A bio usually describes one’s life. It usually includes details about one’s professional and personal life and is usually a “best foot forward” version of who the person is. It seldom includes shortcomings, challenges, failures, or disappointments. Yet, those are a big part of one’s life—and perhaps more defining than all the other things combined.
That said, I write a lot, but I don’t like writing about myself. But this is meant to be a bio… so, I’ll try.
Who Am I?
On the Team Page, I describe myself as a disciple of Jesus Christ, a wife to Steve, the mother of two adult daughters, a grandmother of three, and a biblical apologist. You might also know I am the founder, president, and executive director of Reasons for Hope* Jesus ministry — an apologetics ministry dedicated to equipping, encouraging, and empowering believers in the Word of God, and sharing the saving grace of Jesus with non-believers. I am also a writer and author (books are available at our store, and ebooks are available on Amazon).
What really defines me is not “who I am” but rather “Whose I am.” Therefore, I’ll share a small part of my journey as my bio.
My Magnificent Obsession & My Glorious Ambition — A Song with a Focus
I first heard the song “One Pure and Holy Passion” in 2001. The song’s lyrics and inspiring message have been hidden in my heart for many years, and I call them to mind often. They remind me of the Person I want to focus my thoughts on and devote my heart to. Take a minute and listen to the opening words of the song.
As a Christian since early childhood, I have known and loved Jesus for as long as I can remember. But in the early 2000s, Jesus truly became my magnificent obsession. I acquired a hunger for the Word that led me to a page-by-page, verse-by-verse study through every book of the Bible.
It was rather daunting when I picked up the Bible and began my journey of study from Genesis to Revelation. Therefore, I started by praying, “Lord, if you want me to read and study this Book from beginning to end, please help me. Open my understanding and reveal what you would have me learn.” Little did I know how abundantly and graciously God would answer that prayer. And I certainly didn’t realize the magnificence of the journey God was setting before me.
Answered Prayer
God answered my prayer in a mighty way. The early 2000s brought greater access to biblical teachings. In addition to print format, there was a significant increase in online audio and video resources for researching and studying the Word of God. Sermons on cassette were readily available, and Bible study teachings were being posted online. Many churches recorded their sermons and teachings and distributed them on DVD. Then, by 2004, broadband internet access was replacing dial-up access. Internet speeds increased dramatically, and with the launch of YouTube in 2005, access to video teachings increased exponentially.
We are fortunate to live in a time when we have an extensive “library” of resources for researching and studying God’s Word. These resources can help ignite a passion that will unfold the joy and hope found on every page of the Bible.
As I began reading and studying the Bible, it became my glorious ambition.
Obsession and Ambition
I became obsessed in a magnificently ambitious way. The more I read, the more I learned about who God is. The more I learned about who God is, the more I was reminded about all God has done for me, and ultimately, the more I was blessed by remembering who I am in Jesus.
The more I read, the more I wanted to read. Indeed, reading the Bible became my magnificent obsession.
As I continued my journey from Genesis to Revelation, I realized the Bible is without end. We can “dive deeply” into the depths of God’s Word, but there is no “bottom.” We can never exhaust the joys of the adventure of growing in knowledge and grace.
The wealth of knowledge the Bible offers can never be fully comprehended, and the depth of wisdom the Bible provides is more than we can fathom. The riches of the Bible’s blessings are more significant than we can perceive, and the power of God’s Word far exceeds our greatest expectations. As the song says, knowing Jesus and following Him should be our “glorious ambition.”
Being Equipped
Little did I know, as I studied page-by-page through each book, that God was not only teaching me about Himself, His will, and His ways but was also preparing me for a turning point in my life in 2009. Reading and studying God’s Word gave me a stronger faith and a richer relationship with the only One who gives true and abiding comfort and rest in the most difficult and challenging times.
Little did I know that God was preparing me to cope during the saddest, most painful time of my life. As my knowledge of the Lord grew, so did my confidence in Him.
In 2009, my world fell apart. I found myself in the darkest of valleys, experiencing the greatest of losses. But God was there. I felt His presence in my pain, His comfort in my sadness, and His hope in my despair, and I came to fully understand how truly sufficient His grace is.
My life verse became Jesus’ promise of: “My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Little did I know that in addition to God’s comfort in my pain and sadness, He was also calling and equipping me for full-time vocational ministry in 2011.
The Riches of Knowing Jesus
As I read and studied the Bible, I grew in seeking God more clearly, surrendering to His will more fully, and following His ways more closely. I came to understand that “we have the mind of Christ” (1 Cor 2:16, Phil 2:5) and we are one in Him (John 17:22, Eph 2:10, Gal 3:28). That means if I want to know the mind of God, I must know the wisdom of God, and if I want to know the heart of God, I must know the love of Jesus! And, if I want to know the will of God, I must know the precepts and promises of God, and if I want to know God’s purpose and plan for me, I must know and surrender to the power of the Spirit in my life!
Our Unity in Christ
We are all one with Jesus in a precious union that is mysterious, unfathomable, yet guaranteed and comprehendible. The Bible’s words help us uncover the mysteries of this relationship and better understand God’s purpose and plan for us — individually and in unity as the Body of Christ.
The Lord’s revealed will is found on every page of the Bible. And through the words of Scripture, we are assured of His love, mercy, grace, and faithfulness toward us. The Bible reveals the mysteries of our relationship with God and the riches that we have received in Christ when we read about:
- all that God has done in the past for His people, Israel
- all that Jesus did and taught during His earthly ministry
- Jesus’ sacrificial atonement that paid for the sins of the world
- Jesus’ resurrection from the grave that opened the way to eternal life with God, and
- God’s truths for us in the writings of Paul and the other disciples
Sufficient Knowledge
In the Bible, we are given all we need for direction and hope in daily life. Our direction is on a path of growing in righteousness and being a light to the world. Our hope is in Christ alone! And our destiny is eternal life in glory with our Saviour.
We are to live with our minds set on things above (Colossians 3:2), with our eyes fixed on Jesus and with joy and confidence of the glory to come (Hebrews 12:2). We are to make Jesus our magnificent obsession—our one and only magnificent obsession.
With our eyes fixed on Jesus and our hearts devoted to Him, He becomes our “one pure and holy passion.” With a devoted heart, God will give us the glorious ambition of our magnificent obsession. And that glorious ambition includes two things:
It starts with knowledge, and that’s what apologetics ministry is all about. We learn of Jesus through His Word because He speaks to us through His Word. And the more we know Jesus, the more we will follow hard after Him, and the more we will grow as His disciples in the truth.
Reading the Bible is of utmost importance in the life of every Christian.
Consider this scenario. A woman falls in love with a man she has met. But shortly after their meeting, the man goes away (perhaps in military service or overseas for work). What would happen if the man wrote letters (or emails) to the woman, but she never read any of them? Or she only read a paragraph or two? Would her love for him grow? Or would their relationship diminish and her affection for him weaken?
Without communication, a relationship can’t grow. Just as a plant needs water to grow, a relationship needs communication to grow — and anything that doesn’t grow will eventually wither and die.
Jesus’ Letter
Jesus has written a “letter” to communicate with us. He’s written many letters for many people throughout the ages. His words are recorded in written form to build and grow our relationship with Him. And although every word in the Bible is not written to us (believers during the Church Age), every word is intended for us — for our understanding of who He is, what He has done, and who we are in Him. Every word is meant to help us grow as His disciples in the truth so that we can glorify Him in our thoughts, with our words, and by our actions.
Therefore…
- Take what Jesus teaches through His word to heart because it will transform your life.
- Read the Bible and pray. When you read the Bible, God speaks to you; when you pray, you speak to God. It becomes a two-way conversation and builds a beautiful relationship.
- Fellowship with other Christians for encouragement and edification in daily Christian living.
Reading His Word, praying, and enjoying Christian fellowship will grow your joy of salvation and love for your Saviour. These three things will unleash the power of the Holy Spirit and empower you to live your life in honor and glory to the One who died for you and gave you eternal life.
That’s what the magnificent obsession song is about…how we should live our lives.
And that’s who I am.
I am a child of God with a magnificent obsession and a glorious ambition to know Jesus better, to love Him more, and to serve Him all the days of my life. He has always been with me, and I know He is faithful and will never leave me (Heb 13:5). Therefore, my “tagline” on my emails reflects my joy:
In His hands by His grace!
In His service for His glory!
A Song for Today
“One Pure and Holy Passion” continues with a statement on the condition of our world (remember, this song was written in 2000). It echoes the words of King Solomon, who said that everything in this world is meaningless compared to knowing Jesus.
The world and all it offers will never satisfy an eternal soul that hungers to know its Creator. God is revealed throughout His creation, and His love is offered to all. He wants none to perish. He wants all to come to Him in repentance and faith (2 Pet 3:9). For those who do, He saves them to be His own, to know Him, and to receive His love in their hearts (Rom 5:5).
Therein lies the magnificence in our obsession, the purity and holiness in our passion, and the glory in our ambition. So the song closes with a heartfelt surrender and desire…
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Take a minute now and listen to the whole song from beginning to end. Do you want a Magnificent Obsession and a Glorious Ambition? Pray for it and watch what God will do in your mind and heart.
“One Pure and Holy Passion” Written by Mark Allotrope; Recorded by Candi Pearson; “Passion: One Day Live,” 2000
My first book, Why the Butterfly? A Book about Remembering is a big part of my testimony. It was written in a time of despair and sadness in dealing with significant loss. It’s not about butterflies. It’s about Jesus. But there is a reason for the butterfly on the cover. And even though I consider it my testimony book, it’s not about me. It’s all about the grace, love, and faithfulness of Jesus. It’s about rightly remembering, which gives hope and comfort in suffering. And it’s about realizing that the Lord’s grace is sufficient in all things. In Jesus, we find strength for the day, hope for the future, and rest for our souls. You can preview the book here.