The Scariest Verse

by Julie Zine Coleman

I saw a link to a blog post the other day about the scariest verse in the Bible. Intrigued, I clicked on over. Apparently the offending passage was 1 John 4:7-8: “Everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” (NASB)

Not only the author but several commenters took this verse to mean if we did not show love, we’d better be worried about our salvation. I had to leave a comment. Because any time we think our relationship with God is dependent on how we act, we are headed for serious trouble.

We are saved through grace alone. It is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man think to boast (Ephesians 2:8-9). The key to salvation is in understanding that nothing I can do could ever earn forgiveness or favor with God. When I realize my insufficiency, I can then, in turn, put my trust in the sufficiency of Christ. His sacrifice more than paid for my guilt. When I believe in him, I am saved. That’s the gospel, plain and simple.

But as we try to live out our lives as believers, the reality of our insufficiency can fade. In our zeal to live holy lives, it can become once again about impressing God. If I am not acting like a Christian, I will fall out of his good favor. If I’m not being spiritual, I might never have even been a Christian to begin with.

Wait…what happened to grace?

Grace is undeserved favor. By definition we cannot earn it. It is one of those inexplicable sides of God: he gives it freely to those who believe. Even more astonishing: He continues to supply grace after we are saved: it is crucial to our relationship with him. Paul urged believers to “continue in the grace of God” (Acts 13:43, emphasis added, NASB). Our sense of dependency should only grow stronger as we walk with Christ. It should drive us to keep our eyes fixed on him, because looking at ourselves, our weaknesses, and continual failure will only lead to despair. When we understand grace, and how badly we need it, we cling to him like a life preserver.

So why then are commandments like this one to love so strongly stated?

1. There is a purpose in our love. God’s intention is to reveal himself through the Church. In Philippians 2:14-16, Paul reminds his readers that their behavior (loving each other) will show God to the rest of the world. One sure-fire way to get some notice is by living the way the Bible instructs, and foremost, living lives of love (see John 17:20-21). When we love, we will stick out like a sore thumb. (In a good way.)
2. Love is an expression of who we are. We have been rescued from sin’s hold over us. Why would we shed the robe of Christ’s righteousness and don the metaphorical garments of our old life? Paul writes, “Our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin” (Romans 6:6-7 NASB). We were rescued from the misery of sin’s mastery over us. This includes living for self and carrying hatred and bitterness in our hearts, the opposites of love. Why willingly jump back into the cesspool?
3. Love is a healthy life-style choice. God loves us. His Word instructs us to love. Whenever we choose what goes against His Word, it cannot end well. So it is with withholding love. Nothing will make us sicker than anger or hatred. In the end, bitterness is a heavy burden to bear, and often leads to further sin (Ephesians 4:26-27). God’s way is always the best way.

In short, yes, 1 John urges us to love. It marks a true believer and is an effective way we can show God to the world. Loving brings meaning and satisfaction to our every action.

But in no way is love a condition for our salvation or any kind of a relationship with God. As children of God, we live under the huge umbrella of grace. He loves us, not because of what we do for him, but because he is a merciful God and has already paid our debt. Any sense of accomplishment we get from following his commands should not undermine the reality of our dependence on him for the most basic of spiritual needs.

He is all-sufficient. We must rest in that fact alone.

“For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.”  John 1:17 NASB

This article is brought to you by the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA).

About the author: Julie Zine Coleman helps others to understand and know an unexpected God. A popular conference and retreat speaker, she holds an M.A. in biblical studies. Julie is the managing editor for Arise Daily. When she is not glaring at her computer, she spends time with her grandchildren, gardening, or crafting. More on Julie can be found at her new website JulieZineColeman.com and Facebook.

Many Christian women are torn between the church’s traditional teachings on gender roles and the liberty they experience in secular society. But what if the church’s conventional interpretations aren’t really biblical at all? Julie’s new book, On Purpose, is a careful study of the passages in the Bible often interpreted to limit women in the church, at home, or in the workplace. Each chapter reveals timeless biblical principles that actually teach freedom, not limitation. On Purpose was recently named the Golden Scrolls 2022 Book of the Year. 

Join the conversation: Do you struggle with fear that you may not be saved?

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Celebrate What?

by Julie Zine Coleman

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Romans 8:18 NASB

Two days before this past Christmas, I took a nasty fall. I tripped on the top step from the garage into the house and fell through the doorway. Smacked my head, right shoulder, and the ribs on my left side HARD. As I lay there, trying to figure out if this was an emergency, one of my first thoughts was How am I going to put on Christmas for 16 people?

I know, not so tragic compared to what some people endured during the holidays. But still…the brunch! And the exhaustion. Pain had me sleeping (or not sleeping) sitting up for the next few nights. Everything was harder as I tried to baby my arm and ribcage while preparing for the Big Day.

Trials, even when sudden, are never really unexpected in light of how frequently they come. But I did recently pause when I came across a verse in my devotional time. Paul was writing to the Romans about their salvation and its benefits. There was much to celebrate—including their trials! Paul said, “We also celebrate in our tribulations” (Romans 5:3 NASB).

I have to be honest; celebration was not on my mind as I lay stunned on the hall floor. Paul had suffered much more than a trip up the stairs before writing Romans. Celebrate? Seriously?

But in his next thought, Paul gives a reason to celebrate even the painfully hard things: “…knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope…” (Romans 5:3b – 4 NASB).

Note that Paul does not waste time on the source of the struggle. He focuses on how God will use it in our lives.

The original Greek word translated as tribulation can also be translated as a test. Paul is reminding his readers that there are things we can learn from the test. Perseverance and character are proven, which will all lead to hope.

As a student and then a teacher, I came to appreciate the opportunities a written test gives to the test taker: not just a chance to prove what they know, but to actually develop the students’ understanding. In college and then in seminary, the dreaded Blue Book exams were intimidating. Unlike fill-in-the-blank or multiple-choice questions, the essay questions went beyond rote memorization. They required an ability to put those facts together to make educated applications.

As students, on getting back our graded exam, where did we first look? At the ones we got wrong. So tests were another kind of learning experience that corrected any false notions we had. Tests are their own form of education.

Do those trials Paul wrote about serve as that kind of tool for us? You bet they do. While never a pleasant experience, we eventually walk away from a trial knowing God used it in our lives to conform us into a better image of Jesus. Maybe it developed our sensitivity for people in a struggle. Maybe we leaned on God and discovered His faithfulness (even through His silence). Maybe it highlighted our sin, like pride, for example, so that the trial became an opportunity for a course correction. Or maybe we understood on a deeper level our inadequacy to fix everything, then learned to trust God in more things.

God loves us too much to allow us to stay the same. He is at work all the time to draw us closer to Him. He wants us to know Him and love Him with all our hearts. Sometimes the only road that leads us there is through a test.

This article is brought to you by the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA).

About the author: Julie Zine Coleman helps others to understand and know an unexpected God. A popular conference and retreat speaker, she holds an M.A. in biblical studies. Julie is the managing editor for Arise Daily. When she is not glaring at her computer, she spends time with her grandchildren, gardening, or crafting. More on Julie can be found at her new website JulieZineColeman.com and Facebook.

Many Christian women are torn between the church’s traditional teachings on gender roles and the liberty they experience in secular society. But what if the church’s conventional interpretations aren’t really biblical at all? Julie’s new book, On Purpose, is a careful study of the passages in the Bible often interpreted to limit women in the church, at home, or in the workplace. Each chapter reveals timeless biblical principles that actually teach freedom, not limitation. On Purpose was recently named the Golden Scrolls 2022 Book of the Year. 

Join the conversation: What did you learn from your latest test?

The War Is Won

by Julie Zine Coleman

O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?… Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:55, 57 NASB

The island of Iwo Jima, once inhabited by a small Japanese civilian community of sulfur miners and sugar farmers, became a stronghold of pivotal importance in World War II. As the war progressed, Japan evacuated its citizens from the island and prepared for the inevitable Allied forces invasion. A huge number of bunkers, hidden artillery, and an amazing eleven miles of tunnels were in place by 1944. Twenty-one thousand soldiers were at the ready when Allied forces began their assault.

On the fourth day of the battle, the first objective was captured: Mount Suribachi. Five Marines and a Navy corpsman were photographed raising the American flag at its summit. That moment is now immortalized in the Iwo Jima memorial in Arlington, Virginia.

Once the high ground was secure, the invasion slowly moved northward. Very heavy fighting continued as Allied forces eventually took the airfields and remainder of the island. Even so, over 3,000 Japanese troops remained in the island’s maze of caves and tunnels. More American lives were lost as they worked their way through the tunnel system routing those refusing to surrender. The battle may have been won, but the enemy continued to fight, determined to take as many with them in their demise as possible.

On Easter morning, we celebrate the greatest victory the world has ever witnessed. The Son of God, after three days in the grave, rose from the dead. No longer are we under condemnation for our sin. It was dealt with, paid for, and cast from us “as far as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12 NASB). The victory is already ours because Christ has already won.

“When you were dead in your transgressions,” Paul wrote, “He made you alive together with Him . . . having canceled out the certificate of debt . . . having nailed it to the cross.” (Colossians 2:13 – 14 NASB). Sin no longer holds us slave to its power.

The enemy has also been soundly defeated. Satan’s future final demise is already recorded in the Bible, when he is cast into the lake of fire to suffer torment for eternity (Revelation 20:10). The end is written.

Yet, while victory has been recorded with indelible ink, the skirmishes still go on. While we were given new life at our salvation, we still struggle against our old sinful nature which relentlessly demands satisfaction, and we fight the enemy—ever tempting us to sin. As Paul wrote to the Galatians, “For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please” (Galatians 5:17 NASB).
 
These skirmishes are a part of the life God expects us to live. Satan may have lost the war, but he is deadly serious about taking down with him as many as possible before the last nail is driven into his coffin. 

We may even lose some of those skirmishes, especially when we attempt to fight in our own strength. But it is important to remember in those moments of depressing defeat: The war’s victor has already been determined. The Good Guy won. Our hope is not in the circumstances of this world. It is in the future God has prepared for us, “an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:4 NASB).

Nothing that happens to us on earth will impact the surety of our salvation. The war has already been won.

This article is brought to you by the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA).

About the author: Julie Zine Coleman helps others to understand and know an unexpected God. A popular conference and retreat speaker, she holds an M.A. in biblical studies. Julie is the managing editor for Arise Daily. When she is not glaring at her computer, she spends time with her grandchildren, gardening, or crafting. More on Julie can be found at her new website JulieZineColeman.com and Facebook.

Many Christian women are torn between the church’s traditional teachings on gender roles and the liberty they experience in secular society. But what if the church’s conventional interpretations aren’t really biblical at all? Julie’s new book, On Purpose, is a careful study of the passages in the Bible often interpreted to limit women in the church, at home, or in the workplace. Each chapter reveals timeless biblical principles that actually teach freedom, not limitation. On Purpose was recently named the Golden Scrolls 2022 Book of the Year. 

Join the Conversation. Have you experienced a skirmish with the enemy recently?

Light Pollution

by Julie Zine Coleman

Now when Jesus heard that John had been taken into custody, He withdrew into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth, He came and settled in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. This happened so that what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet would be fulfilled:

“The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
By the way of the sea, on the other side of the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—

‘The people who were sitting in darkness saw a great Light,
And those who were sitting in the land and shadow of death, Upon them a Light dawned.” Matthew 3:12-16 NASB

When Steve and I were dating, one of our favorite things to do was go for a drive in Maryland’s Calvert County to watch the night sky. It was truly dark there—unable-to-see-your-hand-in- front-of-your-face kind of dark. In the middle of a mostly farmed area, no light pollution from cities invaded our view. The Milky Way and many planets from our solar system were easily seen. Together we learned the winter constellations. We spent hours watching meteors streak across the sky. It was awesome.

In the dark, any spark of light will be noticed. Perhaps that is why Jesus chose to begin His ministry in the region of Galilee. He came as the Light of the World to people walking in darkness.

That northern region was despised by the pure-blooded and educated Jews of Jerusalem and Judea. They hated the Galileans’ accent and lack of religious adherence.

In the south, the religious leaders in Jerusalem and Judea had vigorously taught the Mosaic and Oral Law. Many were convinced that in obeying the Law, they would be OK with God. But that kind of self-sufficiency would ultimately keep them from recognizing their very real inadequacy and need.

Paul tells us “Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as though they could by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone…” (Romans 9: 31-32 NASB). All that religion and law-keeping had only inoculated them.

It was a situation similar to light pollution from a city—keeping us from seeing much of a night sky’s offerings.

In contrast, Galilee was in the dark, still searching for what Jesus had come to offer. So they came to Him in droves, ready to listen to what He had to say, open to regarding Him as the promised Messiah.

That can be a lesson to us. The more we inoculate ourselves with rule-following and judging those who do not follow our personal moral code, the better we think ourselves to be. We lose the understanding that Jesus has already done it all—and we wear His righteousness, not our own. Nothing we have done could earn any favor with God. Grace is undeserved favor. There is only level ground at the cross. No idea of self-sufficiency can survive in light of those truths.

Keeping our focus on Jesus and what He has done for us will keep us clinging to Him, knowing how our dependence on God will continue for the rest of our lives. And it will keep our hearts sensitive to His light, leading, and purposes.

This article is brought to you by the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA).

About the author: Julie Zine Coleman helps others to understand and know an unexpected God. A popular conference and retreat speaker, she holds an M.A. in biblical studies. Julie is the managing editor for Arise Daily. When she is not glaring at her computer, she spends time with her grandchildren, gardening, or crafting. More on Julie can be found at her new website JulieZineColeman.com and Facebook.

Many Christian women are torn between the church’s traditional teachings on gender roles and the liberty they experience in secular society. But what if the church’s conventional interpretations aren’t really biblical at all? Julie’s new book, On Purpose, is a careful study of the passages in the Bible often interpreted to limit women in the church, at home, or in the workplace. Each chapter reveals timeless biblical principles that actually teach freedom, not limitation. On Purpose was awarded the Golden Scrolls 2022 Book of the Year. 

Join the conversation: Can you think of something in your life that could deaden your response to the grace of God?

God Values Patience

by Julie Zine Coleman

Never repay evil for evil to anyone…If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all people. Romans 12:17-18 NASB

You can insult me all you want. But don’t you dare mess with my husband.

Steve is an awesome guy, completely dedicated to the Lord, humble, and wise. So, when someone in our church started spreading lies about him, I was outraged. I laid awake at night trying to find a way to deal with the situation.

I’ll be honest: retribution was at the top on my list. But as much as I would have loved to take that man down, I knew better. In Ephesians 5:18, Paul urges us to be filled with (live under the influence of) the Spirit. And one of the fruits of the Spirit’s influence is patience.

In Genesis, Joseph suffered hurt and betrayal—at the hands of his own family. His brothers plotted his murder and ultimately sold him into slavery. He endured thirteen years of bondage in a foreign land. Finally, God provided a way out. And when Joseph eventually met up with his brothers again, he was second in command of the Egyptian Empire. Payback time.

Joseph was in an excellent position to administer judgment on his brothers. No one would have blamed him, not even the brothers themselves, who had lived with terrible guilt all those years. But Joseph never did execute justice, never sought retribution, and never even demanded an apology.

The brothers assumed Joseph’s kindness was in deference to their father, who was still alive. So, when their father finally died, they knew the jig was up. They assumed that Joseph would finally give them what they deserved.

But Joseph surprised them all, saying, “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones” (Genesis 50:19-21 NASB). His words are then characterized in verse 21 as comforting and kind.

Whoa. He comforted them? He clearly understood how malicious their intentions had been those many years ago. So how could Joseph choose to overlook such grievous sin? Had the years softened the pain of their betrayal? Not according to Genesis, which notes several times when Joseph could not contain his emotions while speaking with his brothers. Every recollection was a fresh wound to his heart.

We’ve all been there in some regard. Someone has hurt or offended us. We try to forgive, try to move on. But the pain they inflicted continues to haunt us. Is God calling us to do the impossible?

A clue to Joseph’s success can be found his words in Genesis 45:8, “It was not you who sent me here, but God” (NASB). In short, Joseph trusted in the goodness and the power of His God.

“Vengeance is mine,” the Lord says (Romans 12:19 NASB). Only God is qualified to sit in that seat. We are as guilty as the next, limited in our capacity to understand the whole truth, possessing a tainted perspective at best. In light of our shortcomings, we need to leave the judging to the One who will administer justice with mercy.

How then must we respond to those who try our souls? We need to see them as God sees us: flawed and in need of mercy. In view of the mercy we have received, we must in turn offer mercy to them.

Our obedience will reflect the One who lives within us and will result in our resembling Him just a bit more—the ultimately patient Jesus Christ.

This article is brought to you by the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA).

About the author: Julie Zine Coleman helps others to understand and know an unexpected God. A popular conference and retreat speaker, she holds an M.A. in biblical studies. Julie is the managing editor for Arise Daily. When she is not glaring at her computer, she spends time with her grandchildren, gardening, or crafting. More on Julie can be found at her new website JulieZineColeman.com and Facebook.

Many Christian women are torn between the church’s traditional teachings on gender roles and the liberty they experience in secular society. But what if the church’s conventional interpretations aren’t really biblical at all? Julie’s new book, On Purpose, is a careful study of the passages in the Bible often interpreted to limit women in the church, at home, or in the workplace. Each chapter reveals timeless biblical principles that actually teach freedom, not limitation. On Purpose was recently named the Golden Scrolls 2022 Book of the Year. 

Join the conversation: Have you been patient in the face of insult recently? What happened? 

Blessed Are the Meek

by Julie Zine Coleman Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? Hebrews 12:9 NASB My husband Steve was on his way to Bible class, walking behind his favorite and well-respected professor, who shuffled painfully down the walkway. A fellow student came running by, on the run from a fellow student playing a prank on him. When he risked a quick look backward, the guy smacked right into the elderly teacher, knocking him to the ground. Everyone on the sidewalk froze in horror. But the old man slowly picked himself up, and with a look of chagrin, faced his offender. “I’m so sorry,” he said. “I  must have zigged when you had zagged.” Did the professor have the right to be angry at the careless boy? Surely he deserved more respect than his student had afforded him; he was faculty, after all. In light of the old man’s physical limitations, the offense was even more egregious. I’m guessing that none of the witnesses there would have had trouble with the professor responding to the boy’s carelessness with anger. But the teacher chose to submit himself to the needs of the student. He forgave without even being asked, and bore the fault of the incident as his own. Ironically, his humility was a far more profound lesson to all of all who witnessed the scene than if he had responded in anger. For Steve, it was an unforgettable lesson in meekness. The same meekness once attributed to Moses, who is said in Scripture to be the “meekest man on the face of the earth.” (Numbers 12:3 ASV). In the Scriptural narrative of Moses’ life, we frequently can find the commentary: “Moses did everything just as the Lord commanded him” (Exodus 40:16, Numbers 27:22 NIV, for example). Please note: meekness is not a door-mat mentality. It is a decision to voluntarily place our power under the constraining hand of our Heavenly Father. It is putting God’s purposes above our own, willing to do whatever it takes to be selflessly obedient. When we do so, we align ourselves with His agenda. We’re never sorry when we choose God’s way. He will reward our determination to put ourselves aside for the good of the other. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5 NIV). Lord, help me to choose to respond to offences with meekness, putting the other’s need above my angry reaction. I want to remember that Jesus modeled meekness for us as He willingly died for the people who hated Him most. Amen. This article is brought to you by the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA).

About the author: Julie Zine Coleman helps others to understand and know an unexpected God. A popular conference and retreat speaker, she holds an M.A. in biblical studies. Julie is the managing editor for Arise Daily. When she is not glaring at her computer, she spends time with her grandchildren, gardening, or crafting. More on Julie can be found at her new website JulieZineColeman.com and Facebook.

Many Christian women are torn between the church’s traditional teachings on gender roles and the liberty they experience in secular society. But what if the church’s conventional interpretations aren’t really biblical at all? Julie’s new book, On Purpose, is a careful study of the passages in the Bible often interpreted to limit women in the church, at home, or in the workplace. Each chapter reveals timeless biblical principles that actually teach freedom, not limitation. On Purpose was recently named the Golden Scrolls 2022 Book of the Year. Join the conversation: Have you witnessed someone choosing meekness? Please share!  

Faith Matters

by Julie Zine Coleman

She was an ordinary girl, living in an ordinary town called Nazareth. Arrangements had been made for her to marry a good man named Joseph, who earlier had met with her father to make a legal agreement for their betrothal.

But then the extraordinary happened.

The angel Gabriel appeared and told her she had found favor with God; she would conceive and bear a son. “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David…His kingdom will have no end” (Luke 1:32, 33 NASB).

As you can imagine, Mary had questions. “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” she asked (v. 34).

In his first chapter, Luke places Mary’s interaction with Gabriel up against the priest Zacharias, who also received an announcement from the angel. Zacharias’ wife, Elizabeth, well past childbearing years, would bear a son. Zacharias’s response to the unexpected announcement was incredulous: “How will I know this for certain?” (Luke 1:18 NASB). The original Greek reads, According to whom?

I can almost imagine Gabriel rolling his eyes. He informed Zacharias he had just come from the throne of God. That’s Who. And then told him of the consequence he would experience “because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time’” (Luke 1:20 NASB).

Have you ever wondered why the angel rebuked Zacharias for asking a question but not Mary?

Mary’s question was very different than Zacharias’s. She seemed to be looking for clarification on what she should do next. How would all this work? She was a virgin, after all. Was she to marry Joseph right away? We can tell that she asked in faith, because her ready response to the angel’s reply to her question was “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38 NASB).

Two announcements, two reactions. The difference between them? Faith. One trusted in the power of God. Mary placed herself in God’s hands after believing His message, trusting Him to work out the details.

We all have questions for God from time to time. Sometimes our questions are filled with pain or even anger. There is so much we don’t understand. But Hebrews 11:6 tells us that “without faith, it is impossible to please [God]” (NASB).

So how we ask those questions is important to Him. We need to ask from the context of what we know to be true of God. He is wise and powerful. He sees the big picture when we cannot. He is at work everywhere at once to bring His plans into completion. He is good. He cares deeply for us and the things that matter to us.

Remembering that context will enable us to ask in faith. Hearing and understanding His Word will keep our hearts from becoming hardened. This will bring us peace, as we submit ourselves to His will even when we don’t understand.

Upon hearing Mary’s faith-filled question, Gabriel encouraged her: “For nothing will be impossible with God” (Luke 1:37 NASB). And, as Hebrews 11:6 says further, “For he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him” (NASB).

Faith makes all the difference.

For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” Romans 10:11 NASB

This article is brought to you by the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA).

About the author: Julie Zine Coleman helps others to understand and know an unexpected God. A popular conference and retreat speaker, she holds an M.A. in biblical studies. Julie is the managing editor for Arise Daily. When she is not glaring at her computer, she spends time with her grandchildren, gardening, or crafting. More on Julie can be found at her new website JulieZineColeman.com and Facebook.

Many Christian women are torn between the church’s traditional teachings on gender roles and the liberty they experience in secular society. But what if the church’s conventional interpretations aren’t really biblical at all? Julie’s new book, On Purpose, is a careful study of the passages in the Bible often interpreted to limit women in the church, at home, or in the workplace. Each chapter reveals timeless biblical principles that actually teach freedom, not limitation. On Purpose was recently named the Golden Scrolls 2022 Book of the Year.

Join the conversation: What traits of God do you want to remember when you ask Him questions?

Ordinary People

by Julie Zine Coleman

This past May, my new book was released. It had been a labor of love to research and write on the Scriptures concerning women in the church and home. My target audience was women who were leaving the church, weary from the disrespectful treatment they had received. Worse, some were walking away from God altogether, believing He saw them as second-class citizens in His kingdom. But as I worked through the pertinent passages, a much different picture of God emerged. I knew what I had discovered had potential to change lives.

Yes, I felt God calling me to this project. But what in the world was He thinking? Who was I to write such profound and potentially controversial truth? The entire time I worked on the manuscript, I was plagued with self-doubt. Surely there were people with better qualifications than an ordinary woman from suburban Maryland just trying to get to the bottom of these important passages.

During those months of insecurity, I was tasked to give a message about the women of Advent: Mary, Elizabeth, and Anna (find their stories in Luke 1 and 2:36-38). Setting them side-by-side revealed important commonalities Luke chose to include.

All three had to endure shame in their lives. Elizabeth was barren (considered at the time to indicate God’s punishment and disapproval). Mary was scandalously pregnant and not married. Anna had been married a mere seven years before becoming a widow (also thought to be a punishment), living the rest of her life quietly serving in the temple.

All three were led by the Spirit. Mary was impregnated by the Spirit. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit when she heard Mary’s voice. And Anna was moved by the Spirit to declare the Messiah had arrived. Each were privileged to prophesy through the Spirit, speaking words directly from God.

All three had to wait after God called them. They waited in silence about what they had been told, trusting God’s timing to reveal the truth, believing in His wisdom and perfect will.

All three knew they were completely dependent on God. He was the One with the power to fulfill His promises. They were content to trust in His work.

Three ordinary women, whose lives would have come and gone without a mention in the history books if not for Jesus. But because of their obedience and faithfulness to believe God when He called them, their stories would be recorded and consequently read for more than 2,000 years. Mary had an inkling of this when she prophesied, “…from this time on all generations will count me blessed” (Luke 1:48 NASB.)

What can we learn from their stories? The world looks for heroes with notoriety, big names, or fancy accomplishments: self-made men and women. But God chooses to work through ordinary people who will respond to His call with humility and trust. He wants those who are faithful to Him in ordinary things, sensitive and yielded to the Spirit. Those who are willing to wait on his timing, even when they are tempted to jump ahead of Him.

And in the wait, God transforms His servants. The old, barren Elizabeth became mother to the prophet who would introduce the Messiah to the world. The young, previously insignificant Mary’s name was changed to Mother of the Son of God. Anna, the widow/temple servant, became the prophet for all who were seeking the Messiah, the redemption of Israel.

God uses ordinary people. In fact, the more ordinary, the better. He can take our ordinary lives and make something beautiful out of them, lives that will bring Him glory.

 For nothing will be impossible with God. Luke 1:37 NASB

This article is brought to you by the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA).

About the author: Julie Zine Coleman helps others to understand and know an unexpected God. A popular conference and retreat speaker, she holds an M.A. in biblical studies. Julie is the managing editor for Arise Daily. When she is not glaring at her computer, she spends time with her grandchildren, gardening, or crafting. More on Julie can be found at her new website JulieZineColeman.com and Facebook.

Many Christian women are torn between the church’s traditional teachings on gender roles and the liberty they experience in secular society. But what if the church’s conventional interpretations aren’t really biblical at all? Julie’s new book, On Purpose, is a careful study of the passages in the Bible often interpreted to limit women in the church, at home, or in the workplace. Each chapter reveals timeless biblical principles that actually teach freedom, not limitation. On Purpose was recently named the Golden Scrolls 2022 Book of the Year.

Join the conversation: What has God done for your ordinary life?

The Importance of Gratitude

by Julie Zine Coleman

Ah, Thanksgiving. Every year, my family of 15 gathers around the extended dining room table, ready to enjoy the warm fellowship and good food of the holiday.

While we Americans are proud of our Thanksgiving tradition, we weren’t the first to hold such a holiday. Though the Pilgrims and their Native American neighbors did feast together in 1621, the celebration was actually a continuation of their past experience in the Old World.

Most agricultural societies, feasts, and ceremonies were held at harvest. In fact, when God gave the Law to Moses, He included two such celebrations: “You shall observe the Feast of the Harvest of the first fruits of your labors from what you sow in the field; also the Feast of the Ingathering at the end of the year when you gather in the fruit of your labors from the field” (Exodus 23:16 NASB).

Why were such occasions so important to God?

A few years back, our political parties were having trouble passing the annual budget. The Federal Government ended up shutting down for weeks. Since my husband worked for the IRS, our main source of income came to a screeching halt.

I am ashamed to admit it, but paying our bills every month stresses me out even in normal circumstances. One morning, as I took the dog out for her walk, I couldn’t shake a general feeling of gloom. So, I recited Scripture to myself as we walked. Philippians 4:6 came to mind. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication… let your requests be made known to God” (NASB).

Immediately, I began to unload on God, voicing the concerns weighing me down. I felt a little better when I finished, but not much. Then I suddenly realized I had omitted two words from that verse: “with thanksgiving let your requests be made known.”

Oops. I needed to turn my complaints into an acknowledgment of God’s many kindnesses. So rather than whine about the mortgage payment, I thanked Him for giving us a beautiful home. Remembering my recently expressed concerns for my children, I thanked God for blessing us with a wonderful, loving family. And, recalling my past griping over the difficulty of writing my book, I thanked God for making me an author and giving me the unbelievable privilege of publishing with Thomas Nelson.

The change in my mindset was profound. Rather than continuing to feel anxious, I returned to my house overwhelmed by God’s faithfulness and involvement. My heart was at peace.

Gratitude supplies the correct perspective. Remembering to thank God took me out of the center, where I never belonged to begin with. Gratitude is God-centered. When we thank him, we are expressing our belief that the things in our life are evidence of a God who is at work on our behalf. When we thank God, we acknowledge that our lives are in His hands. He is in control. As James wrote, “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow” (James 1:17 NASB).

Gratitude also teaches us to trust in a God that is good. As we count our blessings, we remember a God we can count on. We remind ourselves of His faithfulness, His goodness, and His unconditional love for us. He already gave the hardest thing possible: the precious life of His Son. When we remember what God has done in the past, always acting in our best interests, it is a no-brainer to trust Him for the present and beyond. “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32 NASB).

“God is great, God is good. Let us thank Him…”

This Thanksgiving week, remember to count your blessings. The very act of expressing gratitude will provide an accurate perspective on his power and bring you deeper in your trust for His goodness.

Happy Thanksgiving, Friends.

This article is brought to you by the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA).

About the author: Julie Zine Coleman helps others to understand and know an unexpected God. A popular conference and retreat speaker, she holds an M.A. in biblical studies. Julie is the managing editor for Arise Daily. When she is not glaring at her computer, she spends time with her grandchildren, gardening, or crafting. More on Julie can be found at her new website JulieZineColeman.com and Facebook.

Many Christian women are torn between the church’s traditional teachings on gender roles and the liberty they experience in secular society. But what if the church’s conventional interpretations aren’t really biblical at all? Julie’s new book, On Purpose, is a careful study of the passages in the Bible often interpreted to limit women in the church, at home, or in the workplace. Each chapter reveals timeless biblical principles that actually teach freedom, not limitation. On Purpose was recently named the Golden Scrolls 2022 Book of the Year.

Join the conversation: How do you keep a grateful heart?

The Importance of Forgiving

by Julie Zine Coleman

When we were dating, my husband had the habit including four or five pink demerit slips he had earned at Bible college in each of his letters to me. At one point I asked him just how many he possessed, since he appeared to be drawing from a never-ending supply. He showed me the stack in the top drawer of his desk. It was impressive.

Now don’t get the wrong idea—they were all for relatively small misdemeanors, like leaving the lights on or the bed unmade. Over time, however, they accumulated into enough of a statement that he was called into the dean’s office to give an account for his actions. Apparently even small infractions, over a long period of time, can add up.

This principle is true in relationships as well. It is why Paul, in describing a godly kind of love, reminded the Corinthians: “[Love is] not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” (1 Corinthians 13:5, NIV) In this simple description, Paul gives powerful preventive medicine for all of our relationships: choosing forgiveness over bitterness.

The Old Man of the Mountain, a massive granite formation which once overlooked Franconia Notch, New Hampshire, stood for thousands of years. It was the state symbol, and beloved enough to earn a place on the New Hampshire state quarter. Thousands of tourists stopped each year on their way up I-93 to take photographs of this famous landmark. But one night in May 2003, during a heavy rain storm, the Old Man formation collapsed into the valley below. What felled such a huge granite structure, after it had stood for thousands of years? Tiny individual molecules of water.

The collapse of the Old Man was a result of small amounts of water seeping into cracks year after year, freezing and expanding, making the fissures just a bit wider each time. Finally, the cracks became wide enough to weaken the entire structure, and the monument crumbled.

Elisabeth Elliot wrote of this principle within the context of marriage: “Marriages break up when ‘small’ things accumulate and resentments build. Love is the intention of unity. Resentment is the destroyer of unity.” Making frequent decisions to forgive is crucial to the health of any relationship.

Easier said than done, you are probably thinking. You are not alone—Peter struggled with this idea as well. “How many times must I forgive?” he asked the Lord. He then offered, “Up to seven times?” Rabbinic standards required forgiving up to three repeated offenses. Peter had more than doubled the standard. Surely seven times, the number denoting completeness, was generous enough.

Jesus surprised Peter with His answer. “Seventy times seven,” he replied. (Matthew 18:21-22)

How can anyone do that? By remembering what God has done for us. An ability to forgive reflects an understanding of how much we have been forgiven ourselves. We choose to love because we know we are loved. We give grace because He has given it to us. And in the process of imitating our Savior, we understand a bit more of what it took for him to bear our sin. Choosing to put ourselves aside in the interest of restoring others is a perfect way to identify with Jesus Christ.

“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:31-32 NASB

This article is brought to you by the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA).

About the author: Julie Zine Coleman helps others to understand and know an unexpected God. A popular conference and retreat speaker, she holds an M.A. in biblical studies. Julie is the managing editor for Arise Daily. When she is not glaring at her computer, she spends time with her grandchildren, gardening, or crafting. More on Julie can be found at her new website JulieZineColeman.com and Facebook.

Many Christian women are torn between the church’s traditional teachings on gender roles and the liberty they experience in secular society. But what if the church’s conventional interpretations aren’t really biblical at all? Julie’s new book, On Purpose, is a careful study of the passages in the Bible often interpreted to limit women in the church, at home, or in the workplace. Each chapter reveals timeless biblical principles that actually teach freedom, not limitation. On Purpose was recently named the Golden Scrolls 2022 Book of the Year.

Join the conversation: What has helped you to be able to forgive past hurts?