A Call and a Promise 1

""O Sovereign Lord," I said, 

"I can't speak for You! I'm too young!" 

The Lord replied, "Don't say, 'I'm too young,' 

for you must go wherever I send you 

and say whatever I tell you. 

And don't be afraid of the people, 

for I will be with you and protect you. 

I, the Lord, have spoken!" 

Then the Lord reached out 

and touched my mouth and said, 

"Look, I have put My words in your mouth!"" (Jeremiah 1:6-9)

Dear Mrs. Kurtz,
I found a video talking about this! I love love love this verse! I will GO wherever He sends me and SAY whatever He tells me. It doesn't have to be scary because God will give me the strength--He will put the words in my mouth!


Dear Friend,

Yes! Whenever there is a Call, there is always a Promise. God doesn't expect us to great things for Him. He wants to do great things through us. When we say "Yes" to God, we find great freedom; we don't have to measure up, we don't have to be good enough, we don't have to make a checklist and accomplish it. We simply say, "Yes".

What are the Promises that accompany the Calls? Let's look at some, shall we?

"Jesus came and told His disciples, 'I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age'." (Matthew 28:18-20)

"If you love Me, obey My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it isn't looking for Him and doesn't recognize Him. But you know Him, because He lives with you now and later will be in you. No, I will not abandon you as orphans--I will come to you." (John 14:15-18)

God's promise to be with His people is a common thread throughout Scripture. He never asks us to go alone. He will be with us. Even if our way is through times of trouble or sorrow, He will be with us. Is there any greater comfort? We will never be alone!

Sometimes people resist saying "yes" to God because they feel that surrendering to Him is an end, but really it is just the beginning. When we say, "yes" to God, we begin a journey, not alone, but with the best Guide, Counselor, Comforter, Helper, Teacher. We do not lose; we win!

• When we offer ourselves to the Lord, we give Him an unqualified "YES". Why is it important that we are fully YES (Why can't we be, "Yes, except for...")?

• What makes this such a difficult step for us?

Heavenly Father, We hear Your call, and we say, "YES"! We don't know what lies ahead, but You have promised to be with us; we need no other. Will You fill us, use us, and transform us?

Eighteen Prayers of Blessing

Dear Friend,

Please let me share eighteen prayers of blessing with you today!

1 "May the LORD bless you and protect you. May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you. May the LORD show you His favor and give you His peace." (Numbers 6:24-26)

2 "May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. "So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News. God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:3-11)

3 "I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ's return. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation--the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ--for this will bring much glory and praise to God." (Philippians 1:3-11)

4 "May God give you grace and peace." (1 Thessalonians 1:1)


5 Make them holy by Your truth; teach them Your word, which is truth. (John 17:17)

6 "Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope, comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say." (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17)

7"So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of His call. May He give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do." (2 Thessalonians 1:11)

8 "Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God's people everywhere, I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope He has given to those He has called--His holy people who are His rich and glorious inheritance.  (Ephesians 1:15-23)

9 "How we thank God for you! Because of you we have great joy as we enter God's presence. Night and day we pray earnestly for you, asking God to let us see you again to fill the gaps in your faith. May God our Father and our Lord Jesus bring us to you very soon. And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. May He, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all His holy people. Amen." (1 Thessalonians 3:9-13)

10 "I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God's power for us who believe Him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated Him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms. Now He is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else--not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made Him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is His body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with Himself." (Ephesians 1:15-23)

11 'Holy Father, You have given Me Your name; now protect them by the power of Your name so that they will be united just as we are. (John 17:11)

12 "May God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. Jesus gave His life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live. All glory to God forever and ever! Amen." (Galatians 1:3-4)

13 "I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit. Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong." (Ephesians 3:16-17)

14 "So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of His will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you will will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. (Colossians 1:9-14)

15 "We also pray that you will be strengthened with all His glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to His people, who live in the light. For He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of His dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins." (Colossians 1:9-14)

16 "Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you His peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all." (2 Thessalonians 3:16)

17 "May the LORD richly bless both you and your children. May you be blessed by the LORD, who made heaven and earth." (Psalm 115:14-15)

18 "And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully." (Ephesians 3:18-19)

Was it the Right Decision

Dear Mrs. Kurtz

How do I know that I made the right decision?

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart;

do not depend on your own understanding.

Seek His will in all you do,

and He will show you which path to take." 

(Proverbs 3:5-6)

Dear Friend,

Often we face difficult decisions, and when we've made them, we wonder, "Did I make the right decision?". It sometimes even consumes us with worry, doubt, and regret. We try to imagine what would have been the outcome of another decision.

I've long loved and mulled over this quote from Prince Caspian (C.S. Lewis):


"But what would have been the good?"
Aslan said nothing.
"You mean," said Lucy rather faintly, "that it would have turned out all right--somehow? But how? Please, Aslan! Am I not to know?"
"To know what would have happened, child?" said Aslan. "No. Nobody is ever told that."
"Oh dear," said Lucy.
"But anyone can find out what will happen," said Aslan. "If you go back to the others now, and wake them up; and tell them you have seen me again; and that you must all get up at once and follow me--what will happen? There is only one way of finding out."


We can't peer into the past and foresee the different trajectories of different decisions. But we can find out about the future. And we are blessed by this.

We do not have to live in the past, 

or live with regrets forever.

 We can find out what will happen 

by the decisions 

that we make today.

Relationships, when they end or transform, are sometimes filled with great sorrow. There is a grieving process, and we can't circumvent it. It is a separation. When a parent sends a son/daughter off to school, there is grief. It's a happy occasion, but it brings loss. When friends, or boyfriends/girlfriends part ways, this too causes sorrow. There is a void left, whether the parting was peaceful or storm-tossed. When spouses divorce, when extended families quarrel and distance themselves from each other, when coworkers disagree and cease to cooperate...

So, I can't answer your question simply, was it the right decision? But, I can help you see paths for now.

• If you are grieving the loss of the relationship and want it back, you can seek to restore it. Some of the most beautiful words in our language are "I was wrong" and "I am sorry". 

• If you are grieving the loss of the relationship but feel it was the right thing, you need to give yourself permission to grieve and time to heal. You do not simply put it in the past. 

<On a side note, because that is where my mind tangented: often you'll hear the expression "rebound" applied to relationships--someone has a separation from a boyfriend/girlfriend and immediately launches into a new relationship, and often fully and passionately. Rather than identifying the grief and taking time to heal, the person pours all of the emotion from the prior relationship into a new one, and this often causes more troubles in the end.>

As we have discussed, you are transitioning into adulthood, preparing to begin a new life in a new state. The growth process is difficult and painful, filled with changes and challenges, and decisions (of course). Growth is often a struggle. Imagine a baby bird breaking through its shell, or a seed germinating and pushing the first shoot of green up through the (sometimes frozen) earth, or a butterfly rupturing the cocoon.

Though you are in the midst of turbulent times, there is One who will be unchanging, loving, and always with you. Through the sacrifice of Jesus we have peace with God. We have new life. We have a relationship with One who will always satisfy, always love, always guide. Through the ministry of the Spirit we have joy and peace. We have words of guidance and wisdom. Through the goodness of the Father we have abundant life. We have an inheritance. We have strength for today and tomorrow, and all the tomorrows.

Why not embrace this adventure? 

Call on Him, 

leap into Him with all your trust, 

and watch Him work "the wonders of His love" in your life. Now is the perfect time. 

"Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares for you." 

(1 Peter 5:7)

"And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts." (Colossians 3:15)

Heavenly Father, we thank You because You are good. You are loving and merciful, and You bring us comfort and peace, even though we face difficulties unnumbered and sorrows unfathomable. Will You help my friend to find healing, comfort, wisdom and peace in You? Will You speak to her? In You we have everything we need. Thank you.

This song, titled "Carry You" always ministers to my heart in times of worry, sorrow, grief, or regret. 

A Wrestling Match with Faith

Dear Friend,

We've discussed many times the definition of "faith". Some people have a vague "faith," an otherworldly belief that somehow things will work out. They may even connect "God" to the word "faith". But, they have an impersonal belief in Him, and neither acknowledge His Lordship, nor their need for His saving grace. Or perhaps, they admit that they need a Savior, and even say that they have claimed Jesus as their Savior, but they neglect to enter into a relationship. God remains an invisible but benevolent servant who blesses and heals.

Other people wrestle with their faith. It doesn't come easily, and they find themselves unsettled, and often frustrated--they have come to understand that FAITH is a complete, life-changing, surrender into God and His ways. They know the cost, they know the benefits, and they weigh them carefully.

Which of these two do you think 

pleases the Father more? 

Which gives Him more honor?

As you wrestle with this faith, I am praying you through.

And I will stand beside you and testify to God's goodness, mercy, strength, peace, and healing.

He loves you, my feisty and frustrated friend!

Sometimes it seems that all of life crashes down around you: relationships, stability, health, control, the future,...you get the picture.

Some people will decide that they have an excuse not to think about or consider God. Others will wrestle with their faith, even through the darkest times.

This faith, this faith is what honors the Father.

(Matthew 7:7-8) "Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds.  And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened."

(Jeremiah 29:13) "If you look for Me wholeheartedly, you will find Me."

Both of these passages are often memorized and quoted, and often used to serve our selfish purposes. But, I believe that these passages, taken in their context, are talking about FAITH. This isn't about solving problems, obtaining what we desire, finding healing, etc. They speak to the core of our identity--our faith.

Seekers will find, if they are truly seeking. 

This isn't a half-hearted, weekend quest.

Ask.

Seek.

Knock.

"The LORD is close to all who call on Him, yes, to all who call on Him in truth." (Psalm 145:18)


I want to share with you a beloved hymn of our faith, and the story behind it. The hymn, "It Is Well With My Soul" was written amidst the most tragic circumstances. Here is faith.

I can't help but share another song. The first time I heard this song I was driving. I can remember being overwhelmed to the point that I almost had to pull over.

"What if Your blessings come through raindrops? What if Your healing comes through tears? What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near? What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise?"

Heavenly Father, we approach You today in humility and awe. We have nothing, we are nothing, we can control nothing. You have. You are. You can. How we need You!

The Big Questions of Life - Proverbs 3

Hey, Mrs. Kurtz. This is a weird, vague question with no context, but what can I do to be better and have a good life when I am older and stay happy?

Dear Friend,

Before we study the third chapter of Proverbs in segments, would you take a moment to read the chapter in its entirety? As you read, can you capture the tone? I hear a parent lovingly giving to his child the best counsel he can. I can sense the urgency and passion in his voice; he isn't sermonizing or lecturing; he is sharing what he believes and what he has learned.

And this is what God has chosen to set before us, 

not sternness and rules, 

but loving patterns of truth. 

There is a right way.

Often when I sit to write these blogs, I feel the same way. With great urgency and love I want to present to you as much truth as I can in as straightforward a way as I can. Sometimes I labor long over the words, straining to communicate the truths contained in God's Word clearly and personally. I want to give you every opportunity to understand and apply God's Word, and to prepare you for all the days ahead. My heart, mind, and body all feel the burden and desire to "light the way". I can't go with you into every day of your life, but I can share truth with you and thus prepare you to know, and from the knowledge, to do...or not do.

So, would you pause here and go read the chapter? Here is a link to Proverbs 3.

Heavenly Father, we thank You. You are loving. You are good. You are a faithful Father. We have nothing to fear from you, nothing to lose, and everything to gain. Will You guide us as we study Your Word? There is much that we would know, understand and absorb into our lives.

My child, never forget the things I have taught you.

Store my commands in your heart.

If you do this, you will live many years,

and your life will be satisfying.

We begin Proverbs 3 with a charge: "never forget". Tied to it is the call to "store my commands in your heart". This reminds me of the language we saw in Psalm 119, language indicating a deep commitment to and love for God's commands. Here is one verse in particular, but it has been woven throughout the stanzas we've read:

"I have hidden Your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against You". (Psalm 119:11)

Also, let's remember that we talked about the commandment with a promise--do you see a connection to it here?

• From an earthly/human standpoint, why might having wisdom lead to a long and satisfying life?
• From a spiritual standpoint, why might having wisdom lead to a long and satisfying life?
• What is the opposite of each?
• Why do you think it's so hard to accept this counsel?

Never let loyalty and kindness leave you!

Tie them around your neck as a reminder.

Write them deep within your heart.

Then you will find favor with both God and people,

and you will earn a good reputation.

Here we are called to exercise our wisdom with God-honoring actions and attitudes. Our inward absorption of God's Word should bear external fruit: in wisdom we love and serve others. 

What do the words "loyalty" and "kindness" mean to you? Are these always easy to exercise? Depending on the Bible version, these words are translated in a variety of ways, but all with the same idea. Here is a link to Bible Hub that gives the definitions of the words as used in the Hebrew text (scroll way down).

I'm linking below some Scriptures that are directly related to these verses. Have fun digging in! And remember that though I am giving you a few verses, there is a larger context to consider.

The parable of the Good Samaritan: Luke 10:25-37
Living as a believer in the world: Romans 13:8-10, Galatians 5:13-15, James 2:8

• What are the effects of our actions of loyalty and kindness? Are they significant?
• Let's extrapolate the effect of a contrary path: what are the effects of neglecting them?
• Now, let's make sure that we are clear: loyalty and kindness cannot be separated from the study of and love for God's Word; it's not enough to "be a good person" (we have a lot of that in our culture). Without the Lord, they are empty. Why?

Trust in the LORD with all your heart;

do not depend on your own understanding.

Seek His will in all you do,

and He will show you which path to take.

This is a passage that many people (myself included) memorize as a young person. Here we come across an essential truth and powerful reminder: our first and highest calling is our relationship with our Lord. Wisdom, without the relationship, is just pithy sayings for social media posts. Loyalty and kindness, without the relationship, are just ways to make ourselves look good and feel better, or even worse, they are a lever that we use to manipulate others.

"with all your heart" 
Implied is a deep and lasting relationship with God, and a trust that goes beyond simply sharing secrets or having sleepovers. We dwell in and with God; we trust Him with who we are, what we become, and how we live. 

"And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice--the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship Him. Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." (Romans 12:1-2)

Don't be impressed with your own wisdom.

Instead, fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

Then you will have healing for your body

and strength for your bones.

Here again is our theme of wisdom, this time presented as two opposing ideas:

*Self/Human wisdom that builds up self-satisfaction

*Godly wisdom that results in fear of the LORD and of turning from evil

As we choose God's Word and God's Way, we will have God's Wisdom, and it will impact everything in our life.

<Side note: what we are reading in the Proverbs really reminds me a lot of what James has to say. It may be a good idea to spend some time there, too.>

Honor the LORD with your wealth

and with the best parts of everything you produce.

Then He will fill your barns with grain,

and your vats will overflow with good wine.

It may seem like the author has taken an abrupt detour from his original text, but I don't think so. Rather, he offers a tangible example of two kinds of wisdom. Human wisdom asks, who gives to God their wealth and the best that they have to offer? Who receives by giving?

Yet, Biblical wisdom says, when we honor God by putting Him first, He will respond with blessing.

It is a solid principle, and in our lives, it is a step of obedience and faith.

We trust God with EVERYTHING. 

We honor Him FIRST 

and with the BEST that we have. 

He is God, and He is worthy of our all.

My child, don't reject the LORD's discipline,

and don't be upset when He corrects you.

For the LORD corrects those He loves,

just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.

Oh, no! Did the author have to put this section in here? 
Sonship implies a relationship, and sonship implies inheritance/blessing. Sonship also implies that we come under the Father's authority. We don't have all the answers. We don't always do the right thing. Our Father lovingly disciplines us, not to humiliate or discourage us, but to get us back on the right path, the path of life and truth.

I always love when I encounter Scriptures like the one above: "just as a father corrects a child in whom he DELIGHTS"--Wow! That is how God sees us--He delights in us!

Joyful is the person who finds wisdom,

the one who gains understanding.

For wisdom is more profitable than silver,

and her wages are better than gold.

Wisdom is more precious than rubies;

nothing you desire can compare with her.

She offers you long life in her right hand,

and riches and honor in her left.

She will guide you down delightful paths;

all her ways are satisfying.

Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her;

happy are those who hold her tightly.

This segment offers to us comparisons for the value of wisdom, and descriptions of the results of wisdom.

• To what is wisdom compared?
• What are the profits of wisdom?

By wisdom the LORD founded the earth;

by understanding He created the heavens.

By His knowledge the deep fountains of the earth burst forth,

and the dew settles beneath the night sky.

One of my secret delights is seeing the order and logic in nature; everything around us is skillfully and artistically created! What we see and what we learn are not random accidents or mutations; rather all of creation testifies to the Creator. He, in His wisdom, established the earth and everything in it.

My child, don't lose sight of common sense and discernment.

Hang on to them,

for they will refresh your soul.

They are like jewels on a necklace.

They keep you safe on your way,

and your feet will not stumble.

You can go to bed without fear;

you will lie down and sleep soundly.

You need not be afraid of sudden disaster

or the destruction that comes upon the wicked,

for the LORD is your security.

He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.

Now it is your turn to apply this passage:

• We can lose common sense and discernment. How would that happen?
• How is wisdom refreshing to the soul?
• In what way is wisdom like jewels on a necklace?
• What protections does wisdom offer? How can that be?

Do not withhold good from those who deserve it

when it's in your power to help them.

If you can help your neighbor now, don't say,

"Come back tomorrow, and then I'll help you."

I'm going to dangle this carrot for you: compare the above passage with James 2: 14-17.

• Why?
• What other Scriptures tie to this?

Don't plot harm against your neighbor,

for those who live nearby trust you.

Don't pick a fight without reason,

when no one has done you harm.

This sounds like pretty solid wisdom, doesn't it?

• Why?
• Who would do this?
• Why would they do it?
• In what ways can we apply the underlying principle in our lives? Does it have to be a confrontation with a neighbor?

Don't envy violent people

or copy their ways.

Such wicked people are detestable to the LORD,

but He offers His friendship to the godly.

Oh, wow! God offers FRIENDSHIP! What an act of love, of trust, of honor! And He offers it to the godly. Though we may think that there are people who have things we want, we have more. If we follow God, we have His friendship. And if we have His friendship, we have everything.

The LORD curses the house of the wicked,

but He blesses the home of the upright.

The LORD mocks the mockers

but is gracious to the humble.

The wise inherit honor,

but fools are put to shame! (Proverbs 3)

We end with three statements with contrasts (note the word "but" in each).

In summary, we have two choices. Those choices have two outcomes. Wisdom brings blessing. Foolishness brings cursing.

• Where do you want to be?

Like the parent writing to a child in this proverb, I too long to make sure that you know truth from error and right from wrong. I know that I cannot believe for you, nor make your faith come easily. Truthfully, that is not what I would want. Faith, by very definition, requires faith. Faith implies struggle. You have to wrestle with your belief. You have to make it your own.

But, like the parent, I will communicate the truth clearly. I will pray for you faithfully. I will rejoice when you rejoice, and I will mourn when you mourn. And, like a parent, I will be here, loving, believing, cheering, encouraging, and comforting.

Heavenly Father, again we come to You with thanksgiving in our hearts and on our tongues. You love us--we cannot even grasp the depth of that statement! Will You guide us, draw us nearer to You, make Yourself known to us, and use us to draw others to Yourself?