Unique and United

Aiming for Restoration

Published on October 19, 2023 by kendraskeLeave a comment

Read through the Bible in 2 Years: 2 Corinthians 13

My heart breaks with Paul as he closes this letter. I know what it’s like to desire reconciliation and harmony with people who keep going back to their sin. It’s hard to stand by and watch as people continue to turn their back on the goodness of God’s grace. But, ultimately, we aren’t in charge. We speak words of grace and truth, and we pray, and leave the results up to God.

Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
2 Corinthians 13:11-14 ESV

Heavenly Father, I trust you in the good things and in the hard things. I know that often the hard things are the good things. Please encourage my heart so that I can encourage others. I pray for unity in the body of Christ. And I pray that the body of christ would be a holy, separate people, unstained by the world. I pray that your children would be faithful to exhort their brothers and sisters to love and good deeds as well as they are faithful to share the good news with the lost. Conform us to the image of your Son, Jesus Christ. May we be humble and kind and gentle and bold and courageous. In His Name I pray. Amen.

I’m a New Creation in Christ: My Interview with Kelly Hall on her Unshakable Hope Podcast

Published on October 13, 2023September 6, 2025 by kendraskeLeave a comment

Read through the Bible in 2 Years: 2 Corinthians 5

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21 ESV

Kelly Hall and I first met almost thirty years ago when I was a first year teacher at Central Institute for the Deaf in St. Louis, Missouri. Little did I know then how God would mightily use Kelly and her courageous faith in my life. Kelly and I had lost touch after exchanging annual Christmas letters for many years only to be reconnected about five years ago when I discovered that my faithful Memphis area prayer partner, Beth, also knew Kelly from their husbands’ mutual service in the air force in Texas! Isn’t God amazing?!? He is the great tapestry weaver.

I hope you’ll take a half hour of your time to tune in to my interview on Kelly Hall’s Unshakable Hope podcast and consider subscribing to be alerted as she releases new ones.

https://kellyhall.org/podcast/episode-19-from-out-spoken-atheist-to-devoted-follower-of-jesus-kim-endraske/

Building Up the Body

Published on October 6, 2023October 11, 2023 by kendraskeLeave a comment

Read through the Bible in 2 Years: 1 Corinthians 14

I remember many years ago when my oldest daughter was about five years old and playing on our town’s youth soccer team. My husband was the coach, and I was standing on the sidelines keeping one eye on our two-year-old son and one eye on the game. Midway through the game, the ‘soccer mom’ standing next to me struck up a conversation with me. Somehow she ended up asking me where I went to church and if my church was spirit filled. I didn’t really understand what she meant, and I just replied with a brief, somewhat confused, ‘Yes, we were,’ because, well, we believe that people are filled with the Holy Spirit when they are born again by faith in Christ. After talking to her more, I came to understand that she was asking me if we spoke in tongues. Why, I wonder, has “Spirit filled” come to mean, “Speaking in tongues”?

Maybe because of my background as an atheist, I have always really struggled with the pettiness of so many denominational differences, so I have really enjoyed studying Paul’s words on spiritual gifts here in 1 Corinthians chapters 12 – 14. 1 Corinthians 14:12 really sums my thoughts well.

So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.
1 Corinthians 14:12 ESV

Sadly, in my experience, including that day 20 years ago on the sidelines of a soccer field, the people who have talked to me about the gift of speaking in tongues have been more concerned with building up themselves than with the body. The scriptures are clear. If the Lord gives you a gift, it is to be used for building up others and glorifying God, not yourself. We ought to see ourselves as stewards of whatever it is that the Lord has given us, whether that’s time, treasure, talents, testimony, or a spiritual gift of speaking or serving.

Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of your Holy Spirit who guides me and convicts me. Please help me to exercise the gifts You have given me for the building up of the body of Christ and for Your glory. Remind me that any good thing that I have is a gift from Your merciful hand, and any good thing I do is the fruit of Your work in my life. Keep me humble and grateful that Your light will shine such that people’s attention is drawn to You, the Gracious Giver of every good and perfect gift. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.

Like a Symphony at Sunset is Unity in the Church

Published on October 4, 2023 by kendraskeLeave a comment

Read through the Bible in 2 Years: 1 Corinthians 12

But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.
If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

1 Corinthians 12:24b-26 ESV

God could’ve created mankind to reproduce as clones, each new being identical to the others, but He didn’t. Every single one of the billions of human beings who have ever lived has been a unique individual, each one formed in the likeness of his or her Creator. And when a person is born again by faith in Christ, God endows them by His Holy Spirit with special gifts and interests so that His children might all fit together as one breathtaking sunset of magnificently varying colors.

As I wrote earlier, conflict is sometimes needed in order to bring about peace. But let’s remember the object of conflict is peace, wholeness, unity, not division. God designed us to live together in harmony, in one accord, each valuable members of His heavenly orchestra, playing a symphony like no other as we each play our unique notes and instruments as He leads us, working together for His glory.

Heavenly Father, You are the giver of every good gift, the writer of every perfect song. You are the director of this orchestra that has been designed by Your hand to fit perfectly together as a masterpiece that even Beethoven could never achieve. I pray that we would trust Your direction and follow Your lead. Things often look messy to our untrained eyes. Things often sound out of place to our untrained ears. But in Your perfect hands there is peace. Weave us together into a tapestry of Your glorious design for the glory of Your Name we pray. Amen.

Ode to Joy – Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee

Hymn of Heaven – Phil Wickham

God’s Fellow Workers

Published on September 25, 2023September 27, 2023 by kendraskeLeave a comment

Read through the Bible in 2 Years: 1 Corinthians 3

He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers.
1 Corinthians 3:8-9a ESV

Where are you preparing soil?
Where are you scattering seeds?
Where are you watering and tending new little seedlings?
Who has God placed in your life to work alongside?
Who are you partnering with in furthering the kingdom of God?

These are just a few questions to ask yourself – that you might be transformed more and more into the image of Christ who came to seek and save the lost and who chose a whole variety of disciples to serve with toward that end.

Heavenly Father, Thank You for putting women into my life to minister to me, as well as giving me women to serve. Thank You for the precious gift of a wonderful weekend full of sweet conversations and much-needed refreshment and encouragement. Thank You for the drawer full of sisters who sharpen me, each in their own unique way. I am so grateful, Lord. Everything I have is a gift from Your good hand. You say to whom much is given, much will be required, and I know that You have given me so much. Please, Father, take the things that You have given to me and multiply them in my hands, my mouth, and my life. Make me Your fellow worker for the glory of Your Name and the expansion of Your glorious kingdom. In the Name of Jesus Christ, the King of kings I pray. Amen.

Worship the Lord in Spirit and Truth

Published on August 20, 2023August 20, 2023 by kendraskeLeave a comment

Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Deuteronomy 12-13

“Have it your way”
“Do what you want to do”
“Be yourself”
“Follow your heart”

Our modern American culture is screaming at us from every side to do whatever seems right to us, that everyone is different and should be free to express themselves however they want. Yet, Proverbs 14:12 says otherwise, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”

Here in Deuteronomy we read that God has a specific place for the Israelites to worship Him and a specific way that He wants to be worshipped. He says “destroy … tear down … dash in pieces … burn … chop down” the places where false gods have been worshipped. God says, “You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way.” (Deuteronomy 12:2-4) God says, “Do not inquire about their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods? – that I also may do the same.'” (Deuteronomy 12:30)

Let’s not look at Eastern religions
and rock concerts for direction on how to worship God; let’s look at the Word.

The Word tells us to worship the Lord in Spirit and Truth (John 4:24), and “with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:28b-29). We are to “ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him! Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.” (1 Chronicles 16:29) Let us, present our bodies “as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:1-2)

A Psalm for giving thanks.

Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!

Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise!

Give thanks to him; bless his name!

For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.
Psalm 100:1-5 ESV

Psalm 100 Psalter

Published on August 6, 2023August 13, 2023 by kendraskeLeave a comment

Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Romans 15-16

At our church’s women’s retreat several years ago, I shared two messages from Romans 15:5-6 — May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

God has designed each of His children to be a unique individual as well as a valuable part of His united body.

Check them out here:

Part 1 – Unique

Part 2 – United

A Prayer for Purity – Romans 14

Published on August 5, 2023 by kendraskeLeave a comment

Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Romans 14

Pray with me.

Heavenly Father, May my life be lived daily “in honor of the Lord”. Whether I eat or whether I abstain, let me be fully convinced in my own mind, walking by faith and not by flesh. I want to be prepared to give an account to You for how I have lived. I am thankful that You are my judge, because You are impartial and righteous and merciful and wise, and I am selfish and foolish and petty. I am not my brother’s judge. You are. You are the all-knowing, all-righteous judge of the world. I pray that I will pursue what makes for peace and building up the body in unity and holiness. I pray that I would not do anything that would cause my brother or sister to stumble. May the body of Christ be pure and holy, without blemish, in word, thought, and deed, to the glory of Your Name, and may that begin with me. In the perfect name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior I pray. Amen.

Suffering and Striving Side-by-Side for the Sake of the Gospel

Published on July 12, 2023July 14, 2023 by kendraskeLeave a comment

Read through the Bible in 2 years: Philippians 1:27-2:11

Whether Paul is with the Philippians or whether he is hours away, he wants them to stand firm, having one spirit and one mind with him and with one another, striving side by side for the gospel, not being frightened of anything, because they trust that God is good and that He is on His sovereign throne.

From there Paul moves directly into Philippians 2 which is a more well-known passage, but it’s so good to study it in this context. Paul knows this side-by-side striving for the gospel in the face of opposition will be hard, and they will want to give up, so he writes,

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:1-11 ESV

By His Grace and In His Service, I, Kim, a servant of Christ Jesus write to you. Press on. Jesus is worth it. Keep going. Whether you can see me or not, I’m right here beside you. We are marching lockstep together, in the Lord’s army together, following the same Master, the Master who became the servant, even to death, death on a cross. We are each chains linked together in the bonds of the Spirit for the sake of the gospel. We need each other. And we can stand firm by the power of God at work in us. For the sake of all those lost souls and for the sake of the Name of our Savior and Lord, press on.

Partners in the Gospel

Published on July 10, 2023July 12, 2023 by kendraskeLeave a comment

Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Philippians 1:1-11

“Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”
Philippians 1:1-11 ESV

I love Paul’s humility as he opens this letter. “Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ” — not “Paul, the one God chose to spread the gospel throughout the world, and Timothy my little brother,” nor “Paul, a servant of Christ, and Timothy, my disciple.”

Then, I noticed Paul’s subtle encouragement for humility on the part of his readers as well.

Paul is writing this letter to all the saints in Philippi along with the overseers and deacons. He isn’t writing to the overseers and deacons and then telling them, “Hey, share this info with those other saints among you.”

When Paul says in verse 3, “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,” expressing his gratitude that they have been partners in the gospel – in receiving the gospel and in sharing the gospel – he’s not just writing (or even primarily writing) to the elders, deacons, evangelists, and pastors. He’s writing to each and every believer in the body of Christ at Philippi. Each one of them are his partner because each of them (each of us) are partakers with Paul of God’s grace (verse 7). Paul wants each one of them to know how much he loves them, and how much he wants them to abound with more and more love, knowledge, and discernment.

My dear friends, my sisters, my fellow servants of Jesus Christ, I echo Paul’s words. I want you to know this, too!

Whether you are a 95-year-old great grandmother who has been studying the Bible verse by verse since you were “knee high to a grasshopper,” or you are a brand new believer reading Philippians for the first time, I am thankful for your partnership in the gospel, and I want you to know the Word better … so that you will know God better … so that you can love Him more and glorify Him more.

I want you to have deeper knowledge of the Lord so that you may accurately discern what is excellent and what is evil, so that your heart and your life may be pure when you meet Jesus face-to-face and so that the watching world will see your good works and be drawn to give glory and praise to God.

I love how each of Paul’s words seem to pour one into the next, like a stream rolling over a series of rocks until finally being deposited into the deep, wide, quiet lake of the glory and praise to God. I want you to know how much I love you, how thankful I am for you, how often I pray for you, that you would love God more, that you would know Him more, that you would be able to easily recognize what is good and what is not, that you may be pure and blameless, full of righteous fruits … to the glory and praise of God. That’s the end goal. The end goal isn’t about you, your happiness and holiness, your comfort and peace. The end goal is that God would be praise and glorified.

And the irony in that is that your joy is ultimately found in bringing God glory. I am never happier than when I am in the fellowship of other believers, worshipping the Lord together in song and prayer and Bible study.

I wonder – Do you have any sisters and brothers that you can say these words of Paul to? If so, have you told them how much they mean to you? If not, let me encourage you to find a group now. Find a local body of believers. Join a small group of women who pray for each other. Study the Bible with a few other sisters.

If you’re not familiar with Community Bible Study, check into them. They have groups all over the world. If you’re in the Memphis area, I invite you to join the Collierville, Tennessee group. We meet in person on Wednesday mornings or online on Thursday evenings.

Thank You, Heavenly Father, for each faithful partner in the gospel that You have put into my life. Some of them live just minutes away from me, while others live on the other side of the world. Thank You for each one of them, from the newest believer to the seasoned saint. I pray that their love will abound more and more, with knowledge and discernment, that they may approve what is excellent and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory of praise of Your Name! In the Blessed and Holy Name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.

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