When Forgiveness Seems Impossible by Leslie Jones
MEDITATING ON SCRIPTURE: A LIFE-CHANGING HABIT
Jo Saxton Inspires Us to
! p U e is R by Sarah Nielsen
DOES GOD SEEM SILENT?
10 BACK-TO-SCHOOL PRAYERS FOR YOUR KIDS & GRANDKIDS
MY CHILD IS TRANSGENDER. WHERE IS THE CHURCH?
fall 2023 | F I N D M O R E A T J U S T B E T W E E N U S . O R G
Shadowlands Grief Recovery Program
Based on God’s Model of grieving, the study includes scripture, coping skills, and research data to lead those who grieve through their valley of grief and sadness. • Personal Grief Recovery: For all types of grief events - meets weekly for six weeks via Zoom • Small Group Ministry Training: Custom designed for Clergy, Chaplains, Ministerial Staff • Church Licensing: Churches or organizations granted use of materials for ongoing ministry With over 25 years of ministry experience, the copyrighted curriculum, compiled by Sharon Fox, a Certified Grief Facilitator by the American Academy of Bereavement, presents a Christian Biblical Pattern of Grief Recovery. Contact: www.Bravepenny.org or SharonBravePenny@gmail.com
welcome from the editor SHELLY ESSER
Welcome Friends! We’re so excited that you are here and desire to spend some time deepening your relationship with God. That’s what Just Between Us is all about—encouraging and equipping you for a life of faith. And we want you to know that every time you pick up a new issue, you are doing it together with women like you around the world. Community is so important and it’s the way we’ve been designed to grow best in our faith. You encourage me, I encourage you, and on it goes. So, we hope as you linger over the pages of this issue, you will sense the community of women cheering you on so that you know that you always have a special place to come where women are walking with you. From cover to cover, it’s been our great joy—our word for the year—to put together articles to help you in all areas of your life whether you’re in a joyful season or a sorrowful season or straddling both. We all need an ongoing safe place we can land; knowing that there are others experiencing the same struggles, questions, and doubts that we do and that it’s okay. I’m always amazed at how God uses the written word to encourage us at just the right moment. This issue is packed full of a variety of topics where you live day in and day out. You will find firsthand accounts of the power of God, hope, and biblical insight all wrapped up in the truth of God’s Word.
We are especially excited to introduce you to Jo Saxton on page 16. Jo is a gifted communicator, podcast host, author, and leadership coach. Her heart is to help women find their voice and impact their world: “Your voice makes a difference—in the trenches, to the timid, in the trauma and triumph. Your voice in all its fullness is powerful and brimming with potential…You need to learn how to use it, or recover it, and learn how to use it in all its beauty and purpose.” On page 30, you’ll find 10 Back-toSchool Prayers for your kids and grandkids. What better way to send the kids you love off into a new school year than covered in prayer? And, finally in keeping with talking about tough topics, we’re featuring our first article on transgenderism on page 34. Parenting My Transgender Child by Teri Carabello takes you into the real emotions and heartache of a Christian parent whose child has transitioned. It’s our prayer that this article will be a conversation starter into this complex topic and give you compassion along with resources to help you, if you are a family member or in ministry walking alongside others. The church’s response here is critical, as you will see. It’s time to dig in! We care about you and your faith— and it’s our prayer that God wraps His arms around you as you enjoy every last word of the fall issue. Joyfully,
betweenus ȷustbetween us fall 2023 ȷust
These are some of the highlights you’ll find in this issue. In keeping with our word for the year, you’ll find threads of lessons, insights, and discoveries on joy weaved throughout. I pray they will expand your understanding and experience of joy in your own life—and even give
you an “aha moment” or two! As you read through the issue, why don’t you keep track every time you see the word joy?
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Contents
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on the cover
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Seven transformational steps to freedom as you practice forgiving the unforgiveable. by Leslie Jones
Jo Saxton talks about uncovering your true potential, owning your voice, and boldly impacting your world. Now is the time to rise up! by Sarah Nielsen
Let meditating on God’s Word restore your soul. by Sandy Mayle
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Three lessons to help you through the pain of God’s silence. by Lori Ann Wood
Give your kids and grandkids the best start possible as they start back to school—prayer coverage. by Rebecca Barlow Jordan
When Forgiveness Seems Impossible
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Is God on Mute?
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faith chats: Rise Up!
10 Back-to-School Prayers
Infused
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Parenting My Transgender Child
What parents need most when walking through this challenging journey is for the church to lead with love and compassion without judgment. by Teri Carabello
About Our Ministry: Just Between Us is a vibrant and expanding not-for-profit ministry that continues to transform the lives of women around the world. Our heart-focused and biblically-based content in the print magazine, on the website, in the weekly digital mini magazine, on social media, and other products—all help women find hope and encouragement while growing their faith and deepening their love for Jesus.
Find Us in All Kinds of Ways:
T F I justbetweenus.org
features
in every issue
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3 Welcome from the Editor 6 Between Us 7 Happy Home 8 Table Talk with Abby 9 Encouraging WORDS 10 Transparent Moments
Discomfort Zones
Learn how to trust God more in the uncomfortable places through regular Sabbath rest. by Catriona Futter
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Unwrapping the Gift
God has an abundant storehouse of riches waiting for you as you grow deeper in your intimacy with Him. by Constance B. Fink
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Hind’s Feet
Living a life fueled by faith and filled with joy is possible even in times of waiting. by Jill Briscoe
columns
Outside Your 39 Front Door 40 Intentional Faith Minutes 41 15in the Word 42 Living Well 44 Everyday Transformation 45 Faith at Work 46 Between Friends
CREDITS Founder/Executive Editor Jill Briscoe
Circulation Manager Suzan Braun
Editor Shelly Esser
Advertising & Accounts Manager Sharon Vaught
General Manager Mary Perso
Renewals Manager & Software Support Rebecca Loesche
Assistant Editor Suzan Braun
new
Renewal Assistants Wayne + Sally Schlittenhart
Director Digital Media Mary Ann Prasser
Marketing Julie Santiago
Editorial Assistants Ann Cook Constance B. Fink Gayle Gengler Cherry Hoffner Danae Templeton
Director of Mission Advancement/ Social Media Ashley Schmidt
Creative Director Julie Krinke
Subscriptions Phil Perso Mary Richards Jan Schuldt Lin Sebena
Advisory Board Anita Carman Pam Farrel Judy Briscoe Golz Nancy Grisham Pam MacRae Elizabeth Murphy Jackie Oesch Stephanie Seefeldt
Prayer Sharon Stonecipher Intern Hailey Pitcher Photography Wayde Peronto Babboni Photography babbonis.com Stephanie Bloom Photography
ADVERTISING Ellie Dunn For more information call (856) 582-0690 ext. 2# or email ellie@carldunn.com. 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 Just Between Us. 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
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. Just Between Us is a member publication of the Evangelical Press Association. Copyright ©2023 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.
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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
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TABLE TALK WITH ABBY
Let God Use Your Table
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Abby Turner Kuykendall
grew up knowing that sitting around the table was important. I had breakfast there before school and dinner when we all came home, and even when my sisters and I were running in three different directions, my mom made it a point that we ate together. My experience around the table was built around family, so it substantiated the belief that I needed a husband, a house, and a nice table before I could eat at the table. As a result, I daily ate breakfast in the car, lunch at my desk, and dinner on the couch. The habit I cultivated and the relationship I had with my table not only created an atmosphere of loneliness and isolation, but it was the antithesis of what God desired for me. I wasn’t developing meaningful relationships with anyone—my deepest relationships were with my computer, job, and fourlegged friend Baylor.
Take the First Step
I floundered my way through unhealthy relationships, depression, and defeat until Jesus began nudging me to change my relationship with my table. The table is vital to an intimate relationship with Jesus. He doesn’t need me to have a perfect spread that even Martha Stewart would be proud of; He just needed me to take the first step to open my door and invite people inside.
The Spiritual Discipline of Hospitality
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Growing up in church, I heard that hospitality is a spiritual gift, which is true, but it is also a spiritual discipline. 1 Peter 4:8-9 says, “show hospitality,” Heb. 13:2 says, “do not neglect it,” and Acts 2:42 says that the young church worshipped, prayed, and ate together. In other words, we are all to practice hospitality. And when we do, we enter a more intimate relationship with God, and begin centering our community around Him.
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Hospitality as a spiritual discipline drew me to start my blog, A Table Top Affair, and write my devotional cookbook, The Living Table. I experienced firsthand the community-building power of inviting people around a table. I wanted to encourage people that we don’t have to wait for the perfect family, house, or table to begin showing hospitality. The Enemy will always throw something at you to keep you from gathering with others and inviting them in.
When discussing hospitality, we can’t get around talking about Mary and Martha. The story has been ingrained in our minds—don’t be like Martha, be like Mary. In verse 42, Jesus says, “Only one thing is necessary, and Mary has made the right choice.” Life can be chaotic, overwhelming, intimidating, and exhausting, but what we learn from Martha and Mary is not that we must have it all together for every party we host, but rather we walk into it with our hands open, ready to be faithful with what we have, and to receive what God has for us.
Hospitality is a Calling for All of Us
I’m excited to write this column and to empower and encourage you that hospitality isn’t just a gift some have, it’s our calling as Christians. Take the first step. Reclaim the table. Take your shoes, bills, and laundry off the table and set it. We should never look at the table as a vessel for holding our miscellaneous objects that haven’t found their home yet, but as a living and breathing tool that we get the opportunity to use to bring glory to God. When we set the table and invite others in, we put ourselves in a posture of obedience, ready to see God move.
Food for Thought:
• How are you taking the first step with what you have today? • How are you inviting people in, being obedient with what you have, and being open-handed with what God has for you?
Abby Turner Kuykendall is the author of The Living
Table, is loving life as a newlywed, and works full time as a food blogger, speaker, and writer. Born into a large family, she grew up in Central Arkansas, where she learned the importance of community and biblical hospitality at a young age. Abby’s passion is to encourage women to stop wasting time waiting for the perfect family, house, or table and to start opening their homes, cooking for friends, and building community. You can learn more about Abby and enjoy her recipes by visiting her website at atabletopaffair.com. G facebook.com/atabletopaffair w pinterest.com/atabletopaffair e instagram.com/atabletopaffair
encouraging WORDS “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” ROMANS 15:13
“Love is the overflow of joy in God!” JOHN PIPER
Joy
“But the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” GALATIANS 5:22-23
IS THE SERIOUS BUSINESS OF HEAVEN. C. S. LEWIS
“I believe God, through His Spirit, grants us love, joy, and peace no matter what is happening in our lives. As Christians, we shouldn’t expect our joy to always feel like happiness, but instead recognize joy as inner security—a safeness in our life with Christ.” JILL BRISCOE
“And the disciples were
filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” ACTS 13:52
“Among the most joyful people I have known have been some who seem to have had no human reason for joy. The sweet fragrance of Christ has shown through their lives.” ELISABETH ELLIOT
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