Devotionals for the Heart: If you are lost, Jesus Christ is looking for you

Seeking the Lost
A devotional by Colette Christopher

“If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn’t wander away! In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish.”—Matthew 18:12-14 (NLT)

A few weeks ago, as I was on a flight returning from my mission trip, I heard in my spirit that the mission was not finished.

I knew the Holy Spirit was speaking to me. I said, “Lord, what now?” I heard the Holy Spirit say, “Tell the person on the right and the one on your left: Jesus loves you, and for you He died.” Fear gripped me. I thought of the length of time for this flight and of me sitting between the two people who God wanted me to witness to. I whispered, “Father, I am scared.”

A few days earlier when I was in conversation with the host Pastor, something he said has been resonating with me ever since. He said we must keep going for the one. The one soul that needs Jesus, His grace and mercy. When we feel like giving up in our ministry or the areas God has called us to serve, we seldom think of the one person who needs to hear the message God has given to us for that person.

As I struggled to get the message out, I quietly started praying and asking the Holy Spirit to help and show me what to do. A thought came to my mind: Write the message in the memo section of your phone and share the message. I wrote the message: “Jesus loves you, and for you He died.” Below those words I also wrote, “The Lord wants me to share this message with you, but I am scared, and this is the least scary option.” I finally shared the message.

And today, I want to share the same message with you! Jesus loves you. If you are a believer who went astray and became lost, He left the 99 saved sheep who were safe in His care, to search for you. Jesus wants us to have the same love and compassion for each other as He has for us. It is the same agape love that we would have to step out of our comfort zone to tell one person, “Jesus loves you and for you, He died.”

Recently, two of my dearest friends lost loved ones. One parent said to me, “My prayer is that in that moment he asked the Lord back into His life. We don’t know His final resting place, but one thing we are assured of: God loved him and gave His life for Him.” Now consider this in your own life: Someone who is important to you—a child, parent, sibling, friend, colleague, spouse, neighbor—whoever that person is, is the Lord is placing them on your heart to reconcile with them or invite them into a relationship with Jesus Christ? Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you then help you do what He says.

In the passage above, we know the shepherd originally had 100 sheep, but one wandered away. The shepherd didn’t say the one was important, and he had 99 remaining, so it made no sense to go after the one. Yet, Jesus Christ as our Good Shepherd (John 10:11-18) seeks after the one who is lost—whether the one is a backslider who needs to return to his Heavenly Father or the one who needs to make the Lord His Savior. If we are to be like Jesus, then that is our role: to love as He does, to see others as He does, and to invite them into a relationship with Him.

Let’s return to my first story about how God’s Holy Spirit prompted me to share His message of salvation with the people who I was seated in between on the airplane. As I shared the message with the gentleman on my left, he read it, said thank you and patted my hand. I relaxed in my seat and under my breath, I said “Thank you, Lord.” While it took me longer to share with the young lady on my right, I did. She read the message, looked me in the eye and said thank you. As the pilot prepared us for descent, I wondered if I shared the message in the way the Lord wanted me to, and immediately, I heard one word in my spirit: Obedience. That’s what matters—not the method, but the doing—as we follow prompts from God’s Holy Spirit and share the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Today, you may be in a space where you don’t know the Lord as Savior. Jesus loves you, and for you He died. You might have wandered away from Him. But He still loves you, and for you He died. You may have someone on your heart whom the Holy Spirit is nudging you to speak to. If you can’t speak it, write it or do whatever you need to do. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you because He will.

In closing, remember this Bible verse found in John 3:16 (NLT). It says, “For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”

Let’s Pray: Heavenly Father, help us to remember that You love each of us with an everlasting love. Remind us that You gave your only Son (Jesus Christ) to pay the price for our sins on the Cross, so that we can have everlasting life and be reconciled to You. Give us strength to endure so that we can fulfill your plans and purpose for our lives. May your peace and presence flood our hearts and cause us to know that You love us, and You died for us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Song of Reflection #1: “The Lost Sheep | Jesus Finds Me Again” by True Faith Studio. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “God So Loved” by Jaci Velasquez. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Mercy Tree” by Lacey Sturm. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “It’s Always Been You” by Phil Wickham. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #5: “Seeking the Lost” by KUSDA Church Choir. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #6: “I Am Not Ashamed” by Heritage Singers. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #7: “Each One, Reach One” by Babbie Mason. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Colette Christopher is an empowered woman who inspires women to be who they were created to be. Her core message is empowerment. She is an author, certified life coach, podcast host, and trainer with the Maxwell Leadership team. 

Colette believes that an empowered woman empowers others and is powerful in knowing who she is and what she can accomplish. Colette is on a mission to impact the lives of the women assigned to her, whether she is their coach or trainer or shares a word that will transform their lives.

Colette utilizes her Christian principles as the base of all her engagements. She is passionate about fulfilling her life purpose of empowering women to know who they are, rebuild their confidence, and use their voices as tools to uplift themselves and others.

​​She is the founder of the M.E.E. Movement L.L.C., a faith-based empowerment ministry business that helps women of faith rebuild their confidence and use their voice to walk in their purpose through life coaching, mentoring, and empowerment speaking. Colette believes in using the gifts God has given her to help women be who God has called them to be and ultimately fulfill the purpose for which they were created. She lives by Romans 8:28 (NIV), that promises, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

A native of Jamaica, Colette resides in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She is the mother of two beautiful young women, a son-in-love, and two grandsons. Colette enjoys reading, writing, watching good movies, and chatting with her daughters and friends.

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Connect with Colette:
Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2367935
Email: Colettemarieonline@gmail.com

Devotionals for the Heart: God can use suffering for our good and His glory

When God Uses Our Suffering to Advance the Gospel
A devotional by Kerry Sue Teravskis

“Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.”—Philippians 1:12 (NIV)

When we are in a place of suffering, God has not turned His face away from us.

He will never leave us (Hebrews 13:5) and He is with us always (Matthew 28:20). And God can use all things for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28).

You may be wondering how this is possible. How can my jobless state be used? Or how can my suffering in pain be used for the advancement of the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Or how can my sheer brokenness be used for His glory and my good?

This my friends, is the question of the century, but we have it on good authority, that God does in fact, use it. We are told so by the Apostle Paul (Romans 8:28) as well as our verse printed above (Philippians 1:12).

The Apostle Paul was in prison when he wrote the letter to the Philippians. He was bound to a guard day and night. He was put there for preaching the gospel (the good news). He was not a lawbreaker; he was a soldier for Christ.

All throughout his writings (he is responsible for writing several books in the New Testament of The Holy Bible), Paul is very open about hardships, suffering, sharing the gospel, and having joy in the process. He wrote in Philippians 1:27 (NIV), “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” This same Paul endured much, yet he chose joy for the sake of Christ. For the sake of the gospel. But how does that work?

We may not understand all the particulars (and I for one, do not), but we can look around us to see how this plays out. Do you know a long-time saint in the church who has endured much? Whether it be health-related, broken relationships, financial duress—and yet he or she is joyful? Glorifying and praising God rather than looking at circumstances. Not looking at the walls of the nursing home or the walker propped by the side of their bed—but fixing their eyes on Jesus.

Let’s face it: Life is hard in so many ways. Yet, life is good in so many ways. The laughter of a young child, the beauty of a sunset or of a sunrise. The brush of the ocean breeze on your face. The taste of chocolate or the first sip of coffee. Or the warm embrace of a dear friend. The kiss from a puppy, the drive in a new car.

God is with us in all this. He is there when we fail, and when we are betrayed. He is there when we climb the highest heights or sit in a chair unable to move because of pain. Recently while I was in Tanzania (Africa), I was able to testify about the healing power of God. I had suffered for five long years with broken feet (both of my feet were broken). After God healed me, I had asked Him for opportunities to witness about His healing—even on foreign soil.

He gave me the time one Sunday right after my husband preached. He was preaching on Habakkuk and at the very end of this little book in The Holy Bible, we read in Habakkuk 3:19 (NIV), “The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.”

When my husband read this verse, I knew I had to share my story. It was a last-minute decision, but a welcome one. I shared briefly about my five-year affliction. Tears were streaming down my face so that I could not read my Bible, nor could my translator read, as he too had tears down his face. We struggled along reading from Psalm 119, Philippians 3:10, and landed on Habakkuk 3:19 with my declaration that Hope Chapel in Kamala, Kigoma, Tanzania, was the heights God allowed me to stand on. It was for this reason I was healed. To further the gospel. To share of His goodness. To witness of His glory.

That testimony opened so many more conversations in the remaining weeks we were there and God’s Word went out even more. Was it hard to endure those five long years sitting in my room, in a chair, not doing ‘normal’ life type things? Yes, very. But to be able to testify to God’s goodness in Tanzania was awesome.

This begs the question: How was I testifying during the affliction? Was I moaning and groaning during that time or was I like Paul, pointing out the fact that my affliction was furthering the gospel? To be honest, it was a little of both. Some days were better than others, but God was faithful through it all and He gave me many opportunities to share His goodness even while confined to my room.

I was able to say as the psalmist said in Psalm 119:68 (NIV), “You are good, and what You do is good; teach me Your decrees.”

I would encourage you, even now, if you are struggling, to recognize God’s goodness in your life and allow Him to use your present circumstances to further the gospel.

Let’s Pray: Father, I acknowledge Your goodness. I acknowledge that truly, I want to have my life and my circumstances further the gospel. I want to be part of Your bigger plan. And I know I cannot do it alone. I am thankful You are with me in every moment, every circumstance, every hurt. You are good. And what You do is good. Yes, Lord, I did say that and I mean it. I embrace You afresh and anew, desiring to share with others. For the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “He’s Been Faithful” by Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir featuring TaRanda Greene. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Every Moment” by ForeverJones. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Lord, You Are Good” by Todd Galberth. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “Testimony” by Terrian. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

As a wife and Marmee to three adult children—two of whom are married—and a new grandson, Kerry Sue’s life is very full. She met her husband in college and served on the mission field with him for a few years before settling down back in the States to raise their family. 

Kerry Sue’s family was a homeschooling family for 20 years and they enjoyed it immensely. For the last 26 years they have lived on a small farm in Northern California where they have raised many farm animals, along with growing and preserving their food. Kerry Sue’s family farm has been a great source of enjoyment and a place to host many family gatherings. She maintains an open-door policy for dear friends—old and new.

Following and serving Jesus Christ is an integral part of Kerry Sue’s life as well as her family’s. Whether it’s singing in the church choir, teaching children or leading and lecturing at a women’s Bible study, Kerry Sue loves to demonstrate her love for Jesus by giving to Him in service. She’s been a blogger for more than 10 years, a Bible study writer for six years, and a devotional writer for more than four years.

Kerry Sue feels led to write about finding God’s Sovereignty in our suffering because of her own journey of more than five years with broken feet. She hopes to to encourage others with her faith walk and real-life stories.

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Connect with Kerry:
Blog: https://www.sovereignblog.com/home
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kerry.teravskis
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ksteravskis/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sovereignblog

Devotionals for the Heart: When you want to know the heart of God

The Heart of God
A devotional by Kerry Sue Teravskis

“For He does not afflict willingly and from His heart or grieve the children of men.”

—Lamentations 3:33 (AMP)

Having been in a long season of suffering (8+ years total and counting), whenever I see the word affliction in Scripture, I apply the brakes. I ask myself questions like, “What is the circumstance surrounding this verse and what are the promises I can hold onto? And how does it point me to Jesus?”

About ten years ago I prayed Philippians 3:10 because I wanted to know Jesus Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in his death.

I was focused more on knowing Christ. Now I am starting to realize God was sanctifying me in all three areas, not just in the knowing. Knowing sounds romantic, feels good and “easy”. Understanding His power is for the super-spiritual (this was my thought process at the time), and I was wanting to work up to this level. Suffering? Well, that was for the uber-spiritual like Corrie ten Boom, Jim Elliot, Hudson Taylor, Billy Graham, Amy Carmichael.

God’s ways are not my ways and that is good because God’s plans and actions are far above anything I could possibly ask or imagine. My hard-working efforts and pursuit of my dreams stop at the ceiling. But God’s ways of providing and blessing His children are limitless.

Why do I settle when He has so much more? I truly wanted to know Christ in a very real and intimate way. Deeper than I had ever gone before. I wanted to know everything about Him that I could possibly acquire. Everything.

I think God understood that prayer.

Jeremiah beautifully explains his thought process in Lamentations 3. He declares and mourns his lot in life. Yes, things were bad. Awful, in fact. But he turns a corner in verse 21, saying, “Yet this I recall to mind and therefore I have hope.”

Jeremiah continues to spell out God’s character, His compassion, His faithfulness, His goodness. He speaks of God’s heart and wants to follow His will. It’s all there. We have a front seat in Jeremiah’s prayer closet, and it is overwhelmingly intimate. One can feel the anguish, the release, the worship, and the honesty of a child with his Abba Daddy.

Want to know the heart of God? Read the third chapter of Lamentations. Want to recall to mind the goodness of God because it’s been awhile since you’ve actually remembered God is good? Life happens and life can get messy, upside down and painful. When we recall to mind God, our God, something breaks: We do. Our stubborn hearts begin to crack, and we allow God to come in. We allow Him to have His way.

As we read Lamentations 3:33, we learn God does not willingly afflict His children. It’s that word willingly that catches the heart. But, because He is a good Father, He knows there are times when affliction and suffering will be the best teacher. We learn that God is Sovereign. Lamentations 3:37 (NIV) accurately describes the Sovereignty of God: “Who can speak and have it happen if the Lord has not decreed it?”

Everything filters through God’s hand. Let me say that again: Everything filters through God’s hand. Everything like pain, sorrow, suffering, trials, tribulations, scorn and mockery from others, bad things and good things. Since God is Sovereign it means He is always in charge of everything and everyone— including me and including you. He is aware of everything that happens here on this Earth and throughout the universe. You cannot pull the wool over His eyes.

The enemy wants us to believe certain things don’t matter or because God has so many other children and an universe to care for, He’s too busy to help us. Nothing could be further from the Truth. We matter to God! We are created in His image (Genesis 1:26-27). We are made to enjoy and glorify Him forever. We are here to lift Him up and worship Him. We are to praise Him with our breath (Psalm 150).

God is good and we can trust His heart. He is a loving Heavenly Father with our good and His glory in mind all the time. Will you trust Him?

Let’s Pray: Oh Father God, You indeed are magnificent. You are powerful, amazing, and love us endlessly. Your heart is limitless and Your faithfulness is forever. You are good and what You do is good (Psalm 119:68). Please forgive my doubts, my secrets, and my fears. I believe and I trust You. I renew my commitment to You to follow and not lead. To be still and to know You are God. Thank You, God, for everything. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Good Good Father ft. Pat Barrett” by Chris Tomlin. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

As a wife and Marmee to three adult children and one brand new daughter-in-love, Kerry Sue’s life is very full. She met her husband in college and served in the mission field with him for a few years before settling down back in the United States of America to raise their family. 

Kerry Sue’s family was a homeschooling family for 20 years and they enjoyed it immensely. For the last 23 years they have lived on a small farm in Northern California where they have raised many farm animals, along with growing and preserving their food. Kerry Sue’s family farm has been a great source of enjoyment and a place to host many family gatherings. She maintains an open-door policy for dear friends—old and new.

Following and serving Jesus Christ is an integral part of Kerry Sue’s life as well as her family’s.

Whether it’s singing in our church choir, teaching children or leading and lecturing at a women’s Bible study, Kerry Sue loves to demonstrate her love for Jesus by giving to Him in service. She’s been a blogger for more than eight years, a Bible study writer for two years, and a devotional writer for about one year.

Kerry Sue writes about finding God’s Sovereignty in our pain and suffering.

~*~
Connect with Kerry:
Blog: https://www.sovereignblog.com/home
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kerry.teravskis
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ksteravskis/

Devotionals for the Heart: A Mission from God for all Christ-followers

How to Tell the World about Jesus Christ
A devotional by Karen Marstaller

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”—Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV)

Throughout the Bible, God gives His people jobs He wants them to do.

He begins in Genesis, the first book of the Bible, when He assigns Adam the job of tending the garden God made (Genesis 2:15). From there, Noah is commissioned to build an ark (Genesis 6:9-22). Later, God sends Moses to Egypt to lead His captive people to freedom in the Promised Land (Exodus 3:10). God’s message to work continues throughout the rest of His Word (The Holy Bible).

In the New Testament, God records the many miracles of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is important to note that when Jesus is resurrected after His death on the Cross, God’s work continues in the lives of the followers of Jesus.

One of those followers of Jesus was a man named Paul, a well-educated Pharisee who initially persecuted the young church. After Paul met the risen Lord Jesus, he became a missionary who brought the message of salvation to the nations outside of Israel—the Gentile people.

Mission work is all about preaching the good news of Jesus, discipling believers in Jesus, and then equipping the new believers to also become missionaries. It was hard work. Even today, with airplanes, buses, and cars replacing Paul’s foot travel, missionary work is costly and time-consuming.

Paul was a tradesman who made tents to supplement his missionary journeys (Acts 18:3). All through the letters of Paul, he refers to his labor (1 Corinthians 4:12 and 1 Thessalonians 2:9). Paul knew and understood the value of hard work.

In today’s world, many pastors and missionaries are bi-vocational, just like Paul. They work in a career to tell people about Jesus, and they supplement their living expenses with a job doing something different. The work of Christians may look a little different from the tent-making of Paul, but the commitment to be useful sharing the gospel of Jesus is the same.

So, what is the work that the Lord asks us to do? Telling others about Jesus is our highest calling. And to work with our own hands is part of that calling. It is vital to our opportunities of meeting new people and sharing the hope we have in Jesus.

Here in my city, one of the restaurants is run by people who love the Lord. Their food is fresh, handmade, and always tasty. One of the most impactful things about their establishment is the walls. As you walk in the door, Bible verses are the first things you see. In beautiful hand-lettered script, the words of the Lord testify to His goodness. What started out as a restaurant known for its excellent bread also serves the Bread of Life—God’s Word.

The modern world jobs are myriad, and new job descriptions are being written every day to meet the needs of a growing global economy. But the job of Christians everywhere is to share about Jesus. Whether we are a corporate executive, a computer technician, a teacher, a bread baker, or a tent maker, the job we’ve been given enables us to draw people to our Lord and Savior. It doesn’t matter if it’s stencils on a wall of the workplace, or starting a lunchtime Bible study at work, it’s what the Lord puts in front of us to do.

We can work heartily because our work is for the delight of our Heavenly Father. We work for the King of Glory!

Let’s Pray: Lord Jesus, help us to take joy in the work You’ve allowed us to do. Please bless the people who will hear about Jesus as we go to work. Please help us to share Your love and Your salvation everywhere we go. Thank You, Lord. It is in Your Name we pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “The Mission” (song) by Steve Green. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Karen Marstaller is a retired high school teacher who spent most of her career challenging creative students to write. Her heart is for her readers.

She writes to encourage them, to make them laugh, to show them that life is a beautiful journey, and regardless of their past, to show them that there is joy ahead if they will just keep looking.

Karen and her husband live in central Texas in a sweet little home that they completely remodeled. They enjoy spending time with their family, which includes seven precious grandchildren.

Most of all, Karen writes in obedience to the command to love your neighbor, to offer a cup of water to those who are dying of thirst, and to comfort others with the comfort she has received.

You can reach Karen by emailing her at this address: klmarstaller@gmail.com

Devotionals for the Heart: Being "on fire" for God and spreading His Love

Flaming Faith
A devotional by Casey Wayne

“No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light.”—Luke 8:16 (ESV)

As we wrapped up dinner we gathered around the fire my husband had made in the fireplace. After allowing the kids to watch one last show, we transitioned into the bedtime routine. They ran to and from the living room and returned all the stray items. At one point I turned to catch my daughter getting dangerously close to the remaining burning wood. In response to my correction she argued that it could not hurt because it was so small. I found myself saying, “Just because a fire is small doesn’t mean it is not hot. Small fires can actually be very hot!”

In the moments following that conversation I reflected on how that applies to the impact we all have in our environment. We all have an impact on others. Ministry opportunities that God will ask us to follow in obedience. They will look different for each of us. Some are easily seen and large “fires”, producing big, broad impacting moments. Others will be small, intentional “fires” that will make an impact as it endures over time with spiritual discipline. God can and often will draw us to seasons of both, but it all has an impact. It all matters!

Maybe you will do missionary work, support local food pantries, or help couples have a foundation of faith in their marriage. God may lead you to serve faithfully in your local church or dedicate spare time to knitting hats for infants in the NICU. This is just a small list of ways we can partner with God in a variety of ways.

Individually and together we spread the love of Christ. Romans 12:4-5 (NIV) says, “For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”

Our Heavenly Father grows our faith, encourages our souls and gives each of us gifts to obediently use to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Read 1 Corinthians 12:1-31 for details on this topic. Do not get caught up in the comparison game and allow Satan to convince you your “fire” is not enough to matter or too small to have an impact. It all matters in the eyes of God and for the hearts of those you reach. Remember, just because a fire looks small, does not mean it is not hot.

Let us commit to burning bright for Christ; to be a light in the darkness of this world. Matthew 5:16 (NIV) tells us, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Seek the wisdom and discernment to step into whatever ministry God leads you to and the endurance to stay the course. Leave the results of its impact in the faithful arms of our loving Father who created you to be His ambassador to everyone in your reach (2 Corinthians 5:20) in the time and in the way He has for you.

Let’s Pray:

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the opportunity to partner with you in the ministering of others in whatever capacity You ask me to. You faithfully provide for us and guide us so that we can be a light for your glory. Encourage my heart so that I may push forward as you lead and remind me that even if my “fire” looks different than someone else, it is making an impact for the purpose you intended.

In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “This Little Light of Mine” by Caleb + Kelsey. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Casey Wayne is a wife and mother of two children. 

She enjoys time with her family doing simple things like movie nights and cooking together.

As a devotional writer, Casey strives to share her story with relatable honesty, showing how God is faithful throughout the big and small moments of life.

She has a heart for encouraging the faith walk of other moms, praying they gain a deeper connection with our Heavenly Father.

Her family lives in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia.

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Connect with Casey:
Website: https://www.caseywayne.org/
Blog: https://peaceoffaith.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caseylwayne
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Peace.of.FaithCaseyWayne

Devotionals for the Heart: Listening to God speak and sharing the Gospel

God’s Burning Bushes
A devotional by Karen Marstaller

“Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed.” –Exodus 3:1-2 (ESV)

The other day some of my friends and I gathered to pray and study the Bible.

We discussed the difficulty we often have with telling other people about Jesus Christ, especially those who do not know Christ. One of the ladies recalled the story of Moses and the burning bush, and how God caught the attention of Moses through a shrub. We all laughed when my friend said that there were lots of bushes in her front yard, and maybe God could use one of those to speak to our loved ones.

Her comment started me thinking. To my knowledge, God hasn’t been talking to anyone recently through a bush, so how does He plan to tell others about Jesus Christ in today’s world? It’s pretty evident that His plan is to use us—His children—His flawed, often mindless children. We have been given the task of sharing the gospel of Jesus with a world that has wandered far from the Lord.

Within our hearts, the Lord has placed the glorious news of salvation in Jesus, and we can’t keep it hidden from those around us who are lost and dying. For many of us, the task to share the gospel is daunting. We’re nervous about what people might think of us if we speak openly about God’s gift of salvation. We worry about how we’ll look, but that’s not how God sees it. This is not about us at all. It’s about telling others of the hope we have in this life, and in the next one—eternity in Heaven.

When Moses turns aside to see the bush that burned but wasn’t burned up, God spoke to a very ordinary shepherd. He told Moses to take off his sandals because the ground he was standing on was holy (Exodus 3:5). Then God commissions Moses. The man who had previously fled Egypt in fear of his life is commanded to go back and lead Israel out of their slavery into the land that God had promised them.

What God told Moses to do is exactly what He wants us to do. We who have met the Lord are to humble ourselves first, and then we can be used by God in naturally occurring ways to share the freedom we know through Jesus.

Our neighbors, friends, family, and even perfect strangers will be blessed by the life-giving news of our true God Who loves them and Who invites them to come into His family. He’s the One Who will forgive them and accept them as His own. Why are we waiting to share such amazing news of grace and mercy?

Maybe we don’t know how, or we’re afraid, or we’re too busy. We can always come up with our numerous excuses, but the Apostle Paul explains a simple way to share the gospel. He says it’s like the planting process. Sow the seed. Water. Let God bring the harvest (1 Corinthians 3:6). The seeds are the good words we use to help people recognize how much God loves them. When we tell someone we will pray for them and then do it, God is honored and people are drawn to Him. It may be a long time before they remember that prayer again, but they will remember, and we might even be blessed to hear their story one day.

Sow a few seeds of kindness and hope, or water a few drops of joy and gladness, and before long we will put our past fears and doubts behind us. We can walk in joyful expectation with the Lord, our Savior and our Friend, as we tell others about Him.

One of the most comforting parts of the burning bush story is that the bush burned, but it wasn’t consumed. As I grow older, I tend to pace myself more. But God has plans for us that aren’t all-consuming. He gives strength—His strength, and He gives us His Word to speak. Because He is our Lord, we really can do all things through Christ, and He will strengthen us (Philippians 4:13).

Let’s Pray: Dear Lord, the God of Moses and of all creation, will You set us on fire for You? Please light the kindling and let us burn brightly with our love for Jesus, Your Son. It is in His great name that we pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “I Am Not Ashamed” by Heritage Singers. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Karen Marstaller is a retired high school teacher who spent most of her career challenging creative students to write. Her heart is for her readers. 

She writes to encourage them, to make them laugh, to show them that life is a beautiful journey, and regardless of their past, to show them that there is joy ahead if they will just keep looking.

Karen and her husband live in central Texas in a sweet little home that they completely remodeled. They enjoy spending time with their family, which includes seven precious grandchildren.

Most of all, Karen writes in obedience to the command to love your neighbor, to offer a cup of water to those who are dying of thirst, and to comfort others with the comfort she has received.

You can reach Karen by emailing her at this address: klmarstaller@gmail.com

Devotionals for the Heart: Immanuel

Rendering a Response to Immanuel
A devotional by Cyndi Staudt

“But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” 

–Luke 2:19 (NIV)

Waking up the day after Thanksgiving ushers in a host of holiday traditions. One of my favorites has to be the mysterious overnight transition of radio stations to all Christmas music, all the time. While I have many “favorites”, one that moves my heart annually is “Mary Did You Know?” Its soul-stirring lyrics never cease to move my heart to ponder what Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, actually might have known.

It seems most Israelites studied then Torah and had extensive book knowledge and teaching about the Messiah. They had passages memorized about how He would come to the world, how He would leave the world, and highlights of what He would accomplish through His incarnation. Yet it still seems many missed the main messages taught in the temple and written in the scrolls. And when Jesus actually arrived on the scene, many missed Him completely and reacted in ways we can hardly fathom. In fact, in the Bible, we see as many responses to the arrival of Immanuel as there are people engaged in the experience.

As the Gospel of Luke recounts the story, we encounter an angel delivering the sensational news of the arrival of Jesus to shepherds in the fields. Proclaiming His arrival, pacifying the frightened shepherds, and praising God with a host of angels joining in, these messengers expressed adoration, appreciation, and joy at the magnificent news they were entrusted to deliver.

We find the shepherds went through a range of emotions and reactions. Their initial fear turned into curiosity that drove them to “hurry” to Bethlehem. Upon seeing Jesus with his new parents, the shepherds became evangelists, sharing the astonishing news with everyone they could. Finally, they returned to the fields glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen.

One might miss the short sentence thrown in the middle of this exciting account of Christ’s birth if they weren’t paying attention. Nestled in Luke 2:19 (NIV) we learn that while all of this was happening around her, Mary “treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” While the angels made a heavenly and earthly commotion, Mary chose to store the events in the recesses of her heart. When the shepherds visited, and with excitement shared the news about Jesus with everyone they could, Mary quietly contained her thoughts and emotions to process and ponder them internally.

In the Book of Matthew, we learn King Herod’s jealousy of what he heard about Jesus moved him to deceit and plotting murder. Fearing (quite illogically) that Jesus would eventually take over his throne, Herod tried to trick the wise men into revealing where they found Jesus. When they failed to return with the information he desired, Herod ordered the death of every child in Bethlehem under the age of two, hoping he would kill the child everyone was worshipping and claiming to be king of the Jews.

At the same time, wise men traveled approximately 400 miles, estimated to have taken months as they traveled by night, following the star which “filled them with joy”. When they finally made it to Jesus, they offered gifts and bowed down to worship the baby in a manger. In the midst of this we are only told that Mary thought carefully about all these things but seemingly kept her reactions and emotions inside.

Yes, the reactions to Jesus were many and it makes me wonder: What is my reaction to Jesus Christ's arrival into the world? What is yours? Each year we have an opportunity to revisit this and remind ourselves that the Christmas holiday is far more than decked halls and trimmed trees. His miraculous manifestation onto the Earth can’t be ignored and demands a response. What will ours be this year? While it may not go as far as deceit and plotting murder, we might get so caught up in finding the perfect gift, making the perfect holiday menu, or perfectly decorating our house that we lose sight of the perfect baby born in a manger on a rescue mission for us.

I think Mary had the right idea with her pondering and treasuring. This year let’s commit to making time to sit with The Holy Spirit, pondering Christ’s arrival, treasuring His selfless incarnation, and refocusing our hearts on the reason for the season.

Let’s Pray:

Holy Lord, as we enter the Christmas season, we invite You into our hearts and homes with joy and expectancy, celebrating Your selfless arrival into our earthly experience. You could have opted out of the rescue mission that would cost You everything, but You decided we were worth it, choosing to leave Your home in Heaven for a humble manger stall. Pour Your presence into our hearts, prompting peace and gratitude for You while reminding us of the real reason for this special season. We love You, we adore You, and we worship You. Thank You for Your indescribable gift. In Jesus’s precious name we pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Jesus Born On This Day” by AVALON. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Cyndi Staudt is a Jesus-loving, adrenaline junkie who is devoted to living her life for Jesus Christ until the day she is living with Him. 

With a passion for cultivating a craving for God’s Word, her devotions and Bible studies are saturated with faith and hope to stir your soul to connect with God in deeper, more intimate ways.

Through her writing she hopes to ignite your desire to read God’s Word, invite your heart to experience God’s love, and inspire you to live your live life “souled out” to the One whose love has no limits.

~*~
Connect with Cyndi on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/souledoutcyndi/

Devotionals for the Heart: Messiah

Jesus Christ: Our Ultimate Promise
A devotional by Karen Marstaller

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” –Isaiah 9:6 (ESV)

The people of Israel had received the promise of their long-awaited Messiah from the prophet Isaiah well over 700 years before the infant Jesus Christ was ever placed in a feeding trough in Bethlehem. It was an inauspicious beginning for their eagerly anticipated King and was mostly overlooked in the history of God’s people. They had waited such a long time and they missed the child born to two poor, weary travelers in the middle of the night.

Even though many missed Christ’s birth, in today’s world, so many years later, it seems as though most people eagerly wait for December 25 to arrive. It’s a holiday, a day with friends and family, a day to open presents and drink lots of hot cocoa. But it’s so much more than that.

Right now, we enter the season we call Advent, the four weeks before Christmas when we consider not only the birth of Jesus Christ, but also His return. For some of us, it’s a time of quiet contemplation of the wonderful gift of our Savior, Jesus. Others experience a yearning in our heart to see our Savior return to Earth. And for others, it’s a deeply rooted longing to join our Jesus in Heaven, to live with Him for all eternity. For many others it’s all three, but they all involve one thing—waiting on God’s timing.

A few days ago, a dear family member and I were talking about Advent and what it means. We spoke of looking forward and looking back. We talked about waiting and the joys of seeing God’s promises fulfilled and those waiting to be fulfilled. Then she said, “It all depends on what we do while we’re waiting.” That struck a chord—do I practice active waiting?

Her comment sent me on a path of personal discovery. In the beauty and stillness of worship, do I remember to praise the Maker of Heaven and Earth as I thank Him for the promises He has brought to completion? While I long for His return, am I telling others about His first coming and the reason He came—to save us from sin? As I live every moment of the day, do I humbly obey my Lord and Savior when He says, “Follow Me?” (Matthew 16:24)

Do I? Or am I all tied up in my own agenda and miss all that God is showing me? So many times, the answer is yes. But, thankfully, our Father in Heaven is rich in forgiveness, and He wants so much more for me than my self-serving desires.

So, join me, followers of Jesus, as we walk through this Advent season together. Let’s make a deliberate choice to look back with reverent hearts to God’s miracle of a baby in a manger. Let’s look forward as we pray for the moment when our friends and loved ones accept Jesus as their Savior. Let’s spend our time ministering to the needs of the people around us. And when our Lord says, “Follow Me” into a place we’ve never even considered, let’s embrace His perfect plan and obey His loving invitation.

With joy we will watch. With hope we will wait. And we will live in humble obedience to our Lord and Savior. God’s promise of Messiah took many years to be fulfilled, and His prophecy about the return of Christ is what we still await. But in the meantime, we devote ourselves to praise, to thanksgiving, to petition, and to service whenever and wherever He directs, not just for one month out of the year, but for always.

The psalmist urges us to “be strong” and “wait for the Lord” (Psalm 27:14 ESV). The Apostle Paul encourages us to make the “best use of the time” that we have because “the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16 ESV). So, in the whirlwind of parties, concerts, get-togethers, and holiday traditions, let’s praise the Lord for our Savior, King Jesus, and then let’s wait expectantly for God’s promise of His return to take us home with Him.

Let’s Pray: Dear Lord Jesus, You are our Promise, our only hope of Heaven. Thank You for coming to Earth to save us, and we rejoice that You’re coming again! Help us to follow You whole-heartedly wherever You lead us. We wait for You, Jesus! In Your precious, Holy Name we pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Messiah” by Francesca Battistelli. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Karen Marstaller is a retired high school teacher who spent most of her career challenging creative students to write. Her heart is for her readers. 

She writes to encourage them, to make them laugh, to show them that life is a beautiful journey, and regardless of their past, to show them that there is joy ahead if they will just keep looking.

Karen and her husband live in central Texas in a sweet little home that they completely remodeled. They enjoy spending time with their family, which includes seven precious grandchildren.

Most of all, Karen writes in obedience to the command to love your neighbor, to offer a cup of water to those who are dying of thirst, and to comfort others with the comfort she has received.

You can reach Karen by emailing her at this address: klmarstaller@gmail.com

Devotionals for the Heart: Peace

Peace is Coming
A devotional by Wendy Wilson Spooner

“And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” –Micah 4:3 (KJV)

Micah is known as one of the minor prophets. Not because his words weren’t prophetic and highly meaningful, but because his book is one of the shorter ones in the Old Testament of The Holy Bible.

Micah showed us war and peace in his words. He speaks of violence in Micah 2:2 (KJV), where he states that God rebukes people who “covet fields and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away...”  

Then Micah prophesied of the future, and saw a time when nations would not lift up their swords against each other anymore (Micah 4:3 KJV). Is it our time he saw? In the near future?

Each of us should pursue peace, but what is the definition of peace? Some think it is the absence of war, and many decent people support peace by opposing war. But just challenging war doesn’t bring a ceasefire. Only the Gospel of Jesus Christ can do this.

The peace the Gospel of Jesus Christ brings is so much more than the absence of war. It is the opposite of war. I believe that Gospel peace is the reverse of any battle, armed or unarmed; it is the opposite global conflict, of ethnic hostilities, and family or civil strife.

In Micah 4:5 (KJV), he saw a future time, maybe a time coming soon, where “all people will walk every one in the name of his God, and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever.”

Is this a statement of free agency? Of tolerance? God never forces anyone to do anything. Even when it comes to worshiping Him. That is not His way. We are always free to choose.

So is freedom at the heart of peace? I think it’s one of the cornerstones. Following Jesus in all is ways is where the rest comes in. We don’t know exactly when peace is coming, but we know it is. And it’s coming with Jesus Christ—when He returns.

But can we, even now, have hearts filled with peace amid so much strife? I believe we can. God had shown us this possibility if we keep His commandments, especially loving Him, and loving one another. This can take place first in our individual hearts, then in our homes. This is where we have the most power to promote peace.

And maybe, just maybe, it can spread from there.

Let’s Pray: 

Father in Heaven, 

Let us prepare our hearts by establishing peace inside us, so when You do return, we will be ready, we will know You, and we will all live in peace together. 

In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection: “I’ll Give You Peace” by Sandi Patty. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Wendy is a Genetic Genealogist by day, a writer by night, and an artist in between. 

Her love of what we can learn from history compels her to write the true stories she unearths because she’s found that truth is indeed much more exciting and inspiring than fiction.

Wendy writes about family, faith, grief, art, and overcoming obstacles in life by coming to know who we really are—the children of God, and the descendants of incredible people who paved the way for us—even if they really struggled. Wendy believes in learning from our ancestors, honoring them, and then standing on their shoulders to become a better generation.

As an award-winning family history writer, Wendy’s debut novel, Once Upon an Irish Summer, released April 3, 2020. This book is a dual timeline historical fiction novel about a young, gifted artist suffering from debilitating grief, who finds healing and inspiration in her Irish ancestry, and goes on to paint a masterpiece.

The sequel, Celtic Winter: Eliza’s Story, released November 5, 2021. The storyline goes back in time to the little sister left behind in Ireland to keep her family alive, woven with present-day Beth’s continuing story as she races the clock with the young man she loves to find the only person who could save his mother’s life.

When Wendy is not researching or writing, she hikes, paints, loves being a church youth leader, binges on epic Bollywood movies, and hangs out with her greatest loves—her family.

~*~
Connect with Wendy:
Website: https://wendywilsonspooner.com/
Blog: https://wendywilsonspooner.com/blog
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorWendyWilsonSpooner/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendyspooner/

Devotionals for the Heart: Be a voice that takes a stand for Jesus Christ

A Voice or an Echo?
A devotional by Kay Pflueger

“The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way”—“a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ ” And so, John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” 

– Mark 1:1-4 (NIV)

In the first chapter of Mark, we meet John the Baptist. He was the appointed messenger who was spoken of in the Old Testament by the prophet Isaiah. John’s role was to herald the coming of the Messiah—to prepare the way for the Lord. His voice was heard loud and clear after 400 years of silence and lack of prophecy to the nation of Israel. 

He was called by God to come out of the wilderness to preach and to teach. His message was clear: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” (Mark 1:7-8 NIV)

The past few years have been particularly noisy ones in our world, filled with many voices clamoring for attention and wanting to be heard. Voices shouting for equality, for unity and reform in our government, for answers in our global health crisis. Like John the Baptist, those voices had a message to proclaim.

We as Christians need to be concerned about equality in our nation. We should seek a government that works together and for the benefit of all people. We long to be free from the effects from the pandemic. However, I have found it hard to hear those messages above all the noise. It has become an “I can’t see the forest for the trees” kind of situation for me as they were drowned out by all the clamoring.

Social media has made it difficult to sort the voices that need to be heard from those that are echoes. The news channels seem to share those voices that are the loudest but are not always the ones with a true message of hope. We are wandering in the wilderness. We are confused by what we see and hear. We don’t know who to listen to or whom to trust. 

Facebook is filled with echoes—posts being shared without thought—just for the sake of “likes”. Instagram is filled with influencers who live for those clicks regardless of what harm their posts are causing. What the world needs is not more of those echoes; but rather, more voices that can be heard above all else. Voices that stand up and declare what is right. Christians are called to be different and not to echo what the world is sharing.

John the Baptist stood out. He did not follow “social media” to decide what to wear, what to eat, what to say. He was different and because he was different, people listened. He used his own voice to proclaim the good news.

The true message of who Jesus Christ is as our Lord and Savior needs to be heard. We are called to be a voice not an echo.

Let’s Pray: Lord, fill us with the desire to share Your message with everyone. Make our voices loud and clear enough to be heard above the noise in our world. We are not to be ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but rather we are to proclaim it to all the world. Open the ears of those who need to hear Your Voice through us. In Jesus’s Name we pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “I Am Not Ashamed” (song) by Heritage Singers. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Learning to read as a young child opened a world of adventure for Kay Pflueger. She came to realize words can have a unique power and beauty. 

Choosing to share those words in her devotional writings has become a joyful and rewarding experience for her. As a widow, she feels a special affinity towards those who are grieving or experiencing loss.

Kay recently completed a Copyediting certificate program and is currently pursuing a Creative Writing certificate. Her leisure time is spent with her married son and three grandchildren or in writing, reading, or trying new recipes.

She is an avid baseball fan who looks forward every summer to following her favorite team, the Chicago Cubs.

Kay is active member of Victory Lutheran Church in her hometown of San Diego, California and she enjoys writing devotions to be shared on the church website as well as on her personal social media.

~*~
Connect with Kay:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kay.m.pflueger
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/irishsweetpea/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/pflueger_kay
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/9793471-kay-pflueger

Devotionals for the Heart: Following Jesus and sharing Him with the world

Seeking the Lost
A devotional by Glynis Becker

“And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.””

– Mark 16:15 (NASB)

I have been a Christian for a long time.

I grew up in the church with a family who loves Jesus Christ. I made a decision to put Jesus first at a very young age and never went through a “rebellion” stage like many church kids do. I didn’t leave the church when I left home or went to college. My faith and relationship with the Lord has certainly had its ups and downs, although I’d like to think that on the whole it’s been pretty consistent and so have I.

But no matter how long we’ve been a Christian, or how many times we’ve read the Bible, if we are still breathing, God is still working on things within us. As we study and pray, our eyes are opened to new truths about Him and our hearts need to be open to transformation.

In this season of my life I’m beginning to recognize how little I share my faith today and how little I have over the course of my life. Having spent my childhood in the ‘80s, for me the word “evangelist” conjures up tarnished images of slick-talking television hucksters exploiting the masses, but it shouldn’t. 

According to the dictionary, “Evangelism” is simply “spreading the Christian gospel by public preaching or personal witness.” So an “evangelist” is simply a witness. We may not all have a public pulpit, but we all have a witness and therefore, we are all evangelists to one degree or another.

My own personality is one-part shy introvert and two-parts peacemaker who hates conflict or confrontation. “Evangelist” is not on a list of job descriptions for which I would naturally consider myself a good fit, but several things come to mind when I think about these six points: 

Point #1: We may not all be preachers or evangelists, but we all have a story.

Point #2: Even if evangelism is not our spiritual gift, we still need to be a witness to the world.

Point #3: Sharing the most important news of our lives shouldn’t be looked at as a burden, but a privilege.

Point #4: We do not share Jesus by ourselves. The Holy Spirit equips us as we speak and He is the one at work. Only He can convince another person of the Truth, which is how we came to know it in the first place ourselves.

Point #5: When someone rejects the Gospel, they are not rejecting us. And even if we do feel rejected, remember we are children of God and co-heirs with Jesus. It’s okay if the world doesn’t love us.

Point #6: The name of Jesus has great power. It shouldn’t surprise us when people who are not ready to hear the Gospel are rude or sharp or argumentative. The natural spirit inside us loves the things of the world, not the things of God.

Our church is studying through the book of Acts right now. If spending time with the amazing stories and astonishing miracles of the first Christians doesn’t make you want to see revival in today’s church or give you courage to seek out those who are lost, then maybe you need to read it again!

The world is so desperate for what only Jesus can give. How can we be silent? I’m ready to ask for opportunities to bring light to dark places. How about you?

Let’s Pray: Heavenly Father, author of salvation, be in us today as we share the truth with those around us. Help us to know when to speak and when to be silent, when to move forward and when to stand still. Even when we are scared, remind us that You are close. We love you. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

Glynis Becker writes devotions and inspirational fiction, hoping someday to have a published novel on her resume. 

She has co-written several screenplays, including the film Sinking Sand, available on DVD and digital streaming. 

Glynis, whose childhood was spent all over the country as an Air Force brat, has called South Dakota home for many years, along with her husband and two college-age children.

When she’s not writing or reading, she is watching more television than she should and crocheting.

Connect with her at www.glynisbecker.com, @beckerglynis on Instagram or @GlynisBecker7 on Twitter.

Devotionals for the Heart: A Season to Give and show God's Love to the world

The Giving Season
A devotional by Christa MacDonald

In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’

–Acts 20:35 (NIV)

Do you have your Christmas tree up yet?

We’re planning to do ours this weekend.

There’s something so cheerful about Christmas lights that they’re the one thing I will not procrastinate on when it comes to Christmas. I love sitting in the family room at night with just the lights from the tree shining. It has its own comforting charm. Boy, do we all need comforting. The world outside is fractious. There’s a lot of pressure in the holiday season, and this year it’s compounded by the places you can’t go, people you can’t see, and gatherings you can’t have. You can still ship gifts in from all over the world and back out again, but being present with your presents is out. It can make that shopping and wrapping feel a little empty.

In the verse above, we see Paul giving final parting instructions to people that he is sure he will never see again. Among those instructions is the reminder to work hard at what God has given you and help the weak, because it is better to give than to receive. I think there’s a potent message for us in this verse at this particular time. People of faith need to be present in their communities, actively helping the weak regardless of what that “weakness” looks like.

At our churches, we need to be sure we’re plugged in to our communities, offering whatever assistance we can to help those struggling in this challenging time. It can be as easy as calling a senior at a nursing home, writing cards, or leaving care packages on someone’s doorstep, but we need to be actively giving of ourselves. God put us here to be salt and light. He put each of us in our neighborhood, at our church, in our workplace for a reason. There are people we’re meant to serve, even if right now it has to be at a distance. God has placed us here for just such a time as this!

One of the most painful things about this pandemic has been how isolated people feel. These small acts of kindness can help ease that loneliness, as imperfect as they are. We all must reach out to those around us, checking in with each other, seeing where the needs are. And to be open when others reach out to help us. I can’t remember who said this, but I’ve often repeated it to myself: We need to practice our humility so someone else can practice their charity. Be humble enough to share your needs when asked and to accept the help that’s offered. These kinds of connections are a great way to embrace opportunities to share the Gospel.

It’s often by sharing ourselves, giving our time and energy to others that we find ourselves restored. Here’s my advice to you this holiday season: Pray for outreach opportunities then see how God leads you to connect with your church and your community.

Get out there and be the Love of God in someone’s life!

~*~
Author Bio:

Christa MacDonald is a 2017 Carol Award finalist for contemporary Christian fiction.

She began her writing career at the age of eleven, filling a sketchbook with poems and short stories. After publishing a few short pieces in her college’s literary magazine she took a long hiatus during which she embarked on a few different careers, got married, had three kids, and renovated an old barn masquerading as a house.

Her most recent work, The Redemption Road, finished the Sweet River Redemption series published by Mountain Brook Ink.

When not working or writing Christa can be found ferrying her kids around, reading, or attempting something crafty. She and her family live along the coast of New England.

~*~
Connect with Christa:
Website: www.christamacdonald.com
Newsletter: https://christamacdonald.com/connect-with-christa/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1538432676468229/
Amazon: https://amzn.to/33uk329
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CricketMacD
Christa's book publisher: http://mountainbrookink.com/about-us/authors/christa-macdonald/

Devotionals for the Heart: We Are One

We Are One in Jesus Christ
A devotional by Christa MacDonald

“Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” 
–Ephesians 4:3-6 (ESV)

One of the most beautiful things about Christianity is that there is no test to pass, no requirements other than repentance and faith. There’s no “Christian bloodline” or “Christian country.”

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28 ESV). You can be born in any country, be a member of any family, any ethnicity, any cultural tradition, and Jesus welcomes you. How rare is that in our world?

Tribalism seems to be on the rise these days with folks picking sides and narrowly defining who can be in their camp. Express an opinion on social media and you’re likely to see a quick reply from those who don’t agree. It isn’t just politics anymore. It’s as though someone turned the temperature up on all our arguments.

Every hill is one we’re ready to plant our flag on and defend to the end. I’ve often written about the need for Christians to seriously consider their use of social media and remember that we are a Christian witness every time we log on whether or not we’re sharing the Gospel. How we treat others and what we say are all part of our witness if we’re public in our faith, as Christians are called to be.

The verse above reminds us that there is one true Church, but we sometimes act as though we are one of a thousand denominations that aren't sure whether or not any of the other Bible-believing denominations may or may not be “real” Christians.

We’re so quick to subject our brothers and sisters to purity tests that the Bible simply doesn’t have. Salvation isn’t out of reach if you vote for a Democrat or Republican. You’re not doomed to hell for believing the earth is billions of years old. But aren’t we so quick to draw lines and excommunicate those we think are wrong before we even engage with them?

My husband and I don’t see eye to eye on everything. I’m the fire to his ice in our arguments. He can “What if…” a girl right out of her mind, yet we make it work. For most national elections, we’re checking different boxes. But like all Christians, we agree on the big things. Jesus Christ was both God and man. He walked this earth and experienced what it was like to be fully human while also being fully God. He died for the sins of the world, was resurrected, and ascended to heaven to sit at the right hand of God the Father.

The Gospel is simple: If we repent of our sins and place our faith in Him as our Savior and Lord, then we are saved from eternal damnation. By Grace we are saved, not works. Don't add anything to the Gospel.

Regardless of your denomination, your political affiliation or your cultural situation, if Christ has adopted you, we’re siblings. The Church needs to let go of the idols (statues, flags, nationalities, membership cards) and cling to the Cross. 

Put Jesus Christ first. Be Kingdom-minded in all you do.

~*~
Author Bio:

Christa MacDonald is a 2017 ACFW Carol Award finalist for contemporary Christian fiction. 

A native New Englander, she was inspired by her travels through the north woods of Maine to write The Broken Trail, which would become the first in the Sweet River Redemption series published by Mountain Brook Ink.

Christa's writing focuses on the real-life challenges of the modern world, love’s sometimes crooked path, and the redemptive power of Grace.

When not working or writing Christa can be found ferrying her kids around, reading, or attempting something crafty.

She and her husband live with their three kids, two cats, and one dog along the coast of New England. Connect with Christa at www.christamacdonald.com.

Devotionals for the Heart: The Bubble

Bursting the Bubble
A devotional by Glynis Becker

“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” 
–Matthew 28:18-20 (NASB)

I fear I’ve found myself inside of a bubble.

A quiet, Christian bubble. 

Maybe it’s time to burst it.

I’ve been a churchgoer my whole life. Since youth group days my closest friends are those that look and think a lot like me. My social circle looks a lot like a Bible study group. For more than a decade, I’ve worked day-to-day in either a church or a faith-based non-profit.

These are not bad things. It’s certainly human nature to make friends with people who are similar to ourselves. They are the people with similar interests that we can do things with and have conversations with. There’s nothing inherently wrong with that.

And having a group of Christian friends who will pray with and for you, help you live out a life of accountability and wrestle through the Scriptures in daily life with you is a treasure we need to cultivate.

But if the only people I come in contact with on a daily or weekly basis already know the Truth and have heard the Gospel, where is my mission field? Where is my ministry?

Years ago, I saw a sign in a church as you exited the sanctuary that said “Now entering the mission field.” It made such an impact on me because it was a very new way of looking at the world. I have never thought of myself as a missionary or an evangelist, but truth be told, all believers should be both. If we have encountered amazing grace, we have an obligation to pass it on. If we have discovered the love of Jesus, we need to share it with others. And if we are serious about our faith, then we shouldn’t be able to keep from doing any of those things.

What was the last book you read that you loved? A movie you saw that you enjoyed? A product that worked better than advertised? Did you tell anyone about it? I do all the time. And I realized that if I’m willing to share about makeup, shoes, music, and cleaning products, then I have to be willing to share the really important things in life…especially the most important thing in my life.

The key, and one of the hardest parts about this realization, is that I need to share with people outside of my Christian circle. I need to have relationships with people who are not in the church, who are not part of my Bible studies, who are not believers.

So let’s get out there, myself included, and make some friends. Find relationships that may look different than the ones you already have. And let’s share grace, peace, and the love of Jesus with a world that needs it more than anything.

Let’s Pray: Holy Lord, give me a path to walk and people to meet that need to hear what You have to say. Give me patience to share, love to give, and the willingness to step out of my circle and widen it, including in it all who have ears to hear. I love you. In Jesus’ Precious Name I pray, Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

Glynis Becker writes devotions and inspirational fiction, hoping someday to have a published novel on her resume.

She has co-written several screenplays, including the film Sinking Sand, available on DVD and digital streaming.

Glynis, whose childhood was spent all over the country as an Air Force brat, has called South Dakota home for many years, along with her husband and two teenage children.

When she’s not writing or reading, she is watching more television than she should and crocheting. You can find her at www.glynisbecker.com.