual Leadership, Temptation

Did You Know You Are Beloved?

02.18.2020 by Megan Abbott //

Happy February friends!  This month we have been really digging into words that are a part of our identity in Christ, and I (Megan) have really been loving the “Did You Know You Are…?” series.  We prayed together and selected words that are beautiful and sometimes challenging to accept. In the past couple weeks, Tracy shared about being “Cherished” and Jen “Honored“.  This week,as you read the words below, I pray you hear God reminding you that you are His beloved.

IMAGE: Do You Know You Are...Beloved

Whew… so this topic, huh? Here I am, an unmarried woman in her 30s, that has struggled with feeling lovable the majority of her adult life, in the month of Valentine’s Day, writing about love.  Did you know you are beloved? I guess before I ask you that question, I have to think about my answer. In the past, it has been a challenge for me to claim this truth — God calls us beloved.

Face to Face with My Thoughts

So I have this book, a journal really, that is filled with only God’s truth.  It came out of a season where I struggled to even look in the mirror. I felt unlovable. Honestly, that is even a bit of an understatement.  I was challenged by a friend to just keep speaking the truths out loud to myself in front of a mirror until I could actually say them with confidence.  The first time I stood in my room looking in the mirror, I opened my mouth to speak the words, and just cried.  The second day, something similar. Eventually there were days I could speak truth over myself, and other days that I might even believe what I was saying. It feels silly in hindsight to think I couldn’t speak simple words into a mirror.  But the reality of the power and strength of truth, while looking myself in the eyes knowing I didn’t believe it, it was halting. I was face to face with the reality that I didn’t believe God made me without mistake. That He made me lovable.  That if He had made me lovable, I hadn’t somehow destroyed that in the previous 25+ years.

The “Truth” in My Heart

Have you ever been there? Face to face with the reality of what your heart believes?  I did not believe I was beloved. I would speak truth over any of my friends, strangers even, knowing the value God knit into their being, but never could have said the same words about me.  My truth had departed from the real truth.  I’m not sure why. Lack of confidence? A conditioning from past experiences? Who knows. I knew it needed to change, though. 

Fast forward several years.  I found myself in a spot again where experiences led my heart back to “you are not lovable”.  This time, I felt convicted by the Spirit to write a letter to myself from God’s perspective. I knew it was needed, but simultaneously thought it was silly.  I mean, can God really have me write a letter to me, and it not just be my words? After some wise counseling, I sat down with a stack of note cards and prayed through scripture, writing thoughts and scriptures out on cards and lining them up until I saw where God was leading.  I wrote a letter that brought a little healing to my heart. Calling out pains that I didn’t completely know were there, and the loving, gentle, healing truth that God gave us in scripture.

Beloved,

I am your heavenly Father. I created your entire being thoughtfully, uniquely, and without mistake.1

I do not see you as you do — your flaws, your failures, and days of unfaithfulness.  No, I see my priceless, redeemed, and beloved daughter. While you were in that pit of self-hatred and rejection, I CHOSE YOU. I have picked you up from the pit and crowned you with my grace and compassion.

Beloved, I love you exactly where you are today, and I will continue to love you each day no matter where you are. No more, no less.2

I will walk hand in hand with you as your heart is softened and your stubbornness is replaced with my love and compassion.3 When your heart is overwhelmed, I will be there patiently and gently calling you back to my freedom 4.  The walk will have painful stretches, but I see you on the other side, victorious5.

-Your Loving Father

What Does It Take To Believe The Truth?

I think God could write a letter like this to each of us.  One that reminds us how precious we are. That we are chosen.  That he created us with care, with intention, and with purpose.  We are HIS beloved.  

I don’t remember at this point where I heard it, but I remember hearing a message where beloved was intentionally pronounced be-loved.  Be loved. Live as though you believe you are loved. When you don’t feel lovable, or loved, look back at scripture and read the truth to yourself over and over again until you believe you are the beloved daughter of the mighty God.  There is nothing we can do (or not do) to change the reality of this truth.

Join the conversation here or on our Facebook page.Signature: Megan Abbott

 

 

 

 

 


  1. Psalm 139:13-14
  2. Romans 8:38-39, Ephesians 2:4-5
  3. Ezekial 36:26 (NLT)
  4. Psalm 61
  5. 1 Corinthians 10:13, Ephesians 6:13

Categories // Do You Kow You Are..., Megan Abbott's Perspective Tags // beloved, Ezekial 36:26, God loves you, Megan Abbott, Romans 8:38-39, truth

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