Christina Fox, Author at Women.pcacdm.org

Remembering God’s Mighty Deeds: A Look at Church History

ANN MARIE MO|GUEST Remember. Study. Meditate. Throughout the Bible, God repeatedly calls his people to remember all that he has done. Studying God’s past faithfulness help us to understand difficult providences today. Meditating on his mighty deeds invigorates our prayers so that we can plead along with the psalmist: “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God? You are the God who works wonders” (Ps. 77:11–14). God commands us to give thought to his works of mercy and judgment because when we reflect on them, we behold his providence. Providence—God’s most holy, wise, and powerful governance over all creation, actions, and time—is one of those biblical truths we ought to reflect upon daily: thankful for God’s past providence, grateful for his provision today, and confident in his future care for all our needs. When we ponder God’s providence in Scripture and our own lives, our faith is strengthened and we remember that God is worthy of reflection. In addition, recalling God’s past providence helps us to face present adversity. Consider how reflecting on God’s former mercies strengthened David before he fought Goliath: “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine” (1 Sam. 17:37). Simply put—God blesses reflection on his past deliverances. These recollections quicken our faith to persevere and grow through hard times. The act of remembering is not only a spiritual discipline for every Christian to cultivate but also a charge God gives us to pass on to the next generation. We are to tell our children “the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done . . . So that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments” (Ps. 78:4, 7). To pass down accounts of God’s enduring faithfulness, we can teach our covenant children church history. Studying chronicles of how God has defended, strengthened, and delivered his people through the ages is a thoughtful way to reflect on his mercies and judgments. Teaching Our Covenant Children Church History Among the many excellent resources available, Simonetta Carr’s Church History is a great place to start. In this visual encyclopedia, she invites young and not-so-young readers to come and behold God’s wondrous deeds. Arranged in nine parts, this hardcover book chronicles God’s faithfulness to his church....

Remembering God’s Mighty Deeds: A Look at Church HistoryChristina Fox2024-01-28T01:30:25+00:00

Setting Goals with the End in Sight

How did your day begin? If it is anything like mine, it’s filled with good intentions. But just as the day’s momentum begins to build, it’s already 2:30 PM. Soon, the sound of the garage door opening vibrates throughout the home. My daughter’s high-pitched voice greets our golden doodle, and I’m having to answer, “What’s for dinner?” Our good intentions will be just that if it’s not followed up by action. Some time ago, I came across a short video in which author Malcolm Gladwell said, “… knowing my ending makes the beginning super easy … totally clear what I have to do and totally clear what I shouldn’t do.” Gladwell was referring to the process of writing and yet, the principle is transferable to moments when I struggle to account for the six hours between the first sip of freshly brewed coffee and the midday scurry of my dog, greeting the family member who has just walked through the mudroom. Or those days when my to-do list is marked by numerous lines striking through them, but feelings of dissatisfaction overshadow any sense of accomplishment. If I know my ending, then it’s clear what I have to do, and clear what I shouldn’t do. This means I engage each day with the bigger story in sight and have actionable goals that move me toward that end. To help bring clarity when setting goals, here are three questions to consider...

Setting Goals with the End in SightChristina Fox2024-01-12T16:45:47+00:00

Sanctity of Life for All of Life

SHEA PATRICK | CONTRIBUTOR Many years ago, I posted on Facebook that I was a “one-issue voter.” I did so as a public declaration of my pro-life stance and that a candidate’s position on abortion was my only consideration in determining whether or not I would vote for them. In the years since that post, I have given much thought to what it means to be pro-life. Is being pro-life simply being anti-abortion, or does it mean more? Please don’t misunderstand what I’m saying—yes, we must be anti-abortion and advocate for saving the lives of the unborn. It is that and more. One of the phrases I’ve heard used is that Christians ought to be pro-life from “womb to tomb.” A Call to Care Our reference point as we consider these issues starts with the giver of life in Genesis. God created man in his own image and pronounced him good. “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” (Gen. 1:27). Throughout the Old Testament, we see that many of the laws given to God’s people concerned that of life, health, and wholeness. God gave laws that cared for widows and orphans (Exo. 22:22) and provided for the poor and one’s neighbors (Exo. 25:26). In Exodus 23, he even shows fatherly care for those outside the nation of Israel. Then Jesus steps on the scene in the New Testament. He shows his concern not for religious rules and compliance but for life and flourishing, healing those with diseases and resurrecting the dead. He shows compassion and mercy to those typically on the margins– a leper and a Roman centurion’s servant (Matt. 8), the demon-possessed (Luke 4:35), a woman with a disability that would keep her from the temple (Luke 8:43-48), and even a woman caught in adultery (John 8). How can believers show their concern for life and flourishing as well? The church can be the hands and feet of Jesus, showing biblical love and care for the hurting in very practical and intentional ways. Consider these ideas: The Church as the Hands and Feet of Christ...

Sanctity of Life for All of LifeChristina Fox2024-02-05T19:03:39+00:00

The Irreplaceable Encouragement of Intergenerational Relationships

AMANDA DUVALL | GUEST I took a seat at my assigned table for my first Bible study at our new church and was surprised to see a number of gray and white heads dotted among the tables. I wondered, what would it be like to study alongside women who were 20, 30, or more years older than I? Up until this point, my close friendships consisted of almost exclusively people in or near my stage of life. As I’ve aged, I noticed that surrounding myself with people of my own generation is like living with tunnel vision. I could sense I didn’t know what I didn’t know. Of course, I had read Titus 2:3, which instructs older women to teach and train younger women in what is good, and that’s what I wanted! But I had little idea what this might actually look like in my real life. Today, I am privileged to have friendships with women who live out the example of Titus 2 that I’ve longed to see. And it is not their own brilliance or expertise that shines, but the way they lift my eyes from the false hope of self-focus to behold what is truly good—Jesus Christ. Humility at every age Each week, friends with decades of experience following Jesus put on a posture of humility as they engage with our group and with God’s Word, and in doing so have taught me more than any lesson plan could...

The Irreplaceable Encouragement of Intergenerational RelationshipsChristina Fox2024-01-03T14:21:54+00:00

Using a Bible Reading Plan

BARBARANNE KELLY | CONTRIBUTOR Sitting in the glow of our Christmas tree, I turn in my Bible to the book of Job to read three chapters, then I read a psalm, and then I turn to the book of Revelation for one chapter. These are the familiar passages of Scripture with which I close each year: the greatness and majesty of our God, the joy of praising him, and his final victory in the culmination of his covenantal plan for his Bride, the Church. After spending the year reading through the Bible with all of humanity’s ups and downs—mostly downs—and the steadfast love and faithfulness of the Lord on display throughout, my heart overflows. The first week of January I’ll turn back to the opening chapters of Genesis and begin again. As idyllic as that may sound, I assure you that the discipline to follow through with a Bible reading plan does not come easily for me. January is often my best month. But as responsibilities with family and ministry mount, and the occasional vacation or unexpected life-event happen, it’s easy for the reading to fall off schedule. That’s often the case, isn’t it? Time in God’s Word is so easily neglected, pushed out by the urgencies of the moments of our days, and especially when we need it most! Why Read the Bible? I used to think that those Christians who read their entire Bible through in a year must be super-saints. I expected pastors to do that sort of reading as it’s their job to know the Scriptures inside-out. But for normal believers like myself, I figured that kind of immersion in Scripture was an unreasonable expectation and out of reach. The Lord has held me fast for many decades since I thought this way, and whether it’s from wisdom or experience or a bit of both, I’ve learned that super-saints are few and far between. Normal, quietly faithful, saints-without-capes, however, fill the pews in our churches and humbly pursue the disciplines of grace as they walk with the Lord. And one of those disciplines of grace is time spent daily in God’s Word. Reading through the Bible in a year (or so) is an attainable goal. There are many resources to help, some of which I’ll link to at the end of this article. But why should you set such a goal for yourself? I’ll allow the Apostle Paul to answer: . . . from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Tim. 3:15–17)...

Using a Bible Reading PlanChristina Fox2024-01-28T01:31:47+00:00

The Quest for Peace

JESSICA ROAN | GUEST Lately, it seems as though I am on an endless quest for peace. I find myself attempting to recreate my most peaceful experiences, like the summer I worked at Yellowstone Lake or the visits our family took to our local park when our town was still small and less populated than it is now. What exactly am I searching for? The dictionary defines “peace” as “freedom from disturbance; tranquility.” Is that what I’m seeking? Absolutely. Now, I know that retreating to these beloved places will not rid my world of “disturbances,” but watching the virgin crystal blue waves or visiting the spot where my once little boys played brings a sense of calm in an otherwise disturbing world. Whether it is challenging personal relationships, an ever-rising crime rate, pervasive government corruption, or endless wars and rumors of wars, the world is full of anything but peace. Peace is Biblical I must ask myself: Is it wrong for me to want peace in my life? After John the Baptist was beheaded, Jesus “withdrew” to a “desolate” place (Matt. 14:13). In Mark 3 and Luke 9, he “withdrew” with his disciples. Apparently, Jesus sought peace amidst his busy ministry of preaching, teaching, and healing. When Jesus taught about prayer, he encouraged the disciples to “go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matt. 6:6). Psalm 46:10 commands us to “Be still, and know that I am God” Searching for peace can’t be all wrong, then, can it? If God wants us to retreat to pray and “be still,” the quest for solitude can have a purpose. But what is that purpose? God’s Peace is Different from the World’s While it is difficult for me to imagine a place more peaceful than Yellowstone Lake at midnight, or the Beartooth Mountains once the summer visitors have left, God’s peace transcends even the most peaceful places in his creation. While trying to explain to his disciples how he had to leave them and send his Holy Spirit, he comforts them by saying, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (Luke 14:27). Similarly, as Paul instructs the church at Philippi, he includes, “. . . do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6-7). No matter how hard we try, we can’t replicate the peace of God. It does not come from the physical solitude we crave or an absence of screaming children, endless chores, long hours at work, or the challenge of being in relationships with other sinful people. It comes from God alone and can occur on a hike in the mountains or even in the chaos of a busy life...

The Quest for PeaceChristina Fox2023-12-18T15:09:37+00:00

A Glorious Inheritance

NIKKI BONHAM | GUEST Our family is in the middle of a move. Again. But only across town this time. The house we’ve been living in had been sitting empty for years when we moved in, and it had major maintenance issues, which we won’t miss. The new house was recently built, so I’m thankful to leave behind the leaky pipes, mold, and broken floors. But my favorite part of the new place is the view. It overlooks the Colombian countryside, and I am convinced that a few minutes on the back porch with a strong cup of Colombian coffee will cure almost anything that ails you. But apart from the view, the biggest difference between the two has been the shift from living in a house that had been left empty and deteriorating to one where every detail of the construction and maintenance has been painstakingly considered. Our previous landlord had been ready to rid himself of the burden for years. Our new landlord built the house himself and put his literal blood, sweat, and tears into its completion. The difference is striking. And there’s only one reason for it; the new landlord is guarding and maintaining his own inheritance. Someone Else’s Inheritance On our first visit to the house, the owner proudly pointed out each tiny detail. My husband commented, “I can tell that your whole heart has gone into this project.” “Well, it’s my father’s land,” the owner told us, “But he let me build on it now. He’s already promised me this portion. I’ve given all I have to this house. But it’s our future, so it’s worth it.” Moving into a home that is someone else’s literal inheritance comes with a little extra pressure, especially with a house full of boys. Every day I think, “There is no way we are giving this house back in the same condition we received it.” But mostly, it feels like yet another gospel image the Lord has built around me for me to live in (literally, this time!) that lifts my eyes to the greater reality of what He is doing on an eternal scale. As I sit on this porch and drink my coffee in someone else’s future inheritance, I am reminded of the covenant promises of inheritance that are already mine in Christ...

A Glorious InheritanceChristina Fox2023-12-18T15:03:59+00:00

Hanging up the Hustle Culture to Embrace Eternal Investment

KAREN HODGE | CONTRIBUTOR Pressure like a grip, grip, grip, and it won't let go, whoa. Pressure like a tick, tick, tick, 'til it's ready to blow, whoa-oh-oh. Give it to your sister and never wonder. If the same pressure would've pulled you under. Who am I if I can't fall or fail? I have a reputation for crying in my popcorn in movie theaters. Sometimes, I cry because of sentimentality, and other times it happens when the truth hits a bit too close to home. While watching the movie, Encanto, the scene where the older sister Luisa sings the lines from Surface Pressure, I cried the tears of a recovering older sister, workaholic, and perfectionist who has bowed to the idol of productivity for over 30 years. In the scene, she is carrying the load of her family, including the embodiment of her woe, on pack mules up a steep hill. Her song laments the insatiable drive to please others and the vacuum of the "not-enough-ness" of human limitations. Maybe you are not crying like me, but instead, you are almost giddy with the potential of productive days ahead in 2024 as you clutch your brand-new bullet journal. Ah, the possibilities seem endless! But whether it is the lines in our journal or the rings closing on our smart watch, we are always searching for ways to measure and account for how we spend our time. Time is an economic affair. Just take a listen to those around you. "There are not enough hours in the day." "I am sick of wasting time." "Let's kill some time." "I am living on borrowed time." "I wish I could turn back the hands of time." By now, optimism may be reduced to realism. We rush from here to there with little regard for rest. We live in a hustle culture— an environment that intensely focuses on productivity, ambition, and success at all costs. The idol of toxic productivity is a cruel taskmaster. If I see my value as being measured by how much I accomplish in each day, then doing will always trump being. Thinking biblically about productivity includes remembering my identity is rooted in the finished work of Jesus Christ on my behalf rather than in finding my worth in how many things I have checked off my to-do list. In this tension, we may tend towards two extremes...

Hanging up the Hustle Culture to Embrace Eternal InvestmentChristina Fox2024-01-02T17:15:32+00:00

Hallmark, the Gospel, and the New Year

KIM BARNES | CONTRIBUTOR I have a confession to make. I like Hallmark Movies. Now, perhaps you don’t see that as something to confess, but I’m someone who used to mercilessly mock Hallmark-type movies and those who liked them. I viewed such movies as silly and predictable and the folks who enjoyed those movies as shallow, undiscerning media consumers. I was wrong. Now, I’m not saying that Hallmark movies are high art, just that they have value that I previously did not appreciate. In case you’re unfamiliar, most Hallmark movies have a similar plot. In the first few minutes a woman experiencing some sort of disappointing life change or crisis meets or reconnects with a man who she initially finds unappealing. Circumstances cause the two to have to work together on some project or event. Miraculously they successfully complete the project—that would normally take months to complete—in a week or two. Sparks fly and romance is kindled. Despite obvious attraction, the couple experiences conflict and misunderstanding leading them to believe that they’re not meant to be together. But this belief is short-lived and the movie crescendos with the couple professing their love, sealed with a kiss. The Beauty of Simplicity Why do millions of people (mostly women) enjoy these predictable, unrealistic, formulaic movies? During a particularly stressful season in my life, I discovered Hallmark movies and found the predictability comforting. At first, I thought my enjoyment was nothing more than a little escape from reality. But what if it’s the opposite? What if the reason I was drawn to these movies is that they are supremely realistic? Perhaps the predictable plots and simplistic stories remind us of the beautiful simplicity of the Gospel story and point us to the reality of life with Christ? As lost sinners we look for meaning. Uncertainty fills our lives. When we are introduced to Jesus, we may think He’s not the answer we’re looking for. We may resist submitting to His Lordship. But He woos us, and we become smitten with Him. He does the seemingly impossible. He saves and changes a sinner. Along the way, sin interferes. We sometimes think there’s another way. We make choices that complicate our life on earth and our relationship with Jesus. Sometimes staying the course with Christ seems unimaginable. But in the end, we can be sure that we will be together. Everything will be made right, and we will enjoy an eternity in the presence of Christ. This is the kind of predictability we long for and it’s the kind of predictability we can count on as we embark on a new year. Exhaustion is what many of feel at the end of the year. The holiday season, though filled with joy and fun, is also tiring. For some of us, grief and sadness hover over the season. We may lack enthusiasm as we move into the new year. Hope may not be in the forefront. Believe it or not, I think Hallmark movies can help us here. Remembering the Faithfulness of God A common theme in Hallmark movies is the main character re-connecting with his or her roots or uncovering an important story from the past. The connection to the past inspires and empowers the character to move forward. Like the comfort food that fills our holiday tables and reminds us of our gatherings in years past, the comfort-flicks, of Hallmark remind us to remember joyful times. Such remembering offers a taste of the comfort that comes from the true Comforter...

Hallmark, the Gospel, and the New YearChristina Fox2024-01-05T18:36:44+00:00

Merry Christmas!

CHRISTINA FOX | EDITOR Merry Christmas to you and yours from all of us at enCourage! "And the angel said to them, 'Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger'” (Luke 2:10-12). Photo by Laura Nyhuis on Unsplash

Merry Christmas!Christina Fox2023-12-01T14:56:36+00:00

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