#Susan Narjala

[tabernacleheart]

[In Philippians 4: 6-7, Saint Paul says:] "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Wedged into those verses is that small but powerful word, “thanksgiving” — a word that seems to be completely disconnected from anxiousness. In fact, being thankful in the face of fear seems odd, possibly phony. Is Paul recommending that we ‘fake it till we make it'? No. We see multiple references in Scripture to how much God hates pretense and posturing. But in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Paul again says to give thanks in all situations because that is God’s will for us in Christ Jesus. All situations? Is that even possible? Can we actually thank God as we wait in that sterile hospital room? Can we thank Him when we are plagued with worry about the future of a prodigal child? Can we thank Him through the storms of a difficult marriage? Isn’t that an unrealistic instruction? Would God actually ask us to do something so counter-intuitive to our anxious state of mind? Yes, He would, and, yes, He does because our Creator knows exactly how we are wired and what we need. In turning our eyes to Jesus in thanksgiving, we are able to take our white-knuckle grip off our problems. This is not about faking it, but acknowledging and remembering God in the midst of the hard. Thanksgiving turns our eyes from our situation to our Saviour, from our overwhelming problems to His overwhelming love. We don’t give thanks because the situation merits it. We give thanks because of Who He is in the midst of our situation. We give thanks for what He may be doing in and through us when those unbearable trials descend on us. We can hold both our anxiousness and thanksgiving together. His Word tells us to do just that. We often tell ourselves a solely negative story, and in doing so we forget God's hand of blessing in our lives. We tend to focus so exclusively on our problems that we overlook how God led us through storms in the past. Even as we speak to Him about our trials, we must also spend time in thanksgiving– because even in the wilderness and the weariness, Christ is with us. His grace is sufficient, and He has promised to work all things out for our good and His glory. 

Susan Narjala

[esprit-de-kyung]

Esther sends a messenger to find out what has caused her cousin such deep distress. The messenger reports back to her the news of the chilling edict. He also communicates Mordecai’s instructions to Esther to go to King Xerxes and plead the cause of the Jews.

Seems simple enough, right? Esther could walk up to Xerxes, the man who had chosen her as his wife, and beg him to spare the Jews. But then Esther mentions a little complication: No one was allowed to seek an audience with the king on their own. The king ordered you to come into his presence. You didn’t get to pick and choose when you could meet the king. By law, if the king found you in his presence without being summoned, it meant a death sentence. The only exception was if the king extended his golden scepter and spared your life. It had been thirty days since the king had summoned Esther.

Let’s pause the story to reflect on how vastly different the King of this universe is from the self-important king in our narrative. The Almighty King always has His golden scepter extended toward us. He invites us to come boldly before the Throne of Grace so we may receive help. His invitation is always open because He sent His Son to stretch out His arms on the Cross of Calvary.

What a privilege to come just as we are before the King who always welcomes us.

Behind the Scenes- The Esther Story by Susan Narjala

[soufleur]

"Mas Deus está vendo. Ele vê o que você faz discretamente. Quando ninguém está olhando. Quando ninguém lhe dá o devido crédito."

Susan Narjala, no devocional Encontrando Descanso em um Mundo Agitado

[solatgif]

TGIF: ROUNDUP FOR APRIL 24, 2020

We asked our SOLA Network council to share some words for churches and leaders during the Coronavirus crisis. This week, Justin Kim answered: How Do Pastors Respond to a World-Altering Event?

For our devotions written by women about the women who Jesus ministered to during his time on earth, visit our page dedicated to “The Women Jesus Loved.”

Our monthly newsletter is scheduled to be sent out today. Subscribe and receive our most popular resources. Send me your feedback on Twitter or Instagram.

ARTICLES FROM AROUND THE WEB

1. Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra: How Chinese Pastors Developed Their Theology for Suffering

“‘The mark of the church is the cross,’ one leading Chinese pastor told the audience. ‘If you truly live the life of Christ, you will be persecuted.’ But you will also ‘have resurrection power. You will have the power to suffer.’”

2. Susan Narjala: The Sanctifying Grace of Inefficiency

“If you’re in a season that seems “wasteful” because of the current pandemic, or because of where you live, or chronic illness, or crying babies, or elderly parents who need your help, or whatever other reason you can’t ‘get it all done,’ then perhaps this is the training ground that God has readied for you.”

3. Heidi Tai: Goodnight Chinatown

“As COVID-19 threatens Chinatown’s future, I can’t help but grieve the loss of what our culture and cuisines once symbolised. The institutions that once busily fed our nation, have now become starved of patrons.”

BOOKS, PODCASTS, MUSIC, AND MORE

1. The Gospel Coalition: Themelios 45.1

The new April 2020 issue of Themelios has 225 pages of editorials, articles, and book reviews. Topics include Theological Reflections on the Pandemic and Should the Local Church Resist Texts in Scripture that Clash with Western Culture?

2. Jane Kang and Heidi Tai: Abide

A new hymn. “Where failures abound, His mercies are more / There is no darkness, beyond Love’s light. / In fire and flood, our hearts need not fear, / Come my weary soul, be still and abide.”

3. Aaron Lee: Miscellaneous

This week I reviewed Luke 1-12 For You and Luke 12-24 For You by Mike McKinley. I also reviewed John 1-12 For You and John 13-21 For You by Josh Moody. You can enjoy our updated TGIF playlist on Spotify.

FEATURED THIS WEEK ON SOLA NETWORK

1. Justin J. Kim: How Do Pastors Respond to a World-Altering Event?

“There's so much out of our control in this world. There are so many things that we don't understand. The only thing we can control is how we respond to what's going on around us. We can control our attitudes and responses.”

2. Ajay Abraham: 3 Ways to Pray for India

“Considering this overwhelming number of people crowded within this country, some say that COVID-19 may have catastrophic effects on Indians. Yes! It already is having its toll on the people. Looking at the pandemic situation, what can we Christians, do in this lockdown period that has stopped the entire country?”

3. Chi Lam & Daniel K. Eng: “We Are Not Out of the Woods Yet”: How to Pray for New York City

“For the most part, people are doing a great job staying home and obeying social distancing rules when they must go out. The measures placed on the state are working, but we are not out of the woods yet.”

4. Michael Y. Lee: Redeeming Loneliness During Social Distancing

“Beyond what we see on Instagram and TikTok is the reality that there is great spiritual warfare waging in our hearts as we react to the pangs of our loneliness. Satan knows we’re lonely, and he’s on the move seeking to destroy our souls by making us feel even more alone. How do we combat this?”

5. Paul Nam: What to Pray For in this Time of Trial

“James encourages us to pray for godly wisdom because these trials, as much as they can be painful, are also opportunities. So let us take these opportunities to learn more about the character of God, to correct our views and expectations about life, and to minister to God’s people.”

6. Heidi Wong: Beyond Thirst: Jesus and the Samaritan Woman at the Well

“Jesus wants us to look at him and see that truth is a person. A person we can talk to. A person we can walk through the hills and valleys of life with. A person who can name every one of our flaws and sins, yet still loves us to the skies.”

7. TGIF: Roundup for April 17, 2020

In case you missed it: Dear Isaiah, Our Resurrection Hope, and Opportunity or Accommodation? Thinking Through Cultural Practices in the Immigrant Church.

[walnutjuniors]

Announcements Join us on Zoom this Sunday at 10 AM for prayer and a devotion. Meeting ID: 424 913 5752 Password: 689681 Speaker’s Tournament is this Friday and Saturday at 7:30 PM. Join via Zoom.   Visit our church website and follow us on social media for the latest updates at FCBC Walnut.

Features Notes: Remembering God in All Things with Jon Ng Notes: Trusting God with Endora Pan

Recommendations Susan Narjala: The Sanctifying Grace of Inefficiency Bobby Scott: May She Always Love Him More - The Prayer of Every Christian Husband

Resources Bookmark our class Tumblr, where you can find our class schedule, admin documents, and more. Subscribe to Walnut Weekly - our social media newsletter.

[neoref]

Susan Narjala: The Sanctifying Grace of Inefficiency https://bit.ly/2VgapLK

[prayerandpaper]

I confess to being a Christmas-o-holic and love my Christmas cookies, carols and crafts. But I want Christmas to be more than that. Much more than that.

May our focus on Christ make Christmas all the sweeter this year.

Making Space, Susan Narjala

[tabernacleheart]

When God, through the apostle Paul, says, “Do not be anxious,” He is not simply writing off our anxiety with a resolute command. Instead, He speaks as a loving Father and as a Wonderful Counsellor. He is El Roi — the God Who sees. He sees our situation, and He sees our furrowed brow. His Word says that He collects our tears in a bottle. Those four words — 'Do not be anxious’ — flow from His compassionate and loving Father's heart. He’s not saying, “Hey, hold it together already.” He’s saying, “I hold all things together, so you don’t have to.” He gently tells His children not to worry about “anything” — that includes situations where panic is a legitimate, natural response — because He is sovereign over everything. [With this great truth in mind, ask yourself:] When I face anxious situations, what is my first response? Is it to turn first to Google or to God? Is it to turn first to my networks or to get on my knees in prayer? Do I take the time to consider the character of God in the midst of the anxieties?

Susan Narjala

[esprit-de-kyung]

“Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done.” When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open. So he went to pray a third time, saying the same things again.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭42‬-‭44‬ ‭NLT‬‬

…why did Jesus go to the Father three times to say pretty much the same thing? Perhaps it was to show us that we need to persist in prayer till we experience the rest that only he can give.

Journeying with Jesus - Susan Narjala

[neoref]

Susan Narjala: Moms, You Are Not Enough: The Freedom of Depending on God http://bit.ly/2Ua13Sf