Kristi Woods

You Are Accepted

April 16, 2019 by Kristi 6 Comments

This week’s post is short and sweet. It’s truth? You are accepted.

You Are Accepted in Black with yellow daffodil behind

Bear hug it, friends. Keep God’s truth close. Because there will be times when we’re in a group of folks or relocated to a new area, and we find ourselves feeling unaccepted.

And then we have to figure out what do do with those feelings.

Or, we’ll receive that rejection notice, leaving our work and time unaccepted. And we might be tempted to shrivel in fear or think no one likes our work.

It might be an invitation turned down, a request to be forgiven, or something else. Circumstances change, but truth remains.

The words of romans 15:7 in black with a yellow daffodil behind

Even when we don’t feel accepted, Christ already has called us to Him. How about we live like we’re accepted. Truth assures we are.

Believe Starts Tuesday–Don’t Miss It!

Starting Tuesday, April 23rd is Believe, our 4 week Bible study centered on faith. It’s short and sweet but packs a punch and is the perfect follow-up to Easter.

Looking to deepen your faith?

Long to draw closer to Jesus for the journey ahead?

Hold a desire to dig into the Bible and surround yourself with its truth in order to walk steadily through life?

Believe Bible study:
More info HERE.

New Christian and you’d like to grow in maturity?

Bored or lonely and would love to gather with other Christians?

Short on time but hold a desire to study God’s Word?

If you answered “yes” to any of the above, then this study is for you. Join us. It’s free. There’s no sign-up–except to join us via Zoom video conference. Don’t forget to check out the link above for more info. on the study.

The packet, which we’ll use during the video conference, is free for now but probably not forever. So make certain to download your copy today. 😉

Download the FREE Believe outline/study packet here in the Subscriber Library.

Not a subscriber? It’s easy to become one by signing up here!

Happy Easter, friends!

May the risen Savior be yours, and may the hope of His resurrection color your world vividly for the remainder of this year and beyond.

We love you, Jesus! Praise Your holy name.

Why Is Forgiveness So Hard to Offer?

April 9, 2019 by Kristi 6 Comments

Why is forgiveness so hard to offer?

Have you ever wondered?

Releasing situations and offering forgiveness often mimicks a puppy attempting to wriggle its way out of clutched hands. We hold tight, refusing to allow it to go.

We grasp that hurt and offense, and we cling to blame like static cling causes a dress to cling the leg mid-winter.

But why?

Does it further the Kingdom of God? Does withholding forgiveness bring glory to the Lord? And goodness, does escalating our desires drop one ounce of peace upon the heart?

No.

I’m the one who, from time to time, wrestles with the emotions that chime, “You’re justified.”

But the notion remains a lie.

My life is not my own. I was bought at a price. You were too.

And the one who paid our price offered some turn-your-world-upside-down words that will change life. We’re wise to remember those words this Easter, today, next year, and for the rest of our lives.

“Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.’” Luke 23:34a WEB

Father, forgive them: three simple words, remnants of Jesus’ walk on earth, ready-made syllables available for you and I to utter and offer freely.

Why Forgive?

Often, when I look further into situations, when God’s wisdom settles, I see an offender who is struggling with their own spiritual battle. I’m called to love and gather prayer.

The Bible contains truth. It assures our battles are not against flesh and blood.

We decide in that moment or in situations if the Bible truly is truth and if God really is good. Because our good God assures that forgiveness proves right.

Through Jesus’ sacrifice, He offered it to you and me.

Although man will fall prey and sin, causing pain that often sears others too, our battles roar due to darkness, not people. (Mind you, societal accountability remains. That’s not the premise here.)

The struggle to offer forgiveness sits smack in the middle of a spiritual battle. Fight accordingly.

How to Fight to Forgive

We fight with prayers and utterances that call on the power and strength of our victor, our God. We call on God.

That’s how we fight to forgive.

We refuse to take offense.

That’s also how we fight to forgive.

We intentionally choose prayer.

And in my case, I pray for “them” and “me.” Because God knows the filth floating around in my heart, and the sheer fact that I hiccuped with forgiveness proves plenty evidence a prayer need sits in my own heart.

We fight to forgive by praying for “them” and “us” too.

Jesus Forgave

And that’s what Jesus did. He prayed.

A wronged man, one treated unjustly if ever there was a man caught in seemingly wrong circumstances, he prayed for the offending party. Because they didn’t realize what they were doing to him.

Often, due to the lense of strongholds and our own battles within, we fail to realize what we’re doing to others. And they to us.

But there’s always space for grace and opportunity to forgive–if we set aside offense, that dogged refusal to forgive, and blame.

Jesus did. He died on the cross to cover and erase the power of our sins.

Thank God he kept no record of wrongs but simply loved. Can you imagine if he wagged a finger in blame or harbored offense?

And what if he chose a path opposite forgiveness? Yikes! We’d be in trouble. There’d be no heaven for us.

But God forgave. Hope remains.

If there’s a need for forgiveness in your own life, will you thread hope by offering to forgive? Peace awaits.

If you’re not certain Jesus is your Savior, that your sins have been forgiven and you’re heavenboud, scroll to the bottom of this page–to the “Filled” portion. You’ve been forgiven, and God calls the grace abounding more than sufficient.

A Reminder

Happy Easter, friends. Don’t forget to join us for the perfect Easter follow-up Bible study: Believe. It’s free. We’ll see each other, face-to-face. Find more information here.

Why Is It Hard to Believe Sometimes?

April 2, 2019 by Kristi 5 Comments

Why is it hard to believe God sometimes? Have you ever wondered?

In late November or early December, a word found me. I typically don’t choose “one word” for the year, but by golly, this one stuck.

When the calendar flipped to 2019, “believe” flipped along with it. That’s when I knew this was serious. God seemed to be giving my non “one-word” self a makeover.

Never say never.

But a question remained: What did God mean by “believe”?

I did a little virtual head scratch because as a believer in Jesus Christ, I’ve been walking with Him for over two decades–almost three. Hello? Don’t I already, eh hem, believe?

I prayed for salvation years ago–even got baptized. Bibles studies, prayer, Sunday school teaching and small groups comprise my history, too. What else is there to believe?

Much.

At least that’s what I suspect. And it’ll require humility and reliance on the Lord to learn it. God help me.

Oh, and did I mention patience? (Sigh. Anyone else out there want wisdom NOW, not tomorrow? Alas, patience has never been my virtue… Hey, but maybe I should just believe?!)

The Journey with Believe

My 2019 journey with “believe” remains a mystery–mostly–but rest assured we will have stories to tell years from now. I’m convinced. And each one will display beautifully the power and love of the Lord Almighty, giving evidence of faith growth too. We already have one for the history books. It all started when I read Mark 9.

“What do you mean, ‘If I can’?’ Jesus asked. ‘Anything is possible if a person believes.’
The father instantly cried out, ‘I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!’”

Mark 9:23-24 WEB

“Believe” waved a hearty hello in this passage. I managed a half-hearted Miss America back, all while my mouth hung wide open.

The man believed, BUT he also expressed unbelief.

HOW is that possible?

Isn’t unbelief the opposite of belief? My dictionary considers them antonyms. Yours too?

If one were north on the map, the other would be south. One hot, the other cold. One black, then, yes, white for the other.

As Christians, can we believe but somehow harbor unbelief simultaneously?

This is a question we’ll be diving into in an upcoming online Bible study “creatively” called, Believe.

We’re going to dive headfirst into four Bible passages centered around Jesus and everyday people like you and me. How appropriate that it starts just after Easter, the holiday all about Jesus.

We’ll allow the Lord and those passages to challenge our faith. We’ll seek Him for understanding, then walk away different (hopefully) as He deposits wisdom from above.

Believe Bible study: Will you join me?

You’re invited!

The What’s & How’s for Believe:

BIBLE–have one available.
Visit KristiWoods.net on Tuesdays to view the 10 min. +/- VIDEO, or if you’re a subscriber, the link will be emailed Tuesday.
Download the free OUTLINE in the Subscriber Library–available on or before the Monday prior to each video posting. (Optional, but many of you have expressed HIGH interest in this. Thanks so much for your feedback, by the way.) If you’re a subscriber in need of the password, check past “3” newsletters which are sent on the 1st Friday of each new month. Or, email me: Kristi@KristiWoods.net.
Join me on ZOOM Tuesday evenings at 7PM, central. (It’s optional, but make certain to get a free account with Zoom prior to our meeting time.) We’ll gather via video conference to converse about the Bible passage, Jesus, and how He’s challenging us to “believe.” Plus, I’d love to see your smiling faces. I’ll post the meeting link alongside the video and on Facebook. 😉 As a guesstimate, reserve 30 mins. for the video call. It will start PROMPTLY at 7 each week.
FRIENDS. I’ve invited a friend to sit alongside me during the Zoom video calls. We’ll call her the “Mystery Guest” for now, but know this: She is FUN! Seriously, I suspect this woman has the gift of joy, because it goes wherever she does. I can’t wait to introduce you to her! Bring one or a few of your friends too, okay?

No sign-ups are required. Just show up, but watch the video first. 😉

That’s it! Super easy and short enough for busy folks, but lending a powerful impact as the Holy Spirit leads.

New Memory Verse

Above is the first of two memory verses this month. Through the Bible, God assures us, even when we don’t feel like it, WE ARE SEEN.

I breath a sigh of relief on this one. Hallelujah! God sees us.

If you’d like to scan past memory verses, check out this link.

Have a beautiful week, friend. See you the Tuesday after Easter as we simply “believe.”