Kristi Woods

Encouraging Women to Walk Deeper with God

Stephen’s Powerful Witness

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Desk with a book and flower in front of a brick wall
Guest Post by Misty Phillip

A special welcome to guest writer Misty Phillip as she helps us encounter and be encouraged by Stephen’s powerful witness.

After being filled with the Holy Spirit, Christians were called to be witnesses of the gospel message and spread the good news throughout the world. 
The word “witnesses” in Greek is μάρτυρες, martyrs, which is where we get the word martyr. I don’t know about you, but I don’t associate the word “witness” with the potential for death. However, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, a martyr is “a person who is killed because of religious or other beliefs.”


Enter Stephen, the first ultimate witness for Jesus Christ. We read his story in Acts 6 and 7. He is referred to as a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit and chosen as a man devoted to prayer and the ministry of the word. 
Our modern-day church came into being by a few sold-out believers who were obedient and faithful to God. 


We never know what God will accomplish through us and our obedience to Him.


I love what verse 7 says: “And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.” 


Stephen was preaching to the diaspora Jews. These were Jews who were living outside of Palestine. The scripture tells us Stephen was full of the Spirit and spoke with wisdom. The word of God continued to increase and the disciples multiplied.


Stephen recounts a brief history of the Old Testament to the Sanhedrin in Acts 7:1-53. The Sanhedrin was the religious council of the day, made up of the High Priests and Elders. They were considered to be the supreme religious leaders. Stephen concluded his speech by turning the accusation of his accusers in Acts 7:51-53. 


Stephen continued to share his vision of the exalted Christ and, in doing so, enraged the high priests. 


Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit and, at that moment, saw the glory of God and Christ seated at his right hand. Stephen remained faithful to Jesus Christ until the very end. He cried out to God as he was being stoned. Right before he died, he prayed, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” 
Stephen died praying for the very men who killed him. His final prayers were “Lord Jesus, receive my Spirit,” and “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” Stephen was an incredible example of a faithful witness! 


Here are three powerful lessons we can learn from the life and death of Stephen.

  1. Being a witness for Jesus means there is a potential for martyrdom. 
  2. With the power of the Holy Spirit, we can remain faithful throughout our lives. 
  3. We need to pray for those who mean us harm.

_____________________________

Join me for a further in-depth study on the life of Stephen and many other men and women of both the Old and Testament who exemplified faith in The Struggle is Real: But so is God Bible Study.


Now is the time to know what God says about you and how you can live a victorious life. Discover faith and integrity are the character qualities that are yours as an overcomer. Each in-depth study has thought-provoking questions to journal, so you will be able to see your personal growth.
The Struggle Is Real, But So Is God is a 6-week journey through the Bible that will:

  • Equip you with empowering wisdom.
  • Help you grow spiritually by claiming God’s promises as your own.
  • Teach you how to declare scripture over yourself to strengthen your inner being.
  • Show you how to conquer challenges by activating God’s Word in your life. 


Author Misty Phillip has lived through many difficult seasons of life where all she could do was look to God and His Word for hope. She found biblical solutions and scriptural promises that helped her overcome, and she can’t wait to share with you what she has learned.

For another faith-building read, try this: Is God Prompting You to Step out in Faith Right Now?

The Latest

So what DOES the Bible say about women? It’s a conversation many of us mull around or discuss with friends. Or, perhaps we simply question in silence. Here’s a piece I wrote for Crosswalk. What are your thoughts?

About Misty

Woman with long, reddish brown hair, wearing a black blouse

Misty Phillip is passionate about helping women overcome challenges in life by seeking Jesus, studying the Word and growing in grace. She is the author of The Struggle is Real: But so is God Bible Study, founder and host of the By His Grace Podcast, sought after speaker and blogger at MistyPhillip.com and co-author of Dear Wife and contributor to A Wife Like Me.

Why Is It Hard to Believe Sometimes?

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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.”

When We’re in Need of a New Appetite for God

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Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay

Are you in need of a new appetite for God? Friend, I am! I need one for food, too.

Folks champion chocolate. And a part of me cheers along with them.

“Choc-o-late! Choc-o-late!”

But there’s a part of me that cringes.

Here’s why.

I love chocolate. A lot.

But chocolate doesn’t love me–not really.

The headaches, racing heart, and weight gain assure.


But like a drug, I crave it.

Maybe it’s a magnesium deficiency. Low counts give rise to the question. Nonetheless, the craving lingers.

A few Christmases ago, I landed in the ER. My heart took on a mind of its own and started sprinting with a rate of 155 beats–waaay too fast for a forty-something.

Hello AFib.

Images of my own father’s battle with heart issues and their byproducts danced in my head. Visits to the cardiologist office found me surrounded by white-haired folks.

Me and my brown hair stuck out like a red poppy in a sea of white tulips. I felt certain.

A friend, who happened to be a nutritionist, came alongside and said, “Let me help.” I threw up the white flag and nodded permission.

That was the best decision I’ve ever made concerning my heart, my appetite, and my health.

We worked together for several months. I lost 43 lbs, although that wasn’t the goal. Health remained central.

I slept through the night–finally. I woke (hallelujah!) without headaches. The bags and discoloration under my eyes disappeared. Itching on my hand and foot simply exited the picture. What felt like an obstruction in my throat did too.

The pattern change in eating and supplements came because I clung to the hope of health and took intentional steps in its direction. But staying the course found me in a state in which I desired to please Suzi, my friend, more than God.


Ouch! I needed a new appetite.

Nine months after beginning the journey with Suzi, I quit. I couldn’t keep up the people-pleasing pace any longer. It stressed me out!

I loved how I looked and felt, and she was fantastic. But I stood too absorbed in pleasing her versus God.

The eating habits shifted just a bit after venturing on my own. Then more. And more. Sweets and chocolate eventually regained far too much ground in this appetite of mine.

And although I suppose there’s nothing wrong with a little chocolate here and there, maybe even a sweet or two, it creates a hurtful appetite within some of us. Trust me–I’d live off candy store goods if given opportunity.


But not everything permissible is beneficial.

Although the Bible offers this in light of sexual immorality (1 CO 6:12), it proves true with food and other areas of our lives.

Sometimes we simply need a new appetite.

Today I find myself with dark circles under the eyes and several other returning symptoms. But also today, I’ve made a declaration: I need a new appetite.

Greens and chicken, berries and nuts–they call my name. But this new appetite is not only for the eat-it-with-a-fork-and-spoon food. I also need a new appetite, a healthier one, for Jesus.

Sooo…people pleasing must go. 

I’ll be eating those salads tossed with arugula and spinach. (Had some for breakfast as a matter of fact!) Raspberries and blueberries too. But I’ll also devour more intimacy with the Lord, forging a new spiritual appetite, too.

How?

Table setting with words below.


Here are five ways toward a new appetite for God.

Feel free to chew on a few of these, too.

  1. Pray this more often: “Show me what’s in my heart, Lord, that which doesn’t belong in me. Then take it. Heal me.” 
  2. Wait and watch until He points the direction–even when the flesh screams, “Go! Just do it yourself.”
  3. Have hard conversations God ordains, even the ones that cause a girl’s stomach to churn or palms to sweat.
  4. Transparency proves prudent. Begin to write and share more vulnerable messages–to allow God and others to see and use those stories of His glory.
  5. Allow God to teach His definition of the word believe. Trust, listen, digest, and allow His understanding to nourish a more intimate relationship with the Almighty.

How about you? Have you been considering a new appetite, too? If so, I’d love to hear what the Lord is speaking to you, how you’re changing up the appetite. Throw those thoughts in the comments below.


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What Do You Know About Bathsheba?

On occasion, iBelieve.com or Crosswalk.com affords the opportunity to incorporate writing assignments into my own Bible study. Bathsheba proved a candidate for this. If you’d like to study her story and see how it relates to yours, grab the Bible and this link at iBelieve. Often, the wisdom the Lord reveals astounds.

Have a blessed week, friend, one that defies comfort, familiarity, and habits of the past. 😉