Author: Shaunelius Sterns

I have been married to my wonderful husband for 21 years now. I am a Christian, poet, singer, songwriter, and artist. I have five beautiful children. I enjoy writing and reading my Bible. I also love to pray for others. I love nature and being outside on sunny days. I love spending time with my family and watching shows that makes me laugh.

Devotional: 1 Peter 1:8

Christian faith is a paradox. It loves someone you have never met, it believes in someone you cannot see, and it enjoys this person with a fullness that cannot be described or surpassed.

Whom having not seen, ye love. Christian faith is personal, not just believing for the sake of believing or formulating an abstract worldview. Christians do not just love truth, or justice, or peace, or purity. Christians love Christ! Christianity is not a philanthropy; it is not a philosophy; it is not even a religion. It is a relationship.

Yet believing. There are a thousand obstacles to the Christian faith. Professors may try to trip you up, tragedy may tempt you to lose heart, and discouragement may threaten to undo your faith from the inside out. But true Christianity believes in Christ anyway, trusts in Christ regardless, draws near to Christ relentlessly. No matter what the obstacle or opposition, true faith yet believes.

With joy unspeakable. Truth can be shared, but faith cannot. Nor can it be expressed. You have to experience Christ to appreciate Christ. You have to know Christ to embrace Christ. And you have to see Christ to enjoy him and find your satisfaction in him.

Have you seen him? Do you trust him? Have you enjoyed him?

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App Tip: Search and Look Up

There are two ways to discover information on a specific topic in the app. First, you can simply search the text you have open for a specific word or phrase. Or secondly, you can use the Lookup feature to find specific information throughout your entire digital library. In this post, we will go over these two methods, providing clear examples and tips for always finding what you’re looking for.

Search in the Olive Tree Bible App

Most frequently, the search feature is used to find all the occurrences of an English word in an English Bible. You can easily try this for yourself by selecting the search icon at the top of the app. Then type in any word (that you would find in the Bible) and search.

Above, we searched for the word “Jesus”. There are 1,311 results in the NIV Bible, which is open in the main menu.

You can also create more advanced searches, and search within any text that’s open in the main window.

Search Options

There are three simple features you can use to narrow your search. First, you can filter your results by book of the Bible. For example, try searching for “Jesus” only in the book of Mark. How many results do you discover then?

Secondly, you can set a search range. You can create your own range, if you want, but we’ve provided a list of popular ones. Examples include the Old Testament, Prophets, All Epistles. Now try searching for “Jesus” in all the Gospels.

Lastly, you can quickly access your search history. No need to type something you recently searched!

Advanced Search Features

The app contains two advanced search features, for those who have very specific search terms in mind. One allows you to create search commands using advanced syntax. Here are the rules we’ve included:

OR searches: use “OR”, “Or”, or “|”. Using “or” will result in a search for the word “or”.
AND searches: use “AND”, “And”, or “&”. Using “and” will result in a search for the word “and”. On its own, this type of search will find two words or phrases within the same verse (or 20-words for non-versified books). If you want change this, add a number followed by “v” for verses or a “w” for words at the end of your search terms. For example, “10v” or “2w”.
You can combine multiple OR and/or AND searches. Like with math, the order of precedence is from left-to-right. Then, parentheses may be used to change the order if needed.
Search for an exact phrase by using double question marks around the words: “a servant of Christ Jesus”.
Wildcard searches can be done by adding an “*”. This means words including this word, along 0 or more other characters, will be included.
Add a “?” to the end of a word to search for the word along with 1 additional character, perhaps to find the plural as well as the singular.

These rules can be tricky if you have never used them before. However, in the advanced search feature, we’ve made these commands easier to use. Tap to add them to your search query, or select the information button to learn a little more before implementing.

The last search option allows you to switch between searching for the plain text or morphology when you are using a parsed text.

The Lookup Feature

Lookup is more similar to using the Resource Guide than searching. In case you aren’t sure what the Resource Guide is:

The Resource Guide is a tab in the Study Center. It shows you every piece of content related to the text open in the main window. Relevant content is organized by type: commentary, maps, outlines, etc.

So, Lookup doesn’t simply search the text you have open. Instead, it scans your entire digital library, searching for any content related to your query.

Using Lookup in the Study Center

There are two ways to search your library for a topic. First, open the Study Center and select the Lookup tab. Here, you can search for any topic you want. However, we also work hard to organize information related to Bible study for you in advance. So, while searching, you may realize we’ve already created a tag for this person, place or thing.

Extra Tip: If you were to create a note and tag it with one of these pre-made tags, then your note would also appear in the Lookup results.

After searching, you will see a results page. If we find content related to your search, you will see it here!

Using Lookup in the Text

The second way to use this feature is by selecting a word in the text you are reading. For instance, you can lookup “servant,” like we did above, without opening the Study Center.

After selecting the word you’re curious about, tap “Lookup.” Now you’ll see the results page in a pop-up window. This method is a very convenient way to quickly learn about what you’re reading, while you’re reading — no distractions.

Get Started Today!

Get practice using these features with the discounted titles below!

New English Translation 2nd Ed. with Strong’s
Vine’s New Testament Word Pictures (2 Vols.)
Believer’s Bible Commentary
Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament

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Start Smart in 2023

Welcome to 2023! We might already be a few weeks into the new year, but it is still the perfect time to reorder priorities and commit to new goals. Let Olive Tree help with great deals on Bibles, commentaries, study Bibles and other top titles to enable you to grow in your relationship with Christ.

Some titles to pick for your smart start:

New English Translation 2nd Ed.
NKJV Defending the Faith Study Bible
Believer’s Bible Commentary
ESV Archaeology Study Bible
Reformed Expository Commentary (25 Vols.)
Start Smart in 2023!

Browse all discounted titles!

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Fun Fact for Today

The reason why we want to squeeze cute things is because when we’re feeling overwhelmed by positive emotions we use a little bit of aggression to helps us balance out that high.

From the Facts app: https://randomfacts.app

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In The Waiting; Living Changed: Purpose Day 4 Devotional

In the Waiting

The first three days of this plan gave you a lot to think about. It would be understandable if you’re feeling overwhelmed as you try to connect the dots between what you’re passionate about, what you’re good at, and the hard things you’ve overcome. Instead of stressing or obsessing about it, embrace the time in the waiting. Maybe He wants to teach you something before He shows you His plans for you. 

For me, I needed to learn how to see myself through the lens of God’s truth before I could see His bigger picture for my life. There were too many times I believed the lie that I had nothing to offer and I almost let it keep me from doing what God wanted me to do. When I was starting in ministry, I felt like I didn’t know enough Scripture and I wasn’t talented enough to do anything worthwhile. Despite my insecurities, I promised God that I would surrender to whatever He put in front of me. When I stepped out of my comfort zone and offered to serve, I was surprised to find that what I could offer was wanted and needed. The truth is no one ever saw me as incapable or untalented, least of all God. Still, I had given the lies in my head more power over my life than the truth of God’s Word. 

Moses also understood feelings of inadequacy. In the book of Exodus, God uses Moses to free the Israelites from Egyptian slavery and give them the Jewish laws they followed for centuries. Moses was one of the most important leaders in Israelite history, but when God called him to step into that purpose, Moses didn’t believe he was qualified for the job. Even when God promises to be with him, Moses insists he’s not good enough and asks God to send someone else. Pause and think about that. Moses is talking to the all-powerful God who isn’t bound by time, knows everything there is to know, and still wants to use him. That should be enough to give Moses confidence. Yet, how many times do we do the same thing?

Right now, you might be feeling unsure of your purpose or even incapable of doing what you feel lead to do. But you can believe God’s Word that says you do have unique gifts and talents. Maybe you can’t recognize your gifts because they seem insignificant in comparison to someone else’s or maybe you take them for granted because they come so easily. The truth is, those things that come naturally to you are not things that everyone can do. What you have to offer is special, and you’re meant to play an important role in God’s plan. Ask Him what that is.

If you’re not sure how to hear from God, get to know Him more. Read His Word, the Bible, every day. Develop a stronger prayer life by talking to Him and listening for Him. Surround yourself with people who reflect the image of Christ. Work toward an intimate relationship with God, and soon, you’ll be able to distinguish His voice when He prompts you. 

When you feel lost in the waiting, focus on listening to God. Learn what He says about you. Ask Him to help you spot and call out the lies so they no longer have a claim on you. Consider how you can practice obedience now, in the small things, so that you’re ready when He reveals more. Ask Him to show you what you’re good at, and then be willing to offer Him all you have. Do these things as you wait for Him because oftentimes, our purpose is just on the other side of our willingness to surrender and listen. 

God, thank you for creating a specific purpose just for me. Help me to see myself through your eyes and to throw off all the lies that might hold me down. Help me to believe that I am fearfully and wonderfully made in your image and that there is no one else like me. Continue to refine me and prepare me for the purpose you have for me. Show me the next step I should take to grow closer to you and to help fill the space you made for me in your Church. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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