r e t h g u a L is the Best Medicine by Shelly Esser
WHEN YOUR FRIEND STRUGGLES WITH MENTAL ILLNESS
g n i r e v e s r e P
One Day at a Time
TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF IS AN ESSENTIAL NEED
by Jen Allee
THE GOD WHO KEEPS HIS PROMISES HELPING OTHERS THROUGH TRAUMATIC LOSS
fall 2020 | F I N D
MORE AT JUSTBETWEENUS.ORG
LIVE IN THE WORD AS YOU LIVE IN THE WORLD New Bible Studies from Favorite Authors
welcome from the editor SHELLY ESSER
We are thrilled to have four new columnists joining us: Lysa TerKeurst, Arlene Pellicane, Gail Goolsby, and Dorie Etrheim. You’ll also continue to hear from women you’ve grown to love: Joni Eareckson Tada, Anita Carman, Melva Henderson, Michelle Nietert, and Pam Farrel. Several of our returning columnists have new columns with a new focus. I hope you will find both the new and familiar voices helpful and encouraging as you live out your life of faith. More importantly, I hope these women will become your trusted friends.
Surprise! We hope you love our new look as much as we do! It’s my prayer that you will settle into your favorite spot and linger through each page, drinking from the well of beauty, depth, creativity, and spiritual refreshment. The issue is filled with special touches from our new designer, Julie Krinke, whom we welcome to our team! And we thank Kelly Perso for giving us a decade of beautiful design. When we started planning the redesign to celebrate our 30th anniversary almost a year ago, we never imagined the pick-me-up we would all be needing now. It’s been tough. Our way of life as we knew it is gone, replaced by face masks, social distancing, isolation, illness, sheltering at home, and fear. But in the middle of the chaos and uncertainty, one thing hasn’t changed—God! And He has continued to be ever-faithful (our word for the year) in what has felt overwhelmingly impossible at times.
The Names of God: His Character Revealed by Melissa Spoelstra
Lose Control: The Way to Find Your Soul by Mary Shannon Hoffpauir
Participant Workbook | 9781501878084 | $16.99 Leader Guide | 9781501878107 | $14.99 DVD | 9781501878121 | $49.99 Leader Kit | 9781501878190 | $79.99
Participant Workbook | 9781791004354 | $16.99 Leader Guide | 9781791004378 | $14.99 DVD | 9781791004392 | $49.99
Have you ever thought you had life under control—until you didn’t? Lose Control is a six-week journey through the Book of 1 Samuel, which is an epic story about a fight for control. Mary Shannon Hoffpauir encourages women to lose control in order to find their soul through a trusting relationship with their faithful God.
Participant Workbook with Leader Helps | 9781791006174 | $14.99 DVD | 9781791006198 | $44.99
In Renewed, a four-week study of the Book of Ruth, women glean wisdom from Naomi’s perspective, a woman who lived a story she didn’t choose or like. With insight from her own journey of living with a story that is not easy, Heather M. Dixon teaches women to flourish, even as they live hard stories, by trusting in God and trading their heartache for hope.
Explore study excerpts and video teaching samples at AbingdonWomen.com.
We hope you are as excited about the makeover as we are and will continue to enjoy the pieces from the past scattered throughout this anniversary year, as well as the new pieces we’re launching with this issue. Here’s to another 30 years of God’s faithfulness! With gratitude,
fall 2020
Abingdon Women Bible studies are available wherever books are sold.
We’re also excited to introduce you to, “15 Minutes in the Word,” a devotional Bible study on different aspects of our word for the year.
ȷustbetweenus
Popular Bible teacher Melissa Spoelstra leads women on an exploration of the many names of God—from El and Yahweh to Abba, Jesus, Holy Spirit, and many more. Through this study women will not only know more about God but also will know Him better—because through the discovery of God’s names, they will discover Him.
Renewed: Finding Hope When You Don’t Like Your Story by Heather M. Dixon
We want to be a bright spot in this journey with you, a spiritual hug when most of the human ones still have to wait, and a hug from your faithful Father’s heart to yours. You have been prayed for continually, and it's been all about you as we have thought through this redesign with new columns and features to uplift your soul with hope and encouragement. We hope this issue will help get you through this challenging road that we’re on together. C.S. Lewis said it best: “We read to know that we are not alone.”
In recent years, poetry has become popular again. So, we decided to make our founder Jill Briscoe’s poetry part of every issue—designed for you to cut out and frame as encouragement for yourself or to give away to a friend.
3
14
contents
VOLUME 30
NO. 4
features
21 Shelter From the Storm
22
As the world rages, we can find our safety and comfort in the Father’s arms. by Jill Briscoe
Safer at Home
I n this season of coronavirus, home has taken on a whole new meaning. Discover where you can find your heart’s true and permanent home. by Elizabeth Murphy
30
The Grief Tree
How one woman found healing from her traumatic grief after the violent death of her sister. by Karen Rhea
34
Love Versus Truth
Discouraging conversations about sexuality are part of our everyday lives. Instead of fighting about right and wrong, find a better way filled with grace and truth. by Dr. Julie Slattery
FALL 2020
on the cover 14 Rx: Soul Medicine
Discover how the gift of laughter can get you through some of life’s toughest times. by Shelly Esser
Renewals Manager Nancy Krull
General Manager Mary Perso
Marketing Julie Santiago
Assistant Editor Suzan Braun
Director of Mission Advancement/ Social Media Ashley Schmidt
16 Perseverance One Day at a Time We don’t find joy in the trial, but in the opportunity for our spiritual growth. by Jen Allee
24 Are You Available?
Encouraging a friend with mental illness. by Marilyn Hunt
26 Permission to Need
Taking care of yourself is not selfish, it’s
necessary to be all God created you to be! by Michelle Stiffler
28 Assured of His Faithfulness
No matter what you’re facing, you can count on God’s promises to provide for your every need. by Lisa Elliott
32 The Empathy Gap
to enter into someone’s unimaginable pain and loss because it’s uncomfortable. A little compassion will go a long way. by Mel Lawrenz
in every issue 3
Welcome from the Editor
40 My Story 41 Living Well 42 Strengthening
6 Between Us Your Soul 8 Happy Home 10 Heart to Heart 44 Discovering the Word 11 EncouragingWORDS 46 Mental Wholeness 12 Transparent Moments
37 39
Frameable Poetry
15 Minutes in the Word
fall 2020
Software Support Rebecca Loesche
faith chats
18 Translation of Hope
Ayako Kawasaki is changing women’s lives with the gospel in Japan. by Suzan Braun
Advisory Board Anita Carman Pam Farrel Judy Briscoe Golz Nancy Grisham Pam MacRae Elizabeth Murphy Jackie Oesch Stephanie Seefeldt
ADVERTISING Ellie Dunn For more information call (856) 582-0690 ext. 2# or email ellie@carldunn.com. SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscription Price: $19.95 per year for four issues. Outside US, add $6 per year prepaid US currency; $5 in Canada. Gift Your Ministries: Group subscriptions are now available at reduced rates. Encourage and inspire the women who make ministry happen at your church or other places of outreach or service to others. Energize their relationships, refresh their faith, and become equipped as a team for facing ministry challenges through JBU. For more information, call 800-260-3342 today! Just Between Us (ISSN 1069-3459) is published quarterly by Just Between Us, 777 South Barker Road, Brookfield, WI 53045-3701. Make all checks and money orders payable to: Just Between Us, Subscription Orders 777 S. Barker Road, Brookfield, WI 53045 To order by phone, or for more information: call 800-260-3342. From Canada call (262) 786-6478. Email: jbu@justbetweenus.org Website: www.justbetweenus.org Periodical Postage Paid at Brookfield, WI and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Just Between Us, 777 S. Barker Road, Brookfield, WI 53045.
Laughter is the Best Medicine by Shelly Esser
WHEN YOUR FRIEND STRUGGLES WITH MENTAL ILLNESS
Persevering
One Day at a Time by Jen Allee
Copyright ©2020 by Just Between Us. All rights reserved. Printed in USA. We occasionally share subscriber mailing addresses with select organizations. If you would like your name removed from direct mail promotional lists, please call 800-260-3342 or email jbu@justbetweenus.org.
TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF IS AN ESSENTIAL NEED THE GOD WHO KEEPS HIS PROMISES HELPING OTHERS THROUGH TRAUMATIC LOSS
fall 2020 |
Just Between Us is a member publication of the Evangelical Press Association.
FIND MORE AT JUSTBETWEENUS.ORG
JBU Conference Canceled
Sadly, due to COVID-19, we won’t be having the October 2020 conference. For refunds, call (715) 427-5341.
fall 2020
22
Subscriptions Rebecca Loesche Julie Matthews Mary Richards Lin Sebena
ȷustbetweenus
ȷustbetweenus
Editor Shelly Esser
Art Director Julie Krinke
call toll-free 800-260-3342 or visit our website justbetweenus.org From Canada call 262-786-6478
21
Circulation Manager Suzan Braun
Editorial Assistants Carol Becwar Ann Cook Constance B. Fink Gayle Gengler Betty Hinds Cherry Hoffner Melinda Papador Jen Symmonds Danae Templeton Susan Vanselow
for subscriptions
4
Founder/Executive Editor Jill Briscoe
Web Director Mary Ann Prasser
Life-altering loss is all around us. Don’t be afraid In celebration of our 30th anniversary, we will be giving you a peek into the past in each issue this year! Look for this logo.
CREDITS
5