Do This in Remembrance - Abigail Skelton

He took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” Luke 22:19 NIV

Growing up, there was an inscription on the communion table at my church: “Do this in remembrance of me.” It felt very solemn, and as a child, I often feared that if I didn't remember Jesus while taking communion, something terrible would happen. Perhaps God would strike me down.

Even though I’m thankful God has yet to strike me down, I do think there is a certain reverence often missing in communion. We get used to going through the motions and forget to remember the life that Jesus lived, to be thankful that he was our sacrifice, to dream of spending eternity with him. We say we want more of Jesus in the songs we sing, but we are often too busy for communing with him throughout the day.

In the Old Testament, sacrifices were extremely messy. The worshiper became vulnerable when bringing their first fruits to the Lord. What if the worshiper couldn’t provide food for their family? And even if they had enough, they probably had some attachment to the animal. To sacrifice the creature that had been living alongside them would hurt.

And yet Jesus turned this painful, messy altar into a table, a place of feasting, where we joyously lay down our sin and cling to the promise of forgiveness. The blood and the body become a symbol not of the horror of the sacrifice but of the hope and redemption that we have in Jesus.

Let’s remember Jesus more in our daily lives, not just during communion. Let’s look forward to when he comes again, waiting with the same fervency as we wait for the weekend, a vacation, or the return of a loved one. 

Jesus is the one who is worthy of all our time and reverence—now and into eternity.

Abigail Skelton is from beautiful Southern Oregon, where she grew up with an avid love for Jesus, chocolate, and writing. She has lived in three countries while involved in missionary work and frequently travels and studies foreign languages. You can connect with Abigail on her website: https://abigailskelton.com.

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing in eBook or paperback. If you seek hope and healing because of the hurts you have faced, this book is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

Praising in All Seasons - Abigail Skelton

Then Hannah prayed and said: “My heart rejoices in the Lord; in the Lord my horn is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your deliverance. There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.” 1 Samuel 2:1-2 NIV

There are countless books and self-help guides about what to do in periods of crisis. Even in the church, we hear far more sermons on grief and hardship than on joy and rejoicing. Praising in all seasons challenges the best of us. 

Yet, sometimes for me, in seasons of blessing and wonder, my focus on the Lord seems to drift. Life is good. Life is easy. Relying on God for everyday help is less of a necessity until something bad happens again. But what if I could rejoice like those in Scripture, who focused on God and whose prayers multiplied in the good and easy seasons?

Hannah longed for a child. Not just on occasion, but for years. God answered her prayers the way she wanted. And what was her response? She gave her greatest gift back to the Lord. And even as she fulfilled her vows, she rejoiced. 

Hannah wasn’t the only one in the Bible who remembered to praise God when things went right. Miriam, King David, Zechariah, Mary, and numerous others celebrated God’s goodness in seasons of blessing. If God is the giver of all good gifts, we should accompany everything we receive, large or small, with thanks.

Paul reminded the early church to “Rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4). This command sounds simple, but in our own happiness, it’s easy to miss unless we take intentional time to dwell on our Savior’s generosity. Maybe this looks like taking a break from work and thanking God for the spring flowers outside the office window. Perhaps it’s thanking God at the end of yet another wild day for a family or for small children.

God doesn’t owe us anything, but he gives us so much. Thanking him—rejoicing over seasons of blessing—should come naturally. But even when it doesn’t, we can honor God by intentionally praising him—like those in Scripture—and by living a life of rejoicing.

Make a plan to help you praise God in all seasons. 

Abigail Skelton is from beautiful Southern Oregon, where she grew up with an avid love for Jesus, chocolate, and writing. She has lived in three countries while involved in missionary work and frequently travels and studies foreign languages. You can connect with Abigail on her website: https://abigailskelton.com.

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing in eBook or paperback. If you seek hope and healing because of the hurts you have faced, this book is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

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Finding the God You’ve Been Chasing All Along - Abigail Skelton

“Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless!” 

~Ecclesiastes 1:2 NLT

“And suddenly I realized everything in life is fleeting, and only God is eternal.” – Unknown

Occasionally, an inspirational Pinterest quote catches my attention. While scrolling through recipes and seasonal fashion suggestions, I paused to consider the truth behind the aforementioned quote. 

All too often, I get in a comfortable groove and think I have everything figured out. I have a job, I’m in good health, and I have a plethora of family and friends. But then, even just one loss sends everything into a tailspin. As it turns out, I have little control over anything. And even the surest things I have—my own body included—won’t last forever. 

There is a book of the Bible that frequently leaves my non-Christian friends in an existential crisis. Even for believers, the book of Ecclesiastes is a rather gloomy wake-up call, reminding us that everything we chase is temporal. Fleeting. 

If "everything is meaningless," as King Solomon writes repeatedly throughout the book, I probably don’t need that picture-perfect fall sweater, or that cozy book-nook that pops up in my feed and makes me dissatisfied with the home I already have. 

In fact, if I’m chasing anything but God, I’m guaranteed to wind up disappointed. Material things are all meaningless at the end of the day. We take nothing with us. Even our descendants will forget us after a couple of generations.

Yet the book of Ecclesiastes still ends in hope. “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind” (12:13). God is still in the picture, despite everything. Our lives do have meaning if we fear him, for God is eternal. 

And so, when we chase after God, first and foremost, we have the promise that we will never come up empty. We never have to say goodbye to his love and goodness. He is still with us, even when our jobs fail, our health vanishes, and our relationships crumble. 

Only God is eternal. That fact alone is a blessing beyond anything this world can offer. 

Abigail Skelton is from beautiful Southern Oregon, where she grew up with an avid love for Jesus, chocolate, and writing. She has lived in three countries while involved in missionary work and frequently travels and studies foreign languages. You can connect with Abigail on her website: https://abigailskelton.com.

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing in eBook or paperback. If you seek hope and healing because of the hurts you have faced, this book is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

God's Timing - Abigail Skelton

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. 2 Peter 3:9 NIV

Old adages like “A penny lost is a penny found” and “No wind blows that doesn’t do someone some good” can inspire us to stay positive for a few moments. But what if this brand of hopeful thinking is true? What if every unexpected twist in our lives is an opportunity to bless others and glorify God while we wait for our turn to find the penny?

God’s sense of timing is incredible. We see this repeatedly in the Scripture. We could argue that the entire Bible is a lesson on God’s impeccable timing. Yet, trusting God with the timing of events in our lives is often an arduous lesson. Especially when situations seem bleak.

The Bible is filled with poetic references to God directing our steps. A couple of examples are “Surely you will count my steps” (Job 14:16 NIV) and “He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:6 NIV). We all make many choices each day, often based on specific people or situations around us. Sometimes, I even amuse myself by contemplating how strange life would be if God’s timing were different. 

If I hadn’t started school the year that I did, I wouldn’t have graduated from college before the pandemic. And if I hadn’t graduated when I did, I wouldn’t have gone overseas to do mission work. And if I hadn’t gone overseas, I wouldn’t have met the people I did. Therefore, my current life would look completely different.

Studying the timing of events in our lives is a great way to remind ourselves of God’s sovereignty. Even trying situations, like a lost job or a reluctant move, lead us into interactions with new coworkers or neighbors who need to hear about the hope we have in Jesus. 

Although unexpected circumstances may not always be pleasant, the ripple effect of our actions is often greater than we think, proving that God is doing immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine. And don’t worry. God stated that he’s not slow in keeping his promises. He will happily orchestrate the timing of our lives in accordance with the grand story he’s writing.

Trust God’s timing. He will never let you down. 

Abigail Skelton is from beautiful Southern Oregon, where she grew up with an avid love for Jesus, chocolate, and writing. She has lived in three countries while involved in missionary work and frequently travels and studies foreign languages. You can connect with Abigail on her website: https://abigailskelton.com.

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing in eBook or paperback. If you seek hope and healing because of the hurts you have faced, this book is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

 

 

God of Second Chances - Abigail Skelton

And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Matthew 28:20 NRSVUE

When I was in high school, I loved God and wanted everyone to know Him. Yet after a few weeks at a secular university, I became intimidated by the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20). I still loved God, but how could I “make disciples of all nations” when I found it hard just to share my faith with my peers? Over the next few years, I prayed for coworkers and attempted to bring some spiritual depth to my conversations—when I felt like it—but ultimately, I graduated feeling like I hadn’t made the most of every opportunity. Fortunately, God is a God of second chances. 

A few years later, I found myself back in the same college town, alongside a group of young adults who visited the campus and held fun events for the students. This group of young adults invited the students to dinners or coffees and listened to the students’ spiritual journeys, which were often nonexistent. Yet, much to my surprise, I learned that most students liked discussing their beliefs. From these chats, over ten chose to turn their lives over to Jesus. I was floored.

In retrospect, I wish I’d put more effort into sharing my faith when I was a student. I could’ve easily asked other students questions about their moral upbringings. And even if I’d been mocked for my beliefs, this life is short-term in the grand scheme of eternity. Being teased by someone is nothing compared to the real persecution that Christians suffer around the world.

Students across the country are surprisingly open-minded, ready to discover themselves and live their own lives. And frankly, a lot of students are severely lonely. Knowing Jesus is the absolute best antidote. 

Perhaps you have any college kids in your life. Or you may live in a university town and are looking for ways to encourage students during this busy back-to-school season. You might be surprised to find that college ministries love older staff on the teams as well. And ultimately, no matter where you go or what you do, God goes before you and is with you always. 

Never forget God is a God of second chances.

Father, thank you for giving me more than second chances. 

Abigail Skelton is from beautiful Southern Oregon, where she grew up with an avid love for Jesus, chocolate, and writing. She has lived in three countries while involved in missionary work and frequently travels and studies foreign languages. You can connect with Abigail on her website: https://abigailskelton.com.

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing in eBook or paperback. If you seek hope and healing because of the hurts you have faced, this book is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

Tragedies Make Good Headlines - Abigail Skelton

Like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be recovered, so we must die. But God does not take away life. Instead, he devises ways so that a banished person may not remain estranged from him. 2 Samuel 14:14 NIV

Every time a newspaper runs a story of a murder or a fatal crash, I’m immediately sucked into the article. Tragedies make good headlines. 

Even when I read the Bible, the violent stories in the Old Testament capture my attention far quicker than the beautiful sections of prose and poetry. Maybe this says something about me. Or perhaps, this says something about humanity.

We are 100% mortal. And when life gets too comfortable, we can start to forget that. Ferocious crimes and tragic accidents shock us back into the terrible reality of living in a sinful world. A heartbreaking world. All too often, these grim reminders of human mortality leave me distressed. I ask, “Why God? Why so much death?” 

Joab, David’s military commander, reminded the king about God’s character, even in the bitter reality of political coups and vicious murders. 

We live in a fallen world, and death is an effect. But even thousands of years before Jesus came to rescue the banished and estranged, God was still at work, devising ways to bring people to him. He even sent prophets to unbelieving nations to warn them of destruction. (Think Jonah and the city of Nineveh). God worked miracles and appointed righteous leaders. 

And the good news is that God remains the same. He is still at work devising ways so that a banished person may not remain estranged from him.

Joab’s first statement is true: One day we must die. But God is not taking away life for fun. He wants us to know him and the life of freedom that only he brings. Additionally, God promises an antidote to the death and tragedies of the world: eternal life with Jesus. 

Be one of those devised ways that brings those around you closer to Jesus.

Abigail Skelton is from beautiful Southern Oregon, where she grew up with an avid love for Jesus, chocolate, and writing. She has lived in three countries while involved in missionary work and frequently travels and studies foreign languages. You can connect with Abigail on her website: https://abigailskelton.com.

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing in eBook or paperback. If you seek hope and healing because of the hurts you have faced, this book is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

Waiting on God - Abigail Skelton

“Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us.” Judges 6:13 NIV

Do you ever feel like you’re just waiting on God? Perhaps you’ve been waiting for months—even years—praying that someday soon will be the day God chooses to step in and answer prayers with a yes instead of a no. 

Gideon was there, too. When the angel of the Lord showed up for a conversation, Gideon wanted an explanation first. 

To Gideon’s confusion (and probably slight annoyance), the angel of the Lord didn’t answer his questions. But the response has inspired countless sermons and songs throughout generations: “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you” (6:14)? 

The Lord’s solution to Gideon’s problem was Gideon. While our situations are often beyond our ability to change—like the death of a loved one or a natural disaster—sometimes the suffering we see is just a challenge to live for God. Maybe there is a relationship in our life that could use some mending. Perhaps we could help those in our community who are in need. God might call us to step out in courage and solve a problem we’ve been praying about.

Fortunately, the angel of the Lord didn’t just leave Gideon to figure things out alone. He assured Gideon he would be with him. What a promise. 

When God calls you to act—whether you’re saving a kingdom or helping a friend—he will accompany you wherever the journey may lead. 

Abigail Skelton is from beautiful Southern Oregon, where she grew up with an avid love for Jesus, chocolate, and writing. She has lived in three countries while involved in missionary work and frequently travels and studies foreign languages. You can connect with Abigail on her website: https://abigailskelton.com.

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing in eBook or paperback. If you seek hope and healing because of the hurts you have faced, this book is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

Live in Hope and Thankfulness - Abigail Skelton

Praise be to God for his indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15 NIV

On a hot August day, my friend Julie and I wore heavy coats and bike helmets—not because we were biking, but because we decided to go spelunking in the lava tubes in Northern California’s Klamath Basin. More accurately, I had decided to go. 

Julie was visiting from Germany and was at the mercy of my adventurous tour. But when we found ourselves lost in an underground tunnel that involved crawling on our knees over lava rock, the fault was truly all mine.

Losing track of directions is one thing. I have plenty of experience with that. But being underground in pitch-black darkness with no sense of north or south is even more disconcerting. We talked aloud about what to do if our phone flashlights suddenly stopped working. Had that happened, we could’ve easily found ourselves on search and rescue lists. Fortunately, retracing one’s steps is wise, and we reemerged into the blindly bright high-desert landscape within no time.

On the surface, Julie and I marveled over how starkly different the two worlds were: above ground, where the air was warm and we could see for miles, and below ground, where our breath hung in the air and we couldn’t have seen our own noses in the darkness.

To God, I imagine our sinful lives look like overly ambitious explorers wandering in the cave and trying to find a way out. Personally, I seem to enjoy wandering in the darkness. It’s fun to see how far I can make it—before I trip and scuff my knees on volcanic rock or cherished sins, which will do far worse damage than any lava rock. 

Jesus, too, ventured down into the dark recesses of sin and showed us the way out—back to daylight, back to God.

Don't let stubbornness lead you to venture back underground. Instead, live in the hope and thankfulness of a life spent with Jesus.

Abigail Skelton is from beautiful Southern Oregon, where she grew up with an avid love for Jesus, chocolate, and writing. She has lived in three countries while involved in missionary work and frequently travels and studies foreign languages. You can connect with Abigail on her website: https://abigailskelton.com.

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing in eBook or paperback. If you seek hope and healing because of the hurts you have faced, this book is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.