What's Up Archives - Nikole Hahn

A Fierce Guardian

At first, in my naivete, I saw the dog trotting up the slope of the hill toward our camp as a confused animal, thinking we were his Shepherd. The Shepherd disappeared hours ago. In front of us, hundreds of sheep meandered through the Juniper trees and brush on the other side of a seasonal creek. The dog stopped in the shade of a pine tree a couple yards away and settled comfortably in the grass, facing us. He leveled his dark eyes on us, exhibiting a strong, calm, but warning presence. The dog was between us and the sheep.

We were camped in the middle of the national forest two miles from a small, isolated lake near Williams, Arizona, on land often used by sheepherders and cattle ranchers. The area is our favorite place to camp on weekdays when everyone else is at work. The only sounds that break the quiet here are the wind rushing through the treetops, the occasional off-road vehicle, and, at night, the melodious song of coyotes echoing off the mountains and hills.

The first time we met this flock of sheep was years ago, driving on another dirt road behind our current camp, headed to a trail we had never hiked. Hundreds of sheep covered the roads, and a Shepherd wearing a multi-colored poncho stood in the middle of them. We waited, and he signaled for us to move when the sheep were off the road. But now, we met the flock’s protector, and the Shepherd was nowhere to be seen.

While I mistakenly called the dog a Sheep Dog, this one might be called a “Livestock Guardian Dog.” Breeds include Great Pyrenees to a Maremma Sheepdog. The dogs are friendly to their Shepherds but fierce towards strangers. It’s not a dog you want to pet if it approaches you. The tender but fierce heart of this Guardian Dog reminded me so much of how the Lord loves and leads us, even in how He disciplines us.

“He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.” (Isaiah 40:11, ESV)

Charles Spurgeon wrote, “No creature has less power to take care of itself than the sheep; even the tiny ant with its foresight can provide for the evil day, but this poor creature must be tended by man or else perish.”

I am constantly reminded of how small and fragile I am when I stand at the base of a great mountain or beneath the face of thousands of stars in the night sky. Nothing is guaranteed in the world I live in with all its bills, uncertainty, stress, and fears – not the food on our table or the clothes on our backs. Like Arizona monsoons, our future always seems to have threatening clouds looming large on the horizon.

One thing is constant:

“I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” (Psalm 27:13-14, NIV)

The Guardian Dog made a perimeter around our camp, marking spots, stopping momentarily to sit behind us near our tent. He would rise again and continue marking spots in an almost perfect circle. Before he lay down to watch us again, he gave us a look. It felt like, “Stay within this circle. The sheep will stay outside this circle.” He sat down and continued watching. To our horror, the flock of sheep began moving towards us, but the dog set boundaries to protect his flock, keeping an eye on those who may hurt his sheep.

A Livestock Guardian Dog is introduced to a flock as a puppy and imprints itself upon the flock, creating a lifelong bond. The way the dog made a perimeter to protect the sheep and give us a certain amount of freedom to wander reminded me of Jesus’ discipline.

Jesus will sometimes receive our prayers with a ‘no’ that feels unfair. He may fence us in for our own good. What we want is sometimes not healthy for us. Because He loves us, He won’t give us everything we want, but He will provide us with everything we need and some left over to help others.

While in a faceoff with this Guardian Dog and wondering if the dog would get violent, I had to do some quick research on how to act in this situation. Livestock Guardian Dogs have a relationship with the sheep, where they learn to obey the dog. It can be painful until the sheep learn how to obey.

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.” (James 1:22-25, NIV)

The flock moved closer to the perimeter, the tinkling of their bells more like a warning now where it once added peace to our camp. The dog moved away from our camp as the flock moved towards the dip between the hills behind us, but I noticed as he tarried behind the flock, some now back near the seasonal creek below us, a smaller sheep limped to catch up with the flock.

The dog patiently stayed behind the lame sheep, ensuring its safety.

“When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ He said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ He said to him a second time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ He said to him, ‘Tend my sheep.’ He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ and he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.’” (John 21:15-17, ESV)

As the bells faded in the dusk of another day ending, and the sheep and the dog were no longer in sight, I took a deep breath. My husband put together the fire for the night, and I got up to prepare the food. I pointed to the empty field below us and said, “There’s the Shepherd.”

The Shepherd had returned with his smaller sheep herder dog. As the sun was about to set, he strode across the field, climbed parallel to our camp, and vanished into the mountains behind me, going after the sheep to lead them home.

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27, ESV)

Walking in God’s Promised Tomorrow

The Lord says, “Forget what happened before, and do not think about the past. Look at the new thing I am going to do. It is already happening. Don’t you see it? I will make a road in the desert and rivers in the dry land. – Isaiah 43:18-19 NCV

Isaiah 43 speaks of comfort, of suffering that won’t last forever, of promises that God is all powerful and able to provide. The exile the Israelites were in would not last forever, and the passage encourages the Israelites to look forward to the new thing, a release from exile.

The phone call came early in the Summer of 2020. It was a phone call I spent five years waiting for, and I would go full time with WorldVenture that August. In that moment, it almost felt like a physical door closed and locked behind me, shutting out the past permanently, and a warm comforting affirmation of a future of serving with the Lord right where He wanted me. A loud and clear message, “No turning back now.”

We can and should lament the past, shed the tears, express the pain, and then move on, forgive, and embrace the future with the lessons learned from the past. God is doing a new thing, and in this passage, it is clear: You can’t move forward if you are mired in the wreckage of the past. The shadows will keep you from seeing all the good the Lord is doing in your life. Grief can visit, but it shouldn’t stick around. There’s too much living to do!

In contrast, Joshua 4:19-24 talks about remembering the past, but remembering what God has done. Twelve stones memorializing how God dried up the Jordon River so the people of Israel could safely cross were placed in the camp. “He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.” (vs. 24)

God wants us to remember what He did for us, but not dwell on the darkness of the past or the present hardships. The Bible talks about festivals and feasts, and stones because we need physical reminders to jog our memories, and if we truly see what the Lord has done and remember, it can bring relief. This changes our focus.

*Amy suffered from depression, grew up in an abusive family, and had major health issues. One day, she asked me, “Why didn’t God rescue me from them when I was young?” In our ensuing conversation, she discovered that God had provided a way out – her music. Amy loved to play the piano. Music made her feel close to the Lord. She worshipped and forgot her present circumstances.

Isaiah 43 is a comfort in a world where people want you to stay broken and ineffective. Instead, take intentional steps to move forward. Note how Isaiah 43:19 uses the words, “Look at the new thing I am going to do.” He said, “Going to do.” That’s a promise! And God always keeps His promises.

* Name changed

Photo: Yosemite in the Fall (Copyright Nikole Hahn)

Inspiring a Culture Change: The Impact of Doing Your Best Work

Imagine living in a place where doing something for others was only done if that person received something in return, like compensation, a favor owed, etc. That’s a real attitude in some cultures. But I’ve also discovered this in America, too. It’s usually in the workplace.

“They don’t pay me enough.”

“They owe me.”

“Somebody else can do it.”

In my reading of the Bible, I haven’t found something that said we shouldn’t do our best work if we aren’t paid enough.

I’ve seen many online posts about employment over the years. Rarely do posts about others going above and beyond expectations get as many likes or shares. More often than not, posts from people who hate their jobs gain more comments and likes. As a former Human Resources Assistant, I’m sure my name was dragged through social media somewhere, and I’m sure the story was interesting and inaccurate to the real situation. It needs to start with us if we want to see a culture change.

On Sunday, Pastor Wayne talked about influencers—the kind on social media who are motivated by likes and dollars. Our motivation should be to glorify the Lord, inspire people to be different, and set the example we wish to see in others. Our motivation should be love. After all, the Bible also applies to our online life, not just our in-person life.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. – Colossians 3:23-24

Doing our best also reminds me of Isaiah 39:8,

“‘The word of the Lord you have spoken is good,’ Hezekiah replied. For he thought, ‘There will be peace and security in my lifetime.’”

Hezekiah was only worried about the present time.

“A business can’t have unproductive people yet magically still have an immensely profitable business. Great businesses are built one productive person at a time.” – The One Thing by Gary Keller

As an employee, always keep your eye on the future. The decisions you make now can inspire a better culture over time, show non-Christians that Christians can be loving and do the right thing despite temptations to do the opposite and ensure the quality of your work. Whether you hate your job or love your job, your work matters.

A Shift in Attitude

Read Isaiah 38

“Then, Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, and said, ‘Please, O Lord, remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight.’ And Hezekiah wept bitterly.” – Isaiah 38:2-3

God told Hezekiah he would die and to set his house in order. Upon hearing this, Hezekiah wept bitterly. He turned his face to the wall to pray privately. The commentary discusses the difference in how Christians pray today under the New Covenant.

We have the assurance of Salvation, whereas the Old Testament required sacrifices, and the afterlife was not clearly understood. Death was naturally feared. Hezekiah is said to pray, saying how good he’s been and pleading for mercy, and this is said to be a normal way in the Old Testament to approach the Lord. Today, we pray differently.

“We pray in the name of Jesus (John 16:23-24), not in the name of who we are or what we have done.” (David Guzik, Blue Letter Bible)

God answered Hezekiah’s prayer and gave him 15 more years to do better as a man of faith and to set his house in order. This reminded me of the many times we are given mercy rather than consequences, but do we see it?

As a believer, I try to appreciate those moments of mercy, not because I deserve it or because I’m such a great person (I’m not), but because He loves me and is wise. He loves you, too. He loved you all the way to the cross. Maybe God’s acts of mercy in your life are because of something He sees in your future or someone else’s future. Mercy may be more beneficial in some way than the consequences.

Trust the Lord for the outcome amid terrible circumstances or wrestling with the aftermath of bad decisions. God gave Hezekiah 15 more years to do the right thing and get his house in order. Not many of us are given that kind of second chance. Death can come instantly. It’s too late to make better decisions or to accept Christ once death comes. Even on a Roman cross, a man can repent, and Jesus will accept Him into heaven at the last minute.

But the other one made him shut up: “Have you no fear of God? You’re getting the same as him. We deserve this, but not him—he did nothing to deserve this. Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you enter your kingdom.” – Luke 23:40-42 (MSG)

Pray in humility.
Pray with a healthy fear of God, that He is holy.
Trust the Lord. Pray for Him to help you with this.

Related Verses:

Verses regarding the man on the cross, click here.

A New Habit

I was reminded in reading “The One Thing” that habits take a long time to form. In talking to our writer’s small group, Roots, I am determined to do a new habit – a creative project for me.

My new habit will be writing one devotional a month. I’m also pursuing article publication. During my vacation, I will be thumbing through my Writers Market and brainstorming ideas. For me, it doesn’t matter if I publish here or with someone else.

For me, it’s all about God and you.

I want to encourage you. I know the blog has been lacking posts lately. My social media is more active than my website. This is the consequence of serving in social media for WorldVenture, and something most social media marketers lament on – how we just don’t have time for our own stuff because we’re so busy creating for someone else.

This habit will help build a spiritual discipline, too. In a recent trip to Colorado, I had a good conversation with some Global Workers and a pastor about Bible reading habits.

To give you a glimpse of my new reading habits…

I read a chapter in the ESV.
Then, I read a chapter in the NCV.
I follow that by reading a commentary on that chapter.
A devotional is written, summing up what I understand, and what I’ve learned.

Tune in tomorrow for tomorrow’s first devotional for August.

Dressing The Inner Woman

Women put a lot of effort into their outer appearance. When I try on a new outfit in the dressing room, the mirror tricks me into believing I really do look great in it, but the mirror at home will tell a different story. The right outfit gives us confidence, but it will never dispel the voices in our heads that say we’re not good enough. That’s where we need to work on our inner woman and study Scripture.

Using the right words in our heads is as important as what we write online, in our journals, or for devotional pieces like this one. We will read them again and again, the words imprinting upon our hearts, and Facebook will remind us of posts from a year or more ago.

Proverbs 18:21 ESV says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.” The previous verse talks about making a living off words. This verse speaks to the power of words. Words can help another person find the confidence to serve or totally crush someone from their full potential. Likewise, the words we hear in our heads about ourselves are not valid. When I feel anxiety or put myself down, I must confront those words. Jesus loves us so much as women, and women were the first witnesses of the empty tomb.

We are creatures that crave deep connections. It’s no wonder that most women are active on social media. Our words matter to ourselves and others, whether in person, online, or in private conversation. That’s why it’s so important to pay closer attention to how we dress the inner woman. Go ahead, fix your hair, perfect your make-up, and wear an outfit that exudes confidence to people around you, but don’t forget your heart.

Start the day reading Scripture and write something positive on your social media. Let this imprint your heart so it’s more than just surface confidence that radiates from you, but the light of our Lord instead.

How To Effectively Communicate

Content Marketing Institute published 15 Digital Content Mistakes That Can Hurt Your Brand. I work with missionaries and churches in online communication. I picked a few items from Content Marketing’s list to connect ministry and secular marketing. While we do marketing, we must always consider it ministry to establish a genuine relationship with people.

First, you are the brand. Whether it’s a church or missionary, or a Christian non-profit. It is who you are. For ministry purposes, that’s how we define our own brands. It is how we differentiate ourselves from others.

“To instantly leave a memorable impression on your target audience, so they slowly but surely become familiar with your company and ultimately buy from you.” (coschedule.com on Brands)

Promotional Content

“The 80/20 rule has been cited as the effective social media content ratio. Focus 80% of your posts on informing and entertaining your followers, while just 20% should be about your business. Similarly, the five-three-two rule says for every 10 posts published, five should be curated from others’ content, three should be original to your brand, and two should be personal and fun to humanize your brand.”

Simply put…

Informing and entertaining can be about your ministry, Scripture, fun photos, cultural immersion, etc. Give value back to your audience. How can you minister to them? How can you minister to your community online? Be generous with your time. Teach and inspire!
20% a call to action to give or about events.
Share or screenshot and share and tag other content related to your brand, your area of ministry, or something valuable to your audience. Paraphrase and sum up another person’s post, tag, or share a link. Subscribe to news events in the area of your service to paraphrase mostly positive updates to your newsfeed.
Three original posts about your brand. This is content you create from scratch.
Two fun things that are personal. To build friendships in person, you find something in common. Do the same online.

Ultimately, the rule is not solid, Content Marketing says. Don’t feel you need to stick fast to this rule, but it’s a good guide, especially if you need to be more creative. Study your data online to know what your audience wants to see from you. Never listen to an expert if your data says to do something different. Do what works for your audience! Do what works to grow a new audience, too.

Emailing

Following along the lines of knowing your audience, typically once a month for churches and once a week to once a month for individuals, is a good guide for email communication with your audience. Larger organizations will have different schedules.

Even if you still need to go to the field, you must keep your name in front of people. Draw on your creativity to decide what to send out to foster solid friendships, or enroll in similar newsletters to see what they write and how they frame their stories. Below is what is true of communications between missionaries and their partners:

76% expect consistent interaction with a brand. Even though this is a secular market, I have found this to be true with missionary and partner relations.

Stay Away From Controversial Subjects

If you don’t wish to get boycotted, get an angry email, or want to keep relationships with people, be aware of trigger points with your audience. Content Marketing says to bring up highly polarizing and emotional topics only if it has something to do with your brand. And when you do, make sure you have researched the subject and keep a steadfast, calm, and loving tone online.

Once something becomes a debate, you’ve lost. Even if you win the battle, you’ve lost the war. You’ll get farther respecting the person as an image-bearer of God than with your self-defensiveness and anger. What is the most important thing your audience can take away from you? Is it because you care about them or your cause?

The Battle To Be Heard

My email accounts have hundreds to thousands of emails in them. The subject line is the most essential part of your email. It’s what will stand out from all your Best Buy, Hobby Lobby, and Hotel emails. It’s also an art form. Don’t be discouraged if it takes a few times to get the subject line right and to see your open rates increase.

The commercial open rate is about 30%. It reaches a different audience than your social media, website, and direct mail. In Church Communication, we always say to use everything to get your information in front of people. Be the email they want to open!

Why It’s Not Their Fault

We make about 35K decisions a day. What words to post, actions to take, and whether to love or hate your job (among other things).

The decisions are your responsibility. Ultimately, those decisions have rewards or consequences. You can’t blame other people for the wrong decisions. Others may have influenced those decisions, but that is still your decision.

Your decisions may or may not have an impact on other people.

If you have a bad attitude, it will eventually affect the quality of your work, your relationships, etc. If you love your job, the work shows it. If you choose to honor your spouse inside and outside the home, your relationship will flourish.

Practice having a better outlook and attitude.

Be generous with your time.
Be generous with your money.
Do more than expected.
Do quality work at work no matter what.
Do the right thing according to the Word of God.
Don’t let the world crush you.
Prioritize what God would have you do that day.

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. – Matthew 16:24

📷 Scholtz Lake

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