Devotionals for the Heart: God's Love for you is unconditional and forever!

God Loves You No Matter What
A devotional by Heidy De La Cruz

“As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”

—Psalm 103:12 (NIV)

As I was going through a Bible study about hope earlier this year, one of the prompts was to think of a time when you made a mistake so great that you were afraid that God’s view of you would change. My mind immediately went to my younger self when I was intentionally living in sin.

I knew what I was doing was completely wrong, but I continued anyway because I was heartbroken, mad, and bitter. No one could tell me anything at that moment because my pain blinded me, so I kept acting out of selfishness. I was not worrying about how my actions were affecting others, how my actions were making me look, or how I was not taking care of myself as I should have.

But I eventually saw the light and realized that I needed to change. I needed to repent, confess, and return to God. My life was entirely transformed after that. Looking back, I still have some shame and embarrassment I need to work through, but I know God has forgiven me. I know that He doesn’t hold my past mistakes over my head and doesn’t throw them on my face every chance He gets. No, He makes our sins as white as snow (Isaiah 1:18). As long as we truly repent and have a change of heart, God will forgive us. He knows us from the inside out.

If there is a past sin, mistake, or choice you regret making that’s been lingering around and wearing you down, I am here today to tell you to lay it all at God’s feet. God can set you free! There is nothing you can do that will make God stop loving you. You are not too far gone that you can’t turn back to God. I’ve done it. And if I can do it, so can you. God loves you no matter what you’ve done.

I’m still dealing with some of the consequences of my past choices, but that’s okay because I’ve learned from them, grown from them, and closer to God because of them. And I’d love the same positive outcome to happen for you!

Let’s Pray: Dear Jesus, I pray for whoever is reading this and may be weighed down by past choices that they can release them at your feet. Lord, draw them near to You today, have them feel your comfort, and remind them that You love them, Lord. Help them to know there is nothing they can do that will make You stop loving them. I’ve been there before and You, Lord, called me back. I am forever grateful that I listened and came back to my Heavenly Father because my life hasn’t been the same since. Lord, thank You for your forgiveness, kindness, mercy, and love. Thank You for your unfailing, faithful love that we don’t deserve, yet You freely give it to us. In your Holy Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “East to West” by Casting Crowns. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Heidy De La Cruz is a published writer/author and podcaster. She writes the weekly newsletter “Into My Thoughts” on Substack where she shares personal development content, life experiences with life lessons, and faith-based encouragement posts. 

Heidy is the host of “The American Dream in The Eyes of Immigrants Podcast” where immigrants share their stories about moving to the United States. She is also a podcast coach and helps those who desire to host their own show launch.

Heidy holds a master’s degree in healthcare administration and a bachelor's degree in Psychology. She works as a Medical Coding Analyst.

In her free time, she enjoys reading, listening to podcasts, watching movies, and spending time with her husband and their two kids.

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Connect with Heidy:
Website: https://heidydelacruz.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidy.delacruz13/

Devotionals for the Heart: God is the Ultimate Author of Redemption

Nature Finds a Way, but God is Still in Charge
A devotional by Jessica Brodie

The forgotten house stood there in the field, its clapboard siding missing in some places, and in others barely hanging on. Vines and small trees grew up, over, and within it, to the point that the house looked like it had almost been swallowed by Mother Nature. It was beautiful, and with the right lighting I would’ve taken a picture, maybe tried to paint it. We passed it on our drive back from camping last weekend, and there are many houses just like it. We often see them dotting the countryside, often on rural back roads, someone’s forgotten home overtaken by time.

It’s almost sad even in its beauty. To think—someone once lived there, laughed there, perhaps birthed children or even died there.

Sometimes I imagine walking into a house like this, trimming back the leaves and clearing out the clutter, sweeping the dirt from the floors and patching it up. There I’d live in my tidy little nature-home, secluded in the South Carolina forest. Of course it probably doesn’t have running water or electricity, way too rustic for my modern tastes, but in my fantasy that never matters. I live at one with nature, tending a garden and digging a well as people did for century upon century.

It’s funny how we humans feel like we have so much control over everything. We are intelligent, God-created beings, and when we cooperate, powerful things can happen. We build roads, install water systems, invent medicine, and educate the masses. We spread the gospel from one corner of the earth to another … even as we create complex political systems or go to war with the neighboring countries. We do so much good in the name of the Lord, yet we also do evil that is rooted in our own selfish drives and motivations. We mow our lawns and trim back trees and clear roads and build skyscrapers or condos in marshlands and forests. We live there, among the trees or near the water, an interesting symbiotic relationship.

And yet no matter what we do, if we stop our efforts for just a couple of days, look what happens. Lawns quickly become straggly and unkempt, and eventually overgrown. Trees creep in and block pathways. Erosion and storms dismantle roads and other human-made systems

Nature reclaims itself. It’s silent and patient but so persistent, working always in the background, striving to live and grow once more.

I bought a T-shirt this weekend, mostly for my husband, because he loves the Jurassic Park movie series. It says “Nature always finds a way” and has a Tyrannosaurus Rex dinosaur skeleton on the front. It’s a reference to the movies, which if you have not seen them are basically about how scientists have figured out a way to bring dinosaurs back to life, which (as you can imagine) causes lots of death and destruction.

But the saying doesn’t apply just to dinosaur movies. Nature usually does find a way. Things shift into sudden motion sometimes, much like a marble we’ve dropped at the top of the hill. It’s almost impossible to stop. It will roll and roll, gaining momentum. What happens is beyond our control.

Sometimes we find ourselves in catastrophic life situations. Maybe it’s generational poverty and believing society’s lies about how credit cards will solve all our problems, and we wind up in massive debt. Maybe it is major depressive disorder or some other mental illness that has grown so big you cannot see your way out.

That’s where my daughter is right now. While she’s just trusting God will make a way, she herself cannot see an end to this. It’s hard not to feel hopeless in situations like this, isn’t it?

Sometimes situations do spiral out of control, or at least far beyond our control. And sometimes, left unattended, these problems grow so quickly, like trees and vines and leaves and grass overtaking an abandoned house somewhere in the South Carolina forest.

Yet God is the ultimate author of redemption.

I love the scripture in the Bible where the prophet Ezekiel is talking to God about dry bones coming to life. Can you imagine? Read Ezekiel 37:1-14 for the full power of the verse, as God shows Ezekiel a valley filled with dry bones and urges Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones: “Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord” (Ezekiel 37:4-6 NIV).

God does indeed do just this, and the bones come to life before the prophet as God promises He will do the same for His people Israel.

What is hopeless to you is not hopeless to God. Life happens. Nature happens. Sickness happens. Our own actions cause consequences, and others people’s actions do as well.

But our God is the God of Noah and Esther and Ezekiel and Saul-turned-Paul. He is the God of redemption, breathing life where life was once gone. God raised Lazarus from the tomb, and Jesus, raised Adam from the dust, and God can raise us, too. He can make miracles happen at any moment.

So today I invite you to keep your eyes on El Shaddai, the Lord God Almighty. Know that you belong to Him and you are safe in Him, for He loves you now and always.

Let’s Pray: Lord, as even dry bones can come to life in You, help me remember You can salvage even a sinner like me. Thank You for Your compassion, mercy, and great love. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “In Your Arms” (song) by Meredith Andrews. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Jessica Brodie is an award-winning Christian novelist, journalist, editor, blogger, and writing coach and the recipient of the 2018 American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis Award for her novel, The Memory Garden.

She is also the editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate, the oldest newspaper in Methodism. Learn more about her fiction and read her faith blog at http://jessicabrodie.com.

Jessica has a weekly YouTube devotional and podcast. You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and more. She’s also produced a free eBook, A God-Centered Life: 10 Faith-Based Practices When You’re Feeling Anxious, Grumpy, or Stressed.

Music CD Giveaway: Nichole Nordeman "Every Mile Mattered"

Dear Blog Readers,

Today, I’m reviewing Nichole Nordeman’s new CD “Every Mile Mattered” for Flyby Promotions. You’re in for a treat because they’re offering one copy of Nichole’s CD to one lucky winner!

Word to the wise: Even if you do not win this CD, buy it because it’s packed with God-given messages that will inspire your mind and encourage your heart as your journey through life.

Before we dive into my review of this captivating CD, let's learn a bit more about the artist behind the music, Nichole via snippets of her professional bio!

A top Christian artist with four No. 1 and seven Top 5 singles under her belt — along with nine Dove Awards including two Female Vocalist of the Year wins — Nordeman stepped out of the limelight to work on saving her marriage and raising her babies. The union didn’t last, but she says she’s still grateful she made that decision because she wouldn’t have forgiven herself if she didn’t give it her full attention. She also didn’t have to miss a minute of her children’s all-important early development, and was still able to feed her creative urges by writing for other artists. As for her post-divorce journey from a place of isolation and loss to acceptance and strength, Nordeman says, “As hard as it was to start over, a lot of beauty came from those ashes.”

Every Mile Mattered, Nichole's new CD, released in July 2017. She's said that she identifies strongly with “Sound of Surviving,” inspired by the story of Demonte Bell, a popular young employee of a smoothie shop across from a celebrity-filled L.A. workout studio who was shot 28 times in a random drive-by. Miraculously, he managed to survive, and went to the studio to thank those who had supported his recovery efforts. After slowly inching his way forward on crutches, he told the roomful of teary-eyed people staring in disbelief, “I’m still here.”

“I just thought about so many people who are saying those three words in the middle of cancer, in the middle of divorce or addiction or in the middle of deep loss and suffering,” she explains. “They’re saying to the darkness, ‘I’m still here.’ It’s an anthem for anyone who’s in the middle of a fight. It’s easy to write a song after you’ve won the battle, but when you’re in the middle of it, it’s maybe even more important to say those empowering words. To your struggle. To yourself. To God.”

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Doesn't it feel like you know Nichole now? She's pretty awesome! I don't know her personally but I've been a fan of her music since my college years. So I was delighted to receive this new CD of hers for free in exchange for an honest review.

Let's move on to my review of her new CD! :) 

Every song is rated between 1 and 5 stars. Here’s the meaning of each starred rating:

5 stars = Wonderful! I love it!

4 stars = Great song and lyrics, I really like it!

3 stars = Nice tune but not too spectacular

2 stars = I really do not like this song

1 star = Not worth listening to

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Song #1: Every Mile Mattered
Rating: 4 stars
Review: This song is rich in imagery and solid in composition. I loved the way that Nichole started the song like a story and encourages the listener to know that every mile in their life journey mattered. It’s a reminder that all of the tears and trials made me into who I am today. All of the pain and all of the joys amounted to life as I know it now. Nothing was wasted. God brings beauty out of brokenness and paints masterpieces out of pain.

Song #2: You’re Here
Rating: 4 stars
Review: This song is a beautiful reminder that no matter what you’re going through or how far away it makes you feel from God, you are not alone because God is still here. He’s right there with you in the storms of life. He wants you to stay close to Him and trust Him to help you survive the storm.

Song #3: Dear Me
Rating: 5 stars
Review: This song is like a journal entry that Nichole wrote to herself. It starts off slow and melancholy then takes flight. Like looking out the window inside an airplane flying over the sunrise, these lyrics give a beautiful view of God’s Love for humankind. It’s a beautiful story of transformation concerning how God took someone from barely believing in him to blossoming into a good understanding of God’s heart of compassion. It’s a glorious melody. Makes me feel like I’m fully immersed in a movie or moving through beautiful scenery like the Lavender Fields in France.

Song #4: No Longer
Rating: 4 stars
Review: This song is a goodbye to a faithless life. It’s a hello to a faith-filled life, a progression toward falling in love with Jesus Christ and going on a journey with Him. She no longer is afraid and bound to living a “safe” life. She’s traded her comfort for an adventure, following God’s lead and allowing Him to take her on a journey beyond her wildest dreams.

Song #5: Lean
Rating: 4 stars
Review: The first few notes of this song sound similar to “Here with Us” which is a Christmas song by Joy Williams. But after the first bar, this song shows that it’s clearly an original by Nichole. It’s deep and retrospective. She shares how she learned how to lean into Jesus. It’s a reminder of how God is truly Jehovah Jireh (Provider) and is strong enough for us to lean on Him.

Song #6: Hush, Hush
Rating: 4 stars
Review: A beautiful reminder of God’s unconditional love for us. This song spoke to me. I felt like this is what God tells me when I’m upset or depressed and just not understanding. I love the line that says “You don’t have to have all the answers”. I like how this song encourages me to rest and trust God to take care of everything. He’s more than capable of taking care of me. He wants me to “hush”, calm down and trust Him completely. Thank you, Nichole, for this beautiful reminder!

Song #7: Listen to Your Life
Rating: 4 stars
Review: The opening line to this song made me LOL. Nichole says, “I hear voices, don’t think that I’m crazy.” The second line says, “I can hear my heart trying to tell my head take it easy.” I totally related to it. I love how the lyrics in this upbeat melody encourage me to listen to my life. What is God trying to tell me? What do I need to pay attention to? What do I need to let go of to hear God’s Voice?

Song #8: Beautiful Day
Rating: 4 stars
Review: This song fades in and echoes at the start, Nichole’s voice is barely a whisper for the first few moments of this tune. A soft and gentle touch carries the listener through this song from start to finish. It makes me think of beautiful days on the beach in the summertime. Sitting on the shore, listening to the ebb and flow of the ocean. It’s very relaxing. I think the message in this song is about appreciating every day of life that God gives you. It’s a beautiful day when you let God’s Grace shine through it.

Song #9: Sound of Surviving
Rating: 5 stars
Review: This song is my new anthem! I’ve played it on repeat every single day since receiving this CD a few weeks ago. It’s amazing! I relate to the message and love how toward the end of the song, Nichole encourages the listener to say, “I’m still here.” She tells us to “say it to the pain”, “Say it the rain”, “Say it to your fear.” I love it! This song makes me want to fight for my life and never give up. It’s a gorgeous way to remind the listener that we can do ALL things through Jesus Christ who gives us strength (Philippians 4:13)! I love every second of this song…such an inspiration! I’m still here!

Song #10: Anywhere We Are
Rating: 4 stars
Review: This song is a reminder that every person on planet Earth will experience trials BUT we are more than overcomers with God on our side! We must choose to trust Him and remember that anywhere we are in life, He is there and He’s able to help us through any situation that life serves.

Song #11: Slow Down
Rating: 4 stars
Review: This song is a tribute to Nichole’s children. It’s about how fast they're growing up and how she wants them to slow down. It’s a song about cherishing every moment in life. It’s clear that as a mother, Nichole wants to hold her babies while they're still small enough to be held. She wants to keep them close to her heart even when they grow up and go to college. Ultimately, it’s a maternal love song with a simple message: No matter how old her babies get, she’s going to be there for them because she’s their Mother and she loves them with all of her heart. It reminds me of the perfect parallel: We are children of God, He loves us with ALL of His heart and He will always be there for us through every stage of our life.

*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this CD which I received from Capitol Christian Music Group via FlyBy Promotions. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
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Connect with Nichole and buy her CD:
Official website - http://nicholenordeman.com

Buy links – iTunes, Spotify, and Amazon

She has a book “Slow Down" coming out in August, pre-order here:
http://slowdown-book.com 
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Enter this music giveaway contest for your chance to WIN a copy of Nichole's new CD by filling out the entry form on the Rafflecopter widget below: 

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Interview with LoRee Peery, author of "Touches of Time"

Welcome LoRee Peery to the blog! She's here to talk about Touches of Time, her new novel which releases today (March 1). Here's the cover photo for LoRee's book:

LoRee poured her heart into writing this novel. She speaks from experience because this story is close to home. Read on to find out why.

*Interview questions by Alexis in bold, answers from LoRee are not in bold...

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Alexis: What inspired you to write Touches of Time?

LoRee: My father’s unsolved homicide has bothered me for more than two-thirds of my life. The driving desire to solve the crime on paper has lived with me for a long time, stimulating my imagination.

How did you research for writing this book? Share details.

I have saved publicized articles about the crime, along with letters written to me by strangers who responded to editorial letters, and a record of what I did trying to aid in the investigation. Ten years after the incident I started writing in journals. Many entries dealt with my struggles. The character of Lena, rather what she left behind, is based on those items.

What can you tell us about your heroine Sarah’s role in this story, without giving away the plot?

Sarah is a grieving daughter, as I was. My heart is in her character. I was seventeen days from delivering my son when my father was murdered. It made sense to me for Sarah to be pregnant.

Describe Sarah’s feelings when she meets the hero, Ford. What was her first impression of him? Would you say that it was a lasting impression? Why or why not?

Sarah is immediately attracted to Ford. The second time they meet she knows she has someone in her corner, as far as the cold case is concerned.

What did you find the most challenging about writing Touches of Time?

Myriad emotions hit me as my mind travels back. Some memories have grown dim with time, others may carry the impact of immediacy forever, and hit me every single time I read certain passages. My stomach churns, tears form. Prayer goes a long way when it comes to challenges.

What was the easiest part of the writing process for you?

I’m smiling as I answer this. Getting lost in the building romance between Sarah and Ford always takes me away from the reality of the tragic event that brought them together.

What drives Sarah to find out the details of her grandfather’s death?

Part of it is guilt. Readers will pick up on that. She’d also told her mother she’d try. Third, she seeks answers for the family. I hope my siblings, if they read this book, will understand where I was coming from. The part of the book from Lena’s perspective is a fictional memoir.

What makes Ford, who is a cold case investigator, want to help Sarah solve her grandfather’s cold case?

Something out of his control happened when he was young and made him despair for those left behind after violent crime. He strives to help family members of victims live beyond those events. Besides, he’s been drawn to Sarah on a personal level since first sight.

What is it about Sarah that makes Ford want to protect her?

She’s dealing with a double loss. He has empathy toward her, and being protective is part of who he is.

How did you weave your personal faith into this storyline? Explain.

Faith is part of who I am. Sarah’s mother Lena shared her belief and referred to Bible verses in her journals, which are based on my own writings.

What is the theme of this book?

Dealing with unfinished business can change your life for the good.

What is the moral of the story?

Faith abounds when Jesus is the quest.

Complete this sentence: When I finished writing Touches of Time, I felt____________________ because______________________.

When I finished writing Touches of Time, I felt it was time to close the books, so to speak, because even though what happened to both of my parents has something to do with who I am today, looking back sucks life from today. I’ve written from other characters’ perspectives that in order to move forward as people, we have to consider the past. We can’t run from it. Like Sarah, I need to focus on what God has called me to do in my various roles, living today but looking to the future.

Thanks for the interview, LoRee! Do you have any final comments?

Alexis, you’ve posed thought-provoking questions. I thank you for making me think.

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Author bio: 

Christian romance author LoRee Peery strives to remember the Lord’s redeeming grace each day when she surveys her sense of place in Him and where He has placed her. 

LoRee clings to 1 John 5:4 and prays her family sees that faith. 

Her desire for readers, the same as for her characters, is to discover where they fit in this life journey to best work out the Lord’s life plan.

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Connect with LoRee:
Website- www.loreepeery.com
Twitter - https://twitter.com/LoreePeery
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/LoReePeery
Pelican Book Group - http://tinyurl.com/kwz9enk