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THE story

The Bible and the God of the Bible offer us a story meant to tell us who we are and why we are here and what our lives are about…This is the story. It is the story that the Bible offers to you. Inviting you to make this story the story of your life. 

The Lamb of God, Nancy Guthrie

I just started going through Nancy Guthrie’s Bible Study, The Lamb of God, with some ladies in my community and I am loving it. As I have been reading through Exodus I am seeing the Old Testament in a whole new way once again. Up until the last few years the OT hasn’t been much more than Sunday school stories and Bible history to me. I know the stories but I’ve been totally missing WHO it is all about…WHO the OT is pointing to…a great Savior.

I always wish I could see “behind the scenes” in my own life and this is exactly what we get a peek into as we read about the enslaved Israelites and the life of Moses as he went from living in the great Egyptian palace to the lowly job of shepherding his father-in-law’s flock. Forty years. Forty years of nothing happening. What was God doing? And really, where was God? There was a lot of suffering going on and a lot of waiting without hearing anything from God. And while my waiting and suffering hasn’t even come close to this forty year scene we read about in Exodus, I feel like I can totally relate to the wondering…

God where are you?

And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. God saw the people of Israel-and God knew. Exodus 2:24-25

God heard.

God remembered.

God saw.

God knew.

Sometimes we think God doesn’t hear us, or that he doesn’t care, or that he has even forgotten about us. But he knows our every thought and hears our every word. He loves us more than we can imagine. And he never abandons His children. We might not “see” or “feel” God working out His plan in our lives, but He’s always there and He’s always faithful to His promises. He might just be waiting for the right time…which is often so different from our ideas and timing, right?!

And then, after forty years of shepherding, we read that God calls Moses, who had definitely screwed up in the past and seems to have been forgotten, by name.

…God called to him out of the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Exodus 3:4

Can you imagine what that was like? The God of the universe calling you by name? God knew exactly where Moses was and was seeking him out. We think maybe Moses has been disqualified or forgotten because of taking matters into his own hands and killing the Egyptian (Exodus 2:12), but God still has plans to use Moses to accomplish His purposes and deliver His people. He tells Moses of His plan and reminds Moses of who He is…I AM (Exodus 3:13-14).

I think that is exactly the reminder I need too. My story is so much more about God and so much less about me. As we get closer to meeting this new little one I find myself wondering what my story is going to look like in this next chapter of my life. What is God about to do in our family. Familiar questions and anxiety start creeping in. And while I am confident that He is going to prepare me for what is ahead, I am reminded that the important thing is that I keep my eyes on I AM. He is the one who will fill my story with meaning no matter what my abilities or circumstances look like.

The more your story is about this rescue from bondage, this Savior God sent, this God who has come down and revealed himself, the less your story will be about you and your failures or achievements, your abilities or inadequacies, your circumstances, opinions or questions. This is the story that enables you to make sense of your suffering and make much of your Savior. It is this story, and only this story, that can fill your story with meaning that will last forever.

The Lamb of God, Nancy Guthrie

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My Everyday IG LOGO

I forgot to mention that last week I was featured in the My Everyday series over on Kelli and Vanessa’s blog. I am praying that this little peek into my story will point others to WHO my story is really all about. You can read the interview here.

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  • babykatesmom - What a wonderful post! Thank you for sharing it with us!ReplyCancel

  • Jody - I just finished the Pentateuch and from Exodus on it’s constant sacrificing and blood on the altar. It all screams Jesus. It all points to the cross. And as God is setting up this system of sacrifice he knows what is coming. He knows the Son is going to be required as the ultimate sacrifice. I can’t even imagine.ReplyCancel

    Jess Reply:

    Jody-Yes, so amazing how it all points to Jesus!

  • Mary - Wonderful post and great interview. God can really be involved in our lives if we let him. I love your blog and they way you teach about your faith and trust in the Lord. I enjoy your updates about your family and will be excited to hear about new little baby mac!!ReplyCancel

    Jess Reply:

    Thank you, Mary!

  • Nancy Guthrie - So happy you’re doing The Lamb of God this summer. I am teaching through it here in Nashville and having such a great time! Wish you were headed to Orlando with me this week for The Gospel Coalition Women’s Conference. It will be streamed live so look for me on Saturday morning at 9:30 Central. Love you!ReplyCancel

    Jess Reply:

    Nancy-Our group is learning so much through this study! Such a blessing to grow and see Jesus through these OT passages together. Wish I could be in your class too!

    • Jess - Nancy-Our group is learning so much through this study! Such a blessing to grow and see Jesus through these OT passages together. Wish I could be in your class too!ReplyCancel

  • creole wisdom - Loved your interview! And you are right, it would be neat to “see” God’s work behind the scenes. I love that we can look at scripture and get a glimpse of that, and also look forward to heaven when we’ll have full perspective.ReplyCancel

    Jess Reply:

    Katie-Yes, looking forward to heaven too!

  • Stefany Bowers - This sounds like a really great study. I would love to do it with my mother and sister. Are you also using the video downloads or DVD? I am sure they enrich the study, but didn’t necessarily want to spend that much money. ReplyCancel

    Jess Reply:

    Stefany-It has been such a good study so far! We used the DVDs last year and they were awesome. We decided not to use them this year because of time though. The DVDs are basically exactly the same as the teaching chapter. So this year we are just reading the teaching chapter before each meeting. Hope that helps!

    • Jess - Stefany-It has been such a good study so far! We used the DVDs last year and they were awesome. We decided not to use them this year because of time though. The DVDs are basically exactly the same as the teaching chapter. So this year we are just reading the teaching chapter before each meeting. Hope that helps!ReplyCancel

  • Lisa Kirkes - Thank you for the insightful post, Jess. It was just the encouragement I needed. I feel like my husband and I have been in a desert for many years as we pastor a church. Sometimes it feels like God has forgotten about us. But we will keep our eyes on Him and be ready when He speaks. Praying for your new baby to be healthy and for your delivery to go well and without any trouble.ReplyCancel

    Jess Reply:

    Lisa-So sorry about these hard years of being in the desert. It is so easy to be swayed by our circumstances and feelings. Keep trusting in WHO God is…He never changes. And yes, keep your eyes on Him…He is walking through the desert with you. Thanks for your prayers for our sweet baby!

    • Jess - Lisa-So sorry about these hard years of being in the desert. It is so easy to be swayed by our circumstances and feelings. Keep trusting in WHO God is…He never changes. And yes, keep your eyes on Him…He is walking through the desert with you. Thanks for your prayers for our sweet baby!ReplyCancel