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faith

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this morning, i tried to sneak away for a few quiet moments to work on my Bible study.  only seconds after i got settled, my sweet niece finds me and inquired about what i was doing.  i told her i was going to do my Bible study.  she then asked, “what does that mean?”  i explained to her that i was going to spend time in my Bible with Jesus to hear Him speak to me.  wow, such a sunday school answer.  i wish i would have explained more about how digging into God’s Word helps me know His character and more about Him.  through knowing Him more, i can follow Him better and hear Him when He wants to tell me something.  but, i didn’t say all that.  i gave a quick answer, so i could get on with “more important” things.  little did i know, my words would be a lesson to me.

the first thing i read in my beth moore james study was james 4:6a, “He gives greater grace.”  i was sitting quietly trying to soak it in and allow it to penetrate my hard head and heart.  what a marvelous, unfathomable truth.  the text went on to share that “He is enough.”  i read that statement twice and then the door opened.  that precious blonde walked over and stared at me with those big, round blue eyes.  “well, what did He say?” she asked believing that if He was supposed to speak, He would.  i shared with her about His greater grace and what that meant.  my study even asked me to say it aloud.   so i did so with her standing right there.  “He gives greater grace.”

she wandered back into the other room to resume her computer game, while i continued on with my study.  i was nearing the end when i was supposed to read through the following list of truths.

– “God knows everything about you and everything concerning you.  nothing is hidden from His sight.  so submit to God.”
– “He is always looking out for your ultimate good and takes our hurts personally. so submit to God.”
– “He is Holy and worthy and incapable of abusing His divine authority over you.  so submit to God.”
– “He knows when your motive was right but your mouth messed up.  so submit to God.”
– “He knows exactly how to work terrible into good. so submit to God.”
– “He loves you completely and unconditionally and will never let you go. so submit to God.”
– He knows the well-deliberated plan for your life and how all things must fall into place for you to fulfill your destiny.  so submit to God.”
– “He will never put to shame those who trust in Him. so submit to God.”

as i was reflecting on these powerful statements and which of them spoke to me the most, the door quietly opened again.  “what did He say now, dandi?”  only moments before i had told her that God speaks through His Word and now she was confident that He would.  she was so convinced that she came and asked me not once, but twice what He was saying to me.   after i shared a truth or two that i loved with her, she smiled and said, “i like that.”

she had briefly heard of His character and that He speaks through His Word.  so, she expected Him to speak.  i know and have intimately experienced His character, yet so many times i am not willing, ready, or believing He has anything to say to me.  well, He did today.  through His Word, my Bible study, and the faith of a child He spoke loud and clear.  may i always be positioned with a believing heart to receive what He has to say.

** excerpts are from beth moore’s james Bible study, “mercy triumphs.” published by lifeway.

the last few months have been filled with tremors of transition, impending change, and absolute uncertainty.  (absolute uncertainty, that’s like an oxymoron isn’t it?) i am in awe as i recount daily how my God has been faithful each and every step, but i would be lying if i didn’t confess that my flesh cries out (also daily), “it is just easier to stay.”

why wouldn’t it be easier?  i have been planted in a great town for 20 years, served in a church i love for 15 years, and have a far  greater group of friends and godly influences than i deserve.   yep, i am comfortable here.  i know this place.  although this season in life has been far from perfect, it has become familiar.  no wonder my flesh begs me to stay where i am all too often complacent.  my worldly self is so tempted to settle, but my Spirit is eager to soar.

on the morning of my last Sunday at belle aire, God was perfectly personal to send me a devotional through email that was of great comfort and timely encouragement. (read that devotional here.)  it is through the imperfect, yet faithful life of abraham i am reminded that sometimes we have to leave to receive.

with each day’s goodbyes i learn that leaving is simply letting go. it means that with each step forward the ground that once felt secure and certain gives way to uncharted territory and adventure only the Author of Life could write. leaving means not knowing what all the future holds, but trusting the One who holds it in His hands.

surely i can’t be alone in facing the fight of wanting to stay or leave.  for me, leaving is literally packing boxes and memories from such a precious season in life and moving to a new town, a new church, and new friends.  what about you, what is God asking you to leave?

  • is it a habit that crept in slowly, but has you quickly moving further from Him?
  • is is a sin that seems small and insignificant?  maybe it is something no one notices but you and God, but you sense you need to agree about the stronghold and release it to Him?
  • maybe it is an attitude, an action, desire that you are holding on to more tightly than His hand and He is urging you to lay it down?
  • or maybe you are like me. He has clearly spoken to you through His Word to go and your act of obedience is to just take the next step.

lately my mind is flooded with the visual of open palms ready to release the past and receive the future God has planned.  just think about all that abraham would have missed if He would have settled for staying.  sure, it may be easier to stay, but how will i ever truly walk in faith if i waiver in indecision?  God said go. so with trembling steps, an expectant outlook, a heart filled with bittersweet goodbyes, and eyes fixed on Him i step forward.  oh, how i find comfort in knowing the One who walks on water will walk faithfully with me during this new season.

dear belle aire family,

it is with great peace but a heavy heart that i write to share with you my resignation as the minister of children at belle aire baptist church.  through scripture, circumstances, and much prayer, i am accepting the call to be the minister of children at dawson memorial baptist church in birmingham, alabama.

i want to make it clear that i was not looking to leave belle aire, and i am confident that God is calling me to this new position.  i cannot stress enough what a tough decision this has been for me.  belle aire is my home church.  it is the place where i “grew up” spiritually, and the church body that took a chance on me in ministry.  belle aire is more than my place of employment or my church–belle aire is my family!

parents, please help your children understand that i couldn’t love them more and it breaks my heart to go.  this is a choice to obey God.  although this will be a challenging time for all involved, it is also an opportunity to teach children how God leads us in our life’s journey.
i have sought God’s direction and confirmation in scripture and have received great peace in the midst of this hard decision.  while this move and transition will be difficult, i am excited about the next season God has for me in ministry.  God has laid out a plan for me and i am seeking to follow His will for my life.

my last sunday at belle aire will be may 20th.  please know that every effort has been made to help the children’s ministry run smoothly this summer (i.e. vbs, camps, sundays and wednesdays).  kelly jackson, preschool minister, will be overseeing these areas and she will need your enthusiastic support.

it has been a privilege and honor to serve under the most humble and God-fearing man i know, dean sisk.  his leadership and passion for Christ is a blessing to this church and has made a lasting impact on me throughout my spiritual journey!

what a joy it has been to serve alongside you the last 15 years.  my heart treasures each memory and moment we sought the Savior together.  thank you!

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us; to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!  Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21

in faith,
danielle bell

today i witnessed a miracle. this life-altering event has parallels to my own life, but seeing it with my own eyes today simply floored me. i was sitting in the courtroom anxiously waiting my friend’s, wayne and stephanie, turn to legally adopt two boys that they have had as foster children for over a year. the older of the two, jayden, sat by me in his new white shirt and tie. he was sitting as still as any young, energetic boy could. i was also having a tough time being as still and quiet as the courtroom demanded, but we were both pretty successful. after the official court proceedings began with another family, jayden’s eyes began to wander about the room. that is when he saw it.

jayden and xavier's case file

the lady beside him, a case worker, was holding in her lap a large stack of binders filled to the brim with papers. on the spine of one notebook it read jayden v. jayden kept turning his head and looking at it and then he said, in not so much a whisper, “that’s my name!” the case worker quietly whispered, “yes, this is your file.” then it hit me like a ton of bricks.

while this was a physical adoption, i couldn’t help but think of my spiritual one. as i looked at those thick notebooks, i could only think of my case file. oh how it must be filled and marked with good intentions, works, impure thoughts, darkness of the heart, shame, religion, guilt, and tons of sin. there is no way i could ever defend my record. i could not be “good enough”, go to church enough, or wish it away. my case file in the best condition equaled filthy rags. i would most assuredly be found guilty.

then my friends stood and went before the judge to officially say that they would assume all responsibility for these boys. the case file size didn’t seem to matter to them. they loved these boys as unconditionally as humanly possible. they would do what the boys couldn’t do for themselves and that was to welcome them into their family and clear the record of all that was listed in the case files.

oh what a picture! i, too, am a recipient of such grace. my sins are countless and i am in need of a Savior who will do for me what i cannot do for myself. and He did! Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” i have been adopted into the family of the King of Kings. He also sweetly reminded me again this morning to “fear not” for He has redeemed me. He has also “called me by name” i am HIS! i don’t deserve such a gift, but His mercy is endless and His love is perfection.

this Christmas as i celebrate the birth of the Savior, Jesus Christ, i see Him with fresh eyes as my Father. my case file has been canceled by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. my soul has found mercy and my heart wrapped in grace. i am indeed a part of His forever family. may i live out each day forever grateful for His glory. my life in Him is a miracle indeed.

the burns family of five with the judge

Ephesians 1:4-6 “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love hepredestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. ”

thank you wayne and stephanie for your humble example of loving til it hurts, daily sacrifice, and the heart of the Father. you two were “Jesus with skin” to me today. a gift these weary eyes welcomed!

i am in awe of fall.   i so appreciate the scenery God paints with each change of weather, but i have fallen in love with fall.  the glorious leaves of this season magnificently whisper to my soul that He can and does make all things beautiful in His time.  just as the leaves, i  must be willing to die.

only an awesome and intimately involved Creator could make the act of death so magnificent!  leaves, at the end their life, display beauty with such splendor that i can’t help but seek God.

so, as i daily drive past trees boldly portraying beauty in death, i ponder this question… have i settled for a life of muted tones that infrequently give Him glory, or am i daily dying to self to allow His radiance to course incomparable color through me?  no dream, idea, habit, or sin i hang on to is worth missing out on the opportunity to be a beautiful reflection of my Savior, Jesus Christ.  for me, it is a season to get busy denying and dying.

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.” Matthew 16:24-25

just one of the incredible fall trees i passed today.
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