Ask our Staff: Book Recommendations!

Mac Willingham // College Intern

Back in October, I sent several members of the Watkinsville staff an email that said, “could you please respond to this email with one book that you think every college student should read or that you found most helpful during your time in college?” I thought their responses (below) might be interesting and helpful for all of you to begin the year with a good book!

I have linked all of the titles of the books to its amazon page to make it extra easy to pick one out and start reading. I’m already a few chapters into The Magician’s Nephew… thanks @Joel!

If you have other topics you’d like to be answered in this format, email college@watkinsville.org to let us know!!

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Taylor Crouse // Intern Director & Youth Associate

Book: What is the Gospel?

Author: Greg Gilbert

Why: This is the most clear, concise book that explains the gospel. We don’t ever “graduate” from this, and our heart should be renewed by it daily. Also, having a clear understanding is key to being able to clearly share the gospel.

Daniel NeSmith // Student Pastor

Book: Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life

Author: Don Whitney

Book: Humility: True Greatness

Author: CJ Mahaney

Book: Master Plan of Evangelism

Author: Robert Coleman

Caleb Barnes // Worship Associate

Book: Humility: True Greatness

Author: CJ Mahaney

Why: College is a season that can quickly create prideful habits. You can do whatever you want whenever you want for the first time ever. This book pointed out so many things in my heart that I did not realize were prideful thoughts or actions. However, this book was so helpful because it did not leave me discouraged or hopeless. This very easy read provided markers on how to identify pride in my life and gave practical application on how to practice humility. This book has been so helpful and convicting. I return to it multiple times a year.

Anna Crouse // Administrative Assistant

Book: The Freedom of Self Forgetfulness

Author: Tim Keller

Why: It’s a small book, you could read it before you go to bed, but it packs in some solid truths about humility. Gospel humility, and the freedom and rest that it can bring, especially in a world that is so focused on oneself.

Book: Just Do Something

Author: Kevin DeYoung

Why: I think everyone can benefit from what [DeYoung] has to say in this book, but it’s a timely read for seniors that are not sure what to do after college. In a time where we can have so many great opportunities in front of us, we can get bogged down and waste so much time trying to make the perfect decision. This book really nails down some practical ways to make those big decisions. Ultimately though, as the title gives away, you’ve just gotta do something.

Brooke Davis // Intern Director & Youth Associate

Book: Habits of Grace

Author: David Mathis

Why: This book was SO helpful for me because it laid the foundation for all of my spiritual disciplines. It opened my eyes to see why disciplines were important and how life-changing they could be to every area of my walk. It was a book that deeply changed by faith and I would recommend it to any college student!

Joel Shinpoch // Communications Pastor

Book: The Prodigal God

Author: Tim Keller

Why: Once you have the story of Luke 15 as a picture in your mind for the Gospel it will never leave you.

Book: Just Do Something

Author: Kevin DeYoung

Why: If you are thinking about what to do next in life you will find great comfort in knowing God has already given you the instructions.

Book: The Magician's Nephew

Author: C.S. Lewis

Why: Reading a kid’s story that speaks to the largest themes of the human experience is entertaining and transformative.

Vic Doss // College Pastor

Book: Weight of Glory

Author: C.S. Lewis

Why: If you want to know who C.S. Lewis is, this is the book to read.

Book: Counterfeit Gods

Author: Tim Keller

Why: John Calvin says the human heart is an idol factor. Keller gives a way to diagnose and prevent this from happening in this book.

Book: A Good Man Is Hard to Find and Other Stories

Author: Flannery O’Connor

Why: I think she would have been the best American author had she lived longer. There is something Christ-haunted in everything she writes. She grew up in the south and brings a veil of spirituality in every story.

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Mac is a Junior at UGA majoring in Psychology. He has been a college intern at Watkinsville for the past two years and is planning on working in ministry after graduating. Mac loves spending time with his friends and family, drinking coffee, and looking at pictures of his dogs (especially Juneau). He also feels uncomfortable writing this bio in third person.

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HAVE A COOL IDEA FOR A BLOG POST? IS THERE SOMETHING THE LORD HAS PLACED ON YOUR HEART TO SHARE?

Contact Mac Willingham (478-960-0399) or email college@watkinsville.org with your idea and we’ll talk about posting it here!

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Don’t Waste Your Christmas Break

Chip Chambers // UGA Graduate

“Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.’ But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.’” - Luke 10:38-42 (ESV)

Breaks always start out great. I make it home, fall onto my bed, and breathe a sigh of relief. The reprieve I have looked forward to for so long has finally arrived.

Then one day goes by, and another. I have less on my plate, but I actually seem less productive and more miserable. I begin reading my Bible less than during the semester, and I end up spending my time on, well, actually I’m never really sure where the time goes.

Then, the emotional struggles kick in. Boredom. Loneliness. Apathy. Anxiety.

Judging by the conversations I’ve had with others, I’m not the only one. So when the busyness and pressure of the semester subside, how do we fight to feel energized? How do we ward off the apathy? How do we fight back against laziness, sleeping in, and ending the day unsure where all the time actually went?

Some people would say that you need to use this time to be productive. Some would say you just need to use this time to rest. They’re both right, and they’re both wrong, depending on how we define those terms. So, first, let’s be sure we get them straight.

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Properly Defining Productivity:

At the end of Luke 10, we have the story of Mary and Martha. They approached productivity in two different ways, and Scripture leaves no ambiguity around who had it right.

Mary, we are told “sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching.” Martha, on the other hand, “was distracted with much serving.”

Martha, it would seem, had read Smarter. Faster. Better and Getting Things Done. But Jesus doesn’t seem impressed by her work ethic. “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken from her.”

Martha’s heart wasn’t one of humbly receiving and listening, at least not yet. She thought there was work to be done before she could set aside time for Jesus to teach her. She was dead wrong.

And in 5 short verses, we see the consequences of her task-based definition of productivity: she is anxious and troubled (v. 41), and she’s frustrated that Mary isn’t doing as much as she is (v. 40).

Here’s how to know if you’re operating with Martha’s definition of productivity:

Are you stressed, worried, or frustrated with other people who seem lazy to you?

Have you ever thought about how wonderfully inefficient prayer is? If God’s sole purpose was for us to maximize our time in terms of getting things done, then why would He make his actions contingent upon the regular, laborious asking (Luke 18:1-8) of His people? Why doesn’t He just work His sovereign will Himself and leave us to go do other productive things?

Because God isn’t interested in defining productivity like we do. He has no desire to check off boxes (after all, He owns the boxes). He wants your heart. And prayer is one way He draws us to Himself in dependence, over and over.

God doesn’t need you to run 4 miles each day this break. He doesn’t need you to read a book of systematic theology. He doesn’t need you to take up sewing, painting, gardening, learn a new language, clean all your windows, start an Etsy, or do any of that stuff you’ve been “meaning to do” for months.

He wants you to sit with Him.

Even as I wrote this article, I felt the temptation to work on getting it completed instead of spending time with God myself. That is precisely the type of damnable self-sufficiency and perversion of productivity that Jesus warns about here.

This break, will you focus on listening more than doing? The Gospel is first and foremost an invitation into the presence of God. The service follows. Don’t get that order mixed up.

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Properly Defining Rest:

Today, there is more focus on holistic health (both mental and physical) than there has ever been in history. More resources, attention, and time go towards self-care than ever before, and that’s a wonderful thing.

We just have to make sure God is defining self-care, not us.

I’ve heard “self-care” used to justify binge-watching Netflix alone late into the night, playing phone games as a “break” from work, grabbing some comfort food because you’ve “earned it,” having a drink each night as a “pick-me-up,” and scrolling through social media indefinitely as some “me time” in which you pull away from others.

If we look at God’s definition of rest, however, those sound a lot more like self-indulgence. People who are characterized by routinely turning to “pick-me-ups” may sound free, but they’re actually slaves (2 Peter 2:18-19). Too often, we gorge ourselves on quick pleasures, then lament that we have no appetite for the feast of Scripture (Proverbs 27:7).

Scripture tells us to abstain from what the flesh wants because it hurts our soul (1 Peter 2:11), avoid excessive enjoyment of physical pleasures (Proverbs 25:27), avoid excessive food and drink (Proverbs 21:17, 23:20), discipline our bodies (1 Corinthians 9:27), and avoid isolating ourselves from others (Proverbs 18:1). Instead, we remind ourselves that God’s grace is meant to teach us to renounce self-indulgence so that we might live self-controlled lives (Titus 2:11-12).

So Biblical rest entails enjoying God’s good gifts of food (Ecclesiastes 9:7), alcohol (1 Timothy 5:23), sleep (Psalm 127:2), work (Genesis 2:15), and community (1 Cor. 12:25-27). But holiness also means being willing to go without any of these temporarily for the sake of the Gospel and in service of others (Galatians 5:13).

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3 Practical Principles for Restful Productivity:

With those two terms properly defined, let’s hit 3 quick principles that will help guide our time.

Principle 1: There’s a battle going on, and the clock is ticking

Ephesians 5:16 leaves no question about whether we are supposed to operate with an urgency. It tells us to make the most efficient use of our time, because each day is “evil”. Paul is telling us that we need to be methodical and strategic about each day, because the clock is ticking. Our boss has given us a job to do, and He’s coming back soon (Luke 12:35-48).

Practical tip: With a renewed definition of productivity, sit down each morning and write down 3 things you won’t go to bed without doing that day (and remember they don’t have to be superhuman feats). This will focus your attention, provide structure, and energize you.

Principle 2: You’re not on missional hiatus. You’ve been deployed to another war zone.

The lie from the enemy this break will be that your normal call to holiness and being missional has been suspended temporarily. The lie will be to just indulge yourself during this “down time” in between the real missions.

You haven’t been pulled from the war though. You’ve just been dropped into another battlefield.

Your family still needs you to be humble, missional, joyful, patient, kind, and self-controlled. Your old friends need it too.

Practical tip: Write down the names of 3 people you want to share the Gospel with this break.

Principle 3: Don’t stumble into a warzone unarmed and without a strategy.

After Paul gives us the command to use our days wisely in Ephesians 5, he doesn’t just leave us on our own to figure out what that looks like. In Ephesians 6, we are told

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”

Translation: There’s a war going on, and you’re going to want to suit up for this one. There’s gear for you to wear, and it’s your only chance to make it through.

I love the challenge at the beginning: “Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.” If you think you can live a life of holiness without the Holy Spirit, you’re both naïve and arrogant.

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So how do you practically don the armor of God this break?

1. Strap up the belt of truth (v. 14) and pick a book you’re going to read this break to learn more about God’s Truth. God wants you to know Him. He doesn’t want to be a stranger. So pick a book, write it down, and tell a friend. Then enjoy feasting on truth.

2. Lace up the shoes of peace (v. 15) on some beautiful feet and look for ways to introduce other people to the Prince of Peace.

3. Take up the shield of faith (v. 16) by picking a day to fast and putting it on your calendar. Choosing to deprive ourselves of food can help intensify spiritual passions by removing the numbing effects of physical pleasure (1 Cor. 7:5).

4. Put salvation’s helmet (v. 17) on your head by keeping the Gospel on your mind. Put reminders on your phone throughout the day to meditate on what Christ has done for you. Meditate on adoption, reconciliation, renewal, and union with Christ.

5. Wield the sword of the Spirit (v. 17) by allowing the Spirit to speak in His Word. God wrote a book. Feast on it each morning and arm yourself with the only offensive weapon in our arsenal. One practical way to help this happen is to commit to a single (realistic) morning routine. Decide not to look at a screen before you’ve gotten in the word.

6. Pray constantly (v. 18) and build the habit of constant dependence by talking to the Spirit like He’s standing next to you.

Amidst all of this battle, remember that you are not commander-in-chief.

There’s a wondrous freedom in the type of discipline that both sits and listens, then goes and tells. Learn to do both, but never forget the order they come in.

“There’s a wondrous freedom in the type of discipline that both sits and listens, then goes and tells. Learn to do both, but never forget the order they come in.”

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Chip, a long-time Watkinsvillian and WFBCer, graduated from UGA in December, 2019 with degrees in biology and economics. He has served in Watkidsville and with the college teaching team while at Watkinsville, and plans to attend medical school in the fall of 2020 (James 4:15). He enjoys puns, watching Planet Earth, and has a passion for people’s heads and hearts to both be full with the knowledge of Jesus, which is both conceptual and experiential.

You can connect with him on LinkedIn Instagram: @chip_chambers

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HAVE A COOL IDEA FOR A BLOG POST? IS THERE SOMETHING THE LORD HAS PLACED ON YOUR HEART TO SHARE?

Contact Mac Willingham (478-960-0399) or email college@watkinsville.org with your idea and we’ll talk about posting it here!

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Check out our most recent posts below!

How Do I Read My Bible?

Brooke Davis // Intern Director & Youth Ministry Associate

The BIBLE! The most life-giving and equally intimidating book we own. If I had been asked to write this a year ago, I would have told you that the Bible is always intriguing and refreshing for the reader. This year, my bible reading has not felt like that. For various reasons it’s been hard, often dry, feeling more like a discipline before a delight. I hope this allows for us to see what we feel or don’t feel when the Bible is opened before us does not change the fact that it is a living book with the unique power to transform every part of who we are.

Why read?

Think about having a “friend” or someone that you claimed to be in a relationship with that you only ever had second hand experience with. You only heard about this person through other people. You listened to them talk to others and watched them interact with those around you, but you never had first hand experience with them yourself. What kind of relationship would that be? Not a strong one I can tell you that. Why? Because to have a deep relationship with someone you have to experience them personally. It’s not enough to just go to church, listen to podcasts, hear about Jesus through “professionals”,  and expect to have a strong relationship with Him. We must have first hand experience with God to really know Him and that comes through His words to us (the Bible) and ours to Him (prayer). We must read the sacred text ourselves and behold his beauty with our very own eyes. This experience is the thing that sustains a believer to endure and sets a heart ablaze for God. Without the word, we are hopeless and left with a weak faith able to shift at the first sign of danger. Oh but with the Word, we are more than conquerors because we have become fixated on the one that conquered.

“Without the word, we are hopeless and left with a weak faith able to shift at the first sign of danger. Oh but with the Word, we are more than conquerors because we have become fixated on the one that conquered. ”

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What keeps us from reading then?

1. We live in a microwave society and have a crockpot Bible. it’s easy to be disappointed by a “quiet time” that feels as though it does nothing for you. Let’s imagine you have a test today that you feel anxious for and so you get in the word hoping your negative emotion will dissipate as you read the perfect verse for your stress, but find that your bible reading plan has you knee deep in Leviticus looking at ancient laws. What’s happens? Discouragement and impatience. Over time we don’t think the Bible really works for us.

2. When life gets hard the Bible can feel harder. I have watched patterns take place in my own and others lives when suffering comes or a shift in season where the demands pick up, they neglect the word. This neglect takes place because it seems to be too much to think through or manage time wise. We become too busy or too downcast to think that the Word has the power to transform us because it feels dead to us.

3. I don’t know what all this means?! We are trained in the American church to view those on a stage as the professional Christians and those of us in the audience as the spectators. This leads to us feel inadequate around the Bible with the view that we just listen but aren’t called to study and understand ourselves, it keeps us from reading, from understanding, and longing for wisdom in the Word.

4. Where do I start? Often times we don’t know how to structure our time in the word. We don’t know where to start or what to read. We don’t know what to do with our questions. There is intimidation surrounding the bIble and an expectation that we should have it all together to start with. It keeps God’s children from being with their father. Our pride keeps us from asking others for help in this area and we miss the treasure of God’s Glory through His Word.

What can help us?

1. Microwave society and a crockpot bible: God is not about speed; He is about faith. Faith is a process. Think about studying for a test or mastering a sport, you do not just sit down with the material and become an expert on it day one. It takes time, repetition, practice, and patience. Think of the Bible in this way, expect you will never fully master it, but instead for your entire life you will dig up eternal treasures that renew your mind and transform your life. This is a slow process. We must learn endurance and know that weeks, months, and years of consistency in the word will lead to a life that has been deeply transformed and conformed to the image of Christ. The Bible doesn’t function like a pharmacy where we get our medication for a quick fix, instead it functions like a careful surgeon who spends hours mending the root of the sickness.  

2. When life gets hard the Bible gets harder: The enemy’s greatest attack on a Christian is for our minds. It is an all-out battle field in our thought life. Everything flows from what we set our minds on. So often circumstances cause us to believe the Word doesn’t work. That is a lie. Your only hope is the truth found in the word of God and when life get hard, we must move toward Him and not away from Him. There will be some seasons in life that you will study for depth and have the ability to think deeply around the word of God, but some seasons of life you will study for breadth and glaze the surface remembering basic truth of who God is and how he loves you. Neither are wrong, have grace for yourself and whatever you do, do not neglect it. 

3. I don’t know what this all means?! That is why you study! It is an ancient book and there are parts that seem detached from our modern lives. A good student asks questions. I very rarely walk away from my time in the word without having more questions than I came with. The Bible is the most active and dynamic book we own. It should make us think, question, and continually wonder. Why? Because it’s author is the author of life and operates at a level we cannot even fathom. Start to see your questioning and wondering of the Word of God as success because it is in that space that you begin to gain a correct view of your Glorious God.

4. Where do I start?

   • Pick a time. Let nothing and no one get in that time except you and God.

   • Pick a place. A quiet private place for just you and God.

   • Pick a book. Stay consistent in one book of the Bible and read with care.

   • Perspective. Remember that your Bible is like a carefully threaded quilt. It is one big masterpiece with the same central storyline all pointing to Jesus. When one thread or stitch doesn’t seem to make sense, zoom out and see the big picture. The individual threads point to something greater, it is always Jesus. Perspective is KEY in Bible reading.

   • Pray. Before you read, ask God to help you see what He wants you to see and to grow in a desire for His Words. I have listed below several different resources that can help with specific methods to study the Bible and can provide helpful structure for your time in the word!

1 Corinthians 2 says that we literally “have the mind of Christ.” The Holy Spirit enables us to know the mind of God through the words of scripture. Think about that. You want personal access to the all mighty God of the universe? You want to know what He thinks and how He works? You want to spend your life learning and being near to the most satisfying being in the Universe? Open your Bible and don’t ever stop.

- Brooke

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Helpful resources

Habits of Grace by David Mathis. 

Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald Whitney

Women in the Word by Jen Wilkin (amazing book for both girl and guys)!

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Brooke graduated from the University of Georgia in May as a special education major. She started full-time as the youth girls associate and intern director at Watkinsville shortly after graduating. Brooke served as an intern for three years and has a passion to see young people love Jesus with their whole hearts! Brooke’s favorite things include walks, reading, and hanging out with all the lovely people that God has placed in her life!

Follow Brooke’s Instagram: @brookedavisss_

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HAVE A COOL IDEA FOR A BLOG POST? IS THERE SOMETHING THE LORD HAS PLACED ON YOUR HEART TO SHARE?

Contact Mac Willingham (478-960-0399) or email college@watkinsville.org with your idea and we’ll talk about posting it here!

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Check out our most recent posts below!

May We Never Grow Tired of Prayer

Katie Story // Youth Intern

“Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” - Luke 10:38-42

In a time in my life when it is so easy to get distracted by busyness, school, or even serving, I often forget the importance of sitting at Jesus’ feet. In this story, two women encounter Jesus. One joyfully sits at his feet while the other distractingly serves, confused about what it means to be devoted to Jesus. 

I recently attended a 9Marks prayer conference at Southeastern Seminary along with 9 other college students (and young adults) from Watkinsville. In most of the sessions, the speakers shared a passage regarding corporate prayer, but the first (and my personal favorite) session sought to explain our personal posture of prayer. 

Through the teaching of Brian Davis, pastor of Risen Christ Fellowship in Philadelphia, PA, I was reminded of the preeminence of a personal prayer life before a corporate prayer life. His message left me with several questions discussed below, but ultimately, it left me with a desire to supremely seek after the Lord, realizing that being with Jesus is the better portion. 

What does it mean to be devoted?

Devotion is defined as “a religious exercise or practice other than the regular corporate worship of a congregation.”

In this story, Mary was devoted to spending time with her Lord through gleaning from him personally. Martha loved Jesus as well, but she did not know how to exercise devotion to her Lord in this story. She was distracted by much serving. 

As Davis mentioned in his message, “it is possible to do things about Jesus without Jesus.” I spent some time reflecting on my devotion to the Lord. How often am I quick to forget that He is worthy of private worship? I prioritize serving, praying with other believers, and being involved with the activities within the church, but I am so quick to forget what it means to be devoted to the Lord. 

Let’s refrain from being college students who get distracted with much serving rather than worshiping and expressing our devotion through our service. 

What does it look like to sit at Jesus’ feet?

To listen. To abide. I confess that far too often I go to God’s word in order to teach it, rather than to hear from my God. However, in this story, Mary’s actions show the opposite. She sat at Jesus’ feet and listened to His teaching.

Our lives as Christians should be characterized by abiding in prayer and the reading of God’s word (see John 15). Let’s be college students, leaders, and teachers who approach the Bible to hear from our Lord. 

What is the good portion and why should we choose it?

In verse 42, Jesus states that Mary has chosen the good portion, but what does that mean and why should we choose it ourselves? The good portion is Jesus: the ultimate sustainer, and the one thing that will never be taken away from Mary. He is also the one thing that will never be taken from us, and that is why we should choose him. Our relationship with God is the one thing that can never be taken away from us. 

Let’s live our lives in a genuine realization of Jesus’ supreme value. Let’s be college students who choose Jesus instead of being “distracted with much serving” or being “anxious and troubled about many things.” 

How does all of this fit into corporate prayer with fellow believers?

At the end of the conference, Mark Dever encouraged us to realize “our public prayer life together as a church should be a public outgrowth of our prayer in private.” Before entering a time of corporate prayer, examine your own personal relationship with the Lord. Have you spent time in prayer with Him today? Have you taken time to reflect on His infinite glory to gain a bigger view of Him? 

“Before entering a time of corporate prayer, examine your own personal relationship with the Lord. Have you spent time in prayer with Him today? Have you taken time to reflect on His infinite glory to gain a bigger view of Him? ”

— Katie Story

As I have seen in my own personal walk with the Lord, a big view of God comes from spending time sitting in His presence and growing in knowledge of His infinite glory. That is what Mary chose to do. She chose the good portion. She chose to sit at His feet. Let’s be college students who are characterized by this, so that when we enter a time of personal or corporate prayer, we are so thrilled to talk to our Lord. 

To encourage leaders in the church to engage in consistent corporate prayer, Mark Dever said to “spend so much time praying that people who only claim to know Him get bored.” When you are spending time sitting at the feet of Jesus learning about his unmatched character, you can’t help but want to talk to Him. 

Brothers and sisters in Christ, may we never grow tired of prayer. May we never find it boring. Because through Jesus, we have access to our Heavenly Father, and He is supremely worthy of confiding in through prayer. 

- Katie

Father, you are worthy of praise today. Thank you for providing us access to you through the sending of your son, the Savior of the World. May we never forget the incredible gift of this access to you. Teach us to be Christians who desire to learn more about you through the reading of your Word that prompts us to lift up praises and requests to you. We want a big view of you, so continue to teach us, grow us, mold us into college students who are steadfast in prayer, personally and corporately. Thank you for a church family who emphasizes this and encourages us to pray boldly as a ministry for your name to spread across Athens and across the globe. May we be consistent in this and realize that we can do nothing without you and your spirit working through us. 

Amen

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

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Katie Story is a 3rd year Middle Grades Education major at UGA. She loves hanging out at Watty & Jittery Joes, teaching, and spending time with her awesome friends. Katie has served as a youth intern at Watkinsville for two years, and went to Boston with GenSend in the summer of 2019. She is passionate about encouraging middle school students and college-aged peers to love God and love others.

Follow Katie on Instagram: @katiewhatsyourstory

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HAVE A COOL IDEA FOR A BLOG POST? IS THERE SOMETHING THE LORD HAS PLACED ON YOUR HEART TO SHARE?

Contact Mac Willingham (478-960-0399) or email college@watkinsville.org with your idea and we’ll talk about posting it here!

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Check out our most recent posts below!

Navigating the [Single] 20-Something Life

Jessica Mathisen // Development Director at Athens Pregnancy Center

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”—  yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” - James 4:13-15

We like to make plans. Whether we call ourselves a planner or a free spirit, each one of us makes plans in our hearts and minds. We have expectations about the way our life is going to go, the things we are going to do, and the places we are going to be. Proverbs 16:9 tells us “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” In college, everything we do is determined by a specific course of action. We take each semester and plan it according to class and work schedules, volunteer and extracurricular responsibilities, and of course, the ever-changing social calendar.

But what happens when we are no longer in school? What happens when we leave the safe haven of our comfortable university lifestyle where all of our best friends are in the same town and our time is what we make it? What then? I don’t know about you, but the entrance into “real” life was quite a rude awakening to me. It was difficult to find my way and to determine what my priorities could and should be in my post-grad life.

Gone were the late nights of talking with friends and watching movies in the dorm. Gone were the last-minute plans just because. Enter: loneliness. Disappointment. Confusion. Heartache.

We pursue the life portrayed for us on screens, and we end up all the more dissatisfied by chasing less than what we were made for.

Navigating the 20-something life is not for the faint of heart. It is increasingly and alarmingly easy to compare our lives to those around us with the advent of social media. We know what everyone else is doing throughout their days, and we wonder if our lives matter as much. We see others’ lives and want what they have, not seeing the nitty gritty or the tears that may be hiding behind the illuminated screen. And we yearn. We yearn for authenticity and community and connection. And yet we pursue the life portrayed for us on screens, and we end up all the more dissatisfied by chasing less than what we were made for.

I was listening to a podcast the other day in which a guest stated that the life of a single person can be constantly fluid. There can be seasons of change that never seem to end as other friends marry, have children, and continue their lives while yours seems to stay the same. And that can be hard. But what she said so eloquently and sincerely is that your life as a single person does not matter any less for the kingdom of God. She went on to explain that the fruit of a Christ-follower in the Old Testament was children, but in the New Testament, it’s disciples. And there is nothing “less than” about a life surrendered to God by someone who’s committed to making disciples, even if they are not in the form of biological children.

“The fruit of a Christ-follower in the Old Testament was children, but in the New Testament, it’s disciples”

James writes to the church, “Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” Every single thing that happens in our lives can be worked for good for those who love the Father. (Romans 8:28) So whether you’re looking at the days ahead and are anticipating marrying the person of your dreams, still holding out for your dream job, or just trying to make it through organic chemistry, know that He is with you and He loves you. You are not alone, and you are held by the God of the universe, who is crazy about you and longs to be known by you, His precious treasure.

-Jessica

Jessica Mathisen is a former Watty college student and lives in Athens with her husband, two kids, and silly dog. She currently serves as the Development Director at Athens Pregnancy Center. A former elementary teacher and former WFBC staff member, she loves reading, writing, and eating good Mexican food. Her passion is to share God's love through writing and relationships. You can find her books, Proverbs 31, Already Chosen, and Choosing Contentment on Amazon.

Follow Jessica on Instagram: @jessicanmathisen

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Check out our most recent posts Below!

Walking like Jesus

The Message of Jesus DAY 1

“I am an historian, I am not a believer, but I must confess as a historian that this penniless preacher from Nazareth is irrevocably the very center of history. Jesus Christ is easily the most dominant figure in all history”. —H. G. Wells

As we look at what it means to walk like Jesus walked we need to look at his message, his methods, and his model of life and ministry.  

What was the message of Jesus? What did He say? What did He mean? The people who heard Jesus’ message recognized that He came with a new teaching, and He delivered it with a level of authority that was unmatched (Mark 1: 27).  Jesus delivered His message in a variety of ways and in a variety of settings. He delivered sermons, spoke in parables, and used illustrations from daily life.  His message was both simple and profound at the same time. His message of the good news of the kingdom was radical in its impact and scope.  It touched every area of life.  It was filled with hope and expectation. It challenged the basic worldviews—both Jewish and Roman—of His day.  A person could spend his or her entire life studying Christ’s message and probably never fully grasp all that He had to say. 

Look up these verses and write down what they tell us about the everyday message Jesus communicated: 

Matthew 4: 17 

Matthew 6: 19 

Matthew 6: 31–33 

Matthew 9: 12–13 

Matthew 10: 37–39 

Mark 10: 45 

Luke 5: 12–13 

How did those closest to Jesus respond to His message? 

Matthew 7: 28–29 

Matthew 13: 54–56

DIG DEEPER

Identify some of the key themes in Jesus’ teaching. 

What seems to come up again and again? 

How would you summarize the message of Jesus? 

The Methods of Jesus  DAY 2

In his classic book The Master Plan of Evangelism, Robert Coleman examined Jesus’ strategy for spreading His message about the kingdom in the world. Focusing on the methods of Jesus requires asking a new set of questions: How did Jesus share His message? How did He identify, train, and send His disciples? What were the strategies that motivated His decisions? 

Focusing on Jesus’ methods doesn’t mean we neglect His message. To the contrary, this is a different look at Jesus that gives us brand-new insight into His message. When we begin to see and apply Christ’s methods to the pattern of our own life, we gain a fresh and powerful new understanding of Jesus. Christ’s methods help us appreciate and understand His message, for Jesus’ methods were as unique and powerful as the message He taught. 

Let’s look briefly at some of the methods of Jesus. 

Look at these passages of Scripture and identify what they tell us about some of the methods Jesus used. 

John 1: 14 (Hint: What was Jesus’ method of choosing to interact with us?) 

John 1: 37–39 (Hint: How did Jesus relate to His first followers?) 

John 2: 1–3 (Hint: Where did Jesus choose to do His first miracle? Why do you think He made this choice?) 

John 2: 13–19 (Hint: How did Jesus act during His first public Passover?) 

John 3: 22 (Hint: What was Jesus’ main priority?) 

John 4: 1–4 (Hint: What did Jesus avoid? What didn’t He avoid?) 

John 7: 1 (Hint: What was Jesus intentional about at this stage of His ministry?) 

John 8: 49–59 (Hint: How subtle was Jesus in His dealings with Jewish leaders?) 

John 13: 1, 4–5 (Hint: How did Jesus deal with His disciples?) 

Matthew 11: 29–30 versus/ contrasted with Matthew 23: 13–17 (Hint: How does Jesus’ tone differ between needy sinners and arrogant Pharisees?) 

DIG DEEPER

What method( s) of Jesus do you feel were the most radical? 

Which method( s) do you feel are missing in some ministries today? 

Which method( s) of Jesus do you need to develop in your own life? Why? 

The Model of Jesus DAY 3

As a child I received instruction both in the Bible and in the Talmud. I am a Jew, but I am enthralled by the luminous figure of the Nazarene. No one can read the Gospels without feeling the actual presence of Jesus. His personality pulsates in every word. No myth is filled with such life. —Albert Einstein

For the past couple of days, we’ve explored the message and methods of Jesus. If we want to walk as Jesus walked, it is critical that we understand what He taught and how He lived. However, for many, a focus only on the message of Jesus can result in a message-centered Christianity. Are we talking right? Are saying the right things? Is the preacher preaching the right things? With this mind-set, being a Christian becomes mainly about getting the message correct—saying the right things.  

A focus on only the methods of Jesus can, in the same way, end up in a method-centered Christianity. Are we acting right? Are we doing the right things? Are our leaders acting the right way? Being a Christian becomes mainly about doing things right. 

Nevertheless, the Scriptures point us beyond both the message and methods of Jesus and challenge us to look at the very model of His life. After all, we are commanded to walk “as” Jesus walked. To do this, we need to look at the complete pattern of His life and pattern our life after His. 

This approach requires new questions: What was Jesus like in His humanity? How did Jesus behave as a real man in a real time and place? 

When we focus on Jesus’ message and methods we are considering His deity—what was He saying? And how, as God incarnate, was He acting? 

But looking at the model of Jesus’ life is more about who Jesus was as a human being. The pattern of Jesus’ life is the example of what it means to be fully human. This is the heart of the challenge of 1 John 2: 6. When Jesus became flesh and dwelt among us, He told us to look hard at how He lived His life and to follow that pattern. The operative word in 1 John 2: 6 becomes the little word “as.” Looking close at Christ in His humanity causes us to look at our humanity and to examine it in light of Jesus’ example. Walking as Jesus walked becomes our focus. 

Read the following passages. How do they challenge us to look beyond Jesus’ message and method, and call us to imitate the very example of His life? 

John 6: 57 

John 13: 15 

John 13: 34 

John 14: 12 

John 15: 10 

John 17: 18

John 20:21

1 Peter 2: 21 

1 John 2: 6

DIG DEEPER

Which of the above statements do you find most challenging? Why? 

Do you find it hard to believe that you could think and act like Jesus? Explain your answer. 

If you study only the message or methods of Jesus, is it possible to miss the true meaning of His life? How? 

A Summary of Jesus’ Life  DAY 4  

The gospel of Matthew provides two famous statements that summarize His life and mission for His disciples. The first is known as the Great Commandment, the other the Great Commission. These two statements have to be held together if we are going to walk like Jeus.

The Great Commandment is found in Matthew 22: 37–40. The great commandment identifies the heart motive of Jesus and a fulfillment of the Old Testament law.  This is the motive behind the mission. The great commandment clarifies our passion. 

The Great Commission is found in at least five passages of Scripture (Matthew 28: 16–20, Mark 16: 14–18, Luke 24: 44–49, John 20: 19–23, and Acts 1: 4–8), but the most common is Matthew 28: 16–20. Matthew 28 contains three verbs—go, baptize, and teach to obey that modify the command to “make disciples.” This command literally means to make disciples who can make disciples. This is to be done in all nations.  

Many scholars believe Jesus gave this commission to the five hundred spoken about in 1 Corinthians 15: 6. Regardless of whom it was directed to, it serves as a summary of Jesus’ life and a call to Jesus’ followers to do what He did: make disciples who can make disciples and do this to the ends of the earth. While this commission is great in terms of its challenge and scope, it really is an everyday commission. It is for every believer, every moment of their everyday life. The great commission establishes our priorities.  After all, Jesus promised, “I am with you always [this literally means the whole of every moment], even to the end of the age.” 

If you summarize the passion and the priority of Jesus as simply loving God and loving people (Great Commandment) by making disciples who can make disciples (Great Commission), what does this tell us about the focus of Christ’s life? 

What effect should this have on our daily life? 

Interestingly enough is that in this text there is a second command at the end of Matthew 28: 20. The command is the simple Greek work idou, translated in the NIV as simply “And surely” or in some translations as “Behold.” This literally means that while we are fulfilling the command to make disciples, we are to keep our eyes on Jesus because He said, “surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Could it be that the degree to which we keep our eyes on Jesus, walking as He walked, is the degree to which we will be able to fulfill this everyday commission and everyday commandment? 

The very Jesus, who walked on this earth as the perfect human, set an example for us to follow. Jesus began and ended the gospel of John with the phrase “follow Me,” and He meant it (John 1: 43; 21:22).  As we continue in this study, we will seek to unpack what this calling looks like. 

DIG DEEPER

Look carefully at the Great Commandment in Matthew 22: 15–40. Read it aloud. What is the context and background of these verses? 

How can a message or lifestyle of “love” often silence the arguments of your critics? 

Give an example from personal experience. 

How does “making disciples who can make disciples” differ from just “making disciples”? Give an illustration of when you’ve seen this lived out. 

“Follow Me” DAY 5

People talk about imitating Christ, and imitate Him in the little trifling formal things, such as washing the feet, saying His prayer, and so on; but if anyone attempts the real imitation of Him, there are no bounds to the outcry with which the presumption of that person is condemned. —Florence Nightingale

The mandate for every Christian is clear. We are to follow Jesus. This is clear in the bookends of John’s gospel where Jesus says, “Follow me” (John 1: 43; 21:22).  The Greek word translated “follow Me” in John 1: 43 and 21:22 is akoloutheow, which means, “to walk in the steps of, to conform to, or to follow behind closely.” 

I am the author and perfecter of your faith, Jesus says. I have gone before and blazed a trail for you. Now walk in My steps. The concept is clear. But it poses a radical challenge. 

How do we truly follow Jesus today? What does this command mean in the 21st century? How do we walk as Jesus walked? 

The key to really following Jesus is making sure we are following the real Jesus! The Scriptures testify to at least three different periods in Jesus’ existence: the preincarnate Christ, the incarnate Christ, and the resurrected Christ. 

The preincarnate Christ played a key role in creation. What do you discover about the preincarnate Christ in these verses? 

John 1: 1–4 John 8: 58 

John 17: 5 

Colossians 1: 15–17 

Hebrews 1: 3, 10

After His earthly ministry and resurrection, this God/ Man Jesus ascended into heaven. Having become flesh and dwelt among us, Jesus is now the firstborn from among the dead (Colossians 1: 18). The resurrected Christ now has a unique role. Read the following passages. What can we learn about Christ’s present role as the resurrected Christ? 

John 14: 18–20 

John 14: 23 

Romans 8: 34 

Ephesians 4: 7–11 

Colossians 1: 18 

Ephesians 1: 20–23 

Hebrews 13: 20–21

It is important to understand that we are not called to walk as the preincarnate Christ or the resurrected Christ. We are called to walk as Jesus walked when He became flesh and dwelt among us. The fully human Christ modeled for us what true, biblical humanity should look like. 

The pattern of the incarnate Christ is the one we are called to follow. I have seen many people shrink from the challenge of walking as Jesus walked, because they believe several false claims, including: Jesus was God, but I am just a human being; therefore I could never do what He did! Jesus was sinless, but I am sinful; therefore I cannot do what Jesus did. Jesus was a superhuman, but I am just an average person; therefore I cannot do what He did. Each of these views has some truth in it. Unfortunately, they are all based on some false assumptions that have serious consequences. Understanding the true humanity of Jesus will give us confidence that we can truly walk as Jesus walked. In the rest of this study, we will look more in depth at Christ’s humanity and its implications for us as we walk as Jesus walked. 

DIG DEEPER

Referencing the above passages in your Bible, describe how these two roles of Jesus—preincarnate and resurrected—differ. How are they similar? 

What have you found the most challenging in Week 1? 

What was something new that you realized? 

Do what you’re good at for the glory of God, somewhere strategic for the mission of God.

By Caleb Barnes

May is always a bittersweet time in a college town and in the life of our church. Seniors graduate which means there is an excitement for the next season of life bringing new adventures and the unknown. However, it also brings many goodbyes, tears, and nostalgia.

A common phrase I have heard from graduating students at Watkinsville is “I love this church” “I’m going to miss this church” or “I’m so thankful for this church.” Like you, I have said and continue to say all of these things. This church has been such a blessing in my life and in the life of so many others. Every week we are told to open our Bibles, we pour over the Gospel, we sing songs that worship and glorify God, and we are challenged to fulfill the Great Commission. All of these things are vital for the local church. However, one of the greatest blessings Watkinsville has provided me and so many others is that we have been invited to participate.

As a non-native Athenian, attending Watkinsville has provided a home away from home and Watkinsville has shown me how to glorify God through my life. This phrase has become the slogan for the college ministry, “Do what you’re good at for the glory of God, somewhere strategic for the mission of God.” From freshman year to the end of my first full year in the workforce, this church has helped me discover my strengths and weaknesses, shown me how to use them for God’s glory, and they are now sending me somewhere strategic where I can use my strengths for the mission of God. Yes, this is my story, but it is also the story of hundreds of other college students who have attended our church. We have discovered our gifts and talents under the care, counsel, and leadership of Watkinsville’s staff and church body, and we are now being sent out to advance the kingdom of God.

As we go out and continue to say, “I love this church,” “I’m going to miss this church,” or “I’m so thankful for this church,” there is one way that we can add validity to these statements: Love for something leads to obedience. As followers of Christ, we are called to go and make disciples of all people. No matter what job or masters program we accept, we will encounter people everyday who need the hope that only Jesus can provide. If we truly love our church, and more importantly, if we truly love Jesus, we will do what He has commanded us - we will be faithful to the call given to every believer: make disciples. We will do what we are good at for the glory of God somewhere strategic for the mission of God.

While May is a sad time due to the goodbyes and leaving a place we love so much, it is also an exciting time - it is a time to take what we have learned under the leadership of the local church and put it to practice. Let us remember the words of Jesus, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” Let us be laborers sent out from this church to proclaim the glory of the Living King! Let us love and show gratitude to Watkinsville FBC by following our mission statement: We glorify God by making wholehearted followers of Christ.

Arrogance, Anxiety, & Answered Prayers

KYLE WADE // MISSIONS & COLLEGE INTERN

Let me share some things I’ve prayed for specifically for a long time (as in, repeatedly over the last year…at the least).

I’ve prayed for opportunities to teach and share the gospel.

I’ve prayed for peace and the ability to fight anxiety long term.

I’ve prayed for the Lord to help my unbelief.

I’ve prayed for a love for the church.

Let me explain why these have been my prayers (still are) and why they mean so much to me.

I am arrogant. I often undermine the sovereignty of the Lord and think that He needs me on His team. This week I’ve been reminded that, rather, I’m just fortunate to play a part in the work He’s already doing.

I wrestle with anxiety. Whether it is solely my sinful nature, or stupidity, or a mental disposition, I know it doesn’t honor or please the Lord. I’ve finally taken more serious steps to fight it, including counseling, confessing more often, and asking for help and prayer from the church. It’s painful…but humbling. It makes me love Jesus more, because there are a lot of times I can’t see Him or hear Him on my own.

I often equate following Jesus with packing up and moving overseas, because my favorite mentors have literally done those things. To be fair, I think we can learn a lot from their examples and should emulate that level of sacrifice in our own context.

However, I’ve realized while I’ve had my fingers crossed for a calling overseas, I should be willing to stay just as much as willing to go. Am I willing to work a 9-5 job in Georgia for the rest of my life if it would bring the Lord glory? I hate that question and still hurt thinking about it. But finally, I see my fault. The answer is yes; Jesus is my joy, not travel or adventure. I do love travel and I do love adventure, and sometimes following Jesus includes those things. But those things would simply be a bonus, not my first love and true treasure.

Through older men at Watkinsville, I’ve seen that lives I used to look at as mundane and uneventful often emulate Jesus more than the exciting, adventure filled one I dream of. These men count others more significant than themselves, they die to themselves daily on the Monday-to-Friday grind, they serve and ask for nothing in return.

In all things, they imitate Jesus clearly and sacrificially.

While there’s still a need for people to go to the unreached, and while I still see comfort as a silent danger to the church, the Lord has shown me there is such godliness in the church. I should seek to emulate Jesus far more than desiring an overly stamped passport or cross-cultural lifestyle.

In all that I’ve written above, I want to make my point very clear: I just want to praise God for answering these prayers above and hopefully share some of what I’m learning. Here’s how He has answered:

He’s made older men available when I felt most alone.

He’s given me family and people willing to pray for me and cry with me when I felt most unloved and afraid.

He’s given me opportunities to share the gospel with people I’ve forgotten about and made me free and available at just the right moments.

He’s given an opportunity to teach the very passage I needed in the midst of suffocating fears and crippling anxiety. I was asked to teach Philippians 4:8-9, the passage that calls us to think about excellent, praiseworthy, and lovely things. The Lord gave me a chance to do what I love in teaching, but also gave me exactly the truth I needed in the hardest week I’ve had this year. While I’ve sinfully trained my mind to think negative thoughts, operate mainly by fear, and worry about tomorrow, the Lord reminded me that following Jesus involves pursuing virtue in equal measure to fighting sin. While we turn ‘away’ from sin, we must simultaneously ‘set our gaze’ on Jesus. Both components matter to our sanctification, and I leaned far too strongly on defeating my sinful mental struggles with my own mind.

It hasn’t worked.

I’ve been fixated on fixing myself as if to eventually overcome anxiety as a once-and-for-all deal and finally be right with Jesus. But I’ve been encouraged to look at Jesus and forget my problems—which feels uncomfortable and irresponsible to me and requires a lot of faith. But, I’ve seen that Jesus is trustworthy. I must seek Him and think about Him often. I can’t solely 'avoid' sin; I must also pursue good.

If I die today in the middle of my counseling schedule and never 'finish' my therapy, I will see Jesus and taste the joy of eternity. I don’t have to 'finish.' That’s a freeing thought for me.

All this mess of prayers and thoughts to say: God is good, has answered many prayers for me, is working through my pain, is worth dying for and selling everything for. He is worth working a boring job and living an obscure life for. He has provided mentors and living examples to follow, and He truly loves me.

I share my praises and struggles simply to say: the same is true for you. You are treasured and cared for and can know peace like this. Your Father cares deeply.

Getting to Know: Catherine Jessup

CATHERINE JESSUP // FRESHMAN

One of the goals of this blog is for people in the Watty College ministry to find out more about each other. Here is a platform where voices can be heard, and the untold stories beyond the (freezing) upstairs college room can be shared. I got to sit down and chat with Catherine a few weeks ago, and let me tell you, this girl is on FIRE for the Lord. It was so encouraging to talk to her. I hope her testimony and thirst for the Word of God encourages you to live for the glory of God in everything you do! —McGee, Watty College Communications Director

McGee Nall: Would you mind sharing your testimony? 

 Catherine Jessup: I grew up in a Christian home in Loganville, Georgia. Both my parents were believers and sought God’s will, and believed it was important for the children to do so, as well. I kind of grew up knowing right from wrong, learning how to forgive and love the Lord. When I was younger, I was only in elementary school—it’s not like I was getting into anything of serious danger to myself or others—but I lived a selfish life, thinking of myself constantly.

I remember my mom sitting us down in the living room one day—me, my sister and my brother—and basically sharing the gospel with us and telling what Jesus has done for us. She told us about the relationship she had with Jesus and my dad had, and encouraged us to pursue a relationship with Him, too, if we wanted. From that moment on in May 2010, I decided that was something God was tugging on my heart to do. I accepted Him as a fourth grader and was baptized two years later. As 2 Corinthians says, I was a new creation, and I wasn’t who I was before. I started to begin a daily life with Christ. I had small group leaders that reflected that for me and gave me examples of how that looked in my day-to-day life.

I went through middle school just living a pretty normal life, nothing dramatic happened. I was very thankful I didn’t have to go through anything major, or deal with things most people do, but life just hits harder for some. I started playing softball from about the time I got saved all throughout high school. I always felt God tell me to minister and share Christ’s love with my teammates, because I knew not many of them, if any, were believers. As a freshman, I felt that was something God was calling me to do. I began to build relationships with these girls and love on them. I became really discouraged to be a freshman, practicing with juniors and seniors who I heard stories in the locker room they were not doing very good things. I became discouraged and didn’t know how God was going to use me as a little freshman to impact the girls on my team. I eventually just decided I would build relationships and by the time got to junior and senior year, I would start to pour out and show what it means to live out Jesus’ love. I decided that was what I was going to do, and I did that.

By the time junior year rolled around, I get a text from one of the girls, Maddie, who I was the closest one on the team with. She was the pitcher, had a lot of influence. I continually tried to show her what God’s love looked like. She texted me one day in February and said, “Thank you for pouring into me and giving me a good example of what Christ’s love looks like every day. I just want to thank you for being a good friend.” Then she asked me to do something I didn’t have the courage to do. She wanted me to get a Bible study started with some of the younger girls on the team. That was really cool knowing I didn’t even have the confidence to do that because I felt like I didn’t have enough authority on the team. But her being the pitcher, she did and we started it. We invested in those younger girls, and I just thank God for using me as a vessel for that.

“Then she asked me to do something I didn’t have the courage to do. She wanted me to get a Bible study started with some of the younger girls on the team.”

So from that moment on in fourth grade when I accepted Jesus into my heart, I was a new creation, but I still mess up every day and fall into temptation. But God’s mercies are new every day. I’m just thankful. I’m just here now trying to make an impact and invest in people that hopefully will advance His kingdom.

MN: Can you talk about your history with Watty?

CJ: I had heard of Watkinsville First Baptist from two older girls I respected a lot. They came here their freshmen year, and told me they got plugged in at Watty.  It was definitely the first church I wanted to try before the others. The first day me and my three other roommates went, and we fell in love. We knew we were looking for a church that preached the truth, and Watkinsville did that phenomenally. We fell in love with the people there, we got plugged into family groups and discipleship groups. We got to know everyone very well and got to build relationships with younger girls and older girls. From the day we tried Watkinsville, we haven’t tried anywhere else because I knew that’s where God had placed me.

MN: Have you gotten to have any gospel conversations on campus? Any cool stories you want to share?

CJ: This isn’t a gospel conversation I’ve had yet, but there’s this girl who was in my human geography class last semester and is in my same major. Every time I meet someone in my major, I get excited because I know I’m going to have more classes with them in the future. I knew she was lost, and I just wanted to be intentional, just like I was with the girls on my [softball] team, to build a relationship. We go into this semester, and I find out I have two classes with her instead of just one, and I get really excited. But then I found out she was going to drop one of them. I thought, “God, I thought I was supposed to pour into to this girl.”

Well the class she had dropped, she put in her schedule the same class I already had. So when I thought I wasn’t going to have any more classes with her this semester, she filled the class she dropped with an English class I was already in. At that moment, I knew my job wasn’t done with her. I knew I was still supposed to minster to her and pour into her. I haven’t gotten to share the gospel with her yet, but I’m praying that God will provide the right moment at the right time for me to do that.

MN: If there was something you wish kids our age would know or remember, what would it be? Anything you want to say to fellow college students? 

CJ: In high school, it was very easy to get to know people. I went to a smaller high school, so I knew everybody’s name. I could be very intentional because I was with those people for so long. But college, just going to a big university like UGA, it’s very hard to get to know someone unless you’re intentional with them. So often I know I go through my day and realize all I did was wake up, went through the motions, thought about God in the morning, and left Him in my morning. I think a big thing for us as college students is to, yes, study and going to class or whatever we have planned at night, but I think just incorporating God into every single aspect of our day. If you feel like there’s someone in class you need to share with… just make Him a part of every single part of the daily tasks you take on. Don’t just leave Him in your morning.

“So often I know I go through my day and realize all I did was wake up, went through the motions, thought about God in the morning, and left Him in my morning.”

MN: What is something the Lord is teaching you right now?

CJ: I think one of the things He is teaching me is that I can’t find rest or strength in coffee. Yes, coffee is going to provide me temporary strength, but the joy of the Lord is my true strength. Yes, I can find rest in Netflix or naps, but true rest is found in digging into His Word and meditating on it. What college students really struggle with, especially going through weeks after weeks where they have tests and projects and feeling like they never find a break, is just finding where your true rest and strength lie.

“...but the joy of the Lord is my true strength. ”

If you're interested in doing or suggesting someone for a Q&A to share a testimony, a cool gospel conversation, or just want to write a blog post of your own, please feel free to email submissions to mcgeenall44@gmail.com.

Does Jesus Infiltrate Everything in Your Life?

MCGEE NALL // SENIOR

I’m training for the Chick-fil-A Half this semester, and I’m determined to get a PR. A couple of weeks before my first try in 2016, my calves and Achilles were hurting (probably due to my lack of hill training). I ran-walked the race, which is fine, but my high school cross country coaches’ voices were in my head the whole time, screaming, “MCGEE, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! YOU CAN’T STOP!!!” So walking felt like a failure to me, which is dumb, but true.

Last year, I made it to the seven-mile part of my training when I decided to lose all sense and logic. I (sort of) played pick-up basketball with my buddies… and I fractured my foot.

I don’t like to talk about it.

ANYWAYS. Now I’m training for my last Chick-fil-A Half, as sort of a final “hoorah” and “TAKE THAT” before graduating in May. I’m trying to be more careful building up my mileage, since I probably increased too fast in 2015. So a couple of Saturdays ago, I had written on my nifty running calendar thingy that I needed to run four miles.

You should also know for the sake of this story that I’m a staff photographer for The Red & Black, and had signed up to cover the women’s tennis match that afternoon at 1pm. My lovely Saturday morning was slipping away from me rapidly, and before I knew it, it was the now-or-never moment to run these four miles. But did I have enough time??? I’m notorious for being late sometimes, and I could not afford to be late for this match. “Should I just wait and run afterwards?” I thought. “No, because it’s going to rain after the match, and I HATE running on the treadmill. I have to go right now.”

I had exactly 35 minutes to run these four miles. If you’re good at math, that’s an 8:45 pace, if consistent all the way through. While I’ve been focusing on speed the past month or so (I’m usually a 9 or 9:15-minute-per-mile kind of girl), that still made me nervous. There was little room for error on this.

You’re probably thinking a couple of things. 1. Why does this girl stress so much about a stupid run? And 2. Why the heck is she walking us through this process?

I’m telling you all this because the Lord coached me through this run. I’m not kidding. And I finished the four miles in 35:07.

“Uh…what the heck does that even mean?”

I’ll tell you. Right when I took off, I immediately analyzed my pace. “Am I going too fast? You can’t burn out now, because then you’ll feel like dying halfway through, and your pace will slow down.”

I think the Lord and I are close enough to where I feel His presence and hear His voice a lot. But this time it was super clear—God jumped into my inner dialogue.

“Want to try asking Me about any of this?”

Think about it. Who is omniscient? Who created my body? Who created time? Who knows the intricacies of how my muscles churn and contract while charging up a hill, or pounding on flat pavement? Who knows exactly how my body should operate to finish four miles in 35 minutes?

Our God does.

So for the next thirty-five minutes and seven seconds, the Lord and I talked. If I felt something problematic arising, I would tell Him (silently…I wasn’t interested in freaking out the pedestrians in Five Points).

“Crap, I feel nauseous. What the heck?!” Before my confidence plummeted, the Lord would calm me down. “You’re fine. You’re FINE. Just keep running.”

I won’t give you a play-by-play of my bodily happenings, but the Lord and I had a dialogue while on a run. How. Cool. Is. THAT?! When I got back to my car in 35:07, I couldn’t help but laugh. I made it to the tennis match early and had a grand ole time, satisfied I finished my workout before the rain descended.

He really does know what He’s doing.

Why am I telling you this? Because I think a lot of us compartmentalize God in ways we don’t even realize. We associate Him with prayer, quiet times, church, small group, sharing the gospel with strangers, having theological debates with our roommates, showing acts of kindness, serving those around us, etc.

YES, He is absolutely in all those things. But whether we realize it or not, the Almighty God of the universe is involved in every. single. aspect of your life. When you’re pumping iron at the gym, strengthening the healthy body He gave you to accomplish His work; when you’re working calculus homework or studying for an o-chem test, learning about our Creator who designed the intricacies of mathematics, molecules, and elements; when you see a vibrant sunset on your way home from a stressful work shift; what you eat; what time you need to go to sleep…ALL THESE THINGS point to the God you and I desire to know. He shows up in ways we can’t even imagine.

There’s a reason Paul told the Corinthians, “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do ALL to the glory of God.” (1 Cor. 10:31)

Do you see Him that way? Do you intentionally seek His face (1 Chron. 16:11)? Do you start your day in surrender to Him and watch to see what He’ll do next?

Don’t put God in a box.  Let’s model David’s example from Psalm 5:3, one of my all-time favorite verses:

“In the morning, O Lord, You will hear my voice; in the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch.”

What a Katy Perry Song Taught Me About Jesus

KAYLEE SHAVER // SENIOR 

One of my favorite songs (also my number one song of 2017 compiled by Spotify), is “Rise” by Katy Perry. Shocker, I know. But listen to it, it’s pretty good. She wrote this song for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. Its compelling. Its challenging. And, it also has some Biblical references in it (though they aren’t actually talking about the Bible in this case). A line that is repeated throughout the song is, “Oh ye of so little faith, don’t doubt it, don’t doubt it.” For the Olympics, that is an incredible motivational speech. Don’t doubt the work that you have put in your entire life to get to this moment. Don’t doubt yourself. Don’t doubt your training. Don’t doubt your coaches. Believe in yourself, and become a legend in your field of competition.

But as most of us know, this is a line drawn out of the Bible. It comes from Matthew 8, as well as the other Gospels. In Matthew 8, Jesus is asleep on a boat during a crazy storm. The disciples and all the people with him were scared and woke Jesus saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” Not a crazy thing to ask of Jesus when your boat is about to sink, right? But Jesus responds to them by saying, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” and then rebuked and calmed the storm.

Can you imagine being called out by Jesus Himself about not having faith in Him? That would be the ultimate dagger to the heart. Jesus asks us to have faith in Him in all situations, trusting that He will protect us. By definition, faith is, “complete trust or confidence in someone or something.”

Now I am preaching this to myself as well. I have been told that I am an impatient person when it comes to waiting to figure out what comes next. But rather than being impatient, to the core, I am actually losing my faith that God has a plan for my future that gives Him the ultimate glory. Outwardly, people see impatience, but truly, it’s a faith issue.

What are you holding on to, and not releasing to God? Put your faith and trust in Him that He has your past, present, and future in His hands. He says in Revelation 22:13, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

The next line in the song, not derived from the Bible, but truly preaches the Gospel: “Victory is in our veins.” We have true victory in Christ. He has defeated death and the grave and has given us a new life in Him. He has already won the war on sin. There is no more competition. There is no more defeat. There is no more fear. Only victory in the One who died for our sins, people so undeserving, so that our Father in Heaven may receive the glory.

How to Interpret Old Testament Law

CHRIS FITZ // Shoeless, Mission Guru-Hobbit Going to East Asia

A Few Guidelines as a Follow-Up to Exodus...

1. The law is divine revelation, thus good and profitable
   1. order out of chaos = good
2. God's law is an expression of God's love and God's character
   1. we learn what and whom God values 
3. God's law is personal (given in relationship) and is an act of grace (allowing us knowledge and nearness to Him)
   1. Personal - note the details and day-to-day life issues that are involved
   2. Deuteronomy 4
      1. why was law given?  Same reason the plagues were sent - that Israel, and all nations, would know that the LORD is God and there is no other!
      2. This is so huge I want to hang out here for a second - there is a reason that David talked so much about the law in the Psalms - the law is a gift, and he knew it!
4. The Church has always believed that some laws are permanent and others temporary, thus obsolete 
5. The law was given to sinful people
   1. It includes how to handle when people break the law
   2. God has always operated this way, since the beginning - remember the cross, and remember that in the garden, there was only one law - one "don't" in a land full of "do's", and the heart of man is still wicked and still sinned and broke the one law, and God had a plan for when that law was broken, which Scripture says was planned before the foundation of the earth 

Categories of Law

1. Creation Laws
   1. present from the beginning 
      1. e.g. procreation, environmental preservation, marriage, sabbath/rest, worship, don't murder 
2. Old Covenant Laws (like what we are reading here in Exodus)
   1. Principle of Progression 
      1. since God's revelation was gradual/progressive and cumulative, we interpret later revelation in light of former and vice versa 
         1. e.g. Altars, Tabernacle, Temple and the Christian 
   2. Principle of Classification 
      1. know the type of law
         1. is it Moral, Ceremonial or Civil?
   3. Principle of Cancellation 
      1. Christians have never regarded as authoritative Old Testament laws that are cancelled in the New Testament 
         1. e.g., Colossians 2:16 (festivals, new moons, sabbaths); Mark 7:14-19(bacon!!)
   4. Principle of Imitation 
      1. The Church should follow the example of Jesus and how He interpreted Old Testament Law
         1. JC knew the Scripture, He knew they are inspired
         2. JC prioritized the condition of the heart, and prioritized moral laws over ceremonial laws
         3. JC applied the law to everyday life
         4. JC claimed that the message of the Old Testament culminated in Him

We Sing Because We Have Hope

CALEB BARNES // INTERN COORDINATOR

Music is a funny thing to me. Music is everywhere. It is something that transcends every societal and cultural boundary. It is inescapable. We get in our cars, and the radio plays music. We walk in a store, and music is playing as background noise. Halftime shows have live music performances, movies have music soundtracks, and the list goes on and on. Even when we are in total isolation, we can hum a little tune to create music. But here is a question: why do we sing? More specifically, what separates our singing as Christians from the rest of the world?

We sing because we have hope.

Not only that, we sing for the one who gives us that hope. Through the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we have hope. Singing is modeled throughout Scripture by Christ followers as they praise God for this gift of hope. In Luke 2, after an angel announced the birth of the Savior to the shepherds, a choir of angels joined together and sang, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased” (Luke 2:14).

This is actually why Christmas songs are called carols. The word "carol" means dance or a song of praise and joy. We sing Christmas carols that give praise and glory to God, and they focus on the hope that comes from the birth of Christ. In Luke 19, the disciples sang and praised God at the triumphal entry of Jesus in Jerusalem. They shouted, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest" (Luke 19:18).

In Revelation 4 we learn that there are angels around the throne singing “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come” (Revelation 4:8). Finally, in Revelation 19 we see there will be a great multitude at the marriage supper of the Lamb who will sing, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure…” (Revelation 19:6-8).

The multitude sings of what the Lamb has done: He has ransomed His bride. He has given her life. He has given her a hope and a future. Because of this work, His bride will stand clothed in white praising God for eternity.

How the Winter Retreat Gave Me Another Family

CHRISTEN SUMMERLIN // UGA ALUM

Hey there! It’s me, Christen Summerlin here to tell you why you should go to Winter Retreat.

First things first, who even am I? Well, I am a Watty College Grad who had her life so impacted by Watkinsville First Baptist Church that she decided to stick around after college. In all seriousness, I genuinely love WFBC and Watty College. Coming from a small town in South Georgia (229 represent), this church become my home away from home, and going on winter retreat my junior year solidified a bond that was growing between WFBC and myself.

So, why should you go on winter retreat? Here are four questions I think that will help you make the decision for yourself:

1. Are you searching for a home church?

If you haven’t already found a church home here in Athens, I highly recommend you do and that you choose WFBC. Yes, I know, this is supposed to be a blog post about Winter Retreat, but I believe that this retreat can be a stepping stone for you into the larger body of believers that is WFBC. Having this community around me over the past 6.5 years has been more impactful than any other involvement I had in college. Our church believes in generations impacting the world together through the gospel, and this is where you can begin that journey!

2. Are you searching for a community of believers who will help you in your walk with Christ?

Now, I will try to not get all sappy and sentimental here, but Watty College, and specifically the Winter Retreat, is where I have made my lifelong friends. But the thing is, these aren’t superficial friendships. These are friendships that help you in the sanctification process that we as believers are all going through. I can say without a doubt that I wouldn’t have the amazing friends I have now without going on Winter Retreat!  

Me and Elizabeth Vice (aka my best friend) at my first Winter Retreat in 2014...

Me and Evice at the 2017 retreat! LOOK AT THE LOVE

3. Are you searching for more knowledge and understanding of the Gospel of Christ and the Bible?

This has to be the most important question that you could ask about whether or not you want to go to Winter Retreat. Vic Doss is one of the best gospel teaching preachers that I know (mainly because I don’t know Matt Chandler personally). But Vic and the teaching team of Watty College LOVE the Bible. They don’t shy away from hard topics and will dive head first into rich texts. I can guarantee that if you go on this retreat, you will walk away with more knowledge of God and His holy Word.

4. Are you searching for some GOOD food?

Okay, so if all of the above hasn’t enticed you to go ahead and sign up for the retreat, this is my last attempt. Guys, you DO NOT want to miss out on “Fancy” John Gilliam’s food. The man has a gift. Some might call it a spiritual gift, I don’t know. All I know is the food is amazing and home-cooked. You know good and well you aren’t going to get good home-cooked meals in the dining halls, so go ahead and sign up.  

So, I hope that by now you’ve made your decision to sign up for the Winter Retreat. I promise you that you won’t regret it!

3 Reasons Why Insanely Busy College Students MUST Rest

MCGEE NALL // SENIOR

Something Courtney posted on her blog the other day struck a chord with me (if you haven't read it yet, stop reading this right now and click here), and I think it's a great reflection of what we briefly discussed this past Sunday in Exodus 23. 

But first, let's pause and review, shall we? This is what God said about the Sabbath in Exodus 20 and 23 (a little long, but hey, it's the literal Word of God):

“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath of the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and made it holy...

You shall sow your land for six years and gather in its yield, but on the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, so that the needy of your people may eat; and whatever they leave the beast of the field may eat. You are to do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove.

Six days you are to do your work, but on the seventh day you shall cease from labor so that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son of your female slave, as well as your stranger, may refresh themselves. Now concerning everything which I have said to you, be on your guard; and do not mention the name of other gods, nor let them be heard from your mouth.”

— Exodus 20:8-11, 23:10-13

Remember what Vic and Chris Fitz said? We should work our TAILS off for six days, and then rest. I know. Rest is such a foreign concept for us college students, I get it.

But here are a few reasons why we as busy college students MUST understand the value of rest:

1. Rest keeps us from sinning.

We've all been exhausted, weary, and dare I say "hangry" before, right? Maybe you feel that right now (I do). What happens when we get that way? We become self-absorbed. We constantly think about how tired or frustrated we are, we don't serve our roommates, we snap at our parents over the phone, we become doubtful, irritable, bitter, and worrisome. Perhaps the worst of all is that we become prideful. Remember what the guys said: 

"When we reject rest, we're rejecting God's sovereignty because we feel like stuff can't happen without us." 

Which perfectly correlates to John Piper's "theology of sleep" that they mentioned on Sunday: 

“Sleep is a daily reminder from God that we are not God. “He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep” (Psalm 121:4). But Israel will. For we are not God. Once a day God sends us to bed like patients with a sickness. The sickness is a chronic tendency to think we are in control and that our work is indispensable. To cure us of this disease God turns us into helpless sacks of sand once a day...Sleep is like a broken record that comes around with the same message every day: Man is not sovereign. Man is not sovereign. Man is not sovereign. Don’t let the lesson be lost on you. God wants to be trusted as the great worker who never tires and never sleeps. He is not nearly so impressed with our late nights and early mornings as he is with the peaceful trust that casts all anxieties on him and sleeps.”

When we rest, it's like wiping fog off of our glasses. It gives us new perspective to not just focus on ourselves, but on the world around us. Sleep is continual practice and rehearsal of saying, "I am not in control. I am not in control. I am not in control." Why do you think He created us to where we must sleep every night? Because we are a finite, forgetful people who need DAILY reminders that we are not God and must let Him do His work while we rest.

Does that mean we should snooze all the time? No. Let's not conform to our negative stereotype as being lazy millennials, okay? Let's work our butts off, but then turn around and take time to rest, spend time in the Word, and trust in Him. This attitude will look a lot different than our lost friends, won't it?

Speaking of attitude: 

2. Rest teaches us how to be more like God

Earlier this year I started rereading Mark Buchanan's The Rest of God (oh my word guys, you must read this) and it reminded me of a very important lesson: Sabbath is not just one day. It's an attitude. Sabbath is something that should consume you, even when craziness and busyness ensues. (Again long, but SORRY NOT SORRY.)

“A Sabbath heart is restful even in the midst of unrest and upheaval. It is attentive to the presence of God and others even in the welter of much coming and going, rising and falling. It is still and knows God even when the mountains fall into the sea... (pg. 4)

”The Exodus command, with its call to imitation, plays on a hidden irony: we mimic God in order to remember we’re not God. In fact, that’s a good definition of Sabbath: imitating God so that we stop trying to be God. We mirror divine behavior only to freshly discover our human limitations. Sabbath-keeping involves a recognition of our own weakness and smallness, that we are made from dust, that we hold our treasure in clay jars, and that without proper care we break...”

BUT WAIT, LET'S REMIND OURSELVES THAT THIS IS NOT ABOUT US *Cue Buchanan again*

“This is not true of God. He neither sleeps nor slumbers. He runs no risk of breakdown, burnout, exhaustion, injury. God doesn’t need Sabbath or sabbatical. He doesn’t pine for vacation. He doesn’t require a good night’s sleep to clear His head or steady His hand. He doesn’t run ragged and run amok, pushing himself beyond his limits, patching himself together between bursts of striving and binges of workaholism. God is not waiting for the weekend. 

God is complete without rest. 

But not us...we think we’re the exception, the one for whom busyness will translate into fruitfulness...we think...we can also figure a way around our God-imposed need for stillness. We can’t. The need is not conjured away by medication, technology, discipline, cleverness, sheer willfulness. It always come back to take its due. 

So God, knowing both our need and our folly, took the lead. He set the example. Like a parent who coaxes a cranky toddler to lie down for an afternoon nap by lying down beside her, God woos us into rest by resting. ‘For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but He rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.’ God commands that we imitate Him in order to discover again that we’re not Him, and that we need Him. 

Sabbath is a return to Eden. That’s Exodus. (pg. 87-88)”

BAM, RIGHT?? I mean dang, I sure needed that today. I'm still recovering from an exhausting week and was on the verge of serious panicking this morning as I was trying to figure out how to squeeze in a project before Thanksgiving break. Without even knowing I was slowly losing my sanity, my sweet mom (shoutout to Kim Nall) sent me an email. There were lots of words she said, sweet, life-giving words I'll remember for the rest of my life. But this is the message the Lord gave her one morning, and the message I want you to hear:

“He told me that I have been looking on the head of a pin, when I should be looking at the expanse of the heavens – as in, ‘What are you doing, beloved? You are staring at the head of a pin, your vision of Me is so so so so small,. Your perspective of Me is so starved. QUIT LOOKING AS IF YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE HEAD OF A PIN! LOOK TO THE HEAVENS! Do you see how big enormous gargantuan indescribable undefinable I am? You are not asking anything of Me as if you really believe that I would, or that I would care for you enough to do beyond.”

My glasses had been fogged up. In my exhaustion, because I had not properly rested, my weakness and doubt started to cloud my vision. I needed my mother's encouragement, the truth from the Lord, to breathe away the fog. I had prayed scared, fearful prayers, instead of doing what Vic and Joel have been teaching us all along through Exodus: "fear the right thing." 

Remember what Moses tells the Israelites after God gives them the 10 commandments? The former slaves are shaking in their boots (sandals, whatever) and Moses says: 

““Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you may not sin.””

— Exodus 20:20

If there's one thing I've taken away from Exodus this semester, it's this: PUT YOUR FEAR IN THE RIGHT PLACE. You should not fear what the people of this world fear: rejection from friends, failure in the workplace, death, hopelessness, etc. Out of awe, reverence, and respect for Him, we should fear the Almighty God because the God of Exodus—of pillars of fire and raging seas and smoked-covered mountains—is OUR GOD, and the same power of God that raised Jesus Christ from the dead lives within us, therefore, WE SHOULD NOT BE AFRAID. 

Anyways. My mother's note reminded me of another reason why we need rest: 

3. Rest helps us do the one necessary thing.

Now, FINALLY, I can talk about Courtney's post. She talked about Mary and Martha and how she felt convicted about being like Martha lately (I can relate on a deep level). But Jesus tells Martha to do something different—to stop, and remember the most important thing in the entire world. While Mary is "seated at the Lord's feet, listening to His Word," Jesus gives Martha a word just for her (and all of us like her):

“Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

— Luke 10:41-42

Notice two things here: 

1. "ONLY ONE THING IS NECESSARY": when you sense the old flesh starting to dominate you, and you desperately need the truth, encouragement, and bluntness of Scripture, you better drop everything and RUN to the feet of Jesus, because: 

2. "WHICH SHALL NOT BE TAKEN AWAY FROM HER": I don't think I've paid attention to that phrase until now, but spending time with Jesus and meditating on His Word is never, EVER a waste of time. Now, does that mean we should neglect all other responsibilities and just stay locked in our room for 9 hours studying the Bible and geeking over Blue Letter Bible cross references?? Of course not. But when the Lord is drawing us to Himself, or we sense the Holy Spirit stirring in our hearts, or we desperately crave the Word, then by golly, let's run after it and follow Courtney's advice:

“So get up out the bed. Sit up. Drink that coffee. Do some jumping jacks. Whatever you need to do. COMMIT to sitting at the feet of Jesus in God’s Word. We make time for everything else under the sun—why wouldn’t we make time for the MOST necessary thing?”

SO. After all that blabbing you're probably wondering what it looks like to rest practically, right? There obviously isn't a mathematical formula for this, but here's how we can start: 

1. Drop on your knees and pray. Remember what Mama Nall said? JUST ASK. Get in the posture of asking and straight up ask the Lord to teach you how to rest. 

2. Know what stirs your affections for Christ. I think somewhere we fell into this trap of believing all of our "quiet times" had to look the same. It has to be at 5:30 in the morning, or be cute with flowery, calligraphy-covered journals, or be on top of a literal mountain. What gets you PUMPED about Jesus?? For me, I LOVE singing worship music in the car on my way to school. I LOVE praying while running on trails. When I have extra time, I LOVE going through a book of the Bible and furiously taking notes like a nerd. You know yourself better than you think—what gets you excited about Jesus? Stop trying to be like your favorite Christian on Instagram and do what you need to do.

3. Turn off your dang phone, and give yourself at least a few hours one day this week to do whatever would feel great to you. Nap. Read Harry Potter. Catch up with your roommates. Journal. Sketch. Build something. WHATEVER. Just do it, and do it with a posture of praise and thanksgiving.

Speaking of thanksgiving, let's go into this break and actually, really, TRULY rest. Don't fill every second of every day doing something or meeting with someone. Give yourself time and space to sit with the Lord and reflect on who HE is. I leave you with words from an old hymn (that no one sings, why, I don't know) called "Father, I Know That All My Life":

“I would not have the restless will
that hurries to and fro, 
seeking for some great thing to do,
or secret thing to know; 
I would be treated as a child, 
and guided where I go.”

Necrosis in Our Hearts

KAYLEE SHAVER // SENIOR

Webster’s dictionary defines "necrosis" as this: “death of living tissue; specifically, death of a portion of tissue differentially affected by local injury (as loss of blood supply, corrosion, burning, or the local lesion of a disease).”

As I was scrolling through social media this week, I came upon a medical case (cause ya girl follows a lot of medical accounts) where a man was bitten by a rattlesnake, a viper whose venom has necrotizing factors that causes destruction of human flesh. And as defined, his flesh began disintegrating as time progressed.

First, beneath the skin, then revealing the destruction when the skin melts away. Eventually, he had huge gaping holes on his hand and arm where there used to be skin and muscle. If he did not see a doctor soon, the venom would infiltrate his entire system, shut down his kidneys, and he could die.

Thankfully, once he finally arrived at the hospital, the doctors were able to control the necrosis, and over the course of 11 surgeries and the amazing work of the surgeons, this man received a skin graft and ultimately didn’t lose his life or limb. (Sorry if that was too much for you, I am not one to get squeamish. I like the gory details.)

This reminded me of the effects that sin has in our lives. Our God is good. He is perfect. He is strong. He is powerful. He deserves all the glory in Heaven and on Earth.

“There is none like you, O Lord; you are great, and your name is great in might.” Jeremiah 10:6

But sin is necrotic. It creeps in our lives. It destroys us from the inside out. At the beginning, there are no outward signs. We are just living our lives, not thinking of Christ, not thinking of the grace that has been bestowed upon us, forgetting that: 

“For by grace you have been saved through faith.” Ephesians 2:8

But as time progresses, the sin becomes more and more apparent to our own awareness. We begin to notice its effects, but maybe, we choose to ignore it. “Oh, the pain will go away. This is just a trial. This is just a phase. I will make it through this.” But as these thoughts continue, the sin continues to decimate everything in its path; its path of destruction. One-by-one, the cells of our body break down and succumb to this sin and let it control our lives. It moves in a war path – taking everything as victim.

Eventually, this inward destruction comes to the surface. And it grows and grows and grows until you can no longer hide it. You have big gaping holes in your soul, your flesh. And, your soul decays and becomes unrecognizable. And if left untreated, this sin will kill you. It will result in forever separation from the Lord.

“For the wages of sin is death.” Romans 6:23

But there is good news. There is a happy end to this story. Yes, the wages of sin is death, BUT,

“.. the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

In the fashion of the snake bite case, we are given another chance. Jesus, the perfect, sinless, son of God, died the death that we deserved, took on all the sins of the world – past, present, and future – bore the wrath of the Father, was dead three days in a tomb, rose to life, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father in Heaven. This Jesus, died in our place and took on the necrosis of the sin we committed, so that we may have new life and give glory to the Father, the giver of life. We can be given the forgiveness of sins. And, we are made new in him, and given a new life in him.

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:1-2

“If Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.” Romans 8:10-11

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17