Peace that Passes Understanding

Of the nine aspects of the fruit of the Spirit, three get a lot of play in this season: love, joy and peace. Truth is, there’s probably a greater need for self-control, patience and forgiveness in the typical North American’s preparation and observation of Christmas. But in the next couple of weeks we’re going to take a closer look at what the love, joy and peace that flow out of a spirit-filled heart and life are really like.

Of the three, our wishes for peace seem the least likely to be fulfilled any time soon—what with world-wide conflicts if not at record levels, certainly our awareness of them is heightened thanks to the 24-hour news cycle and information available at the tap of a finger.

The peace that the Prince of Peace brings will eventually—at the final advent—be the cessation of conflict among nations and individuals. In the meantime, it is possible to experience the peace that passes understanding—an inner peace despite the turmoil in our personal lives or the chaos in the world.

In his Incarnation—taking on humanity, moving into the neighborhood and going all the way to the cross and the grave—Jesus broke the barriers that separated us from God. You know the tension you feel when you’re at odds with your spouse or a best friend? When it’s resolved there’s a renewed intimacy. The conflict is gone; you’re comfortable again in one another’s presence. That’s the kind of peace we can experience with our Creator. It’s a peace that’s available regardless of our circumstances. It’s a gift of the Spirit.

We may not always feel peace; it’s something that comes from the Holy Spirit in our lives. The Spirit’s peace is much more a character trait than a feeling. We already have the gift of peace. It is waiting to be developed through the partnership of God’s spirit with our own.[1] 

In this hectic season, at a time in history that seems especially troublesome, the Spirit’s gift of peace is one that I really treasure. How about you? 

Although we cannot personally give you the gift of peace, Ascending Leaders is making FREE DOWNLOADS of all nine Spirit's Fruit pdfs available. Enjoy!

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[1] Practicing Peace, p. 15

Cheap Discipleship

In his book, The Cost of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer talked about cheap grace and costly grace. He defined cheap grace as grace we extend to ourselves…grace without discipleship.

We could just as easily talk about cheap discipleship because discipleship is a term that gets used by many people, but few fully understand the word disciple as Jesus used it.  Much of what is considered discipleship today consists of programs and strategies designed to make believers better Christians. These focus on processes and actions—more prayers, more quiet time, more of whatever we or the culture determines makes you a better Christian. Or simply feel good words from a therapeutic God.

But all of those things, important as they may be, miss the key ingredient in discipleship: a changed heart that leads to changed behavior—deeper love with Jesus leading to transformed lives.

Often discipleship is described as being a follower of Jesus. The twelve disciples come to mind. But to get a better understanding of discipleship it helps to take a good look at the progression in the disciples’ relationship with Jesus. Over the span of their three years with him, they moved from an invitation to come and see, then to follow, then to be with Jesus and finally to remain in him. Little did they know when they answered that first call—to come and see the amazing things Jesus was doing—that following Jesus would consume their lives and in the end cost them their lives. 

As Bonhoeffer recognized, authentic discipleship requires sacrifice. For Bonhoeffer, too, it meant his life. For us, it may mean a lifestyle. Christianity can no longer be a Sunday morning event, or a growing knowledge of biblical truth and doctrine. Costly discipleship demands "our life, our soul, our all" as an old hymn says—our intellect and emotions, our words and deeds. It means giving up our own desires and submitting them to God’s higher plan and purposes. For independent-minded Westerners that is a challenge. That’s why the call to discipleship is not one to take lightly. Be prepared to pay the price. 

Part of our mission at Ascending Leaders is to help people understand what it means to grow as disciples in all the fullness of the Word. We do that in a variety of ways:

• seminary classes

• workshops for ministry leaders and staff 

• workbooks suitable for personal devotions or small groups (go to www.ascendingleaders.org to view our complete inventory and order)

• blogs, and talks.

You can find two Ted-like Talks on our YouTube channel to learn more about the history of discipleship and its varied implications.

Breathe and read ... this comforting NEW book

New Release: Be Still and Know, Breath Praying Through Loss

I learned about breath prayers when I did Ascending Leader’s Listening Prayer study. Little did I know that a few years later this prayer tool would become my survival strategy. Saying breath prayers got me through stressful days and lonely nights after my husband went to heaven. Some of these breath prayers have been posted on the Ascending Leaders blog. Be Still and Know, Breath Praying Through Loss is a compilation of fifty-two breath prayers, giving you the option of focusing on one prayer word each week for one year. Space is allowed at the end of each devotional for you to write a personal breath prayer.

In a breath prayer entitled Presence (pp. 19-21) you will read:

The ache of sorrow is very deep, but the presence of God is very real. I experience God’s presence more vividly than ever before. Shortly before He ascended into heaven, Jesus promised that He would be with us always (Matthew 28:20). I am not surprised by God’s presence. However, I am amazed at the impact of His presence as I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. Knowing that God is here helps me to get out of bed in the morning and get to sleep at night.

Death is not the only kind of sorrow one can experience in this life. Deep sorrow may come from loss of health, relationship difficulties, loss of employment, financial struggles, or separation from loved ones. Whatever the ache, whatever the sorrow, holding on to the presence of God is one sure way to accept and survive the situation. We must surrender to Him, the One who is in control of every detail of our lives.

Moses struggled with his God-given responsibility to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt, where they had been enslaved for many years. He did not think he was up to the task. He did not think the people would listen to him (Exodus 4). He must have felt overwhelmed by the unknown path ahead. I feel a bit like Moses. Just as he felt inadequate and resistant to God’s plan for him to deliver the people from Egyptian slavery, I am struggling with the reality that I have outlived my husband and I now have many new responsibilities as the surviving spouse. I had thought my husband and I would grow old together. Now I find myself facing a different kind of future without my soul mate. My plans have changed. I am overwhelmed when I think of my new status—widow.

Why, God, I ask, have you left me to live alone? God’s response to me is the same as His response was to Moses. In His still, small voice, He says, “I have not left you alone. My presence goes with you.” He promises all believers that He will be there for us, always and forever. Presence. Over and over I breathe the word presence. God is here. I am not alone.

The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” —Exodus 33:14

Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God. —Isaiah 43:2-3a

Lord, help me feel Your presence. When have you experienced the presence of the Lord? Are you carrying an ache so deep and personal that you feel you are carrying it all alone? Ask God to make you more aware of His presence.

It is my prayer that this book will help others learn how to say breath prayers as well as bring comfort, strength, and hope for anyone who is experiencing any kind of loss. Be Still and Know is available at www.westbowpress.com.

978-1-4908-0144-5 (Soft Cover ISBN)

978-1-4908-0145-2 (Hard Cover ISBN)

978-1-4908-0143-8 (E Book ISBN)

Lois R. Hoogeveen

* One of our authors, Lois Hoogeveen, lost her husband in early March to a battle with cancer, which began just 3 months earlier. Jim and Lois had pastored 5 churches, 2 they planted. At the time they were hit with this disease they were transitioning into specialized transitional ministry for the next season of their full time ministry. They were and are good friends of Ascending Leaders. Through the journey with cancer, Jim and Lois wrote and shared their "breath prayers," each day. "Breath Praying" is something they had first learned seven years ago from the Ascending Leaders Christ Habits book Prayer: Listening to God's Voice.

Since Jim's passing, Lois has been continuing to write excellent reflections on this journey along with breath prayers. She has consented to allow us to share some with you. Lois is also the core author of two of our newest workbooks: Since Jim's passing, Lois has been continuing to write excellent reflections on this journey along with breath prayers. She has consented to allow us to share some with you. Lois is also the core author of two of our newest workbooks:  Your Pathways: Strong Connection with God and Thriving: Stewarding Unexpected Change.

Walking the Journey of Grief--One Breath Prayer at a Time #22

Breath Prayer:  RISE UP

Do you remember when you learned to drive? Although I grew up on a farm I never drove the tractor or pick-up for farm work. We did not have a 4-wheeler all those years ago. I had a bicycle. That was the extent of my “behind the wheel” experience. Until I was 15-years-old. My cousin had no more experience than I did so my aunt decided to take her and I to the pasture to get a feel for being in the driver’s seat of the car before we started drivers education. We took turns driving my aunt’s car in circles in the pasture as our orientation for driving on the streets of the small town where we would have our first on-the-road driving experience.

Fast forward about 15 years. My husband bought a second car – an ugly green Fiat. This ugly green Fiat, which looked like a box on wheels, had a manual transmission. No big deal. It was the car he drove. Until the day I had to take it home from church. Parked on the side of the street, facing up-hill, I had to manage shifting gears as I did the clutch-gas-brake dance in such a way that I could get the car away from the curb and moving forward.

Needless to say, the men who were standing outside the church were given plenty of fodder for laughter and future stories about their inept pastor’s wife who did not know how to drive a stick-shift vehicle. Difficult and embarrassing as it was, I was determined. I was motivated. I had to get home. There were other times when, if I wanted to go where I wanted to be, I had to drive the ugly green Fiat. And I did. I never enjoyed driving this car, but I did not let it hinder me from getting me to my desired destination.

I knew no more about how to navigate through grief a year ago than I did about driving a car the day my aunt took me to the pasture. Moving forward with grief is as jerky a ride as one got when I was driving our ugly green Fiat. It is quite a miserable ride. However, it is a process that does eventually get one from point A to point B. Driving a car, even an ugly green stick-shift Fiat, becomes easier with experience. Navigating life as a surviving spouse also begins to feel more comfortable with the passing of time and the accumulation of successful accomplishments. I am learning how to shift gears more smoothly as I traverse this road of grief.

One day my husband came home with a cute little blue Honda in place of the ugly green Fiat. I was ecstatic until I got in and my eyes were drawn to the lever between the front seats. How could he? I was not happy. But then I took it for a drive. I was able to flawlessly shift from one gear to the next! Unbelievable! The ride was not at all jerky. The combination of what I had learned driving the Fiat and having a better car made a world of difference in my manual-transmission driving competency.

It has been almost a year since I found myself behind the wheel of widowhood, driving in circles around the barren field of life, afraid and overwhelmed. Nothing was automatic. Everything required a clutch-gas-brake dance. Without a choice, I started griever’s education, doing the book-work in the privacy of my home and on-the-road driving in public as I ventured out onto both old and new roads.

Things are starting to change. The ride is smoothing out. It does not feel like the road is always uphill and that I am just jolting back and forth. Some things have now become automatic for me. Others still need to be manually shifted, but I am learning the process and becoming more confident. Persistently praying the names of the Lord has carried me through the ruggedness of grief and is empowering me to rise up and stand firm, trusting the Lord to carry me through the day.

RISE UP  Some trust in chariots and some in horses (or ugly green Fiats) but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm. Psalm 20:7

* One of our authors, Lois Hoogeveen, lost her husband in early March to a battle with cancer, which began just 3 months earlier. Jim and Lois had pastored 5 churches, 2 they planted. At the time they were hit with this disease they were transitioning into specialized transitional ministry for the next season of their full time ministry. They were and are good friends of Ascending Leaders. Through the journey with cancer, Jim and Lois wrote and shared their "breath prayers," each day. "Breath Praying" is something they had first learned seven years ago from the Ascending Leaders Christ Habits book Prayer: Listening to God's Voice.


Since Jim's passing, Lois has been continuing to write excellent reflections on this journey along with breath prayers. She has consented to allow us to share some with you. Lois is also the core author of two of our newest workbooks: Since Jim's passing, Lois has been continuing to write excellent reflections on this journey along with breath prayers. She has consented to allow us to share some with you. Lois is also the core author of two of our newest workbooks:  Your Pathways: Strong Connection with God and Thriving: Stewarding Unexpected Change.

Walking the Journey of Grief--One Breath Prayer at a Time #21

Breath Prayer:  THINK

Lois Hoogeveen

I think I can. I think I can. I think I can. The children’s book, The Little Engine That Could, tells the story of a little engine that used a good dose of self-talk to climb a mountain that felt insurmountable. The I think I can experiences, like accomplishing a difficult task, reaching a challenging goal or overcoming a fear that immobilized us in the past, also give us I did it! moments that are well worth celebrating.

I had a great I did it! morning this week. It’s that time of year. We all have to face it. Tax season. Some of you may recall that having this inescapable obligation was one of those daunting tasks facing me right after my husband’s death last year. I was fearful and anxious about this responsibility because I had chosen to be ignorant and uninvolved in the process of filing taxes the 40-plus years of our married life. Although I am far from understanding tax rules and regulations, I was very pleased that I had all the facts, figures and forms my CPA needed when we met. And I did it “all by myself.”  No pounding heart, no racing pulse, no tension headache like last year. I did it!

One of the biggest things that affects how I perceive a situation, whether it be pleasant or challenging, is my own thoughts. What I tell myself about the situation affects my approach and response to whatever it might be. My husband was always a good sounding board for me as I “thought out loud.” He was able to calm me if my thoughts were causing anxiety. He helped me see other possibilities when my thoughts were skewed by not considering the bigger picture. He listened to me and often, not always, responded with a perspective that I had not considered.

With the death of my husband I lost my trustworthy sounding board and experienced the consequences. For example, when I had to take care of my taxes last year I told myself that I was clueless and incapable of sufficiently gathering the needed information. No wonder I was stressed. This year I told myself that I could prepare for the inevitable all year long by creating my own spreadsheets and record-keeping system. Telling myself I could learn and I could do it helped me feel more confident as I prepared to meet with my CPA. This is true in many other areas as well. There are many things that I told myself I would never be able to do, when, prior to my husband’s illness, we casually talked about “what if you died before I do.” Sad to say, I am the surviving spouse. I have done things I had once told him I would never be able to do. I feel good about all that I have learned and accomplished.  I frequently remind myself that if I don’t know about something I can learn. I tell myself to remember that there are few mistakes that cannot be fixed.

A person who lives alone talks to herself a lot and so I have been thinking about the thoughts that fuel my self-talk. If I tell myself I don’t think I can do that then I probably will not be able to do whatever it might be. However, if I tell myself I think I can then I have a much higher possibility of successfully tackling the task or challenge that I face. If I tell myself I don’t think I can survive without my husband then every day is going to be a challenge. If I tell myself I think I can do this, with God’s help, then I will again find my place in His world. Recently I made a list of the positive things my husband would want me to think, feel or do. This was valuable exercise for me to do. It is helping me strengthen my I think I can attitude.

The Bible speaks about our thoughts and tells us what to meditate on. The Psalmist, who seems to have some sleep issues, tells us what he did when he laid awake at night. He said On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. (Psalm 63:6) My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises. (Psalm 119:148) I admit I have had a lot of waking hours when I wished I was sleeping. That is when my thought-life goes into overdrive. However, it is not all bad. When it is just me and God there are sweet moments as I meditate on Who He is and what He is doing in my life. Even in loss we have blessings and we will see them when we intentionally look for them, when we choose to think about His promises and His presence, when we deliberately focus on that which is excellent or praiseworthy.

Paul, in his book to the Philippians, follows up a sentence about anxiety with a list of positive things to think about in order to experience God’s peace. There is nothing I would rather have than that kind of peace. Controlling my mind and channeling my thoughts is foundational to receiving God’s sweet peace.

I cannot think about what I can do to take care of myself on earth without thinking about the one thing I cannot do. There is nothing I can do or have to do to prepare for my eternal life in heaven. Knowing this, thinking about this, gives me a wonderful big picture perspective on the hard days. I think I can is the best way for me to respond to God’s Word which tells me to wait, to be still, to know that one day He will bring me to my home in heaven. My husband is already there. I eagerly await the day when I see my Redeemer face to face and I can say to Him, You did it!

THINK  Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things….And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8, 9

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14

* One of our authors, Lois Hoogeveen, lost her husband in early March to a battle with cancer, which began just 3 months earlier. Jim and Lois had pastored 5 churches, 2 they planted. At the time they were hit with this disease they were transitioning into specialized transitional ministry for the next season of their full time ministry. They were and are good friends of Ascending Leaders. Through the journey with cancer, Jim and Lois wrote and shared their "breath prayers," each day. "Breath Praying" is something they had first learned seven years ago from the Ascending Leaders Christ Habits book Prayer: Listening to God's Voice.


Since Jim's passing, Lois has been continuing to write excellent reflections on this journey along with breath prayers. She has consented to allow us to share some with you. Lois is also the core author of two of our newest workbooks: Since Jim's passing, Lois has been continuing to write excellent reflections on this journey along with breath prayers. She has consented to allow us to share some with you. Lois is also the core author of two of our newest workbooks:  Your Pathways: Strong Connection with God and Thriving: Stewarding Unexpected Change.

Walking the Journey of Grief--One Breath Prayer at a Time #20

Breath Prayer: RADIANT

Lois Hoogeveen

January 20, 2013

Good morning, my daughter. I am here to be you light, warm your heart, guide your steps and take care of you all day long. God was speaking to me. Not through a beautiful sunrise painted across the heavens like I experienced few weeks ago. This was different. This was a clear sky with a magnificent orange ball, the morning sun, emerging in the eastern sky. Although I wanted to fix my eyes on this beautiful star, the largest in the Solar System, I had to look away because the brightness was so intense.  The sun is powerful. It gives me energy. On a day when the sun is hidden by the clouds, I feel more tired, less motivated. Even if it is cold, even if the ground is covered with snow, even when it is windy I deal with all these elements better if the sun is shining. What would I do without the sun?

Looking at the sun makes me think about how I am affected by looking at the Son of God. Am I as drawn to gaze at the Son of God as I am at the brilliant morning sun? Does His Presence captivate me and cause me to stand in awe and just behold Him in all his majesty? Do I freely talk with others about the magnificent Son-rises I experience in day-to-day living?  Just as we take the sun for granted, I fear that we also become apathetic to the Son in our lives. I know that I deal with life much better when I am not only blessed with a sunny day and but also with a keen awareness of the Son permeating every moment of my day.

People know when I have spent time in the sun. They can see it in my face as the color of my skin changes. Sometimes they comment on it and I am a bit surprised that it is noticeable that I have been soaking in the rays. The Bible tells us of at least two incidences where being in the presence of the Lord affected one’s countenance. When Moses came down from the mountain after receiving the Ten Commandments from the Lord the people could see that he had absorbed a lot of Son-rays. But he didn’t even realize it himself. Moses had been with the Lord and his face was radiant! (Exodus 34:29) The Bible tells us that at the Transfiguration Jesus’ face shone like the sun. (Matthew 17:2)

As we might pray for the sun to shine again after having several cloudy, dreary days, do we ask God to make His face shine upon us and give us peace, to brighten up our world when we are living with the darkness of disappointment, sadness, loss? Do we seek His face for our energy and strength? Does God’s face shine upon us as we go about the routines and busyness of life on earth? Do we ask the Lord to open our eyes that we might see wonderful things in His Word and in His world? Is my face radiant because I am repeatedly looking upward at the Son? On a sunny day I still have to choose to open my blinds or go outdoors to reap the benefit of the sun. In the same way, I need to choose to let the Son into my life each day. Admittedly, I have times when I do not open the blinds of my house or my soul. And when I do, I am the one who misses the blessing.

When I think of Heaven, which I do far more frequently than I ever did before, I think of a place that is brilliantly aglow all the time. One day I will see Jesus face to face, and it is going to be more far more glorious than the brightest sun that adorns the morning sky. The Word tells us that His face will be like the sun shining in all its brilliance! (Revelation 1:16) So how can I NOT think about the Son when I look at the sun? I love the early morning reminder from God that He is here, that I am not alone and that He is going to follow me all day long, giving me grace and peace for the day. (Numbers 6:24-26) The Son brings restoration. (Psalm 80:3) He is gracious to the lonely and afflicted. (Psalm 25:15, 16)  Fixing my eyes on the Son gives me power that helps combat growing weary and losing heart. (Hebrews 12: 3) The Son is the radiance of God’s glory, sustaining us by His powerful Word. (Hebrews 1:3) He never takes His eyes off the righteous. (Job 36:7)

Neither the sun that graces our world nor the Son who sits at the right hand of our Father in Heaven should be ignored. However, although we must protect ourselves from the sun we never need to find protection from the Son. In fact, we can never get too many Son-rays. Do not turn away from the Son. Let His face shine on you to give you grace and peace.

Next time you look at the sun ask yourself, “Does my face reflect the radiance of the Son?”

RADIANT  Those who look to him are radiant. Psalm 34:5

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26

* One of our authors, Lois Hoogeveen, lost her husband in early March to a battle with cancer, which began just 3 months earlier. Jim and Lois had pastored 5 churches, 2 they planted. At the time they were hit with this disease they were transitioning into specialized transitional ministry for the next season of their full time ministry. They were and are good friends of Ascending Leaders. Through the journey with cancer, Jim and Lois wrote and shared their "breath prayers," each day. "Breath Praying" is something they had first learned seven years ago from the Ascending Leaders Christ Habits book Prayer: Listening to God's Voice.


Since Jim's passing, Lois has been continuing to write excellent reflections on this journey along with breath prayers. She has consented to allow us to share some with you. Lois is also the core author of two of our newest workbooks: Since Jim's passing, Lois has been continuing to write excellent reflections on this journey along with breath prayers. She has consented to allow us to share some with you. Lois is also the core author of two of our newest workbooks:  Your Pathways: Strong Connection with God and Thriving: Stewarding Unexpected Change.