Devotionals for the Heart: Differences

How is your heart health?
A devotional by Patricia Russell

“Happy are those whose hearts are pure, for they shall see God.” 

–Matthew 5:8 (TLB)

It was my second trip to the east coast of Canada and I was excited.

It was an opportunity to travel, sing, meet new people and encourage them in the Word and I thought this was going to be good!

One day, we went into town and met some people in the community. I remember greeting a group of people and chatting. Not long after, a little boy, about the age of six years old, approached me. I bent down and put my hand out to shake his. With thoughtful and deeply curious eyes he reached out and stroked the top of my hand. He stroked it again. He looked back at his hand as if fully expecting to see something to come off on to his little hand.

I was perplexed. I knew my hands weren’t wet. I was now puzzled! I noticed the adults around him looked disturbed and blushed. He looked up at me and asked, “Does it come off?”

My brain quickly went into fourth gear, as I realized he was clearly expecting something from my chocolate skin to rub off on to his hand. This was the first time he had met a dark-skinned person. He looked up in surprise. The question in his eyes required an answer. I knelt down, looked lovingly in his eyes and said, “No honey, the color doesn’t come off. This is the color of my skin. It doesn’t wash off. This is who I am.”

I waited for a response. There was none to give. In childlike fashion he shrugged his shoulders, turned and ran off to play with his friends.

Friends, it’s this very same attitude that God longs for us to come to Him with. Come without fear, with curiosity and purity. We only need to have the courage to reach out, touch His heart with our questions, our doubts, our fears. Believe me, His heart can handle it. Remember, He understands our makeup.

The Psalmist David said in Psalm 139:1-5 (TLB), “O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit or stand. When far away you know my every thought. You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest. Every moment you know where I am. You know what I am going to say before I even say it.You both precede and follow me and place your hand of blessing on my head.”

David continues to marvel over the fact that God knows everything about us. Wherever we go, He is there! Whatever we think – He knows. Just like that little boy, God is not afraid of our response – He actually knows it before we say it (Psalm 139:4). That short encounter reminded me of how much God wants me to have a childlike heart in how I relate to Him. He told the disciples to allow the children to freely come to be with Him because they reflected the mindset He wanted us to have in His kingdom.

Jesus wanted them to watch and learn from the children who played freely, forgave easily and whose hearts were pure. When exposed to loving relationships, loving behavior and loving conversation, children will naturally pass that on to others they interact with. So maybe we need to check our hearts. Have you had a heart check-up lately? How is your heart beating? Are you anxious? Are you worried about tomorrow?

Take on the attitude of that little boy during the first time he met someone who didn’t look like him. “She looks different,” he must have thought. But he didn’t linger on that thought or treat me badly because of my skin color. He simply shrugged then decided to go and play.

I believe God wants us to see the differences in people and love them anyway. Remember, He created us all. Rest in knowing what David (the Psalmist) knew: God knows everything about you … everything. Yet He loves you anyway!

Let’s pray: Dear God, there are so many things happening in this world that can overwhelm my heart. I choose today, to trust you in everything. Keep my heart pure so I can see people through your eyes and love them the way You love them. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

Patricia Russell is a speaker, worship leader, author, certified life coach and songwriter. 

Her gifts have been shared internationally with audiences to encourage, empower and share life lessons through words and songs. She has sung on national television broadcasts and shared the stage with several respected speakers. Over her 30 years in ministry, she has been a featured artist in musical cantatas locally and the United States of America.

Patricia had the honour of leading worship at the kick-off event for the 2006 the “Just Give Me Jesus” Toronto Revival with Anne Graham Lotz who is the eldest daughter of Billy Graham, a well-known American evangelist.

Patricia serves in ministry along with her husband Rev. Wayne Russell. Together, they have served as guest hosts on a local early morning call in program called “Nite Lite Live” that formerly aired on the CTS Television Network. They have two adult children Raquel and Benjamin.

Patricia has recorded two CD’s: “Lord I Trust You” and a live recording “Draw Me Nearer.” She is also an author. Her first book is titled Lord I Trust You: Words of Encouragement. It is meant to further encourage and share life lessons as a result of her cancer journey. She is a co-author of a #1 bestseller book titled Crushed Diamonds Still Sparkle, and she has compiled the recent #1 bestseller book titled Stronger Resilience.

~*~
Connect with Patricia:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patrussellsings/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/patrussellsings
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patrussellonline/
Email: patrussellsings@gmail.com

Devotionals for the Heart: Unity

Bound in Unity
A devotional by Malinda Fugate

Key Scripture:

Romans 15:1-13 (NIV)

My soul is heavy as I look away from the headlines unfolding on Twitter and open a blank Word document to write. It feels like the world, already fragile from the strain of pandemic, is crumbling into pieces of division, violence, and unrest. My heart breaks for those who are hurting, helpless and angry at injustice. At times like these, when hope in humanity is frail, we know where to turn: the sovereign source of all strength, God our Father.

The Word contains so many encouragements of hope, including Romans 15:13: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” How refreshing this is! He provides more than merely a nugget of hope for us to survive. We are filled to overflowing by the Holy Spirit, and with accompanying gifts of joy and peace! I wanted to place these promising words in context, so my eyes wandered to the beginning of the chapter to see what Paul was thinking.

This letter to the Romans was written in a time of great divide between the Jews and the Gentiles. Centuries of conflict separated the people, but Christ was a game-changer. Salvation wasn’t only meant for the Jewish people; God’s love extends to all His children. The problem, however, is that the tumultuous history was not quickly forgotten. Paul had a few things to say to the divided believers in Rome, and as I read his words, they resonated for such a time is this.

“We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.” (Romans 15:1-2)

We live in communities divided by race, economics, and history. Some groups experience benefits while others struggle through challenges daily. If we only focus on ourselves and remain blind to the plight of our neighbors, we are ignoring the commands of the Lord. Can we be brave enough to support our brothers and sister first, tending to their needs before addressing our own? Will we be the revolutionaries we are called to be and live as selflessly as Christ?

“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
(Romans 15:5-6)

We were never intended to be divided by race, economics, history, or any other factor. We were designed to be unified in Christ. This takes intention and effort. So often, we focus on more popular teachings of Jesus and ignore the difficult mandate to be together as one—despite our many differences. Yet, shouldn’t we work as diligently at unity as we do at honoring the Ten Commandments and caring for widows and orphans?

“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” (Romans 15:7) Some translations say welcome or receive each other. We are to care for one another as family and dear friends. This is more than just acknowledgement or regarding one another fondly. When we accept, welcome, and receive each other, we are actively concerned for the well-being of our neighbor and involved in their life. This, says Paul, brings praise to God. By blessing others, we bless the Lord!

It’s after this discussion of unity that Paul speaks of hope. God blesses us with hope in the gift of community, and when we stray from that togetherness, we miss out. As we are currently realizing, there is pain and discord when we ignore our brothers and sisters and focus solely on ourselves. We know better. We can do better.

We can seek the Lord together and welcome His healing to our communities. This takes intentional effort, but the Holy Spirit equips us to follow the way of Jesus.

And there we shall discover overflowing hope.

~*~
Author Bio:

Malinda Fugate writes from the heart.

Though she serves full time as the Children’s Education Director at a church in Southern California, she is also a crafter of words published in books. Her writing includes children's faith resources, commercial copywriting, and various faith-based stage and screenplays.

Malinda invites you to explore the various 3:16s in the Bible with her new book, The Other Three Sixteens (published by Ambassador International in May 2020).

She also invites you to read her previously published books: Bible Time for Active Kids, which is an activities-based devotional that is available for purchase on Amazon.com, and The Pen and the Sword: Connecting With the Word of God, which is an interactive creative writing journal.

Malinda earned a communications degree with a theatre emphasis from Azusa Pacific University, and then worked behind the scenes at the Los Angeles Salem radio stations, including The Fish and KKLA.

When she's not writing or working at church, Malinda might be creating art, reading, or exploring the many adventures to be found in the Los Angeles area. She lives by the beach with her pup, Yoshi. Visit Malinda online via https://www.malindafugate.com.

Devotionals for the Heart: Forgiveness and having the "Mind of Jesus Christ"

Let this mind be in you...
A devotional by Chaplain Paul Anderson

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” –Philippians 2:5-11 (KJV)

Last week, I was forced to evaluate my sense of right, rightness, righteousness, and self-righteousness. 

If you live in the United States of America and watched the news story about Amber Guyger (a former Dallas police officer) who, according to CNN.com, "killed Botham Jean in his apartment last year" and you saw Brandt who is the brother of Botham Jean, ask the Judge if he could give Amber a hug (and he proceeded to tell her that he forgives her), then you probably were forced to evaluate your mindset too.

When I saw the brother of Jean Botham offer his heartfelt forgiveness and meek request to hug the person who had unjustly killed his brother, something leapt within me.

Reflexively, I thought and posted on Facebook that “he will live outside of the prison of hatred and retributive rage, because he forgave quickly.” That action, in my mind, seemed congruent with the mind of Christ.

It was congruent with what I saw my own brother say, in court, to the man who had irresponsibly caused the death of his and his wife’s only son who was the only brother to their daughters. Nothing he could do or demand would bring back their son, but they hoped, for that man, a preferred vision for his life, going forward. They articulated it.

I know that my brother’s family live, daily, with the pain of Nathan’s absence, but to move on in their uncharted, personal path through grief, they forgave.

Later I saw lots of my friends post angst, dismay, anger and outrage at this simple and very personal deed of grief management. I was driven to reconsider my thoughts about forgiveness. I took the time to read, in context, every Scriptural use of the word “forgiveness.” Sometimes it was requested by an offender. Sometimes it was spontaneously offered by the offended.

In every case, it offered a release for the offended and the offender. Sometimes, the freedom was embraced. The most poignant time when it was not embraced is mentioned in the story found in Matthew 18:21-35 (KJV). Please take the time to read it. Let it seep into your spirit.

Forgiveness is a spiritual conundrum that can only be comprehended by spiritual discernment. It will not make sense to an angry person or to one whose scales of justice are merely human. Forgiveness does not absolve a person of debt, or wrongdoing. There still is no such thing as a free lunch. Forgiveness transfers the weight, debt of the offense and the responsibility of the offender, into cosmic accountability.

I have always had a heightened sense of justice. However, in my early adulthood, I began to understand how my well-doing and right-doing advanced relationships. I also began to see how nurturing my own judgmental mindset injured the same. A more mature person told me, “The best way to advance the cause of rightness is righteousness. Harshness and a punitive spirit put you in the path of God’s judgment. It makes you bitter and painful to be around. It impedes His ultimate justice. Get out of God’s way and into His will."

Now, there is the legitimate expectation of civil jurisprudence. But, the courts of popular opinion, our common pleas and communities are not the same nor equal to the court of divine presence. Martin Luther King Jr. in the 20th century, immortalized the 19th century thought of Theodore Parker when he prophetically declared that, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but, it bends toward justice.”

The Bible says this in Psalm 19:7-8 KJV, “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.” 

Brandt did not speak for his family. He spoke only for himself. He did not try to define my faith and praxis. Nor did he delineate yours. He acted in heartfelt dependence on what he thought that God directed him, through his understanding of Scripture, to do. He probably does not know as much about theology as I do, but he demonstrated more faith than I have ever been called to do.

No one can know what they would do if plunged into a similar circumstance. 

What we have then and now is an illustrative continuum that appeals to each of us to spiritually think on these things and to have the "mind of (Jesus) Christ."

~*~
Author Bio:

Chaplain Anderson served for 20 years as a U.S. Navy Chaplain. Over 26 years of active duty, he was promoted through the ranks from Seaman Apprentice (E2) to his final rank as Commander (O5) in the Chaplain’s Corps.

Prior to his Naval career, Chaplain Anderson pastored in the Allegheny East and Potomac Conferences of Seventh-day Adventists. His undergraduate preparation for ministry was completed at Columbia Union College (WAU) in Takoma Park, Md.

He has subsequently earned four graduate degrees–a Master of Divinity from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan, a Master of Education in Counseling and Personnel Services from the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland and a Masters of Sacred Theology in Religion and Culture from Boston University. His Doctor of Ministry degree was conferred by Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C.

Chaplain Anderson also completed four units of Clinical Pastoral Education at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He also holds certifications in Suicide Awareness and Prevention, Civil Mediation, Alternative Workplace Dispute Resolution, Temperament Analysis, Marriage Enrichment, Workforce Diversity, and is a certified Life Coach.

Devotionals for the Heart: Marriage

Marriage on My Mind
A devotional by Ginger Solomon

“Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies.” 

– Proverbs 31:10 (NLT)

I have weddings/marriage on the brain. My third child will marry his love in just over a week from the date of this post. And I can happily say that I love his choice. She is a “virtuous and capable” woman, and definitely “more precious than rubies.” I believe she will make my son a wonderful wife.

But I know they’ll have fights, disagreements, and issues. While they are religiously in sync, their backgrounds are varied. You see my son is white, but my future daughter-in-law is black. 

Even in today’s diverse society, people feel they have the right to make inappropriate comments about their relationship.

They will have the same troubles as the rest of us. Money, sex, children, dinner, chores, and the list goes on and on. We fight.

My husband says there’s only one surefire way to never have trouble with a spouse. Don’t get married. And it’s the truth. We are all selfish creatures – some more than others. Living with someone else is hard.

It’s one of the reasons my website sports the tagline, “Finding faith when your bed of roses includes thorns.” Marriage is not a bed of roses unless you include the thorns. Nor is it “as easy as pie.” Of course, I’ve never met a pie that’s easy, so maybe it is. LOL

In the end, the fights and disagreements don’t matter. Their relationship is what matters. With each other, but more importantly with God. A pastor once gave an illustration that stuck with me. He drew a triangle (point up). Here's one example of it from Google Images:

Man is in one lower corner. Woman is at the opposite bottom corner. God is at the top. As the man and the woman grow closer to God, they grow closer to each other. That’s not to say there aren’t bumps in the road or a slide toward the bottom now and again, but it’s a good picture to remember.

I leave you with this from Genesis 2:18-24 (NLT): 

The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.

~*~
Author Bio:

Ginger Solomon is a Christian, a wife, a mother to seven, and a writer—in that order (mostly). 

She writes or reads inspirational romance of any genre, and if she’s busy homeschooling, doing laundry, or fixing dinner, books are on her mind.

She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), president of her local writing group, and blogs regularly for InspyRomance.com and at gingersolomon.com.