Treasure Bible Study Guide - July - September

TREASURE Helping Women Fulfill the Great Commission

PASS THE WINDEX | REFLECTION VS DEFLECTION | FAITH, FEAR & SUPERSTITION APRIL-JUNE 2024 1

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TREASURE Volume IIII, Issue 3 | July-September 2024 | WNAC.ORG

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BIB L E ST U D IE S

IN EVERY ISS U E

TREASURE

Pass the Windex............................... 5

Tidbits................................................4

What do we do when our relationship with God has become dull, unexciting, and uninspired?

Take a look at how to be involved in -missions and in your local church.

ISSN 8960038 Volume IIII, Number 3

Reflection vs. Deflection................ 18 Join us as Whitney walks through the differences between reflection and deflection.

Faith, Fear & Superstition.............22

Giggles............................................. 14 Have you ever gotten the church giggles at the National Convention?

Just Being Ruthful..........................25 See what the Bible has to say about superstition and bad luck.

Look at superstitions from around the world and what we can learn from them.

F E AT U R E S Testimonies About Growing.......... 11 2024 National Convention............15

TREASURE (ISSN 8960038) is produced quarterly by Women Nationally Active for Christ of the National Association of Free Will Baptists, Inc., 5233 Mount View Road, Antioch, TN 37013-2306. Copyright privileges reserved. A 2024 Member of Evangelical Press Association.

22 Editorial Staff Ruth McDonald, DIrector Phyllis York, Editor-in-Chief Tori Matlock, Design WNAC Board Amy Johnson, Michigan Sharon Dickey, Texas Jonda Patton, Kentucky Sarah Sargent, Ohio Tracy Payne, Oklahoma LeeAnn Wilfong, Missouri Khristi Shores, Oklahoma Jessica Edwards, Tennessee Katie Postlewaite, South Carolina Contributors Cristina Price, Tennessee Whitney Lute, Tennessee Judy Lytle, Tennessee Amy Johnson, Illinois Sarah Sargent, Ohio Phyllis York, Tennessee Ruth McDonald, Tennessee

Mail questions or comments to: Treasure, PO Box 5002, Antioch, TN 37011-5002

treasure@wnac.org | wnac.org | @WNACFWB APRIL-JUNE 2024 3

Thoughts From Amy

BY AMY JOHNSON

About the Colunnist: About the Columnist: Becoming a Christ follower at a young age, Amy Johnson has always enjoyed working within the church. With Philippians 4:13 as her life verse, she began assuming leadership roles as a teen. She enjoys seeing God use her skills and talents for her good and His glory.

Do you ever feel you’ve missed the boat? You had a golden opportunity, and didn’t realize it until it was too late? As a transfer student, I was two years late joining my college family. Senior year rolled around, and even though I quietly desired to go overseas, I stayed on the sidelines and watched others participate in summer mission trips. I thought I had missed the boat.

Fast forward to 2013. Now a pastor’s wife and mom, and working at the local school, I assumed my opportunity for overseas missions had passed me by.

Then I received an email. In it was a request for ladies from the United States to help with a ladies retreat/training conference in not just one, but two countries. We were encouraged to talk with our families and to prayerfully consider going. I must be honest; within moments of reading the email, I skipped right past the prayer part and excitedly told my husband and daughter I was going overseas! We’d figure out the specifics later and pray God would work out all the details. My boat had arrived! (Now, to look at a map and see where I was headed.)

God knew my heart. I love women’s ministry and missions. When these two worlds collided, my joy overflowed. That first opportunity to go to Kazakhstan and Tajikistan ignited a flame, and I have been honored to go to Ivory Coast, Africa, a second trip to Kazakhstan, Jamaica, and most recently, Bulgaria. I love meeting our brothers and sisters overseas and assisting however the Lord leads. Throw in some kids’ ministry, and I’m hooked!

The opportunities to actively participate in mission trips are numerous. I encourage you to jump in. Make yourself available, and God will provide a way. Travel options and communication are much easier today than they were years ago. If you’re unsure about going to the other side of the world, then try somewhere like Jamaica. Closer to the United States, still English speaking, but a different culture to experience as you go be the hands and feet of Jesus to others. It will change your life! If you feel you’ve missed the boat, don’t be discouraged; that ship has not sailed yet! And if you need a travel buddy, I’m available!

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PASS THE W I ND E

July APRIL-JUNE 2024 5

Pass The Windex

BY Cristina Price

I still remember how I felt when I accepted Jesus as my Savior. I was seven, crying and trembling in the pew beside my dad. The preacher had just delivered a terrifying sermon about Hell, and all I knew was, I didn’t want to go there. Sensing my anguish, my dad took my hand and led me to the altar, where I knelt and asked Jesus into my heart. When I stood a few minutes later, I felt something I never had felt before—lightness, purity, and joy—all inexplicable.

True, at the ripe age of seven, I had not committed any horrific sins, but that ‘washed-clean’ feeling lasted for days.

But…it didn’t last forever. Inevitably, the emotional high ebbed away, and I faced a hard truth. The Christian life is not lived on an emotional mountaintop; often, it is lived in the valleys.

Over the past four decades, my experience has shown the Christian life to be a mix of mountain tops, valleys, desert paths, and garden walks. I often find myself trudging through a wilderness, looking back fondly to my last high point, wondering when the next will arrive. What would seven-year-old me have thought if 40-something me could have shown her this reality? What if she knew that I struggle to communicate with God on a heart level, that some6 TREASURE

times He feels distant, and I don’t know why? And occasionally, I struggle to muster up the emotion or gumption to pray, read my Bible, attend church, extend hospitality, and love my family well.

Why is that? What has tarnished my relationship with God? Do you sometimes feel this way? (Please tell me I’m not the only one!)

What do we do when our relationship with God has become dull, unexciting, and uninspired? Is this the moment to give up the fight altogether or throw up our hands in defeat? Absolutely not.

The first step should be determining if sin has come between you and your Father. Examine your heart and be courageous enough to ask the hard questions.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: Try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me And lead me in the way everlasting (Psalm 139:23-25).” Be brutally honest with yourself and God. Confess and repent of any sin that may have wormed its way between you and Him. Ask God to restore your relationship.

At times, though, an honest self-evaluation does not reveal any unconfessed sins. We are in communion with God, but for some reason, our fellowship with

Him has become lukewarm, maybe even downright cold. Like spouses who have lost the enthusiasm of their love, their relationship grows ho-hum and perfunctory. They would never dream of separating, but the tepidness has gradually dragged their communion into ruts of apathy. Our intimacy with our Bridegroom can suffer the same fate.

What causes a once-torrid relationship to cool? Laziness, fatigue, distractions, addictions, busyness, lack of discipline or purpose, grief, or doubt. The reasons are legion. Any one of these can creep in and cause us to fall into complacency and apathy.

Is complacency a big deal? It is not, after all, listed as a “thou shalt not” in the Ten Commandments. As far as I know, no one was ever stoned to death because of apathy. But by no means does this indicate that it is harmless. Apathy can cause just as much harm as intentional sin.

In Amos 6:1-7 (ESV), God issues a warning: “Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and to those who feel secure on the mountain of Samaria, the notable men of the first of the nations, to whom the house of Israel comes!... Woe to those who lie on beds of ivory and stretch themselves out on their couches and eat lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the stall, who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp… who drink wine in bowls and anoint themselves with the finest oils, but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph! Therefore, they shall now be the first of those who go into exile, and the revelry of those who stretch themselves out shall pass away.”

Because of their apathy, the Israelites were the first to go into exile. These people were guilty of other sins, such as idol worship and neglect of prescribed sacrifices, but above all, God condemns their complacency. Feeling “…secure on the mountains of Samaria,” they stopped relying on God for their deliverance. They no longer feared or respected Him. Like a wayward spouse, they allowed the fire of their first love to cool to ashes. Content with the status quo, the 1

Israelites saw no need to change anything…until it was too late.

The reason for the dullness that crept into your life may not be the worship of Kiyyun, the star god (Amos 5:26), but an idol of a different sort: your smartphone, tablet, social media, Netflix, online games, or chat rooms. Perhaps even gambling or pornography? Anything that comes between us and God or distracts us from what truly matters can dull our relationship with God and result in lukewarmness and complacency—the very opposite of Jesus’ command to love the Lord with our hearts, souls, bodies, and minds (Matthew 22:37).

Do you have a war going on inside you? Our culture has a deep-rooted problem. It tells us that it’s not cool to care about things that matter, and being indifferent or laid-back is better. Social media has conditioned us to become numb to the truly remarkable and alive to the trivial . This paradox becomes increasingly challenging to live with every day. Our days become a vicious cycle of running to Facebook/ Instagram/Snapchat/TikTok to escape uncomfortable feelings, where we are fed a steady diet of sensationalism, conflict, and comparison.

I don’t know about you, but I want to get off this roller coaster. But how? We can’t talk ourselves out of apathy. The key is to look hard at the root causes and commit to weeding them out. Remember that list earlier? Laziness, fatigue, distractions, addictions, busyness, lack of discipline or purpose, grief, or doubt? The treatment for these symptoms of apathy is to cultivate practices and attitudes that counteract these inclinations. The Apostle Paul reminds his readers in Romans 13:14 and Galatians 3:27 that we are to “put on Christ” to defeat the sinful tendencies of the flesh.

Let’s look at our list of reasons for apathy: Laziness, lack of discipline, and purpose: These go hand-in-hand with procrastination. I, for one, am an

“Overcoming Apathy: Gospel Hope for Those Who Struggle to Care” by Uche Anizor.

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expert at putting off till tomorrow what I don’t feel like doing today. This boils down to a lack of self-discipline, which leads to delaying reading the Bible, praying, attending church, meeting with our small group, reading good books, and so on. Proverbs 6:6-11 (ESV) is unmistakably clear about what God thinks of laziness. After praising the ant for her industriousness, the writer switches gears: “How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.”

If you feel a lack of purpose is behind your apathy, perhaps a change in mindset is the cure. In Colossians 3:1-2 (NIV), Paul instructs the church to “…set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Setting our priorities straight and focusing on what matters in light of eternity can help motivate us to do good work.

Fatigue: Whether we like it or not, our souls are firmly attached to our bodies until God calls us home.

Consequently, the state of our bodies is constantly influencing our emotional and spiritual lives. Fatigue, hunger, thirst, illness, arthritis, headaches, and more contribute to our overall sense of well-being. If your body is perpetually tired, your spirit will feel the consequences. Do not feel guilty about prioritizing adequate sleep and proper nutrition. Taking care of the body God gave you is part of your worship of Him and is just good stewardship. Being more rested will also help you concentrate better when reading your Bible and not fall asleep while praying!

Distractions, addictions, busyness: I’ve lumped these together because I believe they are all interconnected. Our always-on, hyper-connected society never shuts down. I remember when television channels would go off the air at midnight, forcing night owls to go to bed or find entertainment elsewhere. Today, hundreds of cable TV channels broadcast around the clock, and streaming services give us 24/7 access to every movie and TV show. Social media lures us with 8 TREASURE

titillating glimpses of other peoples’ lives, email, texting, ads, pop-up notifications, games, news apps, and more, all vying for our attention. We never have any downtime to allow our minds to wander and our souls quieten. Shutting out those ‘voices’ takes real effort and self-discipline. If screen addiction, constant distraction, and busyness are coming between you and God, I recommend a hard reset. Memorize Hebrews 12:1-2 and make it the lock screen on your phone: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” (You may be interested in reading Tony Reinke’s book, 12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You. He offers insight and practical suggestions to help navigate our always-connected world.)

Grief and Doubt: This reason for apathy is often hushed up or swept under the rug. While I suffer occasionally with the other symptoms listed, grief and doubt are most often the reason for the distance between God and me. In the past two decades I have experienced some very high mountains and deep valleys. For years I fasted and prayed fervently for one

single answer to one single request, only to feel as if God were ignoring me or my prayers weren’t traveling past the ceiling, while others were receiving miraculous answers to their prayers. I’ve suffered soul-crushing grief, which caused me to beg God to tell me why He allowed such a thing to happen. Not surprisingly, I never received a direct answer. Apathy comes easily when it feels like we are praying in vain or that God is not intervening as we hoped.

“Why bother praying?” we ask ourselves.

“Why do I put in the effort if nothing will come of it?”

The Bible contains examples of people who prayed, asked, and waited for a very long time. I love the example Jesus gave in Luke 18:1-8 (ESV) of the persistent widow. Despite the callousness of an unbelieving judge, this woman kept pestering him with her request for justice against her adversary. “For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” Jesus goes on to say, “And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily.”

Abraham and Sarah, Hannah, Job, Elizabeth, Noah,

Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel—every single one of these heroes of faith (Hebrews 11) had long periods during their lives when they continually cried out to God for justice, deliverance, children, or answers. The Lord did not always grant their requests.

Job never got direct answers to the questions he was asking. Instead of miraculous deliverance, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Daniel saw Israel go into exile because of their sins. Sarah had all but given up on her dream of becoming a mother. Before she finally conceived Samuel, Hannah had endured years of teasing and ridicule from her husband’s other wife. Under the questioning stares and criticism of a befuddled community, Noah labored for 100 years building a boat in the desert. All these heroes have one thing in common: they never allowed the unanswered questions to interfere in their relationship with God. They kept praying, asking, reaching out, and pursuing God despite their burden. Some received their answers in their lifetime. Others didn’t. But they never gave up.

Looking at these examples of faith in the middle of our questioning helps to put our own burdens into perspective. Unanswered prayers can easily become a stumbling block in our relationship with God. When we focus on what He hasn’t done, we lose sight of all He has done, and the latter far outnumbers the former. I am certainly not belittling the suffering that unanswered prayers can cause.

I know first-hand how brutal that can be. But I want to encourage all of us to not to lose sight of the big picture. We become apathetic in our relationship with God when we get stuck thinking these 70+ years on earth are all there is. We lose sight of eternity.

C.S. Lewis discusses this lack of perspective in his essay The Weight of Glory. When discussing the desires of our hearts, which we tend to think are pretty important, he says, “Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered APRIL-JUNE 2024 9

us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

Our desires are too weak—you know that request you’ve begged God to answer? The questions you’ve been asking? The blessing you are craving? All are “mud pies” compared to the glory that awaits us. If we could only catch a glimpse of that glory, we would never again doubt God’s goodness or plan. Remember when Moses was allowed to see God’s back? (Exodus 33:17-23) From his physical appearance to his ministry, that glimpse changed Moses completely because he now had eternity in view.

What is the cure for dullness in our relationship with God, the apathy and complacency that get in the way?

Focus on the true goal. Let’s fix our eyes, not just on the finish line, but on what lies beyond the finish line… eternity. We all want to finish well, to run our race worthy of our calling. But the finish line is not the end.

It is just the beginning. If we could only glimpse eternity, our grief over unfulfilled desires and unanswered questions would vanish.

Master.” I can hardly wait to experience my Master’s joy and to feel His approval of the mud pies I offer Him. Will He one day reveal why I had to go through certain valleys? Maybe. But it doesn’t matter in the end.

Friends, let’s stay focused on what really matters.

About the Writer: Born in Washington, North Carolina, Cristina Price moved to Omaha, Nebraska, with her church-planting parents when she was two years old. She still bleeds Husker Red to this day! Cristina and her husband, Matt, have been IM missionaries to France for 21 years, and they have twin 14-year-old daughters, Madeleine and Emilie. Cristina loves to read, drink tea, take walks through the woods near her home, and have deep conversations with guests around her table.

My goal is to hear the Lord say, “Well done, my good and faithful Cristina. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your

Focus on the true goal. Let’s fix our eyes, not just on the finish line, but on what lies beyond the finish line…

Eternity.

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Testimonies About Growing

BY Phyllis York

In the hustle and bustle of life, our connection with God often gets buried beneath the noise of daily routines and distractions. Our relationship with God can gradually become overgrown with worldly concerns. As the intensity of our communion fades, we feel spiritually disconnected, longing for the depth we once experienced in our walk with Him. The women in my small group shared what causes a relationship with God to become dull; a time when they experienced that disconnection; and how they remedied it.

Kylie, a twenty-something: What causes my relationship with God to become dull? I thought of many things: my friends, my job, and even my family at times. All of those have one thing in common: me. I choose my friends. I choose my attitude at work. I choose to listen to or follow the things my family does or says. So, the real reason my relationship grows dull is my own flesh.

The one thing that pulls me out every time is Jesus. Every time I feel myself fall behind, He speaks to me personally. He strengthens our relationship because He knows that I am weak. He doesn’t leave me alone.

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Simple things also help me grow closer to Him: giving Him my time, choosing to talk to Him on my way to work instead of listening to music, and choosing worship music instead of secular music. Even changing my outlook the first thing every day, telling myself that I woke up this morning because God allowed it, and enjoying the day knowing He is not done with me yet.

Catie, another twenty-something: The answer to that question for me: I evaluate where I am and make the next right choice, one choice at a time, with intentional decision-making. This includes: Being vulnerable with trusted brothers and sisters in Christ. Setting up sources of encouragement and accountability: my husband, previous mentors, family, and my small group. Choosing Bible time instead of scrolling my phone at night. Choosing to respond to every situation with an attitude that would glorify God. Listening to worship music only, nothing secular.

Praying consistently.

When my relationship with the Lord gets dull, I realize I have cut off communication and held out on my prayers. I am intentional in beginning that flow of communication again by choosing Him and turning to Him in prayer; by going to church faithfully, with an open mind and heart; and by exposing myself to God’s Word and teaching. Sobering reminders of the truths of His Word motivate me to restore my relationship with Him. I can only conform to Christ if I keep my mind focused on the prompting of the Holy Spirit.

These don’t happen all at once. Sometimes, it is a fast recovery, or it drags on for long seasons. The bottom line is renewing my mind and heart to be set on Jesus, nothing else.

Anna, a young mom in her thirties: It was not too long ago when my relationship with Jesus had become dull. We had a series of major life events in our family that took up most of our time and 12 TREASURE

thoughts. I’ve always believed that our life should be like a pie chart, where Jesus is the center of everything we do. He was the center of my actions but wasn’t the center of my heart. I was doing things for Jesus, but I wasn’t spending time with Him. Then unexpected excitement filled our lives, I was pregnant! That excitement quickly faded after the first appointment revealed something was wrong with the baby. I knew God was the great Healer; I knew He could perform miracles. I prayed selfish prayers and never asked for His will to be done. On April 13, 2021, we lost our baby.

I clung to Jesus in my grief, and I learned what it truly meant to be fully surrendered to Him. I had learned to seek His will no matter what and glorify Him in my pain.

In January 2023, we welcomed a beautiful baby girl.

She arrived at the height of our ministry. I spent a lot of time balancing motherhood, working full-time, and being involved in full-time ministry. I slowly started to drown. I spent most of 2023 trying to catch up and catch my breath. I had allowed my pie chart to get out of hand again. I was doing so much for Jesus but not spending time with Him. A sermon series on being spiritually focused and in tune with God made me realize how misfocused I was. Since then, I have intentionally focused on spending time with Jesus and letting Him be Lord of my life. Daily, I ask Him to show me where He is working so I can join Him. At the beginning of this year, I decided to start my mornings early to spend time with Jesus. I am reading the Bible chronologically, and the Scripture has come to life, even the genealogies! It doesn’t matter what I do “for Jesus” if my relationship with Him is not intimate and growing.

Diana, retired: I think I was just checking the boxes for a while and letting the business of life pull me away. One day in church, as I was listening to the message, it dawned on me that I wasn’t reading the Word and praying as I should. So, I asked the Father to forgive me and help me draw closer to Him.

Rachael, 40: In 2013 I realized I was struggling in my relationship with God. My dad had developed cancer. My world stopped. I was angry and questioned God. Over and over again I remember saying, “Why would You do this? Why my dad? Why our family? We go to church, we work in the church, it isn’t fair.”

Fast forward to 2019, my family was still dealing with my dad’s cancer. Then my mom was diagnosed with cancer. The feeling of losing both parents was overwhelming. At the same time, I was dealing with some personal issues. I prayed and cried out to God but could not feel His presence. I remember one night I couldn’t sleep. When I finally drifted off, I had an experience that would change my life. I felt good and evil fighting for my soul. It was so real! I sat straight up in my bed and cried out, “Satan, you will not win! God, I choose to follow You.” From that day on, I have tried to follow Christ. My dad passed away in 2021, which was tough. When I look back at that journey, I believe God allowed that so I would follow Him. I have grown so much in the Lord over the last few years, and I am thankful that through all the bad times, I came out stronger in the end.

Sue, retired: As a first-time parent, you never think you will have to deal with debilitating sickness with your child. Well, I did. My oldest was 12 when she developed undetected strep throat, which caused her to have health problems. She went from being an active child to being wheelchair-bound and not able to speak. One night, she would not stop crying and could not say what was wrong. I was at my wit’s end. I loved her and wanted to fix it, but I couldn’t. I grabbed my Bible and started to cry out and pray to God. I prayed, “God, please help her to stop crying and to make it better.” After a bit, He answered. I realized I had been trying to deal with my daughter’s sickness on my own and not with Him. She grew out of those symptoms after high school, but I never forgot to remember to pray and read my Bible.

During her sickness, I questioned, “why us, Lord?” and our dear friend Bert Tippett said, “why not?” I have never forgotten those words; I try not to question God as He always knows best. I am a stronger person today.

Lori, 60-something: If I am honest with myself, I believe my relationship with Jesus becomes dull when I get out of the Word and become overwhelmed with life. I can’t really pinpoint a specific time. When I get out of the Word and focus on myself, I stay vigilant as to how to remedy this.

I overcome disconnection with God by aligning myself with other believers in fellowship and worship. I stay in the Word and focus my mind outwardly and not inwardly. It is exciting to read Scripture and understand how God’s plan fits together. Knowing He loves me and wants a relationship with me is a wonderful truth.

I have come to cherish my devotion time with God.

These testimonies show that it doesn’t matter about your age; we all have times when we feel disconnected from God. If you’re feeling that way, try some of the suggestions in the testimonials, or discover other things that will help you reconnect. Whatever you do, don’t stay where you are.

About the Writer: Phyllis York is the administrative assistant for WNAC and editor of Treasure Bible study guide. Her husband, Tim, pastors The Grove Free Will Baptist Church in Smyrna, Tennessee, where she leads the women’s small group, coordinates English as a Second Language classes, and is the church’s liaison with American Heritage Girls. She enjoys spending time with her five grands.

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Giggles

BY SARAH SARGENT

Have you ever had the ‘church giggles’ at the National Convention? One of my favorite things about the National is the opportunity to catch up with friends from all over the world. I also enjoy seeing my friends use their God-given talents to worship and honor Christ—a friend like Amanda York, who is Convention Interpreter for the Deaf, and very familiar with ‘church giggles.’

I have been friends with Amanda long before her last name was York. Our friendship deepened when she was in school learning to interpret for the deaf. Many evenings we spent chatting while she practiced her signing. She even tried to teach me words, but I never got the hang of it. Once she was teaching me the sign for ‘popcorn’ and I signed back ‘stripper.’ Hand placements mean everything in sign language!

Several years ago, I recorded a video of myself singing “Happy Birthday” using silly filters. I sent this video to all my friends and family on their birthdays. In early 2023, I had the idea to combine multiple languages for the song. I already knew English and Spanish. (Thank you, middle school Spanish class.)

My first effort was to learn “Happy Birthday” in French and American Sign Language. The French ended up being harder than I anticipated and I asked Christina Price (missionary to France) for help. I managed to figure out the sign language by myself.

At the National Convention, I wanted to confirm my knowledge of sign language with Amanda. I was very proud of myself and hoped to impress her with my new ‘party trick.’ Down at the stage, she was preparing for the service. She listened to my new idea and agreed to watch me sign “Happy Birthday” for her.

Immediately her face turned as red as her hair, and she quickly told me to never sign that again. Now, Amanda is a bit gullible. As soon as I saw her reaction, I started laughing. Then she started laughing, thinking I was playing a prank on her. Not this time; it was no joke!

As it turned out, I signed a word in “Happy Birthday” that should never be signed and should absolutely never be signed near the stage at the National Convention before thousands of Free Will Baptists. As Amanda tried to communicate the terrible mistake I had made, I just kept laughing harder, which made her laugh harder. That night I didn’t sit in the front seats as she interpreted the service. Any eye contact between the two of us might possibly have sent us back into the ‘church giggles.’

(Amanda later taught me the proper way to sign the line in the song. If you’ve received my “Happy Birthday” video this year, have no fear; I’m not using a foul word in it.)

About the Colunnist: Sarah Sargent loves to laugh and make others laugh even more. She is a third-generation member and leader in FWB Women’s Ministries. She currently serves as president of the women’s ministry at Reynoldsburg FWB Church, president for Ohio FWB Women’s Ministries, and on the WNAC board. She is a proud alumni of Ohio State University, loves all things Disney, and loves her Labradoodles Regal and Lexi.

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Fresh Apple Cake 1 cup shortening

1 teaspoon soda

1 cup sugar

½ teaspoon salt

1 egg

2 cups chopped apples

1 teaspoon vanilla

½ cup coconut

1 cup flour

½ cup raisins

½ cup nuts Cream shortening and sugar. Add egg and vanilla and beat until creamy. Sift dry ingredients together and stir into a creamy mixture. Then add all the other ingredients and bake in 8 x 8-inch pan for 45 minutes (350°).

Suggested Meal Plan Steak Mashed Potatoes Gravy Peas Pickled Beets Tossed Green Salad Buttered Rolls Strawberry Jello Fresh Apple Cake Tea

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Seminars

• Monday, July 22

○ 1:30 PM—Gospel Conversations with Tracey Kilgore ○ 2:30 PM—Caregiving with Lee Ann Wilfong

• Tuesday, July 23

○ 1:30 PM—Women Discipling Young Women with Carol Thompson ○ 2:30 PM—Shine Informational Meeting with Ruth McDonald & WNAC Board ○ 3:30 PM—De Religion a Relacion (From Religion to Relationship) with Viviana Portillo

• Wednesday, July 24

○ 10 AM—La Influencia de la Mujer (A Woman’s Influence) with Elesinia Portillo

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Laughter & Latté Tickets $12 in advance / $15 on site Monday, July 22 at 8:30 P.M.

TCC Ballroom B

Join us for giggles, games, and giveaways! We won’t let the absence of ice cream bring us down. We’ll make up for it with memories, laughter, fellowshp, and of course, coffee, soda, and water.

with Lea Edgmon

with Lea Edgmon

For information about how you can participate in the Simulcast Conference, come by the WNAC exhibit or attend the Shine informational meeting on Tuesday, July 23 at 2:30 pm.

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August

Reflection Vs Deflection

BY Whitney Lute

I absolutely love to play the flute! I’ve played for the last 17 years, and up until the last two years, I played nearly every day. From fifth grade through twelfth, I practiced daily. I played in honor bands and the marching band in high school. When I wasn’t playing my flute at school, I was attending rehearsals for a community wind symphony.

I took lessons, practiced at home, and played in church. I continued flute lessons in college, played for the college choir, participated in an instrumental ensemble, and played every Sunday at church.

The flute has been an integral part of my life and remarkably influential. As I said, I absolutely love playing the flute!

As with many hobbies, though, despite our love for them, sometimes they must be moved aside for various reasons. This happened to me, and the frequency of time I now spend playing personally and professionally has decreased dramatically.

However, I do pull out my flute for a few “gigs” during the Christmas season and Easter. This requires time commitment when I travel, personal practice, ensemble rehearsals, and the performance itself.

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In March 2023, I agreed to play flute for a church Easter service. The music arrived about three weeks before the performance. Flipping through it, I thought, “Wow, that looks tough. I’ll definitely need to practice before rehearsal.” As the days ticked by—days filled with graduate school and a busy schedule at work—so did my opportunities for practicing. I kept thinking about that music, knowing if I didn’t practice, rehearsal would not go well, but I kept delaying any practicing until the day before our only performance rehearsal. By this time, it was too late. I knew my flautist skills could only carry me so far before it would be glaringly apparent that I was unprepared.

At the Thursday rehearsal, to my surprise, I was the only instrumentalist besides the organist. To say I panicked would be a gross understatement! Fortunately for me, the vocal ensemble I was accompanying needed more practice than the director expected, so I was told I could leave. The director assumed I knew my music well enough without a group rehearsal. I left thinking, “Good! Now I have more time to practice before the service on Saturday

evening.” I should have remembered that ‘pressing’ matters always crowd out practicing my flute.

On Saturday, I nervously spent the entire day reviewing the music with my husband, who was singing in the ensemble. He knew as well as I did, I was unprepared for the evening’s performance. We practiced diligently and fervently hoped my musician instincts would kick in and save me.

I look back on that evening and believe it was the worst performance I’ve ever given in my professional flute-playing career. I missed key changes and misread time signatures, both musical elements I had known since I was ten years old. I played the wrong rhythms and didn’t even consider dynamics. I was beyond embarrassed—I was very angry with myself.

Afterwards in the car with my husband, I rattled off every possible reason to justify my poor performance. “I just didn’t have time to practice!” Or “you know how busy I’ve been at work! And school eats up so much time.” Or “I didn’t get the music in time, and I didn’t even get to practice with the ensemble!”

Deep down, I knew—excuses, excuses. I had only myself to blame.

In hindsight, I deflected the blame and did not accept any personal responsibility for my lack of preparedness, even when confronted with the ramifications of my choices. My story reminds me of Genesis three: the first story of deflection of blame. Remember when the Serpent tempted Eve to question or reconsider what God had told her and her husband, Adam. Regarding the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, she states, “God hath said, ‘Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die (Genesis 3:3).’” After a quick exchange with the Serpent, Eve finds God’s command and Satan’s cunning coercion in stark contrast. A decision stands before her, and she chooses to eat the fruit of the tree and to give some to Adam, who also ate. What do we read next? “And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked...” (Genesis 3:7).

Sin is dangerous and damning because it blinds our

ability to think and respond rationally. Suddenly, everything changed for Adam and Eve and nothing would ever be the same again.

A few verses later, we read the first placement of blame recorded in Scripture. “And He [God] said, ‘who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?’ (Genesis 3:11).” When questioned, Adam folded and blamed Eve for their joint decision. He says, “The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat (Genesis 3:12). ” (What kind of look do you think Eve gave Adam at this response?) Then, in verse 13, God asked Eve, “What is this that thou hast done?” As if she learned nothing from the sting of her husband’s deflecting blame to her, Eve said, “The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat (Genesis 3:13).”

Imagine standing before God, faced with your sin, staring the consequences of your actions in the face, and pointing your finger at someone else, saying, “They made me do it!” While both Adam and Eve recognized they disobediently ate, neither accepted responsibility for that decision to eat of the forbidden tree. It sounds like they said to God, “I know I did it, but it’s not my fault! Someone tricked me!”

Even before they made their choice, Adam and Eve knew the consequence of eating from this particular tree. The Lord had told them, “Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Genesis 2:16-17). Could God have been any clearer with Adam and Eve? They were permitted to eat from every tree in the garden except one, and if they ate from that one tree, they would die.

How often do we find a reason why we can’t do something we know we ought to do? Or do something we know we shouldn’t be doing? If we’re honest, this should prick our conscience. I know it pricks mine. When faced with the decision, both Adam and Eve knew the correct choice: ignore the Serpent’s crafty words and stay far away from the APRIL-JUNE 2024 19

tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Unfortunately, their decision hurled them into a tragic trajectory with only one outcome—death. They both knew this was a conversation that could have ended differently. Unfortunately, it ended with a poorly thought-out choice and miscalculated and misplaced blame.

mine. Please remember: God is never to blame for our decisions or our shortcomings. He is blameless and gives us the free will to make decisions based on our desires, our volition, and our faith. When we reflect and blame the Lord, we are still deflecting and refusing to accept responsibility for the actions for which only we are responsible.

Perhaps Adam and Eve’s fateful encounter prompts us to ask how often we deflect blame?

Growing up, when my younger sister and I would get into arguments, inevitably, one of us would tattle on the other. We’d race to find Mom or Dad first. Graciously, my parents would listen to each side of the story. In many of these scenarios, my father quickly reminded us, “Remember, when you point a finger at someone, there are always three fingers pointing back at you.”

Usually we would skulk away, knowing we were both to blame for the scuffle. While this is a silly example of sibling conflict, my father’s words still carry profound wisdom and often ring true in my mind to this day. Just because you point your finger at someone and blame them, doesn’t mean you are not without blame yourself. It behooves us to reflect on the situation before casting blame onto someone or something.

Regarding reflection, we must ask ourselves, “how often do I ‘reflect’ on a situation and yet blame God?” When confronted with his sin, Adam said to the Lord, “The woman whom thou gavest to be with me… (Genesis 3:12).” Adam reflected and then blamed God for his actions, the woman You gave to me gave me the fruit, and I ate. It’s easy to think Adam had incredible audacity to blame the Lord for his sin, but do we do the same thing sometimes? We “reflect” then find a way not to accept responsibility for our actions, blaming God instead for our circumstances or choices. When things go awry, and you make poor decisions, maybe you’re quick to think, “I can’t help it. This is just who I am. It’s how God made me!”

Is this a common refrain in your repertoire? It is in 20 TREASURE

When our response is to reflect instead of deflecting, we should humbly ask ourselves, “What really happened here?” This grates against our natural disposition of self-centeredness, forcing us into uncomfortable conversations and realizations about ourselves. Self-reflection and introspection are

good, healthy practices that enable us to properly understand ourselves. “Why did this happen?” Or “Why did I respond this way?” Or “If I’m being honest, what could I have done differently to make the situation’s outcome more favorable?” These practices equip us in the discipline of confession, and in recognizing our self-righteousness has resulted in arrogance before the Lord. Reflection helps maintain a right posture

selves toward God’s grace and mercy.

Often, though, our reflection can result in the need for further action. Maybe we need to apologize for our behavior. Perhaps we need to change our habits and help alter our mindset regarding blame and responsibility when we’re in the wrong. Maybe we need to pray more, asking the Lord to humble us and aid us in our efforts toward reflection.

Since my lackluster flute performance, I’ve adequately practiced in preparation for any musical commitment, vowing to never allow such a musical mishap again. This doesn’t change the outcome of my poor Easter performance, but it will positively impact any future musical engagements. Accepting responsibility doesn’t always alter the past and its consequences, but it certainly can influence the future and prevent something similar from happening.

So, I ask you, when is a time that you have deflected blame instead of reflecting on where the fault lies? Why is it easier to blame anything or anyone but yourself when, in your heart, you know the truth? When have you “reflected” and still blamed God for the situation or for your response? What precipitating events lead to deflection and misplaced blame? How can you begin to accept responsibility for your actions, even when you’re frustrated, sad, or embarrassed by your choices? How can the Lord redeem your failures for His glory and your betterment?

before God; freeing us to accept responsibility where needed; to confess our sins and failures to the only One Who eternally pardons; then, moving forward in confidence that we are forgiven. The beautiful reality of God’s forgiveness is that our mess-ups can bring glory to Him, and point creation, others, and our-

About the Writer: Whitney Lute works at Welch College, serving as the Women’s Resident Director and an adjunct instructor in psychology. She is married to Jacob Lute and they are excited to welcome their first child, Lawrie, in early June. In her down time, Whitney enjoys traveling to new places, spending time outdoors, as well as reading a good book.

APRIL-JUNE 2024 21

September

Fear, Faith & Superstition

BY Judy Ly tle

Break a mirror and you will have seven

based on fear.

years of bad luck. Step on a crack and you will break your mother’s back. If you walk under a ladder, you will have bad luck. Throw salt over your shoulder for good luck. What about all the weird superstitions of many sports players—lucky socks, lucky underwear, a ritual before a game? We’ve heard them all. Most of us don’t believe there is any truth in these superstitions, but we might be surprised by the number of people who believe some of these or something similar. I’ve even caught myself saying, “Deaths come in threes. If you go to one funeral, you will go to three.”

Do you have a lucky number? Is 13 unlucky? What about Zodiac signs? Truth or superstition? What exactly is superstition?

Virtually every country or culture, including the United States, has its own superstitions. Some of our IM missionaries shared a few from other countries with me.

From the Britannica Dictionary: 1. A belief or way of behaving that is based on fear of the unknown and faith in magic or luck. 2. A belief that certain events or things will bring good or bad luck. https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/superstition Notice the interesting use of “fear” and “faith” in that definition. These words were part of the working title for this article. But in the title, we refer to genuine “faith” in God versus “faith” in magic or luck. This dictionary’s definition does tell us that superstition is 22 TREASURE

Japan – The number four is bad luck because it sounds like the word for death. Most hotels and apartment buildings do not have a fourth floor; they go from the third to the fifth.

Spain – On New Year’s Eve eating grapes when the clock strikes 12 will bring good luck and ward off evil.

Côte d‘Ivoire – If you ride the bicycle of someone who has AIDS, you will contract that disease. One missionary said that superstitions consume much of life in Africa.

Uruguay – If you step outside on a very cold day without being bundled up, you will die instantly.

Panama – Don’t drink ice in a drink if you are hot or have a cold. Place matches (not lit) on top of a baby’s ears to cure hiccups. Don’t shower or go outside after ironing clothes. A baby should be baptized in the Catholic church soon after birth to protect it from evil spirits. In years past, children could not play outside on Good Friday. It was believed the evil spirits would

get them. Many people buy lottery tickets twice a week and have a lucky number they rush to purchase before other people can get it.

Every culture has its superstitions. Some overlap and others are peculiar to that culture. The point is that a certain amount of fear manifests itself in the superstitions of each culture, even those of the United States.

Some of these ideas have roots in ancient civilizations, which were very superstitious. For instance, the Egyptian Pharaohs were buried with everything they thought they would need in the afterlife—food, clothes, transportation, jewelry, games, and sometimes pets and servants.

In India, widows were sometimes, willingly or unwillingly, burned along with their deceased husbands.

In Rwanda, eating goat’s meat supposedly makes women hairy. They are thought to grow hair on their face and become stubborn.

Turkish chewing gum was believed to turn into human flesh if chewed at night.

Left-handed things and people were considered untrustworthy or unlucky. (My husband Steve, two of our sons, and I are all left-handed. Yikes!) This superstition existed in ancient Rome; even today, the left hand is considered unclean in some cultures.

These and others can be found in the following link. https://www.ancient-origins.net/myths-legends-europe/superstitions-0017734 Whether ancient or modern-day superstition, it is founded on fear. As Christians, we don’t want our lives to be controlled by fear and superstitions.

The Bible is our rule of faith and practice. We weigh what we believe and do according to God’s Word.

This even applies to old wives’ tales and superstitions. We’ve reviewed some common and not-socommon superstitions. Now, let’s look at the Word.

Here are a few of the many Scripture passages dealing with mediums and spiritists.

Isaiah 8:19-20 (NKJV), “And when they say to you, ‘Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who

whisper and mutter,’ should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.”

Leviticus 19:31 (NIV), “Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God.” Leviticus 20:6 (NKJV), “And the person who turns to mediums and familiar spirits, to prostitute himself with them, I will set My face against that person and cut him off from his people.”

1 Timothy 4:7 (NKJV), “But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness.”

Galatians 5:19-21 (NJKV), “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” 1 Chronicles 10:13-14 (NKJV), “So Saul died for his unfaithfulness which he had committed against the LORD, because he did not keep the word of the LORD, and also because he consulted a medium for guidance. But he did not inquire of the LORD; therefore He killed him, and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse.”

According to Scripture, God does not agree with consulting mediums and fortune tellers. His Word speaks out loud and clear against these practices, including planning our lives around our Zodiac signs.

Instead, we are to seek God and what He tells us through His Word.

Saul was killed and the kingdom taken away from him and his descendants because he was unfaithful and because he consulted a medium for guidance.

God considered this very serious when Saul replaced APRIL-JUNE 2024 23

Him as God and put an idol in His place. You may say, “What idol?” Anything or anyone we hold as more important than God is an idol. This includes any superstitions we might believe. They may seem small and insignificant, but they are idols if we put our faith in them and not in God. God hates this.

Since superstitions are founded on fear, let’s look at God’s Word for clarity.

Fear should not control us. God’s Word repeats this truth often, and gives us the things to replace fear in our lives—love, faith, power, the ability to reason, etc.

I John 4:18 (NKJV), “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.”

Psalm 56:3 (NKJV), “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.” 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV), “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and of a sound mind.”

Psalm 34:4 (NKJV), “I sought the LORD, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears.”

Psalm 118:6 (NKJV), “The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

Proverbs 29:25 (NKJV), “The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe.”

Hebrews 13:6 (NKJV), “So we may boldly say: “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear.

What can man do to me?”

God’s Word reminds us repeatedly that we should not fear but trust in Him. But how do we turn that fear into trust or help someone struggling with this?

Filling our minds with good things, not fearful or mystical things, is essential. When our minds enter that room of fright or mysticism, reflect on God’s Word.

A favorite passage comes to mind and is an excellent Scripture to memorize. The Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 4:8 (NKJV), “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, 24 TREASURE

if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”

Our minds should be focused on these things and not concerned about what our horoscope says, or the black cat crossing our path, or any other superstition. God’s Word is true, and our faith is grounded there and not in the ideas and inventions of man.

When the temptation comes to believe in one of the thousands of superstitions or a fortune teller, ask yourself if you are leaning into this experience because you fear there may be a little truth in it? Remind yourself of the above-mentioned scriptural warnings. Reassure yourself that fear should not be part of your life. God can replace our spirit of fear with love, faith, and sound thinking (2 Timothy 1:7). Yes, reason it out. God has given us the ability to think clearly and not be taken in by every falsehood.

Superstitions will always be with us, but we don’t have to fall prey to their influence. God has given us the power to be victorious over any fear threatening to control us. Reflect upon His Word. There, we find the answers.

About the Writer: Judy Lytle served as a missionary in Panama with her husband Steve for 30 years. Her main ministry was with women and children. Working alongside several other women, Judy helped organize the first national FWB women’s retreat in 1989, which continues yearly.

Judy now helps her husband with his ministry to Cofer’s Chapel seniors and in the Hispanic ministry in Nashville, Tennessee. Judy and Steve are proud of their three sons, three daughters-in-law, 10 (in October 11) grandchildren, and a granddaughter-in-law.

Just Being Ruthful*

BY Ruth McDonald

“I’m not superstitious…I’m just a little ‘stitious,’” I recently heard someone quip. I found it funny because I think we’re all somewhere on the continuum regarding superstition.

From ‘knocking on wood’ to saying, “Bless you!” after someone sneezes, most of us have habits rooted in fear and superstition, though possibly clueless about their origins in ancient folklore. It is good to reflect upon our seemingly innocuous tendency to follow our culture’s taboos and traditions. This issue of Treasure includes Judy Lytle’s study on “Faith, Fear, and Superstition” and other great Bible studies to help us fine-tune our faith.

“*Ruthful is an While serving in Japan as a missionary, I discovered many Japanese believe in lucky archaic English and unlucky numbers, dates, ages, and years. They visit shrines and pray when they word (the oppoare facing a particularly unlucky birthday so they can ward off attacks by evil spirits.

I remember sitting across from one of my Japanese friends as I watched her chin site of ruthless) quiver, and tears start to fall. “It was all my fault,” she said. “My father had a heart meaning “full of attack because of me.” People had told her she should go to the shrine when she entered her unlucky year, but she wasn’t superstitious and chose not to go. When compassion.” a string of ‘bad luck’ and troubles happened in her family that year, including her father’s near-fatal heart attack, she deeply regretted her decision. She believed she had caused all these things by not honoring the gods.

She needed truth and loving encouragement to turn to the Living God and to a faith not based on fear but love.

Unlike the gods she had grown up fearing, the One and Only God is not a mischief-causing being Who is waiting to wreak havoc in the lives of those who get on His bad side. He is, as Job said, and David quoted, “merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” Even when we don’t get it right, which is great because… well, we never do get it entirely right, do we?

“Perfect love casts out fear” (I John 4:18), and God’s love is the most perfect of all. When I was still a toddler, I memorized a verse to ward off the boogie man, and I still need to quote it more often than I care to admit.

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.”

(Psalm 56:3-4, ESV).

Stay in the Word. It leads you to a trustworthy God. Blessings!

Ruth APRIL-JUNE 2024 25

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