Devotionals for the Heart: How to let your light shine for Jesus Christ

Let Your Light Shine
A devotional by Angela Anderson

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” –Matthew 5:16 (NKJV)

It was a Friday morning at the airport, and I was on my way to see a friend for a weekend getaway. I was so excited because it had been almost a year since the last time we saw each other. I had to dress in layers because I was heading into a much cooler climate, so I boarded the plane in a sweatsuit, wearing a T-shirt underneath, and carrying a winter coat.

When I sat in my window seat on the plane, a lady took her seat next to me, and then a gentleman sat down next to her, closest to the aisle. As the other passengers began to board the plane, I started getting a little warm. I became so uncomfortable that I removed my sweatshirt and remained in my T-shirt.

As the plane left the runway, the lady next to me started chatting with the man next to her. She then turned to me, and we exchanged a few friendly words. As she spoke, I could not help but notice the book on her tray. It was a survival guide for someone with breast cancer. She turned her attention back to the book and continued turning the pages, intently reading each paragraph.

I wanted to say something caring or even encouraging, but I could not find the words. I started to silently pray for the lady next to me, and I asked God to give me the words to say to her. She continued reading the book, only looking up when the flight attendant asked her if she wanted a snack or a drink.

The pilot made the announcement to fasten our seatbelts for landing. The flight went by so quickly and I still was not prepared with any words of spiritual wisdom for the lady next to me. I was a little disappointed as the plane approached the gate and the passengers began to gather their belongings. As I watched each person leave the plane, I remained in my seat.

The lady next to me got up and started to walk away. As she turned to say goodbye to me, she told me that really liked my T-Shirt. I looked down to see what she liked about it, and I realized I was wearing my black T-Shirt with the word “faith” written on the front. I thanked her with a smile and told her to take care as she exited the plane.

Sometimes when we think that words of encouragement will help a situation, the best thing we can do is be silent and allow our light to shine in someone’s life. That may mean showing others the love of Christ through our actions, our demeanor, our tone, or even by a simple message written on our shirt. We should always be willing to reach out to others and pray for those who are going through hard times. When we are willing to let our light shine, God can use us to impact even strangers, if we make ourselves available to Him.

Let’s Pray: 

Dear God, Please give us opportunities in life to let our light shine, not for our own glory, but so that we may point others to You and that they may give You glory. We thank You for Your love. We worship You for Your kindness and compassion. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Hold Up the Light” by The New Jersey Mass Choir. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Angela Anderson was born in Brooklyn, NY, and raised in NJ. She found her love for writing when she was in elementary school. She continued writing through high school, college, and into adulthood.

Angela is the author of a devotional book titled, Just When I Thought I Knew God, and a children's book that is not yet published.

In 2021, Angela started writing articles for an online magazine called Christian Women Living, where she focuses on writing messages for mothers and sharing advice on parenting. In addition to this, Angela wrote a devotional that is featured in a book published by Proverbs 31 Ministries. The book title is Hope When Your Heart is Heavy.

Angela has a passion for inspiring and impacting others through her writing as well as speaking. She is the co-founder of Anchor Moms, a ministry to cure loneliness in Motherhood. Currently, this ministry meets via a group on Facebook.

Angela has been married to the love of her life, Duane Anderson, for 17 years. Together, they have two sons: Thomas (age 9) and Ryan (age 4). Angela’s favorite pastime is journaling, and she also enjoys spending quality time with her family. Her personal mission is to empower others to achieve their goals and dreams.

~*~
Connect with Angela:
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/angela.thomasanderson
Facebook fan page for her devotional book, Just When I Thought I Knew God:
https://www.facebook.com/jwitikg/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelanderson1104/

Devotionals for the Heart: Life Lessons on Witnessing for Jesus Christ

Knowing When to Walk Away
A devotional by Erin M. Handley

“Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.”

 – Matthew 7:6 (NASB)

There is something captivating about watching a particular action repeatedly.

Children enjoying a carousel. People riding a Ferris wheel. A hamster running on its wheel in its cage. Many individuals can sit and watch others enjoy those activities for hours. Watching the repeated action can bring a sense of joy and tranquility. It’s also interesting that the amount of energy required for the repeated action does not bring progression in reaching a new destination.

Sometimes in life, we find ourselves putting a lot of much energy into other things and other people. If this resonates with you, you may also admit to rarely taking a moment to assess whether or not the time and energy you spend actually brings progression in your life. If this is something you identify with, you may be able to acknowledge your purpose of doing things that bring you progression on your journey. Sometimes we do things we want to do out of the goodness in our heart. Sometimes we do things we feel called to do. If nothing else, we believe we are expected to strive to work heartily and only to God and not unto man (Colossians 3:23).

No matter how genuine our heart is as we desire to do things for the Lord, we have to be willing to acknowledge when our actions and pure intentions are not well-received everywhere we go. Matthew 10:14 (NIV) tells us, “If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet.” This is what Jesus expressed to His disciples who were sent out to share His message. When it was realized that not all places His disciples were sent would be receptive of His word, it was suggested that His disciples leave. Even though the disciples were sent out to spread God’s word to everyone, the disciples were also released from the places that did not accept God’s message.

It can be difficult to know when to abandon an assignment.

A person who can be considered as a person after God’s own heart is genuinely fully committed to helping others know who Jesus is. It is also important to recognize when you have done the work and the work is not welcomed in the place where you are. Staying in that place will have negative effects that are twofold.

First, you will find yourself tired. You will spend a significant amount of time and energy in a place doing an action that will not bring you any progression on your journey. In the moment, you will feel joy and tranquility because you know the work you are doing is for God. But when you take a step back, you will recognize the wheel you were spinning had a lot of traction although it was not actually moving towards a goal.

The second negative effect is that there is an attempt to devalue God’s precious work. He took His time to create you and to prepare you to do the very thing He created you to do. When you go to some of the places that need His good news, not only do they refuse to receive His word, but they also aim to separate you from His goodness.

God tells us, “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.” (Matthew 7:6 NASB). If we fail to recognize when we are “spinning our wheels” in His name, then we will eventually find ourselves so tired that we will not have enough energy to continue doing the work or have the energy to fight the things that may come with doing the work.

Be willing to walk away. It’s not always easy, and it is not out of selfish ambition. It is a way to preserve the hearts of those who love Him and desire to continue doing His work. It is a way to focus on continuing to spread His good news. Without being willing to walk away, you may be taking a risk of possibly losing sight of doing His good work.

Let’s Pray: 

Precious Lord, thank you for hearing our hearts before we have cried out to you. You answered the prayers that we haven’t uttered yet. You know our hearts because you know what we desire to do. Thank you for being omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, and never-changing. If you never change, then Your Word (The Holy Bible) never changes. Since Your Word never changes, we have to trust the instructions you have given us for times like this. We don’t always know what we are doing or where we are going, but knowing You are with us is enough. Thank You for preparing us for every step on this journey. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

With an ever-growing desire to continually learn the Word of God and present teachings based on Biblical principles, Erin M. Handley is committed to her calling of teaching and inspiring others to ‘be more by doing more’. With this in mind, Erin mentors young women and appreciates seeing the growth and change in the lives she impacts. 

While she sincerely enjoys mentoring and speaking to young people, she is most passionate about educating and empowering women from various stages of life about Biblical Womanhood and how to live out those principles in today’s world.

For over 15 years, Erin has worked with youth and adolescents in the fields of mental and behavioral health, education, and ministry. When reflecting on her experiences in ministry and non-ministry settings, her most memorable encounters have been those that allowed her the opportunity to teach the Word of God in a way that is most relatable to the audience she served in that moment. She has enjoyed writing since her youth, but only recently felt the call to share her writing with the world.

With an undergraduate degree in English and a graduate degree in Ministry and Pastoral Counseling, Erin M. Handley has been fortunate to be able to leverage her gifts and her passions throughout her career in Education.

Aside from reading, writing, and mentoring, Erin enjoys dancing, interior design, cooking, and most other activities which allow her to utilize her creativity.

Devotionals for the Heart: Seasons

Seasons of Life

A devotional by Ginger Solomon

“To every thing there is a season,

A time for every purpose under heaven;

A time to be born,

And a time to die;

A time to plant,

And a time to pluck what is planted;

A time to kill

And a time to heal;

A time to break down,

And a time to build up;

A time to weep,

And a time to laugh;

A time to mourn,

And a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones;

A time to embrace,

And a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to gain,

And a time to lose;

A time to keep,

And a time to throw away,

A time to tear, and a time to sew;

A time to keep silence,

And a time to speak;

A time to love,

And a time to hate;

A time of war,

And a time of peace.”

~Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NKJV)

If I might be so bold, I might add, “A time for the sun to rise; And a time for it to set.”

As I write this, I am sitting in the corner of a cruise ship, watching the sunrise. This is something I like to do. It’s quiet, except for the workers preparing breakfast. I can get a fair amount of writing done, and then be free to spend the rest of the day enjoying my vacation with my family.

But that’s not really the point of this devotional.

Today’s society thinks they can say and do anything they want at any time, and that it doesn’t matter. But it does. We all know it. There are right and decent ways to go about making your voice heard. And it doesn’t matter if you believe in God or not; the truth is the truth.

What needs to be learned now is how to keep our mouths shut. As I mentioned in my last devotion, my son recently married a wonderful woman of God who happens to be black. And even in today’s “politically correct” society, people have said derogatory things to them. Where is the “tolerance” in this situation?

It’s my opinion that those who scream the loudest for tolerance, equal rights, and free speech refuse to allow it if it is contrary to what they believe.

I’m all for tolerance. Not everyone believes the way I do. I’m not going to condemn you if you don’t have several children or any for that matter. I’m not going to say you have to homeschool your kids if you choose to have them. I’m not even going to look down on you if you choose a lifestyle outside of my religious beliefs.

Let’s be honest, not everyone is equipped to deal with kids. I know a few people who really shouldn’t have any. I’m sure you know a few too. Nor is everyone called to homeschool (and I personally believe it must be a calling, because without God’s grace my kids would be dead). And while I would love for everyone to follow God and know His love, we all know that’s not going to happen. I can’t force someone else to believe. The old idiom, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink,” comes to mind.

What does all of this have to do with the rising and setting of the sun? Probably not much other than realizing there is a time and place to say your piece/peace, and sometimes, we (yes, I’m including myself here) need to keep our mouths shut. Shouting your beliefs won’t make people believe like you do. In truth, it makes them less likely to hear you.

Just as the sun rises every day (whether we see it or not), so truth remains truth even it’s hidden behind all the lies and shouting of the enemy. And the truth is, God wins in the end. '

The only question that remains (at least from our side) is, "How many of us will choose the winning side?"

~*~
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.

Devotionals for the Heart: God Made You and Loves You Unconditionally

As I Am
A devotional by Sara L. Foust

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” — Ephesians 2:10 (KJV)

This verse has been on my heart a lot lately. First, when I returned from my mission trip in May. Then it spurred the idea for my recent blog post on my website. And today, again, as I write this newest thought I can’t get this verse out of my mind.

As my friend, Becky, and I drove to a weekend event at the Grainger County Tomato Festival recently, we visited and the topic of our health came up, as it does often. I have struggled with depression since I was a young girl, and many times in my life have wondered why in the world I had to suffer with such a complicated, unseen, stigmatized disease. Years ago my cousin, also Becky, pointed out to me that I shouldn’t feel embarrassed or badly for my disease. It isn’t necessarily something I can completely control.

After all, someone with diabetes or heart disease or arthritis is rarely chastised for having a disease. It isn’t something they can help, after all, right? I am thankful for this reminder and especially thankful for the journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance it created. Since that conversation, God has shown me just how carefully He crafted me. I am precious, like the items at the fair, hand-crafted, unique, and made with care. God didn’t randomly grab a bunch of ingredients and throw them into my DNA pot. No, He hand-picked them with intention, including whatever element it is in my brain that makes me susceptible to depression. I may not understand why I have it. My cousin may not understand why she has RA. My friend may not understand why she has dysautonomia. But I firmly believe, without a shadow of a doubt, there is a reason.

Let’s say that again, there is a reason. Knowing that the Bible tells us “all things work together for good to them that love God,” it must be a good reason, for our good. But more importantly than that, for others’ good. Since I accepted that part of me and began telling my story, God has given me opportunities to encourage others who have similar problems. 

Unless I possess firsthand knowledge of a disease or situation, while I may feel empathetic, it is hard to fully and completely understand the how a person feels. Not the way the person experiencing it does, anyway. Because I know what it’s like in the darkness of depression and the joy of finding light, I can help others who are struggling to find the peace and wonder of God’s love.

It may sound strange to some, but I am thankful for my disease. It makes me a more humble, understanding, and compassionate person. It draws me closer to God, for in the “down” times I must draw close to Him to keep my head above water. And it allows me to understand a niche of people whom I could potentially be blessed to help.

It’s often hard to embrace a diagnosis as a good thing, but I am trying to keep it in a positive perspective and keep my focus on the good that can come from a disease in the form of helping another. And to be thankful for a loving God who created me just as I am.

~*~
Author Bio:

Sara writes Inspirational Romantic Suspense from a mini-farm in East Tennessee, where she lives with her husband and their five homeschooled children. 

She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from the University of Tennessee and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Tennessee Mountain Writers.

Her debut novel Callum's Compass won second place in Deep River Books' 2017 Writer's Contest. She also has a story, “Leap of Faith,” in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Step Outside Your Comfort Zone. Sara finds inspiration in her faith, her family, and the beauty of nature.

When she isn’t writing, you can find her reading, camping, and spending time outdoors with her family. To learn more about her and her work or to become a part of her email friend’s group, please visit www.saralfoust.com.

Devotionals for the Heart: Water

Sharing cool water and more…
A devotional by Melissa Henderson

“What should we do then?” the crowd asked. John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”

—Luke 3:10-11 (NIV)

Today was a typical warm, humid and breezy day in coastal South Carolina. The bright rays of sunshine burst forth from the puffy clouds in between rain sprinkles. At one moment, the sky looked as if rain would moisten the ground all day. The next moment, sunshine seemed to be positioned in the sky and not ready to leave.

A black pickup truck filled with construction supplies arrived and parked in front of our neighbor’s house. The same pickup truck had been coming and going all week. Several men would step out of the vehicle each morning and begin carrying tools and supplies to the back yard. Our neighbor was having a patio poured at the back of her house. The same gentlemen showed up each day and began the task at hand.

Today, that project was completed and a new project began. Those hard workers not only poured patios, they could also powerwash homes and driveways, too. My husband and I watched from the inside of our air-conditioned home, fascinated by their work and dedication to the tasks. These guys worked hard. We didn’t know their names, but we watched to make sure they were okay in the heat. One man was older and there were several younger men.

This afternoon, I noticed the black truck was gone and two men were sitting on a ladder. They seemed to be waiting for a ride. Their work was finished for the day and their bodies looked exhausted. Sweaty shirts, sweat on their brows and slow movements showed how the work had tired them.

A thought crossed my mind, “Wonder if they are thirsty? Wonder if we should take them some water?” As quickly as the thoughts entered my mind, I became distracted by something else. I had seen an opportunity to show God’s love and I had let it slip away, distracted by a meaningless thought about something else.

Shortly afterward, I heard voices outside. Still, I waited and completed what I was doing instead of checking on the gentlemen.

As I walked downstairs, my husband was coming in the front door. “I took some water to the guys out front. They are waiting for their ride. I asked them if they would like some water and they said, “Yes” and “Thank you.”

I am very proud of my husband. He saw a possible need and he acted on his nudge from God. I did not act, thinking I would do something later. I am very upset with myself. I am thankful my husband opened his heart and offered kindness to strangers.

Too often, we postpone acts of kindness, thinking we will do something later. But, now is the time to show God’s love. Don’t put off a nudge from God. Someone might have a need that you can help with and you are given that opportunity to show compassion and kindness.

Can you think of times when you wanted to show kindness and put off the chance, thinking you could do something later? In expressing His love through giving a bottle of water to some strangers, they have been shown the love of God.

We may never see these gentlemen again. I will remember them even though I never learned their names or anything about them. They gave me a lesson today and I will remember that lesson.

God’s love can be shown in many ways. How are you showing His love to others?

Blessings,

Melissa Henderson

~*~
Author Bio:

Melissa Henderson and her husband Alan live in South Carolina.

Married for over 38 years, they have one son (Mike) who is married to daughter-in-love (Christine) and now are blessed by precious grandson (Rowan).

Melissa was taught the love of reading and writing at an early age from her parents. She is now working on her first inspirational fiction novel.

Her passions are volunteering, Bible Studies and reading and writing. Connect with Melissa online, https://mimionlife.wordpress.com.

Devotional by Laura Thomas: Running the Race that God Marked Out for You

Spiritual Fat
A devotional written by Laura Thomas

How do you feel about running? We tend to fall into one of two camps: the enthusiastic, marathon-goal, effortless gazelles, or the eye-rolling, couch-preferring, pretty-much-exhausted plodders. Personally, I think I’m somewhere in the middle, I love the IDEA of running. Unfortunately, my body is not always agreeable.

Running an actual race is a whole other thing. That gets most of us skittish. Yet here we are, each one of us running the “race marked out for us”, the race of our lives. Some shuffle, some struggle, some bound with effortless energy toward the goal. Those “effortless energy” types have one thing in common—they are all in really good shape. They shed the pounds and got rid of any hindrances.

“Therefore since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”~Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)

The previous chapter in Hebrews lists the greats of the Old Testament—such ancients as Abraham, Joseph, and Moses. They are our “great cloud of witnesses” recorded to encourage us. None of them lived perfect lives on easy street. In fact, they were all presented with seemingly insurmountable hurdles throughout their races. But they chose to dig in, shed the “pounds” of sin that might slow them in their endeavor to follow God, and they persevered in spite of all the odds.

What is it that weighs us down in our pursuit of living a Christ-filled life? It’s so easy to be drowned by worry, enslaved by fear, consumed by work, distracted by the sparkly things in life, or simply disillusioned. When we carry these extra pounds of sin—and that could be absolutely anything that takes our focus from the Lord—the race is decidedly harder. It’s like running through bog mud in the pouring rain. The journey is miserable, the blessings to others and ourselves are dampened, and we are tangled miserably in our hindrances.

“Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in.” 

~Hebrews 12:1b-2 (The Message)

We need to slim down by shedding our spiritual fat!

Just as a focused runner prepares for a marathon by losing the extra weight to run lean and keen, so we need to “throw off’ the excess baggage weighing us down. Not flippantly disregarding our sin, but rather laying it down before the One who bears our every burden. Sometimes it can be a painful process, but once that metaphorical Band-Aid is stripped off, we heal and move much more easily. And then we can joyfully and energetically run the “race marked out for us”.

David, one of the Old Testament late greats, cried out, “Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.”~Psalm 54:4 (NIV)

We aren’t in this race alone. God so desires for us to live joy-filled, Christ-glorifying lives, and He WILL sustain our every step. The faltering foot, the confident stride, the desperate dash, the persistent plod, the weakest limp… He will never leave us to run alone. Never.

It’s healthy to reflect once in a while on how our walk/run is progressing and to keep a check on what’s weighing us down. All of us have some spiritual slimming to do in order to run effectively; it’s an on-going process, isn’t it?

Surely, we should want the race to be more like an energizing sprint on a perfectly sunny day with the end in sight, pulse racing, a feeling of joy and contentment in our every step. We all know there will be hurdles and pitfalls en route, but with God as our Sustainer, we can strive to strip off our sin, shed the spiritual fat, focus on Him, and “run the race with perseverance” all the way to the finish line.

Transforming hindering pounds to limitless bounds and spiritual fat to fit!

~*~
Author bio: 

Laura is a published Christian author with a heart for inspiring and encouraging readers of all ages. 

She is truly multi-genre—with a published Christian teen fiction trilogy, marriage book, children’s stories, devotionals for Union Gospel Press, musings on her blog, and she now has a literary agent representing her Christian romantic suspense novel. 

Laura is English and Canadian, married to her high school sweetheart, mom of three, passionate about faith and family…and chocolate. 
~*~
Connect with Laura:
Website - www.laurathomasauthor.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Laura-Thomas-183771121724664/?ref=hl
Twitter - https://twitter.com/Laura_Thomas_
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lauracthomas/
Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/lauracthomas/

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Words of Faith: Kristin's story about pure hearts and a special kind of fruit

A Pure Heart
A Words of Faith story written by Kristin Billerbeck

             “All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord.” 

~ Proverbs 16:2 

This is my life verse. Why? Because I’ve seen a lot of people do the “right” thing for selfish reasons and it surprised me how strong the cult of image can be within the church. What I’ve discovered in my own faith walk is that it’s between God and me. No one else. Who I am when no one else is looking? That is my character and what I will answer for, not for teaching Sunday School for 52 consecutive weeks in a row, or never missing a Sunday service.

What I do for Jesus and my faith should be an outpouring of the love He’s shown me. It should be a natural extension of who He created me to be. Not something that will impress my fellow Christians.

Before I committed my life to Jesus, I had a boyfriend in college. He was the first born-again Christian that I’d really met. His family was all about rules and very black and white in their thinking. They were cold-hearted and scary. I remember their disdain for me because “I wasn’t a Christian” and their rejection and judgment. What I don’t remember is their kindness toward me, nor their love. In truth, looking back, I was actually too good for their son. They didn’t know who he really was behind the pious words and the false front. He was playing the role of Christian, but I didn’t see a lot of fruit to prove that he actually was a Christian.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."~Galatians 5:22-23

One day, this boyfriend invited me to dinner with teachers from his former Christian school. These people were warm and loving. They made me feel welcome in their home by accepting me for where I was in life. They asked me real questions about my faith and listened intently to my answers. In short, they made me want to know, Who is this Man, Jesus?

It was less than a year from that dinner that I accepted Jesus as my Savior, but more than my faith, these people helped me realize what kind of Christian I wanted to be in life. I never wanted to be the kind of Christian who kept people FROM knowing Jesus, the kind of Christian who portrayed myself as better than others. I wanted to be the kind of person who loved people for who they were — not who they might be if they were saved. People aren’t notches to be ticked off and put over in the “saved” category. They are living, breathing human beings, each with their own special set of troubles and emotional baggage.

I want to speak the truth in loving kindness like Jesus did with the woman at the well. Life is tough enough for people. I don’t want to add to their pain by seeing myself as better than others because I’m saved. The truth is, I’m only saved because He loved me first, not because of any special qualities I have to offer. God knows my heart. He knows my motives, so I try intensely to keep those pure. And in turn, keep a pure heart.

~*~
Author bio: 

Kristin Billerbeck is the bestselling author of over 45 novels, including What a Girl Wants and A Billion Reasons Why. 

Kristin is a Christy Award finalist and two-time winner of the American Christian Fiction Writers’ Carol Award.

She has appeared on the Today Show and has been featured in the New York Times, the Atlanta Journal Constitution and World Magazine. 

A proud mother of four, she makes her home in the Silicon Valley of California.

Falling in Love with Jesus: God's Infinite Love for Us

Today's devotional reminds me of two songs: "Oh How He Loves Us" and "Indescribable."

God loves ALL of us and His Love is truly indescribable! Gina Anderson-Ford is here today to testify of God's GREAT, indescribable love which she first discovered at a very young age.

I hope you will enjoy all that she has to share with you today! I know that I enjoyed reading Gina's story! :)

~*~
His Infinite Love…Oh How He Loves Us!
A Falling in Love with Jesus story written by Gina Anderson-Ford

I believe we all have a “Come to Jesus” moment and for many it comes after many life experiences that make Him so real to them. Or for some, it takes an earth-shattering event, or becoming so tired of just being downright defiant in walking their way that their will becomes defeated by the realization, acceptance and the need of His love.

I know I am to focus on the first time I fell in love with Jesus and I definitely can recall that moment! However, my love for Him has developed and strengthened over time and my love for Him is so sweet that I feel like I fall in love with Him over and over again.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is the home of my birthplace. We lived in a row house and our home was centered on the love of Christ. My Dad was an elder of the church and my Mom provided wonderful meals and hospitality to many people every Sabbath after church. Hymns were sung regularly and oh how I loved to sing! We had an elderly neighbor named Mr. Williamson, who lived next door to us. He was a widow who was very quiet and lonely. So I saw the need to minister to him regularly at the age of three years old by going over to sing to him and my signature song was “How Great Thou Art”. 

After singing to Mr. Williamson, I would see this lonely old man smile and I would see the joy on his face that I knew God wanted him to feel. Mr. Williamson would always thank me and offer me his favorite marshmallows shaped like peanuts. I wasn’t a big fan of these marshmallows but I would take one and enjoy eating it with him. I always left Mr. Williamson feeling like Jesus was right there with us and with him when I left. Many times after leaving Mr. Williamson, I would go and sing for other neighbors on our block.

“How Great Thou Art” remains one of my favorite songs and when I sing it or hear it, I become full with love and conviction. Connecting with the words of that song at the tender age of three tells me how connected I was with Jesus. I got how magnificent He was and knew I had to share how wonderful He was with others. My empathetic and caring spirit was a direct example of being in love with Jesus.

So I believe that I was a lover of Jesus so early and my countenance even as a little girl fell in love with who He was and what He represented. Being in love with Jesus made me feel safe, happy and thankful for knowing someone who loved me so much that He would die for me.

So loving him while I was a child made my relationship with Jesus steady and it provided me a sense of stability that I never take for granted. The confidence in knowing even when the trials of life and the storms come that I have an anchor that will hold me is so significant.

As an adult, my love has grown for Jesus when witnessing the birth of my children and more recently, His love was expressed with birth of my grandchildren. Seeing the hand of His love and feeling His presence in times when I have felt all alone. Searching for answers to questions or knowing too well the enemy is on full attack and being able to remember how Jesus died just for me is another testament of my love for Him.

It's not just in personal relationships that I fall deeper in love with Jesus. I feel God’s presence most when I sit by the ocean, seeing and hearing the waves, smelling the tropical air while the sun warms my body. Realizing that it is because of Jesus and His indescribable love that I have the amazing opportunity to look out on the extensive ocean and know that I matter, we all matter and thanks to Jesus, one day we will have everlasting life.

Falling in Love with Jesus is hands down, no doubt, the best thing I have ever done!

~*~
Author bio:

Working with Executive Directors of National Associations in Washington, D.C. for more than 25 years, Gina has been blessed to travel the world, immerse in different cultures and orchestrate events and conferences that people fondly remember.

Gina is a consummate and creative event planner who loves people, the Caribbean, entertaining, chocolate, drinking H20, Summertime, Christmas, watching movies, reading and writing, doing jigsaw puzzles, playing games and spending time with her grandchildren ("GiGi’s babies"). She loves wearing dresses and heels. Laughing and loving is like breathing to Gina! 

Family means everything to her. She is married to Bernard Ford who she considers the love of her life. Gina is a grateful Mother to her best works (Summer and Brandon) and a loving GiGi to her four beautiful grandchildren – Pierce, Gabriel, Sydney and Ethan. She's also Mom to her precious Thunder, the family yorkie. 

Gina is a firm believer that we can learn from everyone on our life’s journey and that we never know people’s life story, so as God says, we should not be judgmental. Love on people and remember that NOTHING (and no one) can ever separate us from the Love of God! 

A post-holiday devotional for you

Whew! We made it over the Christmas holiday! I know for some people that notable accomplishment deserves a victory dance. Christmastime can be a rush and you look forward all month to that one special day. You plan, coordinate and wish for all of your holiday dreams to come true. And then in just 24 hours that compose a date called December 25, it's over and you crash.

Today, I've invited Nike Chillemi to speak words of encouragement to your weary soul. I hope you will find the rest you need as we all gear up for an exciting New Year 2015! :)

Take it away Nike!

~*~

The Whirl of Christmas Is Nearly Over
Written by Nike Chillemi

Although we’re still within the Twelve Days of Christmas, the heady excitement of the Christmas holiday is over for most of us. I love Christmas, love the rush and excitement. However, there’s something to be said for the post-holiday Twelve Days of Christmas which ends with Epiphany, traditionally the day the Wise Men arrived at the holy manger.

For me, the twelve days after Christmas are sort of a smooth landing after a wonderful flight. The rush is over, the wrapping paper has been ripped off the gifts and thrown away…and I have twelve days to bask in the deeper meaning of this holy event. Actually, I have an entire year to do that, but I’m a holiday and tradition oriented person. I do enjoy the traditional twelve days.

This year my family has experienced great stress and anxiety within the last six months, upheaval even. We put up the small ceramic Christmas tree my late mother-in-law made instead of the usual seven-foot faux-fir we deck with an incredible amount of ornaments. This year a highly personal relationship with Jesus has never been so important to me.

In John 4:12 the one who best loved Jesus tells us, “No one has seen God at any time, if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us.” [NASB] So, as things in my life manifest in ways I hadn’t planned, I find myself hugging up close to Jesus. I had quite an angry thought a few days back, actually several, one right after another. I had to say out loud, “No, I will not let this individual pull me out of love.” I had a few very difficult moments there, but with persistence and commitment, I was able to overcome my flesh and walk once again with the Lord.

I do think saying the words out loud helped me. God used words. He spoke the world and all matter into existence. Speaking out loud about my commitment to a love walk, cut right through any drivel the enemy might’ve been throwing at me and I was able to overcome that challenge.

In my contemporary detective novel, NYC female private investigator Veronica “Ronnie” Ingels travels to Texas where her cheating husband is murdered and she finds the handsome sheriff has her as a prime suspect. Ronnie struggles with faith but comes to admire the love walk of Bertha, her dear friend and humorous side-kick.

I believe if there is anything I can take away from Christmas, it’s that my love walk can be a powerful witness of Christ in my life. I pray the Lord continues to walk with me, holding my hand and pulling me back onto the kindness and love path when I veer off.

~*~
Author Bio:

Like so many writers, Nike Chillemi started writing at a very young age. She still has the Crayola, fully illustrated book she penned (colored might be more accurate) as a little girl about her then off-the-chart love of horses. Today, you might call her a crime fictionista. Her passion is crime fiction. She likes her bad guys really bad and her good guys smarter and better.

Nike is the founding board member of the Grace Awards and is its Chairman, a reader's choice awards for excellence in Christian fiction. She writes book reviews for The Christian Pulse online magazine. She was an Inspy Awards 2010 judge in the Suspense/Thriller/Mystery category and a judge in the 2011, 2012, and 2013 Carol Awards in the suspense, mystery, and romantic suspense categories. Her four novel Sanctuary Point series, set in the mid-1940s has won awards and garnered critical acclaim. Her new contemporary whodunit, HARMFUL INTENT released in the spring of 2014 under the auspices of her own publishing company, Crime Fictionista Press.

She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), Christian Indie Novelists (CHIN) and the Edgy Christian Fiction Lovers. http://nikechillemi.wordpress.com/

A wonderful witness :)

Dear friends,

I found this video online on the official website for Christian radio station K-LOVE, posted via one of their DJ's Amanda Carroll and I simply HAD to share it with you! :)

It's a short, 4-minute video called "Nate and Kim" and it will give you such great insight on how your actions and your belief in Jesus Christ can impact lives in ways you'll never know!

Here's the clip- http://www.klove.com/blog/amanda/post/2012/02/02/The-Life-You-Live.aspx

Enjoy!

Love,

Alexis