Using our transporter, Finn and I visit the Valley of the Shadow of Death and see Christian journeying through the darkness using the light of God’s Word.
With your kids: What is one of your favorite verses to quote when you feel afraid? Help your children each pick a verse to memorize for their own dark times.
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Friends, I’m so excited to share with you some of the resources I’ve recently discovered (or been reminded of) in my walk with Jesus. You can find the rest of the resources I love here.
“Why is it easier to obey God than to trust Him?
Because obeying God makes sense to us. In most cases, His laws appear reasonable and wise, and even when we don’t want to obey them, we usually concede that they are good for us. But the circumstances we find ourselves in often defy explanation. Before long, we begin to doubt God’s concern for us or His control over our lives. We ask, “Why is God allowing this?” or “What have I done wrong?”
God has used this book so powerfully in my life to equip me in the battle with anxiety. You can read more here.
This is a collection of puritan prayers and devotions. Don’t let the cover turn you off. It is filled with scripturally and theologically rich prayers to worship and enjoy God. It’s often been a great starting place to help me worship God and then talk to Him about what’s on my mind and heart.
“This book has been prepared not to ‘supply’ prayers but to prompt and encourage the Christian as he treads the path on which others have gone before.”
You can read the prayers for free here, but I’m grateful for my hardcopy to highlight and meditate on.
“EVERY MOMENT HOLY is a book of liturgies for the ordinary events of daily life–liturgies such as “A Liturgy for Feasting with Friends” or “A Liturgy for Laundering” or “A Liturgy for the First Hearthfire of the Season.” These are ways of reminding us that our lives are shot through with sacred purpose even when, especially when, we are too busy or too caught up in our busyness to notice.”
This is such a beautiful guide for learning how to see every part of our lives as a way to meet the Lord. (And McKelvey’s words are so well-chosen and biblical.) I’m hopeful that the less-expensive paperback version will be released soon, but you can find the hardcover version now.
“If you are a new believer or know someone who is, Fundamentals of the Faith is the perfect resource for establishing a solid biblical foundation for the Christian life.”
This is an excellent discipleship material! It is in a workbook format with links to audio sermons related to each topic.
Not sure how to pray for the needs of the world? This is an incredible resource of 4-5 minute videos (from hundreds of places around the world), leading you in how to pray for them.
The Bible Project videos (free)
Their goal: To help people experience the Bible as a unified story that leads to Jesus.
I can’t recommend these short videos enough. There are videos giving the historical background, themes, and outline of each book of the Bible along with illustrations, and also videos about themes throughout Scripture. Just watch one. You’ll be hooked.
Songs for Saplings (Free)
“Our mission is to equip the Church worldwide with rich, Biblical music to help children learn their faith through song.”
I can’t get these little songs out of my head, and am so excited for my children to grow up hearing (and memorizing) these Bible verses set to music. She also has a series of albums teaching the Catechism for Young People through song.
In this bonus episode, Finn and I tell one of his favorite stories from Pilgrim’s Progress, a spiritual allegory that was written in 1678 and has sold over 200 million copies since then. If you’d like to introduce your children to the whole story, I’d heartily recommend Pilgrim’s Progress Adapted for Children or Dangerous Journey: The Story of Pilgrim’s Progress.
With your kids: What is a lie Apollyon might say to you if you were journeying with Christian in the Valley of Humiliation? What truth could you shout back at him?
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Has it been more difficult for you to trust God than to obey Him? It is for me.
God’s Word says He is completely sovereign, infinite in wisdom, and perfect in love.
According to Jerry Bridges in his book “Trusting God,”
When we fail to trust God, we doubt His sovereignty and question His goodness. . .
God in His love always wills what is best for us. In His wisdom, He always knows what is best, and in His sovereignty He has the power to bring it about.
Is it a coincidence that Peter wrote about humility and the devil’s schemes as he called the believers to cast their anxieties on God?
1 Peter 5:6-8 says:
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
It’s a lot easier to submit to God’s hand when I believe the truth Bridges wrote, that my “suffering has meaning and purpose in God’s eternal plan, and He brings or allows to come into our lives only that which is for His glory and our good” (Rom 8:28). Satan wants nothing more than for me to doubt God’s sovereignty, wisdom, and love, because it keeps me from going to my Father and leading others to do the same.
My pastor has reminded me that faithfulness is not the absence of any feelings of concern, but obediently engaging the Enemy. So what are you anxious about right now? Will you tell God how you feel and then join with the Spirit by asking for faith to believe in God’s sovereignty, wisdom, and love working all things together for His glory and to make you more like Christ?
I’ll share more in the next post about some practices that have helped me engage the battle, but for now, would you consider getting Trusting God by Jerry Bridges? He will lead you all over Scripture to confirm these truths that can be so hard to believe.
In this episode, Finn and I talk about God’s power in raising a boy from the dead, and how through Jesus’ sacrifice, our dead hearts can be raised to life again.
With your kids: Take turns thanking God for the different ways He is providing for your needs, and then thank Him for giving you a new heart!
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Since anxiety is a battle where I’ve been learning how to obediently engage the Enemy, I thought over the next few posts, I’d share some thoughts and practices God has used to help me not give up.
Philippians 4:6-9 says:
“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. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
Because emotions are reflections of what I believe to be true, two questions have been immensely helpful for me:
How is Christ inviting me to think about this situation?
What does obedience look like in this situation?
The feeling doesn’t have to change right away if I am seeking to be obedient, but I can also look forward to God’s commitment to providing me with His peace.
In the next post, I’ll share what some of this has looked like when I wake up during the night feeling anxious.
In this episode, Finn and I talk about God’s miracles for King Joram, King Jehoshaphat, and a needy widow and how God used Elisha to help them know that He is the true Conquering Redeemer.
With your kids: Tell your kids the story of how you came to know Christ.
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How do I live in unselfishness and humility, considering the interests of others? How does my own physical and mental capacity fit into all this? How do I find enjoyment in the toil and ways God richly provides? How do I walk this life’s path in fullness of joy in His presence, with His easy yoke and light burden, and do everything for His glory? When I’ve tried to control my schedule and the people in it, I’ve felt like these things are impossible, that I’ll never have enough time to do His will.
One picture God brought to mind was thinking of my time like a batch of chocolate chip cookies. If I ate the whole batch myself, I would feel sick. If I gave away all the cookies and let someone else lick out the bowl, I would feel sad. Instead, one morning I might get to eat one cookie alone with Jesus and then share the rest with my kids and husband. Another morning I might get to eat two or three with God. Some days the cookies will be pretty much all given to my children. Other days I might get to share a couple cookies with just my husband. Sometimes, our whole family will eat them together, and other times I’ll leave my husband and kids to enjoy the cookies with each other so that I can bring cookies to someone else. And some evenings, I might take a cookie into my room and shut the door, so that when I’m finished, I can re-enter family life with the pleasure lingering on my tongue.
Sometimes, I will eat too many cookies and feel sick. But that’s why Jesus came, to redeem my sins and mistakes and carry His work in my life to completion. Then the cookies shared with Him will last forever. So let’s keep baking! (Phil. 1:6, 2:3-8, Ecc. 2:24, Ps. 16:11, 1 Tim. 6:17, Matt. 11:28-30, Col. 3:17)
As we celebrate Resurrection Sunday in our homes, I wanted to make Finn’s bonus episode about Jesus’ death and resurrection available to everyone this Easter. He is Risen!
You can find the rest of the bonus episodes on https://www.patreon.com/aliciayoder
And. . . for the full story of Jesus’ death and resurrection, you can check out Episode 64 and 65 on the podcast.
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Until April 16, you and your children can listen to the Passion of Jesus drama on https://www.yourstoryhour.org/listen-for-free
It’s 8 episodes that are around 30 minutes, and includes the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
