Having Jesus as the center and focus of our destination makes the journey worth it.   #daybydaylw   Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!   ~~~ The incarnation of Jesus, coming into the world, is what made the journey worth it for the wise men. Can you imagine? After all that travel, the restless nights hoping the star would still be there the next day to guide them; the uncertainty of what is going to happen to them once they entered Jerusalem, the star finally stops and hovers over a humble home. As they enter the room their eyes land on a bushy haired boy, who doesn’t look any different than any other boy they have seen. But they do know he is different. He is the king of the Jews. They approach him with gifts in hand. Hugs given to Mary. Handshakes and slight bow to Joseph. And as they bring the wooden door to a close behind them and walk slowly towards their camels, tears stroll down their faces. They look up into the night sky, and whisper a prayer of praise to God—“Thank you. The journey was worth it.” Having Jesus at the center and focus and destination of your journey makes the journey that you are on, no matter how difficult, it makes the journey worth it.

We should preach the truth in love and let the Holy Spirit do His work without judgment.   #theloriclineshow   Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!   ~~~   What do planks, pigs and pearls all have in common? Jesus. Jesus referred to all three at a certain point in His sermon on the mount. In this section of His sermon He is doing two things. He is condemning judging others, while also speaking to the importance of discernment. They are two different things and both are very important. Jesus wants us to consider our own heart when it comes to both. Let’s look closer at what Jesus says about planks, pigs and pearls. Matthew 7:1-6 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. Jesus is very clear. Do not judge. How you judge others is how you will be judged. Easy enough right? I wish. Friends, we start each day looking in the mirror, yet often we don’t see what is glaring back at us. We are blind to our own planks as we nitpick over the dust in our brother or sister’s eye. Let it begin with me. May we start each day with a posture of humility and openness to the spirit to reveal the planks we must FIRST remove. Only then, can we move toward our brother or sister to remove their speck. And before we remove a speck, how about we encourage what they’re doing right. Speak life and then that will open a door to receive correction in love. This makes me think of my girls. In the morning if one of them has something that is not right with their hair or makeup, they are quick to help each other. Let me get that, there is something not right. Let’s get that back in place. This, I believe, is the spirit of what I call ‘speck removal’. There IS a time and a place, but it must be from a heart of love and care, not judgment. We ladies call it straightening each other’s crown. It does more to build UP than tear DOWN. We should invite that kind of ‘speck removal’ and crown straightening. It’s the sharpening and refining process we all need to clear out and fix what we can’t see. That’s a beautiful thing that moves us toward maturity in Christ. So that’s the planks part, what about the pigs and pearls? That seems different than judging. Well, that’s where spiritual discernment comes in. We are called to tell the world about Jesus. We are not the judge, yet we are to go, tell and make disciples. How that message of truth is received is not up to us. If the truth and love of Jesus we have to give to the world, our pearls, are not welcome, we move on. We plant seeds and where they fall and if they root or not is beyond our control. We simply are called to love our neighbor, walk in obedience and be faithful to share the message. There are many that will deny the truth of Jesus. There are many that will not receive it. Love them and move on. You will never win a heart to Jesus through a debate. Let the Holy Spirit do its work. Speak and live out the priceless truth and hope we hold dear. If it is not received as such, then shake the dust off and know the Lord will lead you to hearts that are ready to hear. That’s the truth. Planks, pigs and pearls, oh my. The words and ways of Jesus are what we live by. When our hearts are aligned with His, the planks are obvious, the pearls are precious and the pigs are well, pigs. Walk on my friends. I’m Lori Cline.

Jesus invites the poor and needy to come to Him, so there is room for everyone.   #daybydaylw   Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!   ~~~   “And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all people.” Luke 2:10 This baby is the good news of great joy for the shepherds. The shepherds were no one’s top choice for anything, except to be exiled into the fields. They were not being invited over to anyone’s home for dinner. And yet, God chose to break through the night into their reality, and deliver a message that was FOR THEM! Good news FOR THEM. The message they were used to receiving were likely messages of rejection. But on that night, radiant angels beaming with the very glory of God, invited them into the earthly throne room to see THE Savior, The Messiah, The Lord. And when they carefully traversed their way into the city, to the inn, to the stable, they were welcomed by Joseph and Mary to gaze upon the One who is the Savior, for despised and rejected men like them. And we must, we must remember that in order to have this Savior, we must recognize that we are the poor and needy, we are the outcast, who has been invited into His Kingdom. And unless we come in that manner, humbled that the highest prize of heaven would reach down into our dark and pitiful lives, then we will not see Him as Savior and Lord, and we will not follow in the steps of the shepherds, returning to our lives glorifying and praising God for all that has been told to us. Knowing that Jesus invites in the poor and needy assures us that there is always an invitation for us, and when we come, we realize that in Christ we have all the wealth we need.

When we are saved, we become the light of the world.   #daybydaylw   Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!   ~~~ Bearing this baby, born king of the Jews, was worth every slanderous word hurled at Mary. “Vow-breaker” “Unfaithful” “How could you do that to Joseph?” “Jezebel” There is no telling what all Mary had to endure. We know that for a while she escaped to Elizabeth’s home. But we also know that at some point she came back home because we are told she travelled with Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem. On top of the normal trials and struggles of being pregnant with child, did she question God’s plan? Did she ask for a way out? Did she think she was going crazy? Think of all the questions running through her mind! Should a stronger woman be doing this? A wiser one? An older one? Mary reminds us that bearing suffering, whether it be physical, relational, mental, because of your relationship to Jesus, is a burden worth carrying, for the sake of Jesus, and the eternal reward of His presence. Luke tells us that after the shepherds told her all that had happened to him, that Mary treasured those words, pondering them in her heart. Those words mean that while everyone else was talking about what the shepherds had told them and marveling over them, Mary was doing something different. She was preserving those words, keeping them from fading away, treasuring them. But also “pondering” them. It means she was putting the words together, letting those words from the shepherds talk to one another. In other words, she was putting the pieces together. “Oh I remember now, the prophet told us that messiah would be born in the Bethlehem, the City of David. That is why the census really took place. He is going to be a savior for all people. That is why the prophet told us the messiah would be a light for the Gentiles.” And on and on, she thought and pondered. And she realized, perhaps, that she was the fulfillment of the virgin prophecy in Isaiah 7. Yes, bearing the burden of suffering, for the sake of Jesus, would be, IS still, worth it. And so we light the Christ Candle. The LIGHT of his life is our light. His life is our destination. Being present with Him forever is worth the journey. HE invites people like you and me to Himself to be saved, to be rescued, to be redeemed, to be brought into His fellowship. And He alone makes every heartache, every tear that falls, worth it. How can I say all that? I can say it with confidence because we know that in the gazing upon the baby, each of these groups of people (Wise men, shepherds, Mary) saw much more than just a cozy baby with heart-warming smile. They knew him to be the Savior. They may not have known in that moment, but time would reveal to us that the way Jesus shows Himself to be the savior of all different types of people, the way God can bring peace to those with whom he is pleased, is by what Jesus does with His life. God the Son who came to earth in the flesh would go to the cross to shoulder God the Father’s fury. Fury that is for shepherds who deserve to be cast out. Fury for young girls who have been rebels against God’s word instead of servants; fury for men who went the opposite that creation points them towards. Fury for people like m, and like you. Jesus, in his pure flesh, became the substitute sacrifice for all these types of people. You see, the manger is just the beginning of his humility. The cross is the ultimate banner of His humility. That dark Bethlehem night was visited with a ray of light in the birth of Jesus. But in His resurrection, the light of His life burst forth against all darkness, declaring a loud and thunderous victory over the darkness of sin and death. It is not just the recognition of these realities that brings salvation. It is the simplicity of humble faith in these realities that brings salvation from hell, redemption and restoration to God, and wholeness to your life. And we also must understand that when we are saved, we become light of the world. Salvation is a free gift of grace, but it doesn’t come without consequence. Salvation changes a person, completely, and continually. We are to spread the LIGHT, spread the message, because He is the Hope of a lost world. HE is the LIGHT in a dark world. There is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.

Although we have bad days, we have a Savior who is always good.   #tailgatetalkslw   Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!

When we recognize what God is calling us to do, we must pursue that calling.   #theloriclineshow   Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!   ~~~   What are you pursuing? You might say you are pursuing your passion. Is pursuing your passion always a good thing? It depends on the heart behind it and the motivation. Is it rooted in the spirit or rooted in the flesh? There IS a big difference. For me, as a believer in Jesus, I am motivated by the spirit of the living God in me. No longer is it about my will and my way, it’s His will and His way for my life. I am not my own. I was created for a purpose for such a time as this. Here’s the cool part, that purpose, becomes my passion because I was gifted for it and designed to fulfill it. That’s the way God works. Oftentimes though, we get distracted. We get overwhelmed. We lose sight of what matters most and we clutter up our heart, life and home with things that lead us away from that passion and purpose. We settle for idols, cheap imitations and substitutes of God’s best for our life and as we pursue those things, we find ourselves lost. Thankfully God is a new morning mercy kind of God. His grace is sufficient and his love for me never fails. His desire is for me to know His will. In this season, when so many find themselves Spring cleaning and clearing out the clutter to move forward, I am taking steps to do the same. Pray. Purge. Pursue. These three steps have led me to be still and listen to where God is leading me to move forward in areas of my life. I’m doing more listening than speaking and if you know me, you know that’s not easy. But where I am weak, He is strong and I am leaning IN to hear God’s voice and be moved to ready myself for what He has for me. Pray and listen to what God wants to gently reveal to you. Purge and clean out what needs to be made new, pruned or thrown out of your life. Pursue with passion where God is leading you. Pursue is our last step. This is where we are confident of what God has spoken and we know the steps we are to take by faith and we are now at the starting block getting ready to run! Our feet are locked and loaded and the path is clear. Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Do you see the example of Jesus? Pray. Purge. Pursue. He listened to the Father. He spent time in prayer. He knew the Father’s will. He laid down His own. He ran the race that was set before Him, endured the cross and made a way for you and me. Even though the world may tell you different, this life is not about you. God created the world and knit you together in your mother’s womb for a purpose. That purpose rests completely IN Him. He has joy for you today and it is found when you pursue Him, because as you do, the path and purpose for your life becomes clear and you can’t help but pursue it with passion. That’s the truth. Don’t be overwhelmed in this season, do what I’m doing. Pray. Purge. Pursue. Joy isn’t found in doing all the things we should be doing, it’s found at the feet of Jesus. We listen for His voice, move by his leading and pursue the plans He has for us. Let’s ready ourselves for the race we were created to run. I’m Lori Cline.

The birth of Jesus provided hope that things could change.   #daybydaylw   Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!   ~~~   Advent is good for us because people are bad. The bright light of Christmas is glorious because hearts are lost in darkness. The prophet Isaiah would make this plain when he spoke the Lord’s judgment against Israel. The Lord brought a judgment as dark as the Hebrew people’s hearts, a darkness as gloomy as the night sky. The Lord provided them with peace, but they chose chaos. He brought them rivers of joy, but they chose rebellion. But when all hope appeared to be dashed, Isaiah brought a glimmer of hope, a ray of light. “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them light has shone.” For this light they waited…and waited. And so we light this candle this evening. It is the candle of Hope. And just like the Israelites waited for the Light to dawn, we too wait for this Light to return in full glory and splendor. It was their hope that once this light dawned, that everything would change, and the eyes of their hearts would be opened to see the Immanuel.

Dr. Steve Crawley begins answering the question, "What does being authentic have to do with being a successful leader?" by first answering the question, "What is authenticity?"

Brian and Jen Goins return to FamilyLife Today to discuss the 12 essential habits of happy couples with hosts, Dave and Ann Wilson.

Absalom let his anger fester for two years while he plotted revenge on Amnon.   #daybydaylw   Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!   ~~~   In verse 28, the plot that has been cooking in Absalom’s mind comes out. He tells his servants, “When Amnon gets a little tipsy, kill him. He will never see it coming. And boys, don’t worry about a thing. I have commanded you to do this. I am taking responsibility. Be courageous and obey me.” Absalom’s speech makes it seem like his servants were a little hesitant. And we can certainly understand why. After all, Amnon is King David’s oldest son, the presumed heir to throne. To raise your hand against him would bring upon you a certain death sentence. So Absalom has to talk them into this. He has to assure them that he is the one taking full responsibility for this. And then we read verse 29—“So the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom commanded. This whole scene gives us some more insight into the very first phrase we read in verse 23, doesn’t it. It wasn’t just two full years after the events of Amnon and Tamar. It was two full years of Amnon thinking he had gotten away with something. It was two full years of Absalom not letting on his anger and hatred of Amnon. It was two full years of a controlled hatred seething and growing. It was two full years of plotting and scheming on Absalom’s part.

Can science improve your marriage? Brian and Jen Goins are in studio with FamilyLife Today hosts, Dave and Ann Wilson, to learn how small habits like "believing the best" can transform your relationship.

We must ask God to purge our lives of the sins that draw us away from Him.   #theloriclineshow   Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!   ~~~   What is God leading you to in this season? Where is He wanting to mold you? Are there areas of your life and heart that need a clean out? It is Spring. What work needs to be done now that will lead to making room for growth and good fruit down the road? While I love the idea of Spring cleaning, I do not want to do the Spring cleaning. That is in a way what led me to seek the Lord in this season and it really doesn’t have much to do with vacuuming or dusting. I’ve simply been overwhelmed. I know many of you can relate. As I have taken inventory of my life, home and heart, and all the things that seem obvious that I NEED to do, I’ve been stuck in ways, not even knowing where to begin. That’s when God gave me the words pray, purge and pursue. Instead of getting stuck in a cycle of what I should be doing, my heart is seeking what the Lord wants to LEAD me to do. One way is full of shame and guilt while the other is full of grace and is an open invitation to move closer to who God wants me to be and the plans He has for me. We began last time with pray. If you missed it you can find it at Lifeword.org, but to recap a bit, we’re asking God to lead us to the things and areas of our life and heart that need attention. Pray till you pray, is the first step and words are not required. The purpose of the ‘pray’ step is to be still and know God wants to move you closer to His heart and will for your life in every area. So listen and see where He leads you. The next step we are looking at today is PURGE. We begin with prayer. Once God reveals our area of focus, it’s time to purge. Now when I think of purge I think of the physical act of cleaning OUT. Get rid of it. And in fact, that may be what God wants you to do. To purge is to cleanse, purify or remove. When you have the urge to purge, you act quickly! I love that! For me, this is where the spirit comes in. Where I am weak, thank God He is strong. I can lean on the Lord to give me the strength to follow through with any action of obedience the Lord moves me to take. (2 Corinthians 2:10) I will never have the urge to do things that aren’t easy, but in His strength, I can do all things! What this step looks like for you will be different from what it may look like for me. Ask God to reveal your step forward and then to give you the urge or desire to take it! Where and what do we need to purge? God will reveal it. We can look to Psalm 51 as an example. David’s sin was revealed and instead of sweeping it under the rug or ignoring it, he responded, took action and brought it to the Lord. Psalm 51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. God revealed what needed to be cleaned out in David’s heart. David responded with repentance and surrender. He wanted to have the sin cut out and his life made new. He moved closer to God through the process. We can do the same whatever that looks like. Be still and listen to His voice. By faith, you can throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. (Hebrews 12:1) You can cut out what is dead in your life and prune back areas of growth to produce more fruit. (John 15:2) You can take an honest inventory of where your treasure has been and realign your heart to what matters most. (Matthew 6:19-21) Wherever God leads us, those are the steps we can take to respond. That’s the truth. We pray then we purge. God reveals and we respond. It’s Spring cleaning that goes beyond the surface. Next time we’ll move beyond the purge to PURSUE what God has in store. Join me at lifeword.org. I’m Lori Cline.

Sometimes there are long periods of silence between sin and consequence.   #daybydaylw   Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!   ~~~   So then we come to our passage for study this morning, and it begins this way: “After two full years…” That is our setting of the scene for the next events about to transpire. It may not seem like much information, but let it sink in. There is something being communicated in that statement. The author doesn’t want us to think that the next events took place just a few days later. It was “two FULL years.” Two years after Amnon listened to Jonadab’s wicked, crafty scheme. Two years after David foolishly sent Tamar to Amnon’s house. Two years after Amnon lied in wait, feigning sickness. Two years after Tamar tended to Amnon. Two years after Amnon laid hold of Tamar’s arm and jerked her to his side. Two years after Tamar pleaded with him to stop. Two years after Tamar was kicked out of Amnon’s house like a piece of trash. Two years after Tamar ran away weeping and wailing Two years after Absalom took her in and told her to be quiet. But it wasn’t just two years after these events. It was two full years of Jonadab taking mental notes of the family dynamics. This is the setting as it is given to us. The Conflict, vss. 23-27 And then we are introduced to the conflict of this story. The time has come for a little sheep-shearing on Absalom’s farm and it is taking place near Ephraim, about 15 miles away from the capitol city of Jerusalem. So Absalom goes to his father, King David, wanting to make this a family affair. But we quickly discover that Absalom is really only interested in having Amnon there. After King David protests and says that it would be too costly for Absalom to host all the family, Absalom presses David to send Amnon. King David doesn’t really know why Amnon’s attendance is so important to this sheep-shearing party, but he finally concedes. But us readers, we have pick up on something, don’t we? We see the tension. Absalom has not been exactly friendly to Amnon, not overly harsh, but not exactly buddy-buddy either. We know something is cooking.

Christians can use music to recognize God’s beauty and share it with others.   #daybydaylw   Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!

Psalm 23 offers us true comfort and assurance. Dave and Ann Wilson, hosts of FamilyLife Today, invite Ruth Chou Simons to chat about her new book, "Home is Where You Are," which is inspired by the passage.

When it seems God is silent, that is when He is shouting the loudest.   #daybydaylw   Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!   ~~~   SIAS: When it seems like God is silent, that is when He is shouting the loudest. What does any of that have to do with what we are studying in 2 Samuel? Let’s take a look. We are in chapter 13, and it is a most devastating chapter. It begins with David’s oldest son, Amnon, letting his lust run out of control to where he violates his own half sister, Tamar. And afterwards, being so full of his own lust, he completely his lust turns to hatred of Tamar, and he casts her out in such a way as to make everyone else think that he is the victim and she is the culprit, leaving her to live in shame. At the end of the story we read that Tamar’s brother takes her in, provides for her, and tells her to stay silent about the issue, causing her to live a desolate life in Absalom’s house. The story ends by saying that King David heard about all of this and it angered him, and that Absalom refused to speak to Amnon, his half-brother, neither good nor evil, letting Amnon believe that Absalom didn’t know about the events, or didn’t care about them.

How do Christians find their self-worth? Who has the last say? Join Ruth Chou Simons and FamilyLife Today hosts, Dave and Ann Wilson, as Ruth shares her journey to find rest in God's love and acceptance.

We should be constantly praying with the knowledge that God knows our need before we ask.   #theloriclineshow   Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org! ~~~   Now that it’s Spring, what do many of us find ourselves doing on a sunny afternoon? Spring cleaning! Ok, maybe I should have rephrased that and asked, ‘what SHOULD many of us be doing’? Yes, it’s time for Spring cleaning, but to be honest, if I have a free sunny afternoon, the last thing I want to do is clean. But, there IS something about coming out of winter, with all its cold and dark days, into the beauty and warmth of Spring. You do want to throw the windows open, let the fresh air in, whistle while you work and allow all the woodland creatures to come clean your home like they did for Cinderella! Oh if only that could happen. If you’re like me in this season, honestly, I’m overwhelmed. Maybe you can relate. My heart is still mourning the loss of my Dad, we’ve had many losses around us, people are hurting and life hasn’t slowed down for any of it. In fact, I think it sped up! Now hear me, I am blessed through it all. God’s grace and mercy IS new for me every morning and His goodness is all over my life, still it’s a lot at times. My heart is embracing the beauty of lament and I do find myself praising through the storms. Still, in that place, I’ve felt stuck when it comes to the things I SHOULD be doing, like Spring cleaning! With an honest heart, I wanted to share with you what God has gently led me to in this season, to take some steps forward in areas that I find it difficult to move. It’s three steps. Pray. Purge. Pursue. Write those down if you feel led to. Pray. Purge. Pursue. We can journey together. I’ll dig deeper into each one over the next 3 broadcasts. The thing is, in any season, God wants us to know Him more. He wants us to abide deeper in His presence and as we do, the light of truth shines bright on areas of our lives that may need some attention. As the spirit of God REVEALS, we then are moved to take steps of obedience as we RESPOND to His leading. Then the beautiful thing is our movement or action steps aren’t rooted in comparison, shame or defeat. Our steps are a response to an invitation to move closer to healing, closer to health, closer to God’s will for our lives and ultimately closer to who God has called us to be for such a time as this. So, if you’re ready to join me in this season to take some steps forward, whatever that looks like for you, we begin today with prayer. The first step is to pray till you pray. Make time. Get quiet. Be still. Shut out distractions and take some deep breaths. This is the most important step. If you miss this, you’re motives and movements can be way off. Don’t look to what the world or social media says you need to be doing in this season. What does God say? Psalm 46:10 says ‘be still, and know that I am God’. To hear God’s voice, we must still our own and others. This is the primary focus of the first step. Silence the noise and wait on the Lord to reveal the areas of your heart, life and home that may need attention. Your heart may need time to open. That’s ok too. Words aren’t required when we pray. The spirit intercedes for us, Romans 8:26 tells us and I’m so glad. Often I have no words and I think that’s where God wants us to begin. Just be still. Jesus invites us to come and find rest. In Matthew chapter 6 Jesus gives us His example in how to pray. I love the Lord’s prayer, but it’s the verse right before it that in this season, moves my heart. Matthew 6:7-8 ​​And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. This is how you pray till you pray. No words are required, simply a heart open to hear. And if you know me I love words, but God is gently reminding me, I don’t have to even speak. My Father knows what I need before I even ask. Pray. It’s the first step. Your Father already knows what you need, and the process of prayer and listening to His voice is what allows Him to reveal it to you. That’s the truth. God is very present and He wants you to know what steps to take in this season. Be still. Know He is good and He has a good plan for your life and He has good steps for you to take today. Take this first step with me and pray. Together we’ll discover what comes next. I’m Lori Cline.

When God remains silent in the face of sin, we should take notice.   #daybydaylw   Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!   ~~~   Ronan Keiting wrote a song, made popular by Keith Whitley who sang it, called, “When You Say Nothing At All.” “It's amazing how you can speak right to my heart Without saying a word, you can light up the dark Try as I may, I can never explain What I hear when you don't say a thing The smile on your face lets me know that you need me There's a truth in your eyes saying you'll never leave me The touch of your hand says you'll catch me wherever I fall” That really is a beautiful song in a lot of ways. And I think that we could all identify with that. Actions speak louder than words, right? And we could say that God’s glory and goodness and power and holiness is communicated that way. In fact, that is what God himself tells us. Psalm 19 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God…there is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their measuring line goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.” That means that all the earth hears the declaration of the stars and the moon and the galaxies. That is pretty loud, wouldn’t you say. But the truth of it is not just one-way. In other words, a person’s silence doesn’t always communicate love and tenderness and care. Sometimes silence communicates other feelings and emotions, like anger or wrath. When my wife gets silent, I know something is up. I know something needs to be addressed. Her silence is deafening. And God actually tells us this in His word as well—Romans 1:18 says, “The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.” And the unrighteous have chosen to turn down the volume of God’s voice, and turn up the volume of their own truth, to which, it says in Romans 1 over and over again, “God gave them up…” In other words, He allowed them to keep their fingers in their ears, and dance to the music that was rattling around in their own head. He remained silent in one sense, allowing them to live in the consequences. But what we will learn is that in the silence, God is actually shouting. Come back in the days ahead to understand fully what I mean.

Is self-improvement wrong? Ruth Chou Simons joins FamilyLife Today hosts, Dave and Ann Wilson, to discusses the dangers of striving and the freedom found in God's grace.

Clif and Johnny discuss Johnny’s music and inspiration.   #daybydaylw   Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!

Dr. Steve Crawley stresses that while competence is important, leaders at any stage must prioritize character development, as it is the foundation of great leadership.

The bond between a father and son, forged in the great outdoors, is a great example of the deep connections we build as we guide others through discipleship. In this video Shaun shows us how discipleship and hunting are both a journey of patience, persistence, and partnership.   #outdoorswithshaunmerrell   Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!

Navigating the holidays in a blended family can be tricky. FamilyLife Blended experts, Ron Deal and Gayla Grace, discuss tips and strategies for creating a joyful Christmas ... on FamilyLife Today.

God holds out an offer for forgiveness and reconciliation even to the most wicked.   #daybydaylw   Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!   ~~~   What is going on here? Why are we being fed this story? Remember, these are the ripple effects of David’s sin. And as we read, we throw up our hands…again…and say, Adam failed, Abraham failed, Jacob failed, Moses failed, Saul failed. And now David, the man after God’s own heart, is the next domino to fall. The kingdom of God, the people of God are not safe under the David’s rule, not even the King’s daughter is safe. Her own father chooses to remain passive, he takes no action against his oldest son. Perhaps he thinks he has no business doing so, since he himself committed adultery. Whatever the case, he fails. But there is a promise given in God’s word that the Lord’s anointed one would “bring good news to the afflicted, bind up the brokenhearted, comfort all who mourn, give a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit. Everlasting joy instead of shame.” And as we have already seen, God is faithful to His word. Jesus comes and bears our guilt, and shame, brings to us new life, free of shame. He holds out the offer of wholeness to a shattered heart, joy instead of sorrow, praise instead of distress. He holds out that promise to those as broken as Tamar, that sin will be paid for, either by His cross, or each man will bear himself the penalty and guilt of his own sin. Are you a Tamar this morning? You have felt the sting and destruction of abuse? You feel like your life has nothing more to offer? You feel like you are the outcast, been thrown out like trash? Know this—He gives beauty for ashes. He restores life. He can make your heart whole, because he offers not to clean up your life, but to give you new life in His eternal kingdom, where there will be no sin or humiliation or shame. And as much as we may not like it now, he holds out that offer to people as wicked as Amnon. For grace is greater than all our sin.

Christmas can be tough. On FamilyLife Today, hosts, Dave and Ann Wilson, talk with Brian and Jen Goins about navigating loss, separation, and changing family dynamics during the holidays.

When we cannot change our circumstances, Jesus is still there to comfort us.   #theloriclineshow   Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!   ~~~   What is something you wish so desperately you could change, right now, but you cannot? If you’re like me, I have a mile long list. It’s a crazy feeling isn’t it? This isn’t right. I want to make it right. This wasn’t supposed to be this way. How can I fix this? This is not how my story was to be written. What can I do to change it? Is there a REDO button for this day or this chapter of life? When life doesn’t turn out like we expected or the big waves almost knock us down, we all must come to a place we simply understand that we are NOT in control. It’s that ‘throw your hands in the air’ moment of surrender. Broken moments, broken chapters, broken pieces of our lives that are beyond our control, are the very moments God uses to remind us, He IS our only hope. He is the ONE who holds it all together and no matter how many pieces there may be to our life, He is the only one who can put them back together in a way we would have never imagined. He is there, IN every moment, wanting to carrying us through it. How does a child let you know they want to be carried? They put their hands in the air. We must do the same. We come to a place where we accept the reality that we can’t, and God can. When we rest in that, there is peace. Are you familiar with the serenity prayer? It’s a prayer to God asking for calmness and peace in all matters of life. It was written by Dr. Reinhold Niebuhr and promoted and published in the nineteen thirties and forties. There are two versions and I want to read you both. The short version is this, O God grant me... the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the Courage to change the things I can, and the Wisdom to know the difference, Amen. The full version reads like this, God, give me grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, Courage to change the things which should be changed, and the Wisdom to distinguish the one from the other. Living one day at a time, Enjoying one moment at a time, Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace, Taking, as Jesus did, This sinful world as it is, Not as I would have it, Trusting that You will make all things right, If I surrender to Your will, So that I may be reasonably happy in this life, And supremely happy with You forever in the next. Amen. The line that makes me smile is, ‘so I may be reasonably happy in this life’. There are things we can’t change and there are things we can. What I love about this prayer is it is full of surrender, while at the same time accepting responsibility. God calls us to water walk in seasons and He also calls us to be carried. My prayer is that whatever any day may hold that I always know who holds it. Colossians 1:17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Jesus holds me together, ever single day. I’m so grateful He does. Whether you choose to trust Him or not, He holds you too. He is IN it all and working through it all for your good. Believing that brings peace and accepting what we cannot change, is serenity. That’s the truth. If you’re struggling with what you cannot control, trust Jesus with it. One day all things will be made right, but until that day, we walk, rest and move by faith and find peace only when WE let go. I’m Lori Cline.

We should respond with indignation and action to sin, not by sweeping it under the rug.   #daybydaylw   Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!   ~~~   In those days the daughters of the king would wear certain garb designating them as unmarried, as virgins. And now that that status has been robbed of Tamar, she tears her clothes, signifying that virginity is no longer the case, and also signifying her state of grief. She puts ash on her head, and leaves the chambers of Amnon with her hands on her head, a symbol that incredible trouble has come upon her, and she is weeping, wailing as she leaves. She can no longer be offered a royal wedding. Her life has been upended. Her brother Absalom comes along, figures out what is going on, and asks her to keep silent about it, because, most likely, he is hatching a plan himself to kill Amnon so he can have the throne. He does what he can for her, giving her a home and protection. But the rest of her days are lived out in desolation, the joy in her life gone. And this is made only worse by the inactivity of her father. Angry he was, but did nothing about it. How do you respond to the unrighteousness around you? Do you attempt to silence it? Ignore it? Sweep it under the rug? Pretend it’s no big deal? As a man are you a source of refuge, justice, care, compassion, nobility for those who have had justice denied them?

When we give in to sin, we deafen our ears to God’s calls for repentance.   #daybydaylw   Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!   ~~~   Upon Tamar’s pleading with Amnon not to do this vile act of abandoning his sister and leaving her destitute, we once again read, “But he, (Amnon,) would not listen to her.” And in further action, by calling in his servant and demanding that Tamar be kicked out and the door be bolted, Amnon was actually blaming Tamar for the incident. Some of you are deaf this morning, and will not listen to the calls laid upon you to repent of your sin. You blame everyone else for your sin. You hate everyone else for the guilt you know is yours. This is the main point of this passage—when you buy the lie of sin, when you give in, over and over to the deceitfulness of sin, you very well may be sacrificing the ability to hear the voice of God. You refuse to hear the voice of righteousness.

Join FamilyLife Today hosts, Dave and Ann Wilson, for a heartfelt discussion on the joys and challenges of Christmas. We'll explore gift-giving, gratitude, and how to keep Christ central to it all.