The Sacred Thread - A New Must-Watch Series

 

It's taken me a minute or two to write this review.

To be honest, it was due today but I had to sit and rewatch this series a few times to give it an honest review.

Y'all.

You need to watch this.  I don't know what else to say here.  If you love digging into the meat of Scripture and don't ordinarily get that in your weekly Bible study or church service, you will love this new mini-series from Angel.

The Sacred Thread is a seven-part mini-series on the Our Father prayer Jesus taught His Disciples to pray in the Gospels.

The Lord's Prayer has been a model prayer for Christians worldwide ever since.  It one of the tenants of our faith, and something we all pray when words sometimes fail us.

But how many of us just rattle off the words we memorized as children without a second thought to what Jesus actually meant?

You may be wondering, "Debbie, How does it take seven episodes to dig into the Lord's Prayer?"  Well, I am about to tell you.

This series digs deep and dissects the Lord's words, phrase by phrase.  It shows us just how much wisdom and depth Jesus had at His fingertips.  And when you watch this, even though you know Jesus is God and has ultimate wisdom, you will be astounded when you truly understand what Jesus meant and his frame of mind when he taught His friends how to pray that day.

The Sacred Thread teaches us how the Lord's Prayer ties back to the Old Testament and also reflecting the culture and history of the Israelites at the time.  Letting us view the prayer through their eyes and simultaneously opening ours.

I literally sat through several episodes and said, "I've never heard this before," and "Why has no one ever showed us this before?"

It really digs that deep.  I've been a Christian since 1989, attended seminary classes, and sat under some of Christianity's leading teachers.  And yet - I've never heard some of the references or ties made in The Sacred Thread.

And I love that.  I love getting to the meat of Scripture.  I understand that weekly church services sometimes teach with milk instead of meat.  Pastors are trying to present the Gospel to a lost crowd, and milk is usually the preferred teaching method.  But for those of us that have been saved a long time, we need the meat to keep us going, to inspire us, and help us grow in our depth of faith.

That's why this new series from Angel is so very important.  It feeds the flock.

The show is wonderful.  Each episode is only 30 minutes long, allowing you flexibility to watch them when you can without taking up your entire night or afternoon.  And like I said above, I went back and watched a few episodes more than once.  I had to.  I needed to comprehend and digest the material more fully.

I am a champion for more of these mini-series from Angel.  It fed my soul y'all, and I am a true advocate for a second season.

So, let me give you a brief recap before I direct you to the show.

Most of you already know the Lord's Prayer.  Maybe you memorized it as a small child or right after you accepted Jesus as your Savior.  But - the thing is - very few of us understand what Jesus was actually saying to the Disciples or what it meant to them when they heard it.

The Sacred Thread takes you deep into historical and cultural contexts of the Scripture and helps you experience the prayer the way the Disciples would have understood it.  And once you get that, the Spirit opens up a whole new level of intimacy and depth of knowledge with both God and the Scriptures.

The Sacred Thread is a perfect mini-series for your small groups, Bible Studies, and even church communities as a whole.  It can easily be viewed (and understood) by youth, families, and adults that are looking for Biblical history, context, and a deeper understanding of the Bible.

It is such an encouragement, and I believe it will encourage you keep reading your Bible daily.

Here is the official summary of the mini-series from Angel:

The Sacred Thread is a cinematic documentary series exploring the Lord's Prayer through the historical, cultural, geographical, and literary world in which Jesus first spoke it.

Hosted by Brad Gray and featuring insights from scholars including N. T. Wright, the series takes viewers across Biblical landscapes to uncover the deeper meaning and context behind of of the most well-known prayers in Scripture.

I will never be able to read the Lord's Prayer the same way again.  In fact, I plan on going back and watching the series a third time.  The way the Scriptures were brought to life was so intriguing. I feel like I need to watch it again to absorb more of what it presented or see if I missed something.

If you want to grow in Bible knowledge and understanding of Scripture, this is a great series to start with.  It is available now on Angel streaming platforms.  You can even join the Angel Guild to help support Angel and bring more shows like this - with meaning, hope, and purpose - back to entertainment.  I love seeing Christian movies, TV shows, music, and specials make their way back to the mainstream media.  It has been such a game changer for America.

If you want to follow Angel on social media to keep up all their new projects, here are the links:

• Angel on Instagram
• Streaming on Angel on Facebook

To help promote The Sacred Thread, Angel is graciously allowing me to give away one $10 Amazon gift card. To keep things simple, all you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this blog or on either one of my social media accounts:

• Birch & Burlap on Instagram
• Birch & Burlap on Facebook

Comments must be left by June 23rd.

If you watch The Sacred Thread and you love it too, please come back and leave me a comment.  I'd love to hear your thoughts!

*Disclosure:  Many thanks to Angel for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

New Top Ten Angel Movie Out Now - Just One More

 

Hello friends.  It's been a minute.

I am so glad to be back and writing.  I've missed it and you.

Today seemed like a great day to return to writing so I could share a movie I discovered on the Angel streaming platform.

I wasn't expecting much, but honestly, it turned out to be really good film - great actors, great acting, and - most importantly - a great message.  I think it's a film most of us should view, at least one time.  I believe this movie will inspire you to grow more into your faith - whether that is trusting God with your struggles or encouraging you to be brave in sharing your faith with others.

It's called, "Just One More," and it's streaming right now on Angel.

Just One More is a story about second chances, redemption, family, and the power of choosing hope one more time.

If you are like most of us, at some point in life you have felt exhausted - defeated - ready to quit.  

Whether that came from home life, work life, Mom life, or anything else life has handed you, Just One More shows us what can happen when we dig deep and find the courage to - as Dory said, "just keep swimming."

When we choose to fight for one more day or one more conversation or even one more opportunity, we are choosing to fight for a second chance in whatever area we are failing.

Just One More reminds us of the HOPE Jesus grants us, and that it is always worth fighting for and when you step out of your fear and situation and decide to trust Him and those He puts in your life, there will be healing on the other side:

Just One More follows Jess, a recovering addict struggling with shame, doubt, and the weight of her past, whose life unexpectedly collides with Charles, a dying man praying that God would use him “just one more” time. As their stories intertwine, Jess begins to discover forgiveness, healing, and the hope to fight for a future beyond addiction. 

It is an emotional, character-driven story about redemption, perseverance, and the life-changing impact one person can have on another. 

It is about choosing hope one more time, even when life feels impossible and is the kind of movie that will stay with you long after the credits roll. 

As I watched the film, I became invested in the characters, their story lines, and ultimately, in my own faith and what I could overcome or invest in others more than I am currently doing.

If you are looking for moving and meaningful stories or more films based on your Christian faith and principles or maybe even if you happen to be walking through a hardship right now, this film is a great way to spend your time and it will ultimately provide encouragement for your walk with the Lord.

Ready to watch the movie?

You can stream Just One More on Angel by following that link. You will be helping to support stories, like this one, that actually inspire and motivate your life choices. And while you are there visiting Angel, why not join their Angel Guild and help bring more films like Just One More to audiences everywhere? It is a win-win for everyone.

To follow Just One More on social media and learn more about Angel, the directors, and more, click the links below to visit their accounts.  (I've seen some amazing posts by the film's writers and musical guests.)

• @streamingonangel (Instagram)
• Streaming On Angel (Facebook)
• @cook_brothers_twinbolt
• Twinbolt Media (Facebook)
• @allanscottmusic (Instagram)

To continue with promoting the movie, I would like to give away one (1) $10 Amazon gift card.  Please visit either one of my social media accounts (Instagram or Facebook) to enter.  I will choose one lucky winner on June 18th.  I will make the entry process simple and require only one comment on either social media platform as an entry.  (Please, one entry per person only.)

I believe in this film.  It was encouraging to me as a Christian.  It showed me what I can do to have an impact on others lives by just being ready and open to the Lord's direction and leading.  Our work for the Lord should not be dependent upon our moods, our outlooks, or even our health.  We should be open to His guidance at all times, standing at the ready.  This film accomplished that goal for me.

Maybe you have already watched Just One More or want to share how it impacted your life. Please leave us a comment below.  We'd love to hear your thoughts!  You never know.  Your one comment may reach just the person God intended it to reach.

God bless my friends.  Happy June and Happy Summer!  It's good to talk with you all again!

*Disclosure:  Many thanks to Angel for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

The Challenge

 

This morning's devotion hit me, like a ton of bricks (as the saying goes); it hit me right between the eyes.

I have been stuffing down (and simultaneously exploding about) a situation at work. It has really gotten me frustrated over the past month.

A situation with a lack of respect, a lack of trust, and a lack of planning.

I was asked to be part of a team for our building, but in the end - and over the course of about four consecutive weeks - our team's planning and decisions have been usurped by someone above us - changing our decisions, telling us they don't like what we have decided, and making their own plans and decisions - effectively, rending our team useless and unnecessary.

I have been "exploding" with the other team members to each other.  We all feel disrespected, not heard, and useless. We all want to quit the team.  But we have all also been "stuffing" our feelings down and not addressing our feelings with Admin, going along with and acting like everything is fine on the surface.

When you read today's devotion (below), you will see what I mean.  It explains this situation exactly, and it allows me to understand that, obviously, my team and I are not alone in our feelings or actions in these types of scenarios.

I am going to pray over my situation.  God has shown me this morning that I am not acting with soul integrity, as James 3:17 teaches us to behave, and I want to act as God thinks I should.

I know I have work to do to reach this lofty goal James imparts upon us.  I'm not even sure I can do it, but if Scripture teaches it, I am positive I have to try.

Read today's devotion from Lysa Terkeurst and see if any of it resonates with you.  Maybe you can join me in the journey to soul integrity.  It is my prayer, that no matter our age or where we are on life's path, we will find our own personal soul integrity.

Happy Saturday my friends.

PRETENDING I'M FINE, PROVING I'M RIGHT

If someone says something or does something that hurts me, what is the godly response? Is it to pretend that everything is fine so I can keep the peace? Or is it to confront the person to prove how wrong she is?

Neither.

If ever I catch myself pretending or proving, I know I'm processing my hurt the wrong way.

The right way is approaching this situation with soul integrity—responding in a way that's not only honest but peacemaking. James 3:17 says, "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure (honest); then peace-loving… " Yes, I want this kind of wisdom, this soul integrity.

I want to be honest and peacemaking at the same time. But how?

Real honesty. Not all honest expressions of my feelings are real honesty. You see, my honest feelings may not be truthful assessments of the situation. I can be honest with how I feel and still exaggerate or misinterpret what is true. I can feel justified in being blatant about my feelings—not hiding a thing—and prideful for being so real, all under the guise of being honest enough not to stuff.

But in reality, honesty that isn't true isn't honesty at all. It may just be emotional spewing. That's why we need peacemaking honesty—honesty reined in by the Holy Spirit—if we're going to have authentic soul integrity.

So, if I want real honesty, I have to ask the Holy Spirit to show me real truth. I need to see things from the other person's perspective. I need to ask questions of that person with the desire to better understand instead of throwing out statements of accusation. Ultimately, my goal should be to add peacemaking to my honesty.

Real peacemaking. At the same time, it must also grieve God to see plastic versions of peacemaking that aren't reined in by honesty. That's what we do when we stuff and pretend everything is okay.

The upside of stuffing is that we have the semblance of peacemakers. But when we do so at the expense of honesty, we harbor a corrosive bitterness that will eventually emerge. Either it will erode our health and later present itself in a host of emotional and physical anxiety-induced illnesses, or it will accumulate over time and surprise everyone when the peacemaker eventually erupts. Saying, "I'm fine," to keep the peace, when we're really not fine, isn't honest.

Sometimes dishonesty comes in the form of saying things that aren't true. But it's also dishonest when we fail to say things that are true. It may seem godly in the moment, but it's false godliness.

Truth and godliness always walk hand in hand. The minute we divorce one from the other, we stray from soul integrity and give a foothold to the instability that inevitably leads to coming unglued.

Yes, we're after soul integrity—honesty that is also peacemaking that leads to godliness.

This soul integrity brings balance to unglued reactions. It makes us true peacemakers — people who aren't proving or pretending but rather honestly demonstrating what they are experiencing in a godly manner. And being a true peacemaker reaps a harvest of great qualities in our lives: right things, godly things, healthy things.

PRAYER
Dear Lord, through You I am able to bring all my exploding and stuffing under Your authority and truth. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit who gives me the wisdom to move beyond my reactions. Help me lean on You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.