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Her Heart for His Glory

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Jesus didn’t stop her . . . and he won’t stop you. 

Mary of Bethany carried her alabaster jar of priceless perfume toward Jesus. The disciples bombarded her with criticism. Even that couldn’t quench her desire to give her all to Jesus. Many believe the perfume, worth a year’s wages, was also her dowry. This offering cost more than money.

Her reputation. Her finances. Her hope for a husband. Her future. Her heart. All in Jesus’ hands . . .

And Jesus didn’t stop her….

Jesus Fought for Mary of Bethany

Jesus never uttered words of warning to intercept Mary’s costly choice. In fact, He praised her and silenced those who accused her. “Leave her alone. Why criticize her for doing such a good thing to me? . . . I tell you the truth, whenever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.”

Jesus didn’t stop her. In fact, he fought for her.

Many years before, God had fought to free his people from Pharaoh’s power so they could worship Him. “Let my people go so they may worship me.” And he fights for you today.

Who was your Pharaoh brave heart?

  • Who treated you harshly?
  • Who demanded you meet their every need?
  • Who was the one who abused you?
  • Who used force to control you?
  • Who used you?
  • Who was the one who wounded your spirit?

Jesus laid down his life to heal this wound and fight for your heart, releasing you to live fearlessly for his glory as you look to him as the sole source of life.

Leave her alone. Let her go so she may worship me.

Jesus Wants to Be the Lord of Your Heart

Worship. Giving your heart to Jesus is a costly choice, brave heart, but one he created you for. Jesus wants to be more than your Savior—he also wants to be Lord of your heart.

Jesus won’t stop you when you, like Mary, place your heart in his hands so you are free to worship him. That is God’s purpose for you and the deepest place of joy. You were created and redeemed to live as God intended . . . your heart for his glory.

Close your eyes. What is your alabaster jar? That costly thing you are trusting for security. Let it go and find real joy that comes only from trusting Jesus as Lord over your life. Jesus will meet your deepest needs at the place of greatest surrender.

Nourish Scripture: Mark 14:3–9

Find joy and nourishment by connecting to God’s Word. Download Nourishing Your Heart today!

Blog written by Aliene Thompson. Aliene Thompson is the founder of Treasured Ministries and the Author of the Nourish Bible Study Series. © 2019 Treasured Ministries.

Love Strategies

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You matter. Your life matters. You are worthy of love. And this revelation matters, because every woman is a part of God’s amazing story. Yet often life speaks a different story to our hearts and our compass to navigate life shifts away from our Creator to outside sources creating insecurity, codependency and a lifestyle of control which slowly pulls us away from living the authentic faith-filled life God created us to live. I know this because it happened to me.

In today’s podcast, breaking free from codependency and control though agape love.

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Resurrection Hope

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You are not forgotten.

God is always painting a masterpiece for his glory. We can’t always see the big picture, but we can find hope in any storm by changing the direction of our perception as we, like Jesus focus on resurrection hope (Hebrews 12:1-2). Like a holy thread connecting us to heaven, the presence and power of Jesus within us is a confident hope we could hold onto (Ephesians 1:14).

Resurrection Hope from Jesus

After the death of their brother Lazarus, Martha and Mary were upset that Jesus hadn’t come to Bethany in time to heal him. When Jesus first arrived at Bethany after Lazarus’s death, Martha came out to see him—but Mary, consumed with despair, stayed home.

Martha, filled with resurrection hope after she had spoken to Jesus (“Your brother will rise again,” Jesus told her in John 11:23), went back and found her sister. “The Teacher is here,” Martha told Mary, “and is asking for you” (John 11:28).

Wise Martha pointed Mary to Jesus. Where do you look when life seems overwhelming?

When Mary came out to meet Jesus, she fell at his feet in grief. “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:32). Jesus’ response? He wept.

For every pain you bear, know that your Bridegroom cries with you! One day he will wipe away all of those tears in glory, but for now he asks us to hold on to hope and trust him when we don’t understand (Revelation 7:17; John 14:1-4).

You and I are living between the two bookends of God’s great story.

Your Journey between the Two Bookends

Genesis tells us about our world’s beginnings. The picture of God creating the world reflects his heart for mankind. Adam and Eve lived in fellowship with God and each other. Provision and purposeful work flowed from a perfect environment. But sin interrupted this perfect design and the world became broken.

The last part of Revelation offers us a glimpse of our glorious ending. Heaven is God’s home and will be the eternal home of his children. In heaven, our prepared place, every tear will be wiped away. There will be no more sickness or sin. We will eternally worship of our Creator, as this is what he created us to do.

But today, you and I are living between these two perfect bookends. Problems exist between the two perfect bookends. Between the beginning and the end, the world is broken. Life happens and we face challenges.

Never let what happened to you to define God’s heart towards you.

Follow Jesus and find life through any loss as you journey between the two bookends.

Sometimes seeing the glory of the resurrection means walking through a valley. But during that time, know that God has not left you. You are God’s child. As his daughter, you can walk in the assurance that He can help you today with whatever you face—no matter what it is. And he wants to do just that.

Nourish Scripture: John 11:1-43

Continue on your journey by connecting to God’s Word. Download Nourishing Your Heart today.

Blog written by Aliene Thompson. Aliene Thompson is the founder of Treasured Ministries and the Author of the Nourish Bible Study Series. © 2019 Treasured Ministries.

The Blessing of Unity

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With Love From Jesus Ministries provides food, clothing, prayer, and hope to needy families in Wake and Johnston Counties in North Carolina.

Listen as Aliene interviews Linda Williams, founder and director of With Love From Jesus, and discover how God not only uses this ministry to meet the practical needs of others, but also as a platform to promote and display unity in the Body of Christ.

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She Called Him Teacher

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In Jesus’ day, rabbis did not teach women. In fact, a rabbi would not speak to a woman if he passed her on the street. But as we peer into the gospels, we see story after story about how Jesus broke through every cultural barrier and social boundary to reach out to women and nourish their hearts with life-giving truth.

I love that about Jesus – don’t you?

Jesus Was Their Teacher

Mary Magdalene called him “Teacher.”

“Teacher!” Mary Magdalene could have called him Savior, Healer, Lord—but she called him “Teacher.” The gospel of John records that precious moment when Mary Magdalene could not bring herself to leave Jesus’ empty tomb. Weeping, she turned from the angels still in the tomb and saw a man she assumed to be a gardener. But when Mary realized the truth—that her Savior was standing before her—she turned to him and exclaimed, “Rabboni,” which is teacher in Hebrew.

Mary of Bethany also called him Teacher.

Martha pulled her sister, Mary of Bethany, away from the mourners, whispering, “The Teacher is here and He wants to see you” (John 11:28). Mary’s heart, saturated in sorrow, did not understand why Jesus had not come in time to save her brother, Lazarus. “Why” was echoing endlessly in her heart when Martha took her to Jesus, who wept with her. A short time later, Christ resurrected her brother from the dead.

Yes, women in the Bible who held Jesus close to their heart called him “Teacher.” Jesus is the Lamb of God, the Prince of Peace, the Bread of Life, the Good Shepherd, Emmanuel (God with us), the Redeemer, King of kings and Lord of lords, but in these moments of great despair, these women called him “Teacher.”

He Empowered Women

Jesus loved and valued women.

He taught them.

And with his words of truth, women were empowered to walk in a new way—by faith and not by sight. Through eyes of faith, these women began to see themselves differently. They saw their circumstances differently. They saw God differently. Their lives were never again the same because of their Teacher.

Today, women around the world continue to encounter Jesus as their Teacher . . . and their lives are forever changed. Through Jesus, these women have overcome all sorts of obstacles, adversity, and challenges with a strength the world cannot offer them.

Still today, when we allow Christ to redefine our identity and the purpose for which we were created, not only are our lives impacted—but also the lives of those around us. From that place of abundance, we can give to others the way God intended. We will join those who came before us, realizing Jesus laid his life down to fight for our heart, releasing us to live fearlessly for his glory as we look to him as our sole source for life.

Let’s step boldly forward to live out our authentic identity and leave blessings in our wake as we lean into and learn from Jesus. Only the Holy Spirit can teach us truth and package it to make a lasting impact on our hearts.

As we call on our Teacher, we will hold our heads a little higher today. We will walk a little wiser. And we will find direction for our decisions today—as we lean on and look to Jesus as our Teacher.

As we call on our Teacher, we will navigate through this storm today. We will find courage to carry on. And we will understand how to walk through this valley we face today—as we lean on and look to Jesus as our Teacher.

Yes, brave heart, today and every day the Teacher is here to see you. Let us, like women of old, treasure the fact that Jesus wants to teach us as we seek truth through his Word.

ONWARD!

Nourish Scripture: Luke 10:38-42

Connect to God’s Word and find the truth you seek. Download Nourishing Your Heart today!

Blog written by Aliene Thompson. Aliene Thompson is the founder of Treasured Ministries and the Author of the Nourish Bible Study Series. © 2019 Treasured Ministries.

Knowing Your Forgiveness

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The things we feel ourselves wanting to hide from God are often times the things that should be propelling us into His presence.

What the enemy wants us to keep hidden in our hearts is defeated when we bring it to the feet of Jesus, there is victory found when our knees hit the ground at the throne of God.

The Woman Who Knelt at Jesus’ Feet

In Luke 7 we find Jesus, surrounded once again by the “perfect people” of that time, yet His focus is not on those with their heads held high, it is on the precious daughter that has lowered herself in His presence.

This woman, with the reputation that proceeded her, had nothing to give, yet gave everything she could.

 “A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.”

This woman, rather than running from Jesus in fear, was propelled by the darkness she carried, she was drawn to His feet and she brought with her the only thing of value she had. Her name, her reputation, her life had wasted away, she had run out of herself and so she ran to new life. She drew so close to Jesus that her hair was at His feet, and in that place of vulnerability she was not met with condemnation.

When the world around her met her act of love and devotion with judgement, Jesus was quick to affirm her in verses 41:47

“Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

When she drew near to Him He became her ADVOCATE, He became her DEFENDER.

It was her appreciation and acknowledgement of all her shame and all of His forgiveness that brought her to her knees, fearlessly thankful.

When we are willing to recognize just how dire of a situation our hearts were in before salvation, before Jesus, we are able to rejoice that much more in the freedom of our soul.

Call on Jesus and Cast Your Burdens at His Feet

It is the understanding of how heavy our burdens are that makes the act of casting them at the feet of Jesus so beautiful. Jesus will never be disappointed to find us at His feet, we are never unwelcome at the base of His throne, and our burdens, pain, and shame will never be left on our backs after we stand up.

May our hearts never be fooled into believing that the feet of Jesus are for the perfect, they are for everyone, they are for the weary hearts, they are for the wandering spirit, they are for the hidden pain.

Bring your heart, may the shame that binds it be the pain that propels you to call on Jesus again and again. May the still small call of the Father drown out the screaming lies that tell you to stay hidden, that tell you that you are too far gone.

The truth is, by all understanding of this world, we are too far gone, but that cross reached into the grave, into the “far gone” to pull you out. And no one can take that away from you.

Recognize forgiveness for what it is, the great pardon from death, and live as one who knows they have been pulled from the “far gone” into glorious life with Jesus.

Nourish Scripture: Luke 7:36-50

Enter into a glorious life with Jesus by finding nourishment in God’s Word. Download Nourishing Your Heart to discover the key!

Blog written by Millicent Phillips. Millicent is part of the Treasured Ministries writing team. © 2019 Treasured Ministries.

No More Holding Back

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The Widow Who Didn’t Hold Back

No more holding back.

I wonder if the widow in the temple heard those words whispered in her soul as she clutched the warm coins in her hand. Pressing the precious metal into her perspiring palm, she held them tightly for the last time. They were all she had to live on—dropping the coins would declare her dependence on God.

Was she tempted to pull back?

Did insecurity or intimidation grab her thoughts as she was surrounded by the well-to-do?

Did they even notice her?

Her two tiny copper coins were so small compared with the heaps of money the wealthy religious placed in the offering as they paraded by.

But Jesus noticed and asked his disciples to study this wise woman. Through his eyes—the only eyes that mattered—her offering was far greater than the vast amounts of money given for show.

The widow was getting ready to give her all—no holding back.

As she dropped her coins to be captured by the treasure table, the tapping and clinking must have rang out in heaven like a symphony. Jesus watched and beheld the beauty of a woman giving her heart without reservation to him, for where her treasure was, her heart was also (Matthew 6:21).

The widow’s giving was a picture of the principle Jesus had recently taught to a teacher of the law asking which of the commandments was the most important. Pulling in words spoken to the Israelites in the wilderness on the brink of their Promised Land arrival, Jesus captured the essence of following God: no holding back.

‘”Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ (Mark 12:29-31, emphasis mine).

Giving Jesus Our All

Jesus said the widow in the temple truly gave because she gave all she had. No holding back. Anyone can give out of abundance, but how much more precious is our offering when we are giving Jesus our all. It’s easy to give out of a harvest, but it takes faith to give our last seed when the harvest is yet to come.

As the Bridegroom beheld this sacrificial offering, notice he did not stand in the way of her giving. He did not run toward her, grab her hand, and say, “Are you crazy? This is your very last—your very last! Hold back some to see you through the coming days!”

This passage has always caused me to pause. If our Bridegroom loved the widow, why would he stand back and watch her give everything she had to the temple treasury?

Christine Cain, founder of A21 Ministries, helped me understand why Jesus did not prevent the widow from giving her all in a podcast she recorded. As I listened I learned that it was not that he did not want her needs to be met. Jesus knew her true needs would be met through her giving. Christine Cain said this “her need was met through her seed.” I love that – don’t you?

If Jesus can make money come from the mouth of a fish, he can provide for us in creative ways when there seems to be no way (Matthew 17:27).

Jesus knew the widow’s giving was not about money. It was about her heart. Jesus did not stand in her way because he knew that those who choose to live for the Lord with no holding back are blessed beyond measure.

Often when we have nothing – we discover He is our everything.

She trusted him with all her heart…her brave heart.

When I am down to my last mite of money, my last mite of strength, my last mite of time – let me not pull back in fear but press in to trust you with everything.

Nourish Scripture: Mark 12:29-40

Connect with God’s Word in a way that transforms your life. Discover how by downloading Nourishing Your Heart today!

Blog written by Aliene Thompson. Aliene Thompson is the founder of Treasured Ministries and the Author of the Nourish Bible Study Series. © 2019 Treasured Ministries.

Walking by Faith

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Our senses gather evidence from our surroundings to reason what is right. However, our conclusions may be true, but not necessarily God’s truth. Reasoning vs. relying on the Holy Spirit often left me feeling powerless, depressed, angry and all alone to figure out life. But when Jesus invited me to live differently by seeing differently, everything changed. (BTW -this did not mean throwing my brains out the window!)

In today’s podcast, braving a broken world by redirecting your reasoning to rely on the Holy Spirit to walk by faith and not by sight. Use your grit to see with eyes of faith and boldly become the woman, God created you to be one grace-filled step at a time. #graceovergrit #followingjesusfindinglife.

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