Devotionals for the Heart: A life lesson about just how much Jesus loves you!

Just for You
A devotional by Mirachelle Canada

“What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray.” – Matthew 18:12-13 (ESV)

As an introverted teenager growing up in church, the worst words I could hear on a youth group outing were “street evangelism” and “tracts”. This meant we had to pair up. Then, with an adult chaperone, we had to go out into the neighborhoods to knock on doors in order to share the love of Jesus Christ with strangers.

I hated street evangelism because talking to strangers terrified me. I was good with words on paper, but not delivering them in person. I finally confessed my fear to my adult helper, who took over with my partner while I watched from the sidelines. At first, I was relieved and then I felt guilty for not fulfilling “The Great Commission” (Matthew 28:16-20). I felt like a failure.

What I didn’t know (or realize then) is that God gives each of us a different gift and talent in order to share His love. Just as not all of us are called to be athletes, doctors, or writers, not all of us are called to be evangelists or pastors either. And, contrary to some beliefs, not all of us have to have a theology degree to be worthy of furthering the Kingdom of God.

God made each of us different, and that means He has a plan for each of us with regards to how His love is shared around the world and in our local communities. He sends some people out to minister to the lost and the broken, and sometimes He sends the lost and the broken directly to us.

In college I choose the creative path of theatre, which forced me out onto the public stage, where I found my physical and singing voice, and the audience came to me. Once I earned the right to be in the spotlight, I felt God meet me each time. Eventually, He gave me unique opportunities to share His love with others. As I got to know people and they got to know me, relationship building led to Kingdom building. Under this principle there is a quote by Teddy Roosevelt that rings true: “People don't care what you know, until they know that you care.” I believe that’s why as a youth I couldn’t just share God’s love with a stranger. It had to mean something first, not just to me, but to the person on the other side of the door.

I have never felt a greater connection to the power of caring about such relationship, than the first time when God used my theatrical talent in church to write and direct an Easter passion play. In doing so, I had to fully rely on God’s Spirit not only to write about His life and death, but to bring it to life on the stage by guiding and directing volunteers from our congregation. People with some – or very little – experience decided to trust me to mold and guide them, and then put the spotlight on them to tell God’s story to an audience that had been sent to receive it.

The first night of a performance I felt as nervous as I did on the days of my old evangelist youth outings. What if I didn’t do enough, God? What if no one comes to the Cross to receive salvation? As our pastor called for the lost and the broken to come forward, no one moved. I felt the walls closing in, but then I remembered that Jesus would have died on the Cross if there had only been one, if there had only been me. That’s how He sees each one of us. That one sheep that broke away from the ninety-nine. He would give everything to go after it. After me. After you.

I felt it in my spirit, God asking me, “Would you do all this for just the one? Put all of yourself out there to bring but one into my kingdom?” I felt the “yes” response to Him in my heart. Suddenly, the audience stirred, and I saw a small boy walking toward the platform. He came up to the cross and touched it.

I fell to my knees and wept with great joy. You see, I didn’t need to bring people to God. I only needed to be available to God right where I was, where I am, and because of Him people will come to His light that shines each time I step out, or sing a melody, or write words to be printed a page or acted out on a stage. Like me, He has a plan for you, to use you right where you are to touch that one who’s searching for their way back home.

Let's Pray: Dear God, you created me for a purpose. Thank you for making me unique and giving me special gifts and talents to use for the furtherance of your Kingdom. Grant me the courage to be your willing vessel. Thank you for using me to show your love to others. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen. 

*Note from Alexis: Mirachelle's message reminds me of the song "Just for Me" by Donnie McClurkin. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Mirachelle Canada is a writer, playwright, screenwriter, and theatre director/producer from Northern Virginia, where she teaches television production at her high school alma mater. 

She earned her Master of Fine Arts in Script & Screenwriting from Regent University and is an alumnus of Act One: Hollywood Film & Television Writing Program.

Mirachelle is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, American Fiction Writers Virginia Chapter, The Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild, and Your Novel Blueprint.

She is currently working on her first historical fiction novel set during WWII.

~*~
Connect with Mirachelle:
Website: www.mirachellecanada.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mirachellecanada/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/miracan

Happy Easter Sunday! JESUS (Christ) is our HOPE in hopeless times!

Devotionals for the Heart: Christmas gifts with bows and The Cross of Christ

Don’t Let The Bows Cover Up The Cross
A devotional by Amanda Wen

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.” – John 3:16 (NIV)

Several years ago, when my oldest son was around 4 or 5 years old, he wanted to help me wrap Christmas presents. (I use the term “help” rather loosely, as anyone who’s ever had a young child help wrap gifts can attest!) We came up with a fairly simple system: I did the actual wrapping, and he did the ribbons and bows.

When I’m wrapping gifts, I usually place one ribbon across the present positioned horizontally, one vertically, and then put the bow in the center where they intersect. So I was a bit surprised when my son wanted to put the bows not only off-center, but not even on the ribbon at all. My Inner Perfectionist would’ve normally surfaced to correct him, but the Holy Spirit instructed me instead to quiet the perfectionism and ask my son why he’d chosen to arrange the bows that way.

I’m so very glad I listened. Because I will never forget the look in his liquid brown eyes, nor the sincerity in his small voice, when he answered my question.

"Because I didn't want the bows to cover up the cross."

I was blown away. Convicted. Because this time of year it is so easy — so easy —to let the ribbons and bows, glimmer and glitz cover up the reason we have Christmas in the first place.

And if we really think about it, that reason is pretty ugly. We are sinful beings. We rebel against our Lord and Creator nearly every chance we get. And because of that, we had no hope.

But God knew that. He knew from the moment He created us that we would need His help. So with humankind in mind, God sent Jesus Christ who is His only Son.

Jesus traveled from the highest of the heavens to the lowliest human circumstances to be present with us: a hay-filled manger in a Middle Eastern town that at the time was not considered very important by the people in the region … He was born to a teenage virgin who was engaged to wed a God-fearing carpenter. Mary and Joseph were his earthly parents. As a baby born in Bethlehem, Jesus was worshiped by shepherds and astrologers. He was pursued by a paranoid king. He was raised in relative obscurity, amid whispers of his possibly illegitimate origins. He wrapped Himself in human flesh and experienced all the frustration, disappointment, and heartbreak of this broken world. Christ walked among us, teaching, healing and loving the outcast as He gave hope to the downtrodden.

Jesus showed us exactly who God is and ultimately, He took the penalty for our sin on Himself. Christ laid down His life on a Roman cross, and in doing so, He defeated death, the power of hell and wiles of the devil (Satan). Jesus delivered a fatal blow to all that is broken and evil. Thanks to Jesus Christ’s sacrifice, we now have open a way — the only way — for us to have peace with God (John 14:6).

When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, He gives us His free gift of salvation, which is the promise of eternal life with Him in Heaven after the final curtain closes on human history. Remember, this world is not our home. It is an unending hope and because of it, pure joy abounds in the hearts of all those who believe in God and follow Jesus Christ.

As we celebrate this Christmas season by gathering with our loved ones, showering them with gifts and baking holiday treats … as we decorate everything around us with wreaths, mistletoe and bright lights to make our surroundings look warm and festive… as we sing Christmas carols and spread good cheer, may we always remember Him as the true reason for this beautiful holiday season.

Let’s Pray: Dear God, as we enjoy the festivities of Christmastime and joyfully wrap our Christmas gifts with bows and ribbons for our loved ones, don’t allow us to let those beautiful bows cover up the Cross of Christ.

~*~
Author Bio:

Amanda Wen is an award-winning writer of contemporary inspirational romance and split-time women’s fiction.

A first place winner in the 2017 Indiana Golden Opportunity Contest, she also placed first in the 2017 Phoenix Rattler Contest, the 2017 Great Expectations Contest, and the 2016 ACFW First Impressions Contest, among others. In addition, she was a finalist in the 2018 ACFW Genesis Contest.

Amanda is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and regularly contributes author interviews for their Fiction Finder feature. She’s also been spotted onstage with the worship team at recent ACFW conferences. Amanda is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency.

In addition to her writing, Amanda maintains an active and rewarding career as a freelance cellist, frequently performing with symphony orchestras, string quartets, and her church’s worship team. She lives in the Midwest with her amazing husband and their three adorable and hilarious Wenlets.

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Connect with Amanda:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authoramandawen
Twitter: www.twitter.com/authoramandawen
Instagram: www.instagram.com/authoramandawen
Website: www.amandawen.com

Devotionals for the Heart: Defeat

A Beautiful Defeat
A devotional by Mirachelle Canada

“He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together. Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything. For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.” 

– Colossians 1:17-20 (NLT)

Why are we afraid to fail in front of others?

Recently, I found myself in a situation where the fear of failure stalked me.

It began during a lunch break at teacher conference a few days before the start of school. I had received an email message with evidence that I had relayed wrong information to a parent. I had thought a glitch in our new registration system was the culprit, which would have been easy to fix, but the harsh reality was I had made the mistake. It had occurred months previous to this, when a grade point average minimum policy removed the student and I had missed officially informing the parent.

To make matters worse, I was nowhere I could call the parent or talk to my colleagues in person. The only alternative was to email them with the news, but it was late in the day so I knew I wouldn’t hear anything back until morning. That night as I lay in bed, I played out every scenario in my mind: From my boss’s condescending lecture, to the look of disappointment on the head of counseling’s face, and the yells of anger spewing from the parent on the phone.

I was in mental hell, wrapped in steal blankets of imagined humiliation and defeat. I prayed but felt nothing. No peace. No alternative answer. No way out.

That morning, I resolved to call the parent immediately, then to face my boss and so on. In the parking lot I sought God. His question rose, “Are you done striving in your own defeat?” I surrendered everything over to him. “Now that you have placed me between you and the world, I can fix this,” He replied, then prompted me to text my church life group and ask them to pray for me. After they positively replied, I went into work feeling unburdened.

A half hour later, after I had told the parent the truth, I waited for the yelling, but it never came. Instead I was met with a calm voice of understanding and acceptance. Afterward, my sense of failure washed away on a morning tide of forgiveness. I opened my email anticipating my boss’s curt response, but my inbox was empty. My self-inflicted moments of anticipated humiliation dissipated like a vapor. The outcome of my failure was nothing I had imagined it. I’d been ready to face my failure and defeat but had forgotten that His cross had already done it for me.

So often we forget the power of the cross. We get comfortable among the world when things are going right and seek to fix our problems with the world by our own actions and words when they aren’t. Then we wonder why we are tormented by the spirits of humiliation, anger, and fear of failure.

God is the ultimate overcomer, but He is also a gentleman, which is why His word tells us to ask of Him. When we ask Him for help and surrender our situation to Him, we place the power of the cross and His blood between ourselves and the world.

As we lay everything down at His feet the tormentors are ceased, and the battle is won by our Savior through the victory of His blood that He shed for us. He washes us clean once again and lifts us back up rich in hope and acceptance.

We are made humbled and reconciled, but it is a beautiful defeat wrapped in the freedom of His love as we face the world again; this time, with His cross before us.

~*~
Author Bio:

Mirachelle Canada is a writer, playwright, screenwriter and theatre director/producer from Northern Virginia. She teaches television production at C.D. Hylton Senior High School. 

She earned her Master of Fine Arts in Script & Screenwriting from Regent University and is a member of Act One: Hollywood Film & Television Writing Program, American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), ACFW Virginia Chapter, The Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild, and Your Novel Blueprint.

Mirachelle is passionate about awakening creativity and the gifts of God in everyone. She is currently working on her first historical fiction novel set during WWII, inspired by her time studying theatre education in London, England.

In her spare time, she also writes and directs Christmas and Easter passion plays at Christ Chapel Assembly of God in Woodbridge, Va.

~*~
Connect with Mirachelle:
Website: www.mirachellecanada.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mirachellecanada/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/mirachelle77/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/miracan

Words of Faith: How to find joy...and your true value

The Joy in Our Value
A Words of Faith story by Rachel Scott McDaniel

Comparison is the thief of joy. A quote from Teddy Roosevelt, but also a truth from the Bible. (2 Cor. 10:12) So often we examine ourselves, judge our worth by the success of others.

When I was a new mom, this subtle evil plagued me. I would see on social media the got-it-all-together mama—the one who hits the gym every morning, then returns to make pancakes in the shape of dolphins for her children, and continues to post every account of her perfect day. And here I am concentrating not to burn the grilled cheese while calming a screaming child who’s finger just got smashed in the door, then hustling to clean up the cereal my toddler spilled all over the kitchen floor. Frustration overwhelms and joy vanishes.

Friends, that’s not God’s best for us.

Yes, we are to praise and congratulate others on their achievements, but that’s where we need to stop. Our value should never diminish because of another person’s attainment. Self-pity is poison to our soul. It all boils down to one question—What is our true value?

When we were looking for a house, the real estate agent said a house’s worth depended solely on what a person would pay for it. It didn’t matter if it was a new construction or recently remodeled with modern features. Its value was in how much it was purchased for.

So keeping in that same vein, our value lies in the price paid for us. Do you know how much we cost? Here’s the price tag. God’s only Son lived his entire existence sinless, abstaining from evil to the point he perspired blood. He was despised, tortured, crucified and then gloriously resurrected. He paid an intensely high price for us.

The truth is, our worth doesn’t lie in what we do, but in who we are. We are created by the Almighty and purchased by His Son. That revelation changes everything. So it doesn’t matter if you can create elaborate Christmas ornaments using only pipe cleaners and toothpicks, you are perfect. You are enough. You are loved, by God!

~*~
Author bio:

Rachel Scott McDaniel writes Christian historical romance. Her passion is to weave the truth of God’s Word into entertaining and thought-provoking stories. 

She’s a member of ACFW, where she was a finalist in the 2015 First Impressions contest. She’s also won the ACFW PA chapter’s Great Beginnings contest. 

She’s also an editorial traffic manager for a healthy-living magazine. Her first and most important job is being the wife to her husband of fourteen years and mama to their two children.

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Connect with Rachel:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/rachelscottmcdaniel/
Twitter- https://twitter.com/rachelsmcdaniel

Words of Faith: The Introduction

Dear Wonderful Readers of "God is Love" (blog): 

I'd like to introduce a new series coming soon to my blog! Starting on Friday, Jan. 1, 2016, we will have special guests talking about their faith journey with God. We will host a special guest every Friday throughout the year 2016.

"Words of Faith" will provide YOU, my readers, with a focus on faith in God as told through real-life experience from followers of Jesus Christ! Our special guests want to share stories of their faith in God with you to encourage you along your journey through life.

An emphasis on Bible verses that teach us about faith will be a focus throughout this series. So, at least one bible verse on faith will be included in every story told for this series.

Every Friday, you can expect a devotional or a personal essay (guest post) about what faith means to one of our guests. Example of talking points from our guests include but are not limited to: talking about how and when they first found faith in God, sharing a testimony about how their faith in God helped them to overcome an obstacle, showing us how to "grow up" in the faith, speaking on why faith without works is dead, sharing how they apply their faith in God to their everyday life (and how you can too), talking about how their faith has helped others find a relationship with Jesus Christ, sharing how their faith impacts their world and why they choose to keep the faith....the variety of topics and depth of story may be the very hope and inspiration you need.

"Falling in Love with Jesus" told us WHY people have faith in God, now "Words of Faith" guests will show you HOW people can find faith and hope in a broken world. 

So that's all for now. Stay tuned for more every Friday, right here on this blog! 

Love,

Alexis

Jeremiah 29:11

Dear friends,

A quote written by Holley Gerth really made me think and I'd like to share it with you:

"God had good plans for His Son-- but they still included a cross."

After reading this quote, I've realized the value of Jeremiah 29:11...Yes God loves us, Yes He has good plans for us but he's not promising that it's always going to be sunshine and roses. Sometimes, life throws you curveballs, sometimes you may have the rug pulled out from under you, sometimes you may wonder why God is allowing (name it) in your life. It's then, that you've got to remember the sacrifice of His Son. Jesus Christ is One with God the Father and Holy Spirit. Yet even He took serious mental, physical and spiritual hits (worse than curveballs or having the rug pulled out from under you) all throughout His time and ministry on this planet Earth. Now, most (if not all) of us mere mortals want to call it quits after enduring a trial-by-fire once. Imagine enduring trials-by-fire for all of your life and having the people you're trying to save (the reason for enduring the trials by fire) hate and do all sorts of cruel things to you-- that's only a little of what Jesus went through during His time on this Earth. 

Back to the quote-- when I read that the good Lord our God had good plans for his Son but did not leave out the years of pain and heartache that His Son would endure in order to save the world (quite literally) I am inspired and gain a healthier, more positive perspective on my own trails because it's then that I am reminded of the bigger picture, one that spans worldwide, one of which you and I are each an important detail, each needed to make the picture complete. God had a purpose for the cross in Jesus Christ's life-- to save the world from their sins and eternal death. God knew that with the sacrifice of His Son JESUS on the Cross of Calvary, the story of salvation would begin and the stage would be set for every human being to have a chance at eternity. 

I know, it's not easy to thank God for trials...but remember, God has a higher purpose for everything He allows to happen to us and His plans for us go past our lives on this Earth...The Bible says, "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him"(1 Corinthians 2:9, King James Version). God has great things in store for all who believe in His Son Jesus Christ. Remember, God loves us with His life and He wants us all to be saved, that's why His good plans for His Son included a cross. :)

Be blessed!

Love,

Alexis