December Mid-Month Moments by Connie Inglis

 Mid-Month Moments

Isaiah 7:14. "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel."

Immanuel - God with us. Did you know this is the first time that word is used in the Bible? And after that, there are only two other times it's used. Once more in Isaiah (which I won't expound upon here) and then in Matt. 1:23 with the fulfillment of the prophecy: "All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel..”

God's presence. It came in the form of a baby boy, bringing with Him the promise of His presence to those who believe. Even in John 14, when Jesus tells His disciples that He will be going away, He doesn't leave them without God's presence and promises the Holy Spirit. In John 14:16, 17a Jesus says, "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth."

Because of the arrival of Jesus, Immanuel, God's presence is always with us.

But there are instances in the Old Testament where God DOES remove His presence, or threatens to do so.  In Exodus 3, when God calls Moses to lead His people out of Egypt, God says in vs 12, "I will be with you..." Immanuel. God's presence went with Moses and stayed with him and the Israelites all the way until they reached Mount Sinai. But then the Israelites built and worshipped the golden calf. God is so angry with the people that this is what He says in Ex. 33:2, 3, "I will send an angel before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 3 Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way.”

The people were so distressed by this that they began to mourn and not adorn themselves. They realized the seriousness of their sin. To be away from God's presence was unthinkable! So Moses entered The Tent of Meeting to plead before God for the people.

Ex. 33:15-17: "Then Moses said to him, 'If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?' 17 And the Lord said to Moses, 'I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.'”

Immanuel. God with us. Moses understood the gravity of the situation; he knew that without God's presence, they were just like every other nation in the world--that there was almost no point in going forward.

This causes me to stop and reflect. Do I have that kind of perspective on the importance of God's abiding presence? Do I understand the power and the purpose of Immanuel--God with me? And if so, what is my response? Am I giving God all the glory due His name, thankful that He sent His Son Jesus, to give me His eternal presence? And do the people around me look at me differently because God's presence is always with me? 

During this Christmas season, I pray that we will all take time to stop and think about what it truly meant when Jesus came to earth to offer us His Immanuel presence. And may we consider how we reflect that to the world.

Heb. 13:5b (AMP version): for He [God] has said, “I will never [under any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you [assuredly not]!”

With a grateful heart,

Connie

December 12, 2018

Mid-Month Moments are past devotionals written by Connie Inglis that she shared each week when she was InScribe's spiritual advisor. (Originally called 'Mid-Week Moments') They are shared from her archives with permission in the middle of each month. 

November Mid-Month Moments by Connie Inglis

 Mid-Month Moments

This past Saturday, Remembrance Day, found me at the Old Strathcona Farmers' Market right at 11:00 a.m. To be honest, I'd never been out shopping at that time on Remembrance Day but it was a Saturday and I needed to get to the farmers' market. At 10:55 a man's voice came over the speaker system announcing that at 11:00, "Taps" would be played over the speakers, then there would be a minute of silence and then again the playing of "Taps." He also asked that no transactions be done during that time. The market was full--people rushing about, tasting this fruit or that fudge, buying up the goods and wares. I wondered honestly, if people heard the announcement, let alone would abide by it. BUT, when 11:00 arrived, and the "Taps" started, ALL the people stopped. ALL the people stood in silence. The only sound was the whirring of the heating system above us. I was actually awed by the scene, by the respect shown, and wished I could have taken a photo from the top, of all the people standing still. It brought tears to my eyes.

Then, in the silence, I heard the Spirit speaking to me. Now I mean no disrespect to all those who fought for this country's freedom and gave their lives for us, but what I heard was, "Where is the respect for My Name and for My death?" My eyes welled up with tears--I wanted to weep. I felt like Jeremiah in that moment. These people, this city, this nation--they have all forgotten God; they've forgotten how to honour and respect Jesus Christ and His death and His ultimate sacrifice for our spiritual freedom.

I stood there for a while after the second playing of "Taps", watching all the people return to their business and busy-ness of buying and selling. And all I could do was ask this question: What would it be like if on Good Friday, our nation stopped, stood silent, WILLINGLY, at 11:00 a.m. and showed respect to Jesus and His Once-for-All sacrifice for us? I couldn't even picture it--but I wanted to.

Phil. 2:9-11 says, "Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place

    and gave Him the name that is above every name,

10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,

    to the glory of God the Father."

Even though the world doesn't acknowledge the Lordship of Jesus Christ, His Father did and does. The Father exalted Jesus to the highest place as the ultimate, triumphant Victor--the only way to true freedom for this world. And someday, every knee WILL bow {everyone WILL stand still} and WILL acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord.

But until that day, God calls you and me to stand firm and proclaim His name. Col. 3:17 says, "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."

My prayer for us this week is that we do not falter in our calling--that our written and spoken words are done in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and that we acknowledge God the Father by outwardly speaking thanks to Him. And may the world see their Rescuer, their Freedom, through us today.

Living in Freedom,

Connie

November 15, 2017

Mid-Month Moments are past devotionals written by Connie Inglis that she shared each week when she was InScribe's spiritual advisor. (Originally called 'Mid-Week Moments') They are shared from her archives with permission in the middle of each month. 

October Mid-Month Moments by Connie Inglis

 Mid-Month Moments

This past Sunday/Monday we had a major thunder/wind storm in Edmonton. Then yesterday I had to head downtown for an appointment. As I was walking along, I noticed a broken umbrella jutting out of a concrete garbage can, with another one strewn beside it on the sidewalk. Ironically, the scene stopped me in my tracks; I actually made a note on my phone right then and there. For some reason all I could think of was a story I used to read to my children called, "Tear-water Tea" by Arnold Lobel. Are any of you familiar with it?

It's the story of an owl who has a craving for tear-water tea. So he sits down with a tea kettle on his lap and he starts thinking of things that make him sad. Things like: "chairs with broken legs" and "mornings nobody saw because everybody was sleeping." And here I added: Discarded umbrellas that couldn't withstand the Edmonton winds.

In the story, the owl starts to cry; he cries until the kettle is filled with his tears. Then he puts the kettle on to boil for tea. As he sits down to drink his tea, he feels happy and says, "It tastes a little bit salty...but tear-water tea is always very good."

Cute little story but in that moment I knew it held a profound spiritual truth.

In John 16: 33 (NLT) Jesus said, "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."

In this life, we all see/struggle with trials and sorrows, with overwhelming circumstances or strained near-impossible relationships that make us sad--make us cry. We will all have nights spent filling our kettles with tears. That is part of being human in a broken world--even Jesus understood that.

However, that is only one half of the story IF our trust in God is real--if we can rest in WHO HE IS, the great I AM THAT I AM--our Father, Creator, Sustainer, Lover of our souls, and our Overcomer.

Romans 5:1-5 speaks into this (I'm quoting The Living Bible paraphrase):

So now, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith in his promises, we can have real peace with him because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 For because of our faith, he has brought us into this place of highest privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to actually becoming all that God has had in mind for us to be. 3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us—they help us learn to be patient. 4 And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady. 5 Then, when that happens, we are able to hold our heads high no matter what happens and know that all is well, for we know how dearly God loves us, and we feel this warm love everywhere within us because God has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Verse 4 says, "And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us TRUST GOD MORE..." Isn't that what our desire should always be? To trust God more? It is what His desire is for us.

I'm sure we all have a kettle full of tears. But can we take that kettle, offer it to God and let Him turn it into something good? Can we trust that He will turn our ashes into beauty, our mourning into dancing, our spirit of despair into a garment of praise? (Isa. 61:3) Can we trust Him to make tear-water tea out of our lives?

My prayer for us this morning is that we can say, "YES! Yes, I can trust my God to do this." But if you honestly can't say this today then I pray for you too. I pray that you will go to God in honesty and tell God how you feel. And that in humility you will say, "God, help my unbelief." He will answer that prayer too--because His relentless love NEVER runs out for any of us, no matter how many times we return to Him with doubt. May we not doubt His forgiveness and His power to help us trust Him more.

Learning to trust,

Connie

P.S. For any interested, here's the website for the pdf of "Tear-water Tea": http://www.arvindguptatoys.com/arvindgupta/tear-water-tea.pdf

July 26, 2017

Mid-Month Moments are past devotionals written by Connie Inglis that she shared each week when she was InScribe's spiritual advisor. (Originally called 'Mid-Week Moments') They are shared from her archives with permission in the middle of each month. 

September Mid-Month Moments by Connie Inglis

 Mid-Month Moments

Last week I began reading 1 Corinthians as part of my morning quiet time and today I read the opening verses of Chapter 3: "Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?"

It reminded me of something I've recently learned (but should have figured out a few years ago) about growing tomato plants in planters.

Last year, my tomato plants started out strong and green and beautiful. But when they began producing fruit, they started to slowly dry up. I thought that perhaps my deck was too hot and that I wasn't watering them enough. So I watered them more. It didn't help. My neighbour suggested maybe it was from over-watering so I cut back. They still didn't revive. It's not like they completely died, they just weren't thriving and they stopped producing fruit.

This year, the same thing started to occur toward the end of July. Thankfully, this time, my sister (a true gardener with a garden and a greenhouse) told me it was because the plants needed fertilizer--and not just any fertilizer, but the blend specifically for tomatoes. The next day I went and bought fertilizer and gave my tomato plants what they were needing all along. I say that because, within a few days, the leaves began turning a dark, rich green again. As well, new growth happened and little yellow flowers bloomed signaling future fruit..

So, what was the problem? I was giving the plants only water (or, as the text says, milk) and not giving them the nutrients they needed--the solid food, as it were.

Unfortunately, Paul couldn't even offer solid food to the Corinthian believers. They weren't ready for it. It had nothing to do with their physical age but their spiritual age. They were still babies. And how did he know this? He knew because they were still quarreling amongst each other, acting jealously, and doing a lot of comparing and choosing sides. What a sad commentary on the believers in the Corinthian church. I'm not like that!

But wait, as soon as I compare myself with them and put them down, I'm just like those believers in 1 Corinthians 3. I am boasting in my own wisdom and not keeping my eyes on Jesus and His wisdom. I'm slipping back into drinking only milk and not eating solid food.

Oh, how easy it is to stop seeking God's truth and His wisdom and thus just coast along. God's Word says that if I live like that, I will not grow or produce any fruit. I will be a seedling that never grows up.

This month, the Scripture I'm praying for the individual members of InScribe is James 3:13-18. I don't believe it's coincidental that these verses are talking about seeking God's wisdom and not worldly "wisdom." Today especially I was reminded again of how much I need God's wisdom. Specifically verses 17 & 18 state: "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness."

As well, verse speaks about living a life of "humility that comes from wisdom." If we are eating God's "solid food"--if we're digging into His Word and seeking to become more like His Son Jesus Christ--then humility will become a part of who we are. It's not something we will see in ourselves either--it's a character trait that others will see in us. It's like me looking at the tomato plants and seeing health and growth and fruit.

My prayer for us this week is that we will desire "solid food." That we will seek to know and become more like Jesus Christ and the wisdom He offers in that. Because then, we will sow peace. May we sow peace. And may the result be a harvest of righteousness.

In peace,

Connie

August 23, 2018

Mid-Month Moments are past devotionals written by Connie Inglis that she shared each week when she was InScribe's spiritual advisor. (Originally called 'Mid-Week Moments') They are shared from her archives with permission in the middle of each month. 

August Mid-Month Moments by Connie Inglis

 Mid-Month Moments

A few months ago, my niece, who loves animal trivia, began talking about her recent fascination with hummingbirds. For instance, a hummingbird's wings flap an average of 60-80 times per SECOND, and their hearts beat an average of 1,260 times per minute. As well, they consume twice their body weight in nectar per day. Can you imagine eating that much?!

So, when a hummingbird arrived at my bright-pink calibrachoa flowers recently while I was out on the front porch having my morning devotions, I began thinking about this little bird--how it silently zips from flower to flower, seeking nectar out of necessity, and then it's gone..

And that got me thinking about silence vs stillness, and the difference when it comes to our spiritual lives because, even though that hummingbird was silent, it was far from being still.

Here are the two definitions according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary:

Silence: 1. forbearance from speech or noise; 2. absence of sound or noise

Stillness: a state of freedom from storm or disturbance

God calls us to the latter (although often the former is needed). Psalm 46:10 (NIV) says, ""Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

The NASB Bible translates that first command as, "Cease striving."

I don't know about you but there are times when I wake in the dead of night, in the silence, and though my body remains quiet, my mind is suddenly far from being still. I worry. I make plans. I fear.

We read in Exodus 14 the story of the Israelites fleeing from Pharaoh and his armies only to arrive at the Red Sea with no way to cross. They are forced to physically stop.(It's also night, according to vs.20.) But are they still? No, They are talking: murmuring, grumbling, complaining. They are worried. They are fearful. They wish they were back in Egypt. Oh those Israelites. But wait--oh how I can find myself in that same place.

And Moses speaks out for God. Ex. 14:13,14: Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

"The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still."

And, throughout the night, God moved and worked and revealed His power. He re-positioned His pillar of cloud and fire behind the Israelite camp, still offering light for the Isrealites but becoming a cloak of darkness for the Egyptians. I love that image! Then, throughout the night (vs. 21), He drove the sea back to create the Israelites' path to freedom. Then, just before dawn, God looks down through the pillar and throws the Egyptian armies into confusion. While that's going on, He commands Moses to close the sea and the entire army that had gone down into the sea, drowned.

And why did God do this? In verse four, God says,"I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord." And verse 31 says, "the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant."

That same God fights for us, we need only be still. We need only trust in Him and let Him reveal His glory. Even in the dead of night, He is moving and working. Again, we need only be still and trust in that same God that rescued the Israelites from the Egyptians that day (and night).

Isaiah 26: 3,4,8,12:

You will keep in perfect peace

    those whose minds are steadfast,

    because they trust in you.

4 Trust in the Lord forever,

    for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.

8 Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws,

    we wait for you;

your name and renown

    are the desire of our hearts.

12 Lord, you establish peace for us;

    all that we have accomplished you have done for us.

My prayer for us all is that we will be still - that our hearts and minds will trust; whether it's in the dead of night or in the activities of the day (yes, even in our activity we can have a still heart and mind), may we be people of peace, not striving or fretting or fearing. But resting. Because God is on our side. He is behind us and with us and before us. May we all live our lives from that place of peace.

Resting, resting,

Connie

August 30, 2018

Mid-Month Moments are past devotionals written by Connie Inglis that she shared each week when she was InScribe's spiritual advisor. (Originally called 'Mid-Week Moments') They are shared from her archives with permission in the middle of each month. 

July Mid-Month Moments by Connie Inglis

 Mid-Month Moments

I've always enjoyed a good sci-fi - whether in the form of a book, a movie, or a TV series. And yes - I am a trekkie, and proud of it. Even though I was too young to watch the original Star Trek shows on TV in the 60's, I remember watching the syndicated series as a teenager. The shows were on Saturday afternoons so, whenever I could, I would curl up in front of the TV and watch. Usually, I was the lone viewer, but I didn't care. The idea of going into warp speed and discovering rifts in the space-time continuum fascinated me (not to mention all the weird alien stuff).

Sci-fi may not be your thing. But did you know that God is the ultimate sci-fi nerd? After all, HE created space and time and matter. Have you ever thought about that? About how God is outside space and yet is omnipresent in our space? About how He is outside time as the Alpha and Omega and yet He encompasses all time? About how He is outside matter and yet He indwells us? The idea really is mind-blowing to our finite, human minds.

When Jesus arrived as a baby, the infinite became finite. For 33 Earth years, He took on matter, lived and breathed our space, and grew and developed within the realm of human time. He broke into the space-time continuum to restore, redeem, and repair our fractured relationship with the great "I AM that I AM!"

Not only that, in His miracles, Jesus showed He was God by treating time and space as insignificant.

At the wedding in Cana in John 2, Jesus turns the water into wine. And not just any wine but good wine--wine that, in human terms, would have taken years to produce. And yet, in verses 7 and 8, He speaks two sentences and time becomes irrelevant:

Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”

Verse 11 says, "What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him."

Then in John 4:43-54, after Jesus returns to Cana, an official from Capernaum comes to Him. This official asks Jesus to come to Capernaum with him because his son is sick and dying. In verse 50, Jesus says: “Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.” The son is healed at the same moment that Jesus speaks those words. Space is not a barrier for Jesus--it too becomes irrelevant because He is the Infinite, living in the finite.

Recently I've been struck with the thought that what Jesus did, in performing miracles that transcend time and space, we too can do! Do you believe it? John 14:11-14 says:

"Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."

I have been spiritual advisor for several years now. In that time (There's that "time" word again), I have witnessed the power of prayer. PRAYER! It transcends time and space. For when we call on the Infinite God to intercede--to bring all kinds of healing--we are breaking through the space-time continuum because of the divine power available to us through Christ.

And I am reminded once again of the verses I prayed for all of you individually last month: "For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

So, even if you're not a sci-fi geek or nerd, know that you have the power to transcend time and space at your fingertips in the form of prayer. Yes, there are times we need to deal with issues of sin, whether physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual, but that does not mean that the great I AM that I AM is unable to answer our prayers. He seeks to reveal His glory on the earth. Prayer connects His Infinite glory with our finite lives. Rest in that fact today.

Ever seeking to live in kairos time,

Connie

November 8, 2018

Mid-Month Moments are past devotionals written by Connie Inglis that she shared each week when she was InScribe's spiritual advisor. (Originally called 'Mid-Week Moments') They are shared from her archives with permission in the middle of each month. 

June Mid-Month Moments by Connie inglis

 Mid-Month Moments

I am FULL of inspiration after returning from a trip, so please excuse me if I make references to the landscape or the art/architecture of Florence, Italy area or The Netherlands. I simply can't help myself!

Have you ever wanted to be a tronie? I'd never heard the word "tronie" (literally meaning "face" in Old Dutch) until visiting the Netherlands - a term specifically referenced in connection with art of the Dutch Golden Age. Wikipedia states that the term "tronie" is, "typically restricted to figures not intended to depict an identifiable person, so it is a form of genre painting in a portrait format. Typically a painted head or bust only, if concentrating on the facial expression, but often half-length when featured in an exotic costume, tronies might be based on studies from life or use the features of actual sitters."

I saw many tronies while visiting the museums in Amsterdam--by Rembrandt, Frans Hals, Lievens. Perhaps one of the most famous tronies is Johannes Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring (if you're interested in further study). Typically characteristic of a tronie is the anonymity of the subject. The piece of artwork showcases the ability of the artist to depict emotion or personality, while leaving the subject anonymous. The focus is on the artist's handiwork and ability to portray something deeper.

So, while walking the halls of the Rijksmuseum, I began pondering the spiritual application of tronies. Firstly, if a famous artist like Rembrandt painted me today, or if he painted you, what character trait would be revealed? Would it be a general emotion like surprise or laughter or puzzlement? Or would it reveal something deeper like joy or sorrow, peace or angst, inward beauty or bitterness? For me, I'd hope it would be a positive trait, not a negative one. Wouldn't we all?

That got me thinking about how the world sees us as believers as we touch lives every day. Do they see the character of Jesus in us? If they could paint us, what character trait would come through? Not only that, and more importantly, do they see the handiwork of God in our lives? So that we become anonymous "tronies", and God, the Creator of us as His handiwork, is exalted and glorified in us as His creation?

God's guiding Word offers us further insight (NIV):

John the Baptist's words in John 3:29,30 reveal his desire (his JOYFUL desire) to become an anonymous servant of Jesus: "The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. 30 He must become greater; I must become less.”

And the familiar verses of Eph. 2:8-10 reveal God's intent for our lives:

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s HANDIWORK [emphasis mine], created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

My prayer for us this week, is that Jesus becomes greater in our lives and that we humble ourselves and strive to reveal only Him in all we say and do. And, as well, that we become "tronies," revealing all and only God's beauty and wonder and glory. For He alone is worthy!

All for Him,

Connie

May 31, 2017

Mid-Month Moments are past devotionals written by Connie Inglis that she shared each week when she was InScribe's spiritual advisor. (Originally called 'Mid-Week Moments') They are shared from her archives with permission in the middle of each month. 

May - Mid-Month Moments by Connie Inglis

 May Mid-Month Moments

Do you remember this little jump-rope rhyme from when you were a child: "Liar, liar, pants on fire; nose is longer than a telephone wire"? I recently heard it in reference to a politician and I just thought, Whoa. However funny, those are strong words.

It seems that in our physical world, we can often sniff out the liars, although some are more blatant than others. We don't like liars and so when we sense someone is lying to us, we seek to know the truth--our moral compass desires truth. But what about in the spiritual realm? Are we aware of the lies Satan feeds our minds? In John 8:44 Jesus did not hesitate to call Satan who he really is: "A liar and the father of lies."

Here is one of his lies that I recently heard someone say: "If I try harder, God will love me more." Hit the buzzer. That's wrong. We all know it's wrong. Or do we? Satan can speak that lie in much more subtle ways: A good Christian would pray more; A good Christian would study God's Word more; A good Christian would be more involved at church; A good Christian would go knocking on the neighbour's door and share the Gospel.

Of course, none of those things are wrong UNLESS we're doing them for the wrong reasons--unless we think that God will love us more if we DO more. Hit the buzzer. Do we hear Satan's lie in that thought? We ought to. Those lies are subtly telling us that we need to change (we need to be "doing"), so that God will love us more.

Here is God's response to those lies: 1 John 4.

Verses 13-21 in The Message):

"This is how we know we’re living steadily and deeply in Him, and He in us: He’s given us life from His life, from his very own Spirit. Also, we’ve seen for ourselves and continue to state openly that the Father sent his Son as Savior of the world. Everyone who confesses that Jesus is God’s Son participates continuously in an intimate relationship with God. We know it so well, we’ve embraced it heart and soul, this love that comes from God.

17-18 God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we’re free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ’s. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love.

19 We, though, are going to love—love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first.

20-21 If anyone boasts, “I love God,” and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won’t love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can’t see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You’ve got to love both."

I think God gives us this chapter, along with many verses on His love for us, because He knew we would need to be reminded--reminded that God's love is already in us. It is NOT something we need to pursue. It is something we already have, and it is perfect. The change comes in us NOT in pursuit of God's love but BECAUSE of His love in us.

My prayer for us this week is that we will read 1 John 4, meditating on the constant, faithful, perfect love of God; And that we will ask His Spirit to show us where we are listening to the enemy's lies that speak against His Word; and that we would renounce those lies and rest in God's perfect love for us; and then go away rejoicing that we are LOVED BY GOD!

Loved by God,

Connie

November 16, 2016

Mid-Month Moments are past devotionals written by Connie Inglis that she shared each week when she was InScribe's spiritual advisor. (Originally called 'Mid-Week Moments') They are shared from her archives with permission in the middle of each month. 

April's Mid-Month Moments by Connie Inglis

 April - Mid-Month Moments

Do you remember playing "dress-up" as a child? I do. My sisters and I would try on our mother's clothes often - and that was at a time when stiletto shoes with pointed toes and fancy, felt hats were in style. We would traipse around the house in oversized dresses, trying not to fall off our shoes, all the while our hats slipping down over our eyes. Other times I remember sticking my small feet into my dad's shiny, black, "church" shoes and clunking about. Of course, the clothing was all too big for us but that didn't matter. We wanted to be like our parents--at least for a short while.

I read something recently in Brennan Manning's book, Ruthless Trust, that brought this "dress-up" memory to mind. In talking about completely trusting God, he wrote, "...we are made for that which is too big for us. We are made for God, and nothing less will ever satisfy us."

The "bigness" of God can, at times, overwhelm us. And it should. He is indefinable, ineffable, eternal, and mysterious. And yet, He chose to reveal Himself--to reveal His mystery--when He sent His Son, Jesus Christ into this world. Col. 1:27 says, "To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." God chose to tell us about Himself through Jesus.

He also chose to call us His children. John 1:12 says, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name."

So, as His children, shouldn't we strive to be like our Father? To walk around desiring to fit in His shoes, His clothes? To follow the pattern Jesus showed us? We know He is w-a-a-ay too big for us but why should that matter when we were made to dwell in His "bigness."

As believers, we talk about a hole in our hearts that only God can fill. And, according to Eccl. 3:11 (He has also set eternity in the human heart), that is true.

After pondering Manning's quote, I think that I need to look at things from a bigger perspective. So that it is not that I have a God-shaped space in my heart but rather, it is GOD that has a Connie-shaped space in His heart. A space designed exactly for me to curl up in--and rest in. I believe He has a space like that for each of us. A space created just for you! Because, in His "bigness," there is room for us all. And because, that's how much He loves us--enough to, firstly, create us unique and uniquely loved, and then, to give us a resting place in Himself, created uniquely for each of us.

Oh how He loves us! Oh how He wants us to trust in that Love completely--to be like children and put on His clothes. There are many verses in the Bible about "putting off" and "putting on."

Rom. 13:14 "Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh."

Eph.4:22-24 "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."

And Col. 3:1-15 has a long list of things we should take off and what we should put on.

Of course, we don't have to do this alone. Jesus modeled a way for us when He was here on earth. He lived a life of complete dependence on His Father. He spent time in prayer--and then He would do His Father's will. He trusted completely in His Father's "bigness."

My prayer for us this week is that we will bask in the wonder of being made for "that which is too big for us," and that we will take time to rest in the space He created for us in Himself--and from there we will put on the Lord Jesus Christ so that our "clothing" will reveal our Father, who loves us and whom we love. 

In the "bigness" of His glory,

Connie

May 3, 2018

Mid-Month Moments are past devotionals written by Connie Inglis that she shared each week when she was InScribe's spiritual advisor. (Originally called 'Mid-Week Moments') They are shared from her archives with permission in the middle of each month. 

March Mid-Month Moments by Connie Inglis

 March Mid-Month Moment 

This month's post from Connie's archives was written in March of 2018. I thought it appropriate for our Easter theme:

I am writing to you from the other side of the world - and that is why I'm actually posting earlier than usual.

I'm in Mae Sai--on the northern border between Thailand and a neighbouring country. As I write this, my Bible-translating husband is working through the book of Hebrews with three Shatikha speakers. And I am sitting here listening to them interact on Heb. 9:15. "For this reason, Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant."

For two days the team has mulled over the proper way to translate the word, "mediator" - a word not found in their language. They finally decided on a compound word meaning, "one who connects to make peace." What a profound translation.

Our world today seems to function in opposition to this. Peace seems unattainable. But when Jesus walked the earth, was it any different, from the Israelites' perspective? They were looking for a Messiah that would bring political peace and rest. But that wasn't Jesus' purpose. In John 16:33 Jesus says,  "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Jesus never said, "If you follow me, you will live without pain and sorrow and troubles." In fact, He said the opposite. He told us the world would always be filled with trouble. Which means in our individual lives, our heartache and struggle is NEVER surprising to God. BUT, in the same breath He says, "Take heart! I have overcome the world." He says, "Be encouraged! I am the One who connects you back to the Father to bring peace to your heart and mind and spirit." Our MEDIATOR! Our peace in the midst of trouble.

Finding peace in our Mediator,

Connie

March 6, 2018

Mid-Month Moments are past devotionals written by Connie Inglis that she shared each week when she was InScribe's spiritual advisor. (Originally called 'Mid-Week Moments') They are shared from her archives with permission in the middle of each month. 

February Mid-Month Moments by Connie Inglis

 February's Mid-Month Moment

Today I read something that brought back a memory of when I was 14 or 15. My parents bought a lot in our small prairie town, moved in an old house, basically gutted it (except for two joining rooms with a beautiful pristine wooden staircase in the center), and built a house from there for a family of eight. Most of the spring, summer, and fall for my older sister and I were spent bringing into fruition my dad's plan. (He had taken a blueprint course by correspondence just so he could draw up his own plans correctly--he was, and still is, amazing.) Pretty much every school day we'd drop off our books, walk to the new lot, and ask the same two questions, "What are you doing, Dad?" and "What do you want me/us to do?"

This memory came as a result of reading these words in Paul E. Miller's book, A Praying Life,: "When Jesus tells us to become like little children, he isn't telling us to do anything he isn't already doing. Jesus is, without question, the most dependent human being who ever lived. Because he can't do life on his own, he prays. And he prays. And he prays."

Here are the Scripture verses that corroborate Miller's thoughts:

John 5:19. " Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does."

John 8:28. "...I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me."

John 12:49. "For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken."

To the Western mindset, dependency goes against everything we believe in. Right from a young age, we are taught independence - to stop being children. To grow up! But that's not how Jesus lived. (Funny, even as I write this, I want to argue for independence.) Jesus gave up His heavenly home to take on our human form. He had to depend on His Father. Jesus knew humanity's independent spirit. That's why on more than one occasion He calls us to be like children. In Mark 10: 14,15 He says:

“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

Dependency. Jesus calls us to dependency. Jesus calls us to follow His example. He calls us to pray. And to pray. And to pray. He calls us to ask two questions of our heavenly Father, like a child:

1. What are you doing, Dad?

2. What do you want me to do?

Are you seeking to know what God wants for you? In prayer? Maybe, just maybe, He wants to teach you (and definitely me) to depend on Him more. To understand prayer more. From Jesus' example, I know He wants us to look around--to pay attention--to see what He is doing. And in that, He wants us to ask Him in complete dependency, "Okay, so in what You're doing, God, what do you want me to do? How do you want me to be involved? How can I help build Your house, LORD God?"

How good that sounds on paper - how difficult to bring to fruition on a daily basis.

My prayer for us this week is that we will learn dependency. That in some small way we will learn to run to God in prayer. And even if it is only in one small way, may we not be discouraged. God sees that one small way. And like the good Father that He is, He smiles back, delights in us and sings over us, His children. (Zeph. 3:17)

Learning to depend,

Connie

Feb 7, 2018

Mid-Month Moments are past devotionals written by Connie Inglis that she shared each week when she was InScribe's spiritual advisor. (Originally called 'Mid-Week Moments') They are shared from her archives, with permission, in the middle of each month. 

What's In Our Name? Mid-Month Moments by Connie Inglis

Mid-Month Moments are back for 2021!

What are Mid-Month Moments? Well, they are past devotionals written by Connie Inglis that she shared each week when she was InScribe's spiritual advisor. (Originally called 'Mid-Week Moments') As you can guess, over the years that she served in this capacity, quite a collection grew. Fortunately, a few of us who enjoyed her messages managed to save all or most and so we are reposting them here, with permission, in the middle of each month. Enjoy this post from 2018 which actually fits nicely with this month's theme.

Do you know what I like about InScribe Christian Writers Fellowship? Well, there are many things actually, but today I'm mentioning its name. Its name? Yes, its name - because I like the word, "Fellowship." We're not called an organization, or an association, or a guild, even though we are those things. No, we are a fellowship - a "koinonia" of believers who are writers.

This especially hit home to me this past week because last week, when I asked for prayer, the response from all of you was overwhelmingly encouraging. You all prayed - and I could feel your prayers.

That's koinonia, the Greek word meaning, "Christian fellowship or communion, with God or, more commonly, with fellow Christians." (English Oxford Dictionary)

The first use of the word koinonia is found in Acts 2:42 (NIV). "They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." And to prayer - that part of fellowship that should never be neglected or ignored.

Of course, this verse is referring to the New Testament church. And it is a reminder to us all of the importance of the local church and the fellowship that we need with other believers. We, as an organization, are not a single church. But, as individuals, we are an extension of the local church - fingers and hands with a unique calling and ministry to the writing community. 

At the closing of conference a couple of years ago, when I began praying a specific passage of Scripture for each InScribe member, a word picture came to mind. It was the picture of all the members at conference. Each person was like a little fire, a flame of passion for Jesus and for writing. Then, I saw each flame jumping, like fire does, from conference back to their homes to burn in their home area. After that, I not only spoke each of your names when I prayed, I also spoke your hometown - as a reminder to me of where you all are burning for Jesus.

My prayer for all of you this week is that you will burn bright for Jesus where you are. And that you will experience the koinonia, the fellowship, that we all need as believers. It truly is a gift from God - to be a part of Jesus' bride, His church. He knew we would need encouragement and help and spurring on. If you don't think so, do a study on the "one another" verses in the New Testament.

And thanks again for your prayers for me and my family. God is answering in His time - because He is a good God.

Humbled by His grace and mercy,

Connie

May 30, 2018

Signs of the Times - Mid-Month Moment - Connie Inglis

Mid-Month Moments with Connie Inglis

Signs are important.

My husband and I were driving in Calgary, and although we are familiar with the city, we had to rely heavily on signs, especially when connecting on and off the fast-moving thoroughfares. In the dark it's even more important, and then there are the ongoing construction issues. One evening we totally missed the correct ramp because of construction and because there were no signs at all. 

If you've ever travelled in a non-English speaking country, the signs mean nothing at all. You have to learn the language first before you can even begin to read the signs.

That got me thinking about signs for us in our walk with God, especially during this first week of advent with the focus on hope and the Old Testament prophets who penned verses as signs for the coming of the Messiah. I often find it strange that the religious leaders in the New Testament, who knew the Old Testament Scriptures, either misunderstood the signs OR they chose to ignore them. How could they have been so blind to not get what the Old Testament was saying- - the signs were all pointing to Jesus?

In John 2:18-20, Jesus has a dialogue with the Jewish leaders after he clears the temple. The Jews asked him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?”

These Jewish leaders really had no interest in revealing Jesus as the Son of God, but rather, they confronted Jesus to disprove Jesus as the Son of God. They had already made up their minds, even before they asked their questions. They totally missed the signs.

What about you and me? Do we miss God's signs in our lives? Are we so busy going down our own highway, not listening to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and then end up somewhere way off HIS path for us? And then find ourselves lost, wondering how we got there? Sometimes it's easy to miss the signs if we're not watching for them.

Well, how do we know God's signs? One way is to KNOW God's Word - like knowing the language that's written on the signs. He gave us the Bible as a sign. Psalm 119:105 says, "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path." God's Word is full of instruction on how to live - how to BE! So, if we are being the children of God that He wants us to be, as instructed in His Word, THEN we will be more attentive to His voice and the guidance of the Holy Spirit on the individual level. 

Romans 8:2-6 says: 

“…because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace."

God's Word and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It's a two-fold sign. We've got to be aware of and watch for them both.

My prayer for us this week is that we will proactively study and know God's Word. And may we go through our days sensitive to the Holy Spirit's guidance and direction. May we both know the signs and then watch for the signs.

Faithful together,

Connie

Dec 7, 2017

Defining Moments - A Mid-Month Moment with Connie Inglis

Today's Mid-Month Moment from the archives of Connie Inglis, our former Spiritual Advisor. 

The world's history is full of defining moments. November 11th is set aside specifically to remember those defining moments, that date being the day WW1 ended--but on that day we also remember all those who gave their lives in war for our freedom.

Our personal histories have defining moments as well. But how do we look at them? Do we look at them through eternal eyes? Through His Word?

God's Word is FULL of defining moments. If I asked for a response to some of the defining moments in His Word, what would you say? Eve eating from the fruit? Moses leading the people out of Egypt? Jesus' birth? His death?

God talks a lot about remembering in His Word. In fact, the NIV uses the word "remember" 264 times. That's enough for us to realize that remembering is important. God continually asks us to remember--remember His love and His great wonders (Psalm 136:2,3) ; remember you were once slaves but now you're free (1 Cor 7:22); remember His faithfulness (Heb 10:23). Then Jesus asks us to remember. At the last supper He says, "Do this in remembrance of Me."(Lk 22:19)

If we look at ourselves as "spiritual beings having a human experience" (Pierre Teilhard de Chardin), then it is important for us to focus on our life's defining moments in light of eternity. As in His Word, God calls us to remember and reflect; to ponder and then pronounce; to stand and then seize.

And let us not forget all the verses where God makes promises that He remembers. Here are a few: He remembers His covenant with Noah (Gen 9:15); He remembers His covenant with Abraham (Exod 2:24); He remembers His covenant with David when Jesus was born (Matt 1:1); He remembers that we are weak, mere dust (Psalm 103:14; 136:23).

God's Word is FULL of promises for you and me today that are sure and forever because He remembers His covenant to us through His Son Jesus. 2 Cor 1:20: For all of God's promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding "Yes!" And through Christ, our "Amen" (which means "Yes") ascends to God for his glory.

My prayer for us this week is that we not only remember our freedom as a country but that we remember our freedom as citizens of a higher kingdom--as members of God's family. (Eph 2:19)

In remembering,

Connie

November 9, 2016

Solas to Remember .... Mid Month Moment by Connie Inglis

Mid-Month Moments - from the archives of former spiritual advisor, Connie Inglis.

The older I get and the more I interact with other believers, the more I've come to realize that I'm one of the fortunate ones. No, I'm not talking about being a writer (though that IS a goldmine of joy!), but about being a believer who has a Christian heritage - a faith shared with me through my parents, my grandparents, my great-grandparents... Growing up with that kind of heritage is a wonderful gift from God.

More than 500 years ago, Martin Luther nailed his "95 Theses" to the Wittenburg door, and thus began the Reformation. Even though this is history, it still affects our lives today.

Today I want to share with you Five Solas that came out of the Reformation - Five Latin phrases that we now know to be true, but back in Luther's day they were considered heretical. As you read these, think about how these five truths play out in your writing, your speaking, and your relationships, whether it's with other believers or with the world:

Sola Scriptura--by Scripture Alone. 2 Tim. 3:16,17. "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

Sola Christus--in Christ Alone. Acts 4:10-12. " then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. ¹¹ Jesus is 'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ ¹² Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

Sola Gratia--by Grace Alone. Eph. 2:4,5. "But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved."

Sola Fide--through Faith Alone. Rom. 3:25,26. "God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of His blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— ²⁶ He did it to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus."

Sola Deo Gloria--Glory to God Alone. 1 Peter 4:11. "Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."

My prayer for us this week is that we take time to be thankful - thankful for how God has moved down through history, for how God moves in our lives and in the lives of our families right now, and for how God still moves and continues to move in this world. And may we give Him ALL the glory due His name for who He is and for what He has done IN CHRIST ALONE.

In celebration,

Connie

Oct 31, 2017

God's Chiaroscuro - Mid-Month Moment from Connie Inglis

Another lovely post from the archives of Inscribe's former Spiritual Advisor, Connie Inglis. Enjoy!

So many changes come with the seasons - each one containing a beauty all its own. One thing that changes that rarely is mentioned is the shifting of the shadows. Yes, we talk about it from an hourly perspective, but not so much from a seasonal perspective. In the summer, the noonday sun is on top of us, making us unaware of our shadow. But, come fall, as the sun begins to sit lower on the horizon, the shadows lengthen and linger all day.

Have you ever stood in the middle of a sports field at night when the floodlights are on? The shadows completely surround you and the degree of light and darkness comes and goes depending on where you are on the field. You can't get away from them. It's kind of cool - but also kind of freaky!

The Bible talks about shadows too. Psalm 144:4 says, "Man is like a mere breath; his days are like a passing shadow." That doesn't sound very hopeful. But then the contrast is found in Jesus. Matt. 4:16 says, "the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned."

Recently I read something in Oswald Chambers's devotional, My Utmost for His Highest that speaks to this: "He [Jesus] came to save men...The Atonement means that God can put me back into perfect union with Himself, without a shadow between, through the death of Jesus Christ."

Atonement erases the shadow between us and God. Because of the cross, God looks at me, His child, and sees no shadow. And yet, the shadow still lingers behind me, the natural man. Someday, in His presence, there will be NO shadow. Rev. 22:5 says, "There will be no more night in the city, and they will have no need for the light of a lamp or of the sun. For the Lord God will shine on them, and they will reign forever and ever." In heaven, His light will surround us--under, over, behind, before - encircling us, preventing even the thought of a shadow. Can you imagine what that will be like? I try but, to be honest, my human brain can't fully comprehend it.

For now, we must remember, that even though we live in a "chiaroscuro" world of darkness and light, God does not. He cannot because He is holy and pure. Nothing is hidden from Him. EVER!

My prayer for us this week is that we live with that knowledge in mind - that God knows everything about us - but also, may we live knowing that even though we cannot completely escape the shadow of this world now, someday we will live completely freed from any shadow. In heaven there will be not one little iota of darkness. May we live our lives with that hope, always seeking to walk in His light. For He alone is worthy!

In the light of His grace,

Connie

October 11, 2018