The ABCs of God's Love Letter: Ordain

Welcome to
​The ABCs of God's Love Letter
25 Weeks. 25 Writers!

​We will use the alphabet as an acrostic and study topics like: Abide, Beloved, Calling, Delight, Endure, Faithful, Garment, Hunger, Increase, Justice, Kindness, Light, Manna, Name, Ordain, Path, Quench, Ransom, Salt, Testify, Upright, Vanity, Wait, Yield, and Zeal.

Every week, we’ll discover a different topic. Each topic is accompanied by five Scripture verses—one for each weekday. The Bible study has a page for each verse. Those spaces will invite you to write the verses out and journal what you’ve learned.

Every time I read God’s Word I learn something new. I also find that Scripture writing really helps me meditate, and as I meditate, God always shows me just what I need for that day—it’s AMAZING!

I pray you’ll join us and learn new and exciting things too from His Word.

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​This Week We're Looking at Ordain

What does it mean when we say God ordains, or has ordained something? One dictionary defines ordain as: to establish or order by appointment, decree, or law. 

This is the heart of what it means to say that God ordains. He created with purpose, by decree. He spoke, and it was done. As we study His works, whether outside in nature or in the classroom under a microscope, or in a textbook, we discover a world full of meaning, order, beauty, truth. ​

“When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained; what is man that You take thought of him, and the son of man that You care for him?” Psalm 8:3-4

The Psalmist focuses on the Creator as he ponders the works of creation. It is a refreshing pursuit, to not only spend time outdoors in nature but to be in awe of our Creator, recognizing His work and pondering it. ​

That time leads to fruitful questions of “why” and “how” “Do You really…?” I say fruitful, because the LORD loves to answer our questions, and uses them as a means to grow our faith. Those times spent in awe of our Creator help us realize the beauty of His Sovereignty, of His having ordained all that we see, smell, hear, touch, and even taste, and our role amongst the rest of His creation. 

Do you ever ask this question, wondering “who am I in light of all Your other work, what am I to You?” Jesus addressed this very thing with His disciples. He not only chose them, but also ordained their purposeful work. They belong in His kingdom, and had meaningful kingdom work to do. ​​

“You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.” John 15:16

After the Holy Spirit filled the disciples, they set about to do that work in great assurance that what Jesus told them was true. They were ordained for this work, for this purpose, and they would be fruitful. “And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead” (Acts 10:42). Peter knew God had appointed him to preach. As Peter was faithful in preaching, he watched God change hearts and build the church. 

It is not only in the sphere of church leadership that God ordains, but He is purposefully at work all around us. He uses even “governing authorities” to work out His good plans (see Romans 13:1). He has used governments in many times and places as a means to both keep order and restrain evil. Think back to the life of William Wilberforce. He wondered if he had to be a clergyman to serve God. But his own pastor helped him to see that he was serving God in his role in the British Parliament, which could bring about the end to slavery. To that end he faithfully and successfully worked. 

So it is with you and me! God has ordained our lives with a purpose, we have a meaningful role in His kingdom. He has appointed us to be the fragrance of Christ wherever we are. For each of us that will look different. This will include our roles, our relationships, our careers, our involvement in local churches. We are not asked to figure out how to do this on our own. Rather, as we look to God with the same heart as the Psalmist, as we abide in Christ, we find our place and the good works He has prepared for us! ​

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10

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Emily Darnell lives in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains with her husband and children, and loves to be outdoors as often as possible. She earned her Masters of Arts in Philosophical Theology, and worked in Student Affairs at a university for 10 years. She now homeschools her children, and is active in the Women's Ministry at her local church.

She loves sharing what she learns as a follower Jesus and just published her first book—her Book Baby, Deep Simplicity: Meditations on Abiding in Christ.

Emily writes, "At heart, though I know I am growing older each year, I still feel like I’m 25. Or less. I am learning at the feet of Jesus, but with each passing year my awareness of how much more I could learn grows deeper. When I view life as an adventure, that I want to suck all the marrow and fatness out of, while leaning back and listening to the only One who has words of eternal life, then I’m quite contented. Breathe. Sigh. Abide."

Emily enjoys the outdoors, whether gardening, teaching her children about nature, hiking, camping, or otherwise adventuring with her family. She also enjoys good conversations—especially accompanied by coffee or tea, music, good books, and is an aspiring urban homesteader.  

​FOLLOW HER HERE
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Deep Simplicity: Meditations on Abiding in Christ

To abide is to remain, to rest, to dwell, to be at home. Emily Darnell encourages readers, in her new book Deep Simplicity: Meditations on Abiding in Christ, to truly abide in God and His Word, not just to read a couple of verses, but to take time to meditate on it and be nourished.

​Each chapter will unfold an aspect of abiding, ending with some practices to incorporate in personal worship, or Scriptures to meditate upon to grow deeper in grace, and in knowledge and love of the One who loved you first.

Download a sample of Emily's book here.

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​The ABCs of God's Love Letter Scripture Memory Cards

The ABCs of God's Love Letter Bible Study is accompanied by a collection of 25 5 X 5 Scripture Memory Cards. We'll utilize this great tool to help us memorize a Scripture verse once a week that goes with the topic we're studying that week. Hiding God's Word in our heart is so important!

These square press prints are printed on thick, high-quality, matte art paper and include a small white border. They are available here in our Etsy shop. But WAIT, there's more! Just for you —> ​Use code SAVE50 at checkout for 50% OFF your entire order. FREE SHIPPING on orders $35 or more, otherwise, shipping is just $2.00, as always! ​

CHECK OUT THESE SCRIPTURE MEMORY CARDS

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What does Ordain mean to you?