Honest to God

The Perks of “Stepping Out”

If you talked to any of my close friends or family, you’d probably find out that I’ve been doing some pretty uncharacteristically “Ashley” things at the time of writing this.

I’d be happy to share more over a cup of coffee (if you’re curious about the details), but the point I’d like to make by mentioning this is that by “stepping out of the boat,” I’ve been learning quite a lot about myself, and, more importantly, quite a lot about God.

I think it’s wonderful that being Christians means we can focus on growing and not on results, though we often fall into the lie that results or “arriving” somewhere is somehow the point of being Christ’s. It’s not! He just wants to beckon us further up and further into Himself. Always and forever.

Another thing that my family and friends would probably tell you is that I’ve been camped in Romans chapter 8 this year. And would you know, a verse stuck out to me for the first time reading this passage again today? Here’s the part that jumped out at me: “Those who trust God’s action in them find that God’s Spirit is in them — living and breathing God!”

People love to point out that Peter began to sink when he got afraid, and how he “dropped the ball” after having such an epic moment of faith that allowed him to do the unthinkable — walk on water (and remind us we shouldn’t be like him when he faltered). But, with Peter and Abraham, it’s actually encouraging to me that both of them “failed” (and not once, but many times). Why? Because this means there’s hope for me if I fail, too. I think the main point is that they believed. And because they acted on that belief (poorly at times, and stumbling along the way), they learned.

We can only begin to see that God is with us if we get out of the boat. If we take that step, and give something we’re scared to do a try, does that mean everything will go perfectly? Does it mean we won’t fail or mess up again? Unfortunately, no. But as we “trust God’s action” in us, we’ll begin to see, more and more, “God’s Spirit is in [us].”

And isn’t this the Christian life, friends? Growing in trust and faith that God is with us, always and forever?

Ashley Carr
Writing Team

by Ashley Carr

Raised Up to New Life

Romans 6:4

Growing up, I did not realize the significance of baptism. My first baptism was when I was eight days old. I grew up a believer and was later baptized by full water immersion in the church’s warm baptism pool. The space was safe and secure. The words from Romans 6:4 were spoken during the baptism, but I never realized the significance of really being identified in Jesus’s death and then Resurrection.

It was not until I was on a mission trip in Egypt that I began to realize the implications of and the meaning of baptism. On that day in Egypt, I watched believers from another Middle Eastern Muslim country who were refugees in Egypt show they had nothing but their faith in Jesus. I witnessed them studying the Bible in the morning and then preparing for baptism. It was explained to me that these believers were rejected by their families and would face death if they went back to their home country.

These bold believers lined up, willingly entered the waters, were submerged in them, and identified with Jesus’ death; then they came up into a brand new life with Christ.

Well, these brave brothers had been forsaken by much of their family because they left Islam to follow Christ, but I saw a reunification with several of them with their families. One brother was baptized by his earthly brother, and another husband baptized his wife, reunifying their families.

I was awestruck in wonder at the faith of these believers. But I’m always amazed at God’s love for us that, as Romans 5:8 says, “God demonstrated his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for our sins,” but living and providing an example for us through His own baptism.

These courageous brothers were not entering the water already worthy. They were coming out of it to walk in new life with Christ.

Rodger Keester
Emmanuel Faith Elder

by Rodger Keester

The Power of Gathering

Hebrews 10:24-25

“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24-25)

COVID was a difficult time for people, especially for churches and groups that relied on human contact. I was fortunate to be an “essential” worker as an ER nurse, but I watched as my husband and daughter were forced to work from home. It took its toll on them emotionally. The church was supposed to close for two weeks, but two weeks turned into many months. We watched online during that time. I tried to sing along in my living room, but it just wasn’t the same.

Fast forward to today. The world has reopened, yet one thing we learned during the pandemic time period was how to gather through Zoom and other online platforms. That’s a wonderful option for those who are ill, homebound, or caring for young children. When my daughter had babies, getting to church was difficult, and I often stayed home to watch with her. The messages were just as good on TV as they were in person. But something was missing.

There is power in corporate worship. Some Sundays, I confess I’m just not feeling it when I drive into the parking lot. But as I sit down and begin to worship, I sense God’s presence. My heart is touched in places I didn’t know needed it. During communion, healing takes place, and I know it’s not just me. I look around and see people meeting with Jesus. It’s a beautiful thing. When I leave, there is a sweetness in the air. There may be no earth-shattering manifestation of power, but God is moving through His people.

Of course, fellowship is much more than attending Sunday services. It happens when we meet someone for coffee and share our hearts. It happens in small groups. It happens when we serve together. For me, helping with VBS is one of the highlights of summer. God’s presence is there among those rambunctious little kids just as surely as it is on a Sunday morning.

I don’t believe the mark of a faithful Christian is measured by church attendance or involvement in Christian activities. But I am discovering the richness that comes through genuine fellowship.

Judy Linscheid
Writing Team

by Judy Linscheid

The Cost of Following Jesus

Luke 14:25-33

When we follow Jesus, we are asked to trust Him, take up our cross, and surrender everything to Him. This includes our relationships and saying goodbye to our past. The cost is real, causing suffering, pain, and persecution, but what we gain in Christ is far greater than anything we leave behind.

I was introduced to Jesus in high school at a running camp on Catalina Island. I was immediately captivated, and Jesus had my heart. But I was a new believer with no direction, and I did not yet understand the depth of His grace or the steadfastness of His love.

After college, I met a guy and his family who modeled God’s unconditional love. Until then, my life had been marked by abandonment, verbal abuse, and rejection. My mother had always struggled to love herself or anyone else. When I publicly proclaimed my faith, her hostility only increased, and for years she belittled my beliefs and tried to undermine my relationship with Christ.

I spent years trying to earn my mother’s love, only to discover that the love my heart truly needed had already been given through Jesus. His love is unwavering, limitless, and freely given by grace.

As my relationship with God grew stronger, I had to count the cost. Like the king Jesus describes, who carefully considers going to war, I had to decide what my relationship with Christ was worth. I knew I could not continue in a relationship that continually pulled me away from Him, so by God’s grace, I chose to end that unhealthy relationship.

What I expected to bring heartbreak instead brought peace. God faithfully filled the place in my heart that longed for a mother’s love with His perfect love, and He surrounded me with a godly family who encouraged me and helped shape my faith.

Following Jesus cost me a relationship with my mom that I desperately wanted, but God knew better what I needed than I did. I gained the assurance of a Father who will never leave me, a Savior whose love never fails, and the peace that comes from trusting Him completely. The cost of discipleship is real, but Christ is worth every sacrifice. He will fill the holes left behind with something far better.

What has following Christ cost you, and how has Christ responded?

Claire Williams
Executive & Welcome Coordinator

by Claire Williams

Satisfied

Psalm 63:4-5

“Your unfailing love is better
Than life itself.
How I praise you!
I will praise you as long as I live,
Lifting my hands to you in prayer.
You satisfy me more than the
Richest of fare.
I will praise you with songs of joy.”
(Psalm 63:4-5)

The people who came to see Jesus the day He fed the 5,000 had been there a long time. I picture men, women, and children sitting together, hanging onto every word our Lord spoke. They didn’t want to leave His presence. His words were life to them. The only food available came from a boy with five loaves and two fish. Jesus gave thanks, broke the bread, and distributed it to over 5,000 people. They ate as much as they wanted. He satisfied their hungry souls and their bellies. Isn’t that what He does for us, too? He is so good.

As humans, we don’t always know what we need most. We chase wealth, prestige, or power. Life experience often shifts that longing to security or safety. We know we need love, yet that need can show up as pride or a desperate search for approval. We swing between self-glorification and self-loathing. But at the core of our humanity, we long to be seen, known, and loved with an unfailing love. The longer I live, the more I realize how deeply I need this.

Only God’s unfailing love calms my fears and lifts my head. In His love, I have nothing to hide and nothing to prove. What others think of me—or even what I think of myself—matters far less. His unfailing love is better than anything our hearts desire because our hearts were created to desire Him. The gospel declares that He alone has the authority to accept us because He paid the price. He died to declare us holy, pure, and acceptable in His eyes. In Him we find a love we will never find anywhere else. This is the ultimate satisfaction. No amount of gourmet food, wealth, houses, cars, clothing, human praise, or self-love can compare to the unfailing love of our God.

I believe it was the presence of this amazing love that kept the crowd with Jesus that day, even when their bodies were hungry. And at the end of the day, they discovered He could satisfy them completely.

Judy Linscheid
Writing Team

by Judy Linscheid

Out of Our Hands

This Scripture passage is one of those stories I remember hearing in Sunday School growing up, typically using some object lesson of Goldfish and Ritz Crackers. The miracle Jesus performed always read to me like a party trick. My brain at the time couldn’t understand how any of it was possible. Looking back as an adult, the how of the miracle is still challenging, but the question is different. It’s less about “How did Jesus actually do this?” and more about “How do I participate in this?”

As a self-proclaimed control freak, I have always found surrender difficult. I want to be involved in the process and accurately predict the outcome. The tough part about that, though, is that God rarely works that way. Faith requires us to move before we know where we’re going.

What we know about this crowd is that they’ve been following Jesus because they’ve seen him do miracles. They have faith because they have the evidence. So when this dilemma arises, I’d suggest they’re not skeptical that Jesus can perform another miracle.

I bet the kid who gave Jesus his lunch wasn’t thinking far enough ahead to predict the miracle. Yet, he gave Jesus what he had and let him control the outcome. This boy’s fish and bread were necessary for the miracle, but he couldn’t have multiplied them on his own. I think this boy somehow knew that his food was better off in Jesus’ hands than in his own. Surrender isn’t about return on investment; it’s about acknowledging that everything is better in God’s hands, not ours. This scene teaches us a few valuable lessons about what surrender in the Christian life actually looks like.

The outcomes are not ours — We have to allow Jesus to work without also trying to control the outcome.

Surrender isn’t complacent — The boy had to physically give up what was his in order for Jesus to multiply it.

Surrender often feels like loss — Before seeing or experiencing the abundance, we have to sit in the loss. The gifts we have now are most often a loan.

What would it look like if we loosened our grip on what we believe is ours? What would it look like if we surrendered our futures, jobs, finances, relationships, and families and let God do the rest?

Kassie Lowe
Young Adults Lead

by Kassie Lowe

Who Will Join Me?

by Amanda Ainsworth

What's in Your Hand?

Exodus 4:1-5

Most of us think we’re one improvement away from being useful or successful. If I had more time... more money... more confidence... more training... then God could really use me. We think we need more to do more. Because of that conviction, we spend a lot of energy focusing on what we don’t have and minimizing what we do.

Moses had the same approach. When God called him to confront Pharaoh and lead Israel out of slavery, Moses immediately began listing his objections. He wasn’t convincing enough. He wasn’t qualified enough. What if no one believed him? Instead of answering all of Moses’ excuses, God asked a simple question: “What is that in your hand?” (Exodus 4:2). Moses replied, “A staff.” It was nothing special, just a shepherd’s staff he carried every day. Yet that ordinary piece of wood would become the instrument God used to display His extraordinary power.

God often works that way. He doesn’t usually begin with what we wish we had. He begins with what He’s already placed in our hands. Your “staff” may not look impressive. It might be the ability to encourage people. A home where you can practice hospitality. The ordinary tasks of raising the kids God has given you. The workplace to go to every day. A skill you’ve developed over the years. Your story of God’s faithfulness through suffering. A willingness to serve when no one else notices.

Whatever it is, don’t underestimate it. The question isn’t whether what you have is enough. The question is whether you’re willing to place what you have in God’s hands. See, the miracle was never in the staff; it was in the God who chose to use it. And the same God still delights in using ordinary people who surrender ordinary things. Don’t wait until you have everything you think you need. Faithfulness starts right where you are by offering what you already have.

Spend a few moments and reflect. Do you tend to focus on what you lack or on what God has already given you? What’s one thing already “in your hand” that you could offer to him today?

Ryan Paulson
Lead Pastor

by Ryan Paulson