My Review for "The Story of Everything" documentary film

When Momentum Influencers Network (MIN) asked me to review “The Story of Everything” feature-length documentary film by Sypher Studios, I agreed because it sounded like a wonderful opportunity to explore how scientific findings can prove the existence of a divine Creator. We are not here by accident. Life has purpose. And we are not alone because the Creator (God) of all that exists is always with us. I also thought this film would be a good resource for people who doubt God exists and believe there’s no life after death.

But before I share my review with you, I’d like to share a few words from Momentum Influencers Network about this film:

After a successful nationwide theatrical run that sparked conversation across faith, science, and culture, “The Story of Everything” is now available to purchase on Amazon Prime Video!

Inspired by Stephen C. Meyer’s bestselling book Return of the God Hypothesis, the cinematic documentary invites audiences to explore one of humanity’s oldest—and most consequential—questions: Does the evidence point to a universe shaped solely by blind chance, or is there evidence of purpose and design?

Synopsis: “The Story of Everything” is a cinematic exploration of the cosmos that reveals the hidden hand behind our universe. From the precise laws that govern the stars to the intricate patterns found in every living cell, the film traces evidence of intentional design throughout nature. Whether examining distant star-forming clouds or the spiral structure of DNA, we discover a consistent signature woven into the fabric of existence.

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My Review for “The Story of Everything”

“The story of everything has purpose, that behind everything there is an author. The alternative is that none of that is true. We are the result of blind and impersonal processes that did not have us in mind.”

This quote (above) was mentioned toward the end of this feature-length film. But it holds the meaning of the film’s title. After hearing it, I knew that’s why this production was called “The Story of Everything”. It really shows how the core message of this film was to present two main schools of thought: Belief in a Creator of all things vs. Belief that we were created by nothing and our life has no real meaning. I think these are important points to explore as part of the human experience on Earth. As a believer, I’ll always point you to Jesus Christ. He is the Savior of humankind and the His divine light breaks through the darkness in our world. Like a popular Christian bumper sticker says: “Know Jesus, know peace. No Jesus, no peace!” I have found this saying to be true in my everyday life.

But Jesus Christ is a true gentleman. He’s not going to force you to believe in Him. He always gives humankind the freedom to choose who we will serve. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15).

If you are on a search for truth but don’t want to start with a Bible yet, start with this film then pick up The Holy Bible (you can buy a physical copy or read it via Bible Gateway online for free) and ask God’s Holy Spirit to help you understand the words you are reading. It is key to ask Him to teach you as you read because the Bible is understood through a spiritual lens, not a lens of doubt or a carnal mind.

Speaking of truth, this other quote was also mentioned in the film, “Sometimes the path toward the truth leads through beauty. And that is an important window. We need to be willing to open that.” Those words resonated with me because I never thought about my search for truth like that before. This film is filled with profound messages that will make you think and challenge you to decide what you believe.

On a lighter note: The set designs for most of this movie looks like it is from the 1970s. Many of the people who were interviewed or spoke on camera also were dressed in a way that looked like eras of the past. However the set design and clothing style did not take away from the points made in this movie.

If you have a scientific mindset or are curious to know how everything we see in space and experience on earth was created, then this movie is for you. Every detail is designed to make you think and ponder Biblical truth supported by science when it comes to the questions, “Is there a Creator of everything? Is God real?”

This movie might help you answer those questions.

Disclosure: Many thanks to Sypher Studios for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

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More information:

"The Story of Everything" is available for purchase on Prime Video via this link.

Church and Homeschool Resources:
https://www.thestoryofeverything.film/resources

#TheStoryOfEverythingMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

Devotionals for the Heart: God invites us to be still, quiet and listen to Him

Be Still
A devotional by Colette Christopher

“Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.”—Psalms 46:10 (NLT)

Life on this Earth can be incredibly noisy.

There’s so much happening around us, competing for our attention seemingly from minute to minute. There seems to be no end to the demands for our attention. And it is in those moments God is calling us to come away and be still in His presence.

Earlier this year I felt the strong urge to go on a sabbatical, to pull myself away from the noise and the crowd to spend some time with the Lord. I wasn’t quite sure how it would work, with the demands of family, work, and ministry. However, I felt an urgency that this time was needed, and I had to make space, just as I would have to do for anything else. I turned off almost all notifications and disconnected myself from social media. What I needed from God required me to step away from the crowd and to step into His presence, alone and uninterrupted.

Merriam Webster Dictionary defines “stillness” as “freedom from agitation: calmness, serenity”. This definition sums up exactly what I needed. I can recall the first day of this journey and the feeling in that moment of the Holy Spirit with arms open wide saying, “I have been waiting for you.” I felt such joy and love in God’s Presence! I was so excited to see where the remaining days would take me.

Can I tell you something? Being still in God’s Presence is an act of surrender and surrender is holy. We can have so many voices giving their thoughts and opinions that we sometimes don’t know where our thoughts stop and where theirs begin. It is in those moments that we miss what God is saying to us, confusion, doubt and fear steps in when there is a lack of the clear voice of our Heavenly Father.

To be still before God is a choice and it was a decision that I learned to make in my journey through this life on Earth. Each of us have to make that choice on our own because no one else can make for us. My friend, it's a choice worth making!

What are you struggling with that God is calling you to come away from? Do you sense Him inviting you to run to Him and to be still in His presence? Stillness is something that we struggle against because we don’t know how to quiet ourselves and just be. It is in the stillness that we will hear the quiet whispers of God. Read 1 Kings 19:11-13 for a Biblical example of this truth.

To recognize truly who God is happens in the moments that we pause, tune our ears and hearts to Him and choose to listen. In that period of stillness, I heard the Lord speak to me through His words, the quiet prompting of the Holy Spirit and in a still small voice that reminded me that obedience is better than sacrifice.

My friend, I want to encourage you today to choose to be in God’s presence, sitting with no agenda and be willing to not only listen but hear what He is saying to you. This is important to help us make it through our life on Earth.

The Creator of the heavens and the earth, the One who controls the future, who knows what is ahead of us, calls us away to a time with Him that is more beneficial to us than it is for Him. How can you neglect such a call? Our Heavenly Father (God) beckons with open arms, saying, “Come, my child so I can instruct you, comfort you, give you clarity and the directions you need not just for where you are now but for your next.” But how will you know what He wants to say if you will not be still long enough to hear?

I know you may be facing struggles now and perhaps you are saying, “I don’t know how I am going to do this!” You may also be looking for the perfect time to be still before God, but you can’t find it. How about starting with 15 minutes, in quiet time with God? Silence your notifications, sit in His presence with your Bible and journal, open your heart and create the space for Him to meet you. What would it look like? 

Can I tell you? It would look like holy time. It should bring joy to your heart to know that the Eternal King requires your presence and is there waiting on you. Do you require freedom from agitation, calmness and serenity? The only place you and I can receive that is in the stillness of the presence of our Lord.

Let’s Pray:

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for your call for us to be still before you. Lord, you know the struggles that we face to still the noise around us. Help us surrender our time to You. Help us desire your presence more than anything else so we can hear your still small voice. Father, I pray today will be the day that my friend will be obedient to your voice. Speak, Lord, as they set their hearts to hear you. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “Be Still and Know” by Steven Curtis Chapman. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Be Still My Soul (In You I Rest)” by Kari Jobe. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Make Room” by Jonathan McReynolds. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “Make Room” by Meredith Andrews (feat. Sarah Reeves & Chris McClarney). 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: What I've learned about having greater faith

Greater Faith
A devotional by Aubrey Taylor

“And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.”

—Luke 17:5 (KJV)

Trusting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior comes with a measure of faith.

As we mature in our faith walk with Jesus and begin to seek Him for guidance, our faith grows. Our understanding of doctrine becomes deeper as we allow His Spirit to instruct our hearts and change our attitudes.

Among the gifts of the Holy Spirit listed in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 (KJV), Paul also lists faith as a special gifting of the Holy Spirit. He said: “For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues…”.

The New Living Translation (NLT) of 1 Corinthians 12:9 uses the term “great faith”. We could think of it as “special” faith: the ability to trust God for extraordinary things, to step out in faith in impossible situations, and believe Him for things that most believers simply can’t. That is not to say that if we cannot trust God for great things, it is a shortcoming in our walk. Special faith is the Holy Spirit’s gift to some, while He has gifted other believers in other areas. Still, perhaps it should challenge us: Could we trust God more, even if special faith is not our gifting?

We may not be placed in a situation where we are led to pray that God will raise the dead or heal the sick, but perhaps He is asking us to believe that He will provide for a financial situation that looks impossible. Perhaps God doesn’t want us to drop everything and move to another country, but He is asking us to make a daunting career change.

Faith is not just what saves us, or what allows us to grow in our relationship with God. It is the ability to have peace beyond the next step we need to take, beyond the answers we can see. Faith is the gift of being able to say, “I don’t have all the answers, but I know that God is in control, and I believe Him.”

Some people are given the gift of special faith, and they exercise it all the time. Other times, God might give it to an individual believer in a particular season. Perhaps we have stepped out in faith in the past but have not done so since. Perhaps God isn’t asking that of us, but it is also possible that we have lost sight of a gift He wants us to use. If that sounds like you, would you take time to sit before God in quiet and ask Him to show you what might be stopping you from using this gift of faith. Is there something we are choosing not to believe Him for, or is there something that we are simply not cognizant of yet?

Maybe we’ve never used this gift of faith, and today, God is challenging us to begin to seek Him for greater faith. Maybe we are simply afraid that if we step out in faith, He won’t be there. Whatever the case, would you pray with me?

Let’s Pray:

Dear Lord Jesus,

I ask that You search my heart and see if there is any unbelief hidden there. Thank You that You do not condemn me for this, but please help me not to continue in it. I pray that You will show me any area in my life where you are asking me to have greater faith—to step out or to believe that You will fulfill a promise when I have lost all hope. Please give me a greater awareness of your purpose and plan so that I can work alongside You towards that goal.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: “Where There is Faith” by 4Him. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “What Faith Can Do” by Kutless. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “God is in Control” by Twila Paris. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

As a child, Aubrey spent countless hours creating characters and writing stories. 

Thirty years later, she took up her pen again, uniting her fascination for history with her passion for redemption. The stories she creates are a unique brand of gritty, honest wartime sagas, written from the German perspective.

Aubrey is the mother of three children, and she is married to her best friend Brian.

When she’s not writing or taking care of home and family, she can often be found making music, reading, or spending time with friends.

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Connect with Aubrey:
Website: www.aubreytaylorbooks.com
Blog: www.aubreytaylorbooks.com/blog
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aubreytaylorbooks
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aubreytaylorbooks/
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/aubtaybooks

My Review of the "Life in Christ" Bible

Momentum Influencers Network sent a copy of the Life in Christ Bible to me and asked me to write a review about it. Before I share my review, read these words below from the professionals of Momentum:

God has a purpose for your life in this moment. You have a part to play in what He is doing in the world. But knowing why you are here starts with knowing who God says you are. The Life in Christ Bible invites you to embrace your identity and purpose as you:

• Discover why you matter-not because of anything you do, but because you are made in the image of God.

• Explore how the gospel of Jesus Christ makes you a new person.

• Learn how who God says you are changes how you think, speak, work, and move through the world.

• Embrace your purpose as you discover why you matter, how the Gospel makes you a new person, and learn how that changes the way you think, speak, work, and move through the world.

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My review of the Life in Christ Bible:

This is a wonderful version of The Holy Bible. It has all the traditional Scripture that makes up most Bibles, but it also includes sidebar features and articles that help you dive deeper into your study of God’s Word. 

I found this very helpful in my own personal relationship with the Lord. The notes in the sidebars challenged me to really think about the Scripture as I read it and motivated me to apply these words of wisdom to my daily life. 

I believe this book lives up to its mission to help readers embrace their purpose and discover why they matter to God. I recommend this Bible to everyone, regardless of their age or gender. It truly is a life-changing read! The only thing I didn’t like about it was the design symbol on every page. But that’s not a big problem. It’s still wonderful!

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Watch this promo video about the Life in Christ Bible from Thomas Nelson Publishers:
https://youtu.be/-Fb6yHAlPg0?si=0N-SGAKd4tPlmArV

Visit the official website to learn more about the Life in Christ Bible:
Life in Christ Bible - Thomas Nelson Bibles

Buy the Life in Christ Bible on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/B68ADFB7-695C-466E-AA19-88ED144C76A9?channel=momentum-924

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Disclosure: Many thanks to HarperCollins Christian Publishing for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own and are not influenced by monetary compensation.

#LifeInChristBibleMIN #LifeinChristBible

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Enter the giveaway contest for your chance to WIN a physical copy of the Life in Christ Bible! *Note: The giveaway contest below is limited to residents of the United States of America. Here’s the entry link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/f8dcb68c500/?

Devotionals for the Heart: When the storms of life are actually a gift for us

The Gift of a Storm
A devotional by Karen Marstaller

“And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

—Matthew 28:20b (ESV)

All of us go through storms in life.

Some are physical storms—a rogue wildfire burns everything for miles, a tornado boils up from a thunderstorm, or a hurricane makes landfall days after it first came on the scene. Then there are sprained ankles right before a big game, or a sports season-ending tear in one of the tendons that knocks us flat and makes us sit on the sidelines while we watch others stay in the game and succeed.

There are also emotional storms—the coulda, woulda, shoulda storms over experiences that have hurt us and others, too. Guilt carries its own toll of pain and suffering that we tend to lodge deep within our hearts, sometimes forever.

Storms of life mark our time here on Earth with stress and distress. That’s the bad news. But the good news is that Jesus Christ has given all His children a precious gift—the Holy Spirit. And because of this priceless gift, we never have to face even a single one of life’s storms all alone.

One of the promises God gave concerning Jesus, the longed-for Messiah, is a name that characterizes who Jesus is—Immanuel. His name means “God with us”, according to Matthew 1:23 (ESV). The Holy Spirit, given to us by Christ, stands beside us through every turmoil, every disaster, every heartache in life. He is our Comforter who always provides peace on our often painful journeys.

But it’s hard, isn’t it? When a spouse walks away, or a family loses a child, or a parent receives an ominous “stage four” diagnosis, or maybe a season of utter despair and loneliness descends, there is still hope. Jesus, Immanuel, is with us.

During a recent storm of destructive tornadoes in our area, one of my friends in the path of the twister didn’t answer my texts. Rationalizing kicked in—maybe she was on vacation, maybe her family was visiting. Maybe. Maybe. Maybe. But several hours later, she texted back. All day long, she’d been out in her neighborhood helping people she knew, along with complete strangers, who had suffered loss. All in the name of Jesus.

And that’s one of the most beautiful things about being God’s children, members of His eternal family. He allows us to be His hands and feet. My friend, led by God’s gentle Spirit, was out ministering to people who needed some help. Many of her friends had no idea where she was, but the Lord certainly did. He had to be smiling as He watched His lovely daughter doing what He does—pick up the broken pieces of life.

We who believe in Jesus have been given hearts of compassion and understanding. He gives helpful hands to meet the needs around us. With His Holy Spirit’s help, we can continue to follow our Savior in His work on Earth. And no matter what the storm is that boils around us, we can remain peaceful. With our eyes fixed on Jesus, the “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6), we can serve others with love and kindness, and we can point all who are hurting to the One who gives each one of us eternal hope in Jesus. All we have to do is ask Him for it.

Let’s Pray: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your tender care of us. Thank You for sending Your Holy Spirit to lead and guide us. Please give us eyes to see and ears to hear the anguished cries of our sisters and brothers who are hurting from the pain of life’s storms. And please help us to minister to them and to point them to Your Son, Jesus Christ. It is in His precious name that we pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: "Praise You In This Storm" by Casting Crowns. 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: Learning lessons in school and in life

When God is Your Teacher 
A devotional by Casey Wayne

“May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord. By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.”

—2 Peter 1:2-3 (NLT)

My daughter and I sat down to do her Kindergarten homework.

She was tired from her first few days of school. Everything is new and different. Every word and action expressed how much she didn’t feel like doing this anymore.

We get to a point where she has to write the number five. It's hard and she doesn't get it right the first time. There is clear tension between what she wants to do and what her body is willing to do. Tears stream down her face and she just wants to quit. I think we can all relate to getting to a place like this at some point in our life. A place where we feel like our brain can’t process anymore and our circumstances are overwhelming. We are no longer interested in learning because it is too hard. Our instincts draw us back toward what is familiar or comfortable.

Learning isn't always easy. Sometimes it can be fun, and even feel like a game. Other times, it can be painful—stretching you outside your comfort zone. Whether it's easy or not does not make the lesson any less beneficial. As a matter of fact, the lessons learned that come through struggles or making mistakes are often the ones that teach us the most. They are the ones that ingrain perseverance and strength. How we learn and grow as followers of Jesus Christ is the same. There can be times being sanctified comes easily and filled with exciting intrigue for what God will do next. Other moments it feels like God is stretching us too far.

As we learn, grow, and allow The Holy Spirit to work in us, we become more like Christ to our broken world. It is how we shine God’s light through the darkness (Matthew 5:16).

Through every season of life, God calls us to have a willingness to learn. Our willingness to be sanctified and filled with the Holy Spirit is crucial for us to grow for God’s purposes. Every season of our life can be an opportunity for us to learn and grow our faith. Times of flourishing faith are an opportunity to learn how to share Christ with others more boldly with intention. During times of struggle there is opportunity to deepen your relationship with your Heavenly Father, growing your trust in God’s faithfulness.

Colossians 3:16 (ESV) says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

Christ followers must be willing to be molded into a humble servant of the Lord through all life’s seasons.

Let’s Pray:

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for Your promise to provide us with wisdom and knowledge as we seek You. Give me a heart ready to learn and grow more like Christ. Sanctify me daily for Your purposes to bring You glory.

In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Less Like Me” by Zach Williams. Listen to it here.

~*~
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: Why we need to rely on God's Holy Spirit

Relying on Flesh Instead of the Spirit
A devotional by Monique M. Anderson

“I say, then, walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don't do what you want.” –Galatians 5:16-17 (CSB)

This was the second time she told me. It took two mentions before I listened and moved on the word God told her to say to me. My close friend told me months prior that God wanted me to attend her church. I had visited her church several times over the years and never felt a pull to join. Therefore, hearing this didn't excite me. I didn't “feel” led.

After the second time, I sought God for myself. I said, “Lord, if you truly want me to attend this church, please tell me for yourself.” Hours later I found myself on the church's YouTube channel watching a sermon series. I don't remember what led me to it. However, I would receive my confirmation here.

The series was called "Time to Make a Change". It’s about transforming into who God wants you to be. Before watching these sermons, God told me I was in a training season to prepare me for what He wants me to do for His Kingdom. I had no idea joining this church was a part of that call from God.

The Holy Spirit fire hit me while I watched part two of the series. Something the pastor said shot through me like lightning. I started speaking in my heavenly language and heard God say, "This is where you will continue your training."

The tears and the tongues would not stop flowing. God has spoken. What else could I do but obey? So, I started attending my friend’s church.

When I started my walk with Jesus Christ years ago, the Lord told me He wanted me to disciple new believers. Back then, I didn't even know what the word “disciple” meant. It would be years before that work would begin.

After a few months of attending the new church, I started to waver. Lord, where is my training? I didn't see it nor “feel” it. I stood in the middle of service one day, questioning the Holy Spirit-filled confirmation I had months prior.

The following week, I received the answers I was seeking. The church announced they needed volunteers to join the prayer team to disciple newly saved believers. I almost fell off my chair. I thought about the question God asked me years prior, “Will you disciple new believers?” I thought about my Holy Spirit-filled confirmation, “You will continue your training here.”

It all started coming together. Everything fuzzy and out of focus was beginning to come into focus. This is where I would train to disciple those who had just given their life to Christ. To think I almost missed it because I didn't “feel” it.

I was looking for things to feel right to affirm what my friend said. I was looking for my flesh to confirm what the Spirit was doing. We often look for a feeling to verify whether or not we've made the right decision or are heading in the right direction. However, when situations are spirit-led and filled, we cannot look to our flesh to confirm anything.

When the Holy Spirit guides you into something new, it may not feel right or make sense to you. For example, I was looking for a new church home, and because I had visited this church several times and it never “felt” right, it didn't make sense to me that it would be a place for me to join. I didn’t realize at the time that’s where God was calling me to be.

I allowed a feeling to lead me to disobedience. It took my friend two times to get me to heed God's instructions. Delayed obedience is still disobedience.

Coming to this church didn't feel right. It didn't make sense. I had tried it out before, so what would be different this time? Well, this time, I am in a different life season. I am in a season where it is “time to make a change”.

The scripture above describes the tension between the flesh and the spirit perfectly. They are both constantly at odds. I encourage you to seek God's confirmation if you feel that your flesh is telling you one thing but the Holy Spirit is telling you another.

We cannot rely on our feelings when God tries to do something new. Believing the feeling can lead you to disobedience. Instead, seek God, repent, then obey.

Let’s Pray: Heavenly Father, forgive us for believing our feelings more than the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Forgive us for seeking confirmation outside of You and Your will. Father God, we desire You and You alone for direction and all of the instructions we need as we journey through this life. You are our only reliable source! We thank You, and we love You, Lord. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

Monique M. Anderson is a writer, creator, wife, and bonus mom. She was born and raised in Mount Vernon, NY, where she still resides. She released her always present yet hidden talent of writing to the masses in June 2019.

Monique always felt like God was chasing after her but was never ready to surrender. Finally, she reached a point in her life when things started going left, and she no longer felt in control. At this point, she was ready to hand over the reins to God. After forming her relationship with God, she always felt compelled to share the revelation’s that His word gave her. She felt the Holy Spirit prompting her to write but was afraid of what people might think. So, her writing started in her journal. The journal turned into a book and the book into a blog.

Her obedience provided more opportunities. In late 2021, Monique became a partner with the notable YouVersion Bible App as a Content Creator. With her first Bible plan debuting in December of 2021, she will continue to provide content for the app as long as God allows her to.

In 2021, God revealed her prophetic gift and how He wants her to use it. Monique always felt compelled to pray for others but had no idea God would use her in this way. Through this gift as a prophetic intercessor, she’s not just writing about what God can do but showing what God can do.

Since God has shown her who He created her to be, she now feels it is her life’s work to help those taking their first steps in their walk with Christ. She is doing so through her blog, prayer, and soon-to-be-published works. She is excited to extend her reach to YouTube, podcasts, and speaking engagements soon.

Her blog is the stepping stone to fulfilling the vision God gave to her – “Sharing God’s revelations so we can all better reflect his image and fulfill His purpose.”

~*~
Connect with Monique:
Website: www.yourstrulymoe.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourstruly__moe/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Yours-Truly-Moe-140255684101423

Devotionals for the Heart: When you want to represent God well

Wearing God’s Name
A devotional by Erin M. Handley

“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

–Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV)

Sometimes I think of how funny it is that we turn scripture into clichés. Do we really mean the things that we say or are we just stating it because it is relevant and it sounds biblical and holy?

When talking about purity, it is easy to say that we should follow specific guidelines and rules of thumb when it comes to checking to see if our dress is appropriate. But are the guidelines and rules a true and accurate reflection of what our hearts believe? We are continuously told and advised to have a pure heart and mind, and that our clothes should represent what hearts feel. But how do we check our hearts to ensure that what we say is really a reflection of what we say believe?

Psalm 139:23 says, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts…”. A person should not be convinced to dress a certain way (or not to dress a certain way) and they do it (or do not do it) merely because they received it from someone other than the Lord. If this happens, then it simply becomes a set of rules that are being followed. These are rules that “man” has put into place.

Consider this quote by Rick Holland: “Your clothes are a loud, maybe the loudest, announcement of your of theology. When you wear something, you’re telling people what you believe about God, what you believe about purity, what you believe about holiness, what you believe about men, what you believe about pride, what you believe about clothing and what you what you believe about nakedness. You’re also telling the world what you think about your husband. If you’re not married, you’re basically saying, “I’m advertising for a husband externally.” If you are married, you are saying, “I don’t love my husband or care about the sanctity and purity of our marriage.”

One of my favorite motivational lines is: “What we do in moderation, others will do in excess.” It is a subtle reminder of how we must set the example of what modesty looks like. We must remember that to some, we are the only Bible they will ever see. Therefore, we must make sure that we are being a presentable and accurate ambassador for Jesus Christ at all times. Just as how we are responsible for others through our teaching of the Gospel to them, we are also could be responsible for them when they misunderstand the gospel because of our inconsistencies.

Think of how many times you have done what you knew was wrong or simply was not what you were supposed to do. How many times did you do it only because you saw someone else do it first? You may have thought, “Well, if they can do it and not get caught, surely I can get away with it too.” Or “She did it, so it must be okay.”

Let’s use a mirror for this next part of my message. Think of the questions and answers between yourself (it’s just you and the mirror that shows you who you are). The mirror represents what the world says it is okay to do, and you looking into the mirror, represent the Holy Spirit. 

Here’s an example of a conversation between you and the mirror…

The Mirror: I can still bring glory to God regardless of what I wear.

You: You may be able to, but your words and your actions don’t match up, which cause more of a problem to others than it does to you.

The Mirror: If my body is the temple, I want it to be it a fashionable temple. I don’t want people to think that because a person is a Christian that they have to look homely.

You: It doesn’t. As a matter of fact God wants us to look our best. He wants us to look our best through Him so we can continue to bring Him glory. Since God is holy and the clothes you want to wear represent what is not holy, we really want to make sure that we use our bodies and our clothes to be a reflection of the holiness of God.

The Mirror: Of all of the things that God has to deal with, he is not thinking about the clothes that I am wearing.

You: In the same way an earthly father will “tense up” when he sees his teenage daughter wearing something inappropriate, our Heavenly Father does not like to see His daughters degrade themselves with clothing that does not bring the type of honorable attention. Remember, God loves me and my appearance regardless of what it is. The world will only accept me conditionally. 

Conclusion

It is important to remember that the Gospel teaches us to “come as you are” to accept Jesus Christ into your life. But that doesn’t mean that after we get to know God for ourselves, we should continue to dress inappropriately or as we please in a way that will lead people astray.

Try your best to represent your Heavenly Father well, not just in the clothes you wear but how you treat people, the choices you make and the people who you interact with on a daily basis. We’re not perfect but we have a God who is perfect. Let’s let Him lead us to check our hearts and be a reflection of Him to the world.

Let’s Pray: Lord, thank You for Your guidance and love. You give us the Holy Spirit to help us stay closer to You. We pray we are receiving everything You have given us as we continue on this journey to holiness through and with You. Thank You for your unwavering love. In Jesus’s Name we pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: “Your Love Divine” by Richard Smallwood & Vision. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Wear Your Name” by Gylchris Sprauve. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

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

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

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

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

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

Devotionals for the Heart: Grow closer to God and reflect His Image

Broken Image
A devotional by Erin M. Handley

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.”

– James 1:22-25 (NIV)

It’s interesting how the human body communicates with us.

It may be something in the air that makes us cough, sneeze, or itch. Sometimes we eat something, and our stomach will always find a way to let us know that it does not agree with what was on the menu. Sometimes we wait too long to eat, and we find ourselves with what some of us refer to as a “hunger headache”. No matter how subtle or severe, our body finds a way to communicate with us. Sometimes we don’t know exactly what is wrong, but we do know that something is not right.

Some can attest to suffering from an allergy or a symptom of some type. It can be a nuisance, but it can also serve as a gentle reminder that a change has to be made in order to fix what is essentially broken. The sneezing, itching, or watery eyes can serve as a reminder that allergy medicine must be taken to prevent an allergy attack. The stomachache that is a result of eating the wrong food can be the body’s way of requesting a change in diet. The hunger headache may very well be the body’s way of saying we have to slow down to take care of ourselves by simply feeding the body.

But what happens when the symptom is ignored?

Do the seasonal allergies grow into more severe allergies? Do the stomachaches turn into ongoing stomach issues if a change in diet does not occur? What is the worst that could happen if a person chose to never eat again? Yes, this series of questions may seem to become slightly irrational, but what happens when the tendency to ignore symptoms evolves into a habit of ignoring our sins?

The body communicates when it does not agree with something in our environment. On a spiritual level, the Holy Spirit is with us to help make us more like Jesus Christ. If we are doing something that takes us further away from Christ’s image, the Holy Spirit lets us know in efforts of getting us back on track. So much like ignoring when our body tells us that it does not agree with something it has been exposed to (food, allergens, etc.), ignoring when the Holy Spirit tells us that we are not in alignment with God’s plans for us, is us making the decision to ignore our sins.

The Lord consistently sends us reminders as ways to grow closer to Him and get better at loving Him. Some things are easier to address than others, but what about when we are intentional about ignoring His Word (The Holy Bible)? James 1:22 tells us that we can’t just listen His Word; we have to actually abide by it (do what it says). If we don’t, then we prove to be the person who looks in the mirror and walks away without remembering what they just saw in the mirror. Even worse, sometimes we develop a pattern of avoiding the mirror to prevent the image we are not ready to see. If a person does not want to see what the mirror has to offer, it can often be because the person is not ready to address that, unlike the pristine mirror, the image is broken.

Don’t take for granted all the opportunities we have to look in the mirror and address what is not in agreement with God’s Word. The Holy Spirit (our mirror) will continue to be the constant reminder of who we are and who God created us to be. The Holy Spirit urges us to remember that Jesus is the Savior. Our Savior is the reflection we should aim to be in alignment with. God knows we will not always get it right, but our attempt to look in the mirror to address our flaws is what He recognizes and will ultimately bless us for.

Let’s Pray: Lord, thank you for your subtle reminders that we sometimes need to slow down and remember that you are in control. We also thank you for your mercy. Sometimes, you elevate from the gentle reminders to reminders that are more aggressive. No matter how intense the reminder is, it is still rooted in love. If we never understood what firm love was before, we understand it once we realize you were attempting to get our attention for some time. So, we thank you for your patience. We thank you for your grace. And we thank you for loving us through our process of growth. We thank you, and we love you. All these things we pray in Jesus’s Name. Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

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

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

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

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

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

Devotionals for the Heart: Emotions

Surrendering Our Emotions to God
A devotional by Monique Anderson

“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.” 

– Galatians 5:16-17 (NIV)

When it comes to relationships in the natural, we depend heavily on our feelings.

We rely on how a person makes us feel to determine how good or bad the relationship is. If the person gives us butterflies, makes us feel good, or comfortable, or safe then we decide that this is a good relationship, and this person cares about us. Being human beings of this world, we are naturally led by our feelings. But as we know, this is a fallen world. So are our feelings reliable leaders for our lives?

Having emotions, or even being emotional isn’t necessarily a bad thing. God gave us different emotions for a reason. He wants us to feel joy, happiness, excitement, and love. At the same time we also have to go through feelings of sadness, sorrow, grief, and anger. It is not what we feel that causes a problem, it’s how we respond to those feelings that can be dangerous. The way that we respond to our emotions can either lead to healing and peace, or brokenness and conflict.

The Bible provides several examples of those who mishandled their emotions. Below are some examples (from books in the Bible) of where these people’s misguided feelings led them.

Example #1: Anger. In Genesis, Cain killed his brother because of uncontrolled anger and jealousy in his heart. 

Example #2: Fear. In Genesis, Abraham lied to Abimelech about Sarah because he was afraid of losing his life.

Example #3: Lust. In 2 Samuel, David was led by lust and committed adultery with Bathsheba.

Example #4: Guilt. Judas killed himself because of the guilt he felt after betraying Jesus.

Letting our emotions take control of our decisions leads to bad choices and puts a wedge between you and your relationship with God.

I am guilty of frequently using the phrase “I don’t feel like it” whenever it comes to things that I need to be doing; specifically, the things that God instructs me to do. Instead of prioritizing my time for the work that He has trusted me with, I instead succumb to my feelings and my mood. The time that should be delegated to writing or studying God’s Word (The Holy Bible), gets overthrown by how I feel at that moment.

I realized that this was starting to put a strain on my relationship with God. I am not serving Him well when my emotions led me away from Him. Unlike the relationships we are used to in the natural, me relying on my feelings does not strengthen my relationship with God. I am learning to detach from my feelings and align myself to the Holy Spirit.

This is how our relationship with God was intended to be. We are to walk with God through life and use His Spirit as our helper and guide. John 14:26 (ESV) tells us: “But the helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”

He is who we should rely on. The Holy Spirit can’t lie nor lead us astray … but our feelings? Our feelings will send us on an emotional rollercoaster, tossing us to and from. Our feelings change so frequently depending on our circumstances or mood. They are fickle and unreliable. So how can we allow the instability of our emotions to be the dictator of our lives? How can we make decisions based on feelings instead of God’s truth?

When we rely on our emotions more than the Holy Spirit, our emotions become our idol. We give into them. We obey them. They run our lives. We even allow our feelings to determine how much God loves us. When we don’t feel God’s presence, we think He has abandoned us. When we don’t feel the Holy Spirit when we pray or worship, we think God is not listening or paying attention to us. We are putting God in a box of how we think He should express his love for us.

We need to remember God is always present whether you feel Him or not. Don’t become so reliant on the “feeling” of God that you walk away from Him when He has actually never left your side.

So how can we respond well to our emotions?

We give them to God. We lay them at His feet. We surrender to Him everything inside of us that does not align with His character. We ask Him, “Why am I feeling this way?” Ask God, “What do these feelings really mean?” He will lead you in how to respond well. In our relationship with God, it is better to be emotionally detached than emotionally driven.

Let’s Pray: Heavenly Father, help us in detaching our emotions from our relationship with you. Help us to rely solely on the Holy Spirit to lead us in making the right decisions for our lives. I pray we no longer allow feelings to dictate how you love us. Give us the strength to not succumb to our feelings and make them idols. Holy Spirit, prompt us to follow your lead and teach us how to not follow our emotions. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

End note from Monique: I would like to recommend the following book by Peter Scazzero as a resource for remaining emotionally healthy in your Christian walk, Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: It's Impossible to Be Spiritually Mature, While Remaining Emotionally Immature.

~*~
Author Bio:

Monique M. Anderson is a writer, wife, and bonus mom to a 14 year old. She just recently unleashed her always present yet hidden talent of writing to the masses. She was born and raised in Mount Vernon, NY where she still resides, and serves on the prayer team of her church The Gathering Harlem.

Monique always felt like God was chasing after her, but never felt the need to surrender. Until that is when life started veering left, and she no longer wanted to steer so she finally gave Jesus the wheel. After forming her relationship with God she always felt compelled to share the revelations that the Word gave to her. She always felt the Holy Spirit prompting her to write, but was afraid of what people might think. So her writing started in her journal. The journal turned into a book, and the book into a blog.

Slowly but surely God’s love started to cast out all fear. She started to consistently update her bi- weekly blog called “Yours Truly, Moe.” Her obedience led to further revelation. God revealed to her that He would use her to help others along their walk the same way God helped her along hers. Since Monique did not grow up in church she always felt intimidated by the Christian life. She thought that she would be losing so much of herself, not realizing that she would actually find her TRUE self.

Since God has shown her who He really created her to be, she now feels it is her life’s work to help those that are taking their first baby steps in this walk with Christ. She is doing so through her blog, and soon to be published book. Monique is excited to extend her reach to podcasts and speaking engagements in the near future.

Her blog is the stepping stone to fulfilling the vision God gave to her – “Sharing God’s revelations so we can all reflect his image and fulfill his purpose.”

~*~
Connect with Monique:
Website: www.yourstrulymoe.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourstruly__moe/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Yours-Truly-Moe-140255684101423

Devotionals for the Heart: Our Superhero is the Savior of the World

Our Ultimate Superhero
A devotional by Tema Banner

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” –John 3:16 (KJV)

You ever wonder why we humans are so enamored with superheroes?

Growing up, Superman was one of my favorites, although I also watched a fair amount of Batman. We always want to see them win! We might think it is the end, and when we fear that they are never going to come back, somehow, they survive.

There is something in us that makes us want a superhero, a savior. Not just someone who can overcome the simple ills we suffer, but one who can overcome insurmountable odds. When it looks like all hope is lost, the end has come, and the world is doomed, when there is no way the world may be rescued, the superhero will come along and make everything right.

It is in our DNA. God has put that desire in us for a superhero, a savior. Someone who can never be killed, never lose, even when it looks like the end has come, and the bad guy has won, our superhero overcomes! He delivers the world from certain destruction. He restores order to our lives and gives us hope.

That is what Jesus Christ did and continues to do for us every day in REAL life! God sent His Son Jesus to be the Ultimate Savior, our hero, overcomer, provider ... and He is unbeatable!

When Jesus came to live and minister on this Earth, He showed us the love of the Father. He healed the sick, the lame, the blind. He taught us to seek the Kingdom of Heaven, and to love others. He fulfilled the Old Testament in living color. Then he died on the cross, and like the true Superhero He is, He rose from the dead.

Can you image how His disciples felt? They had been with Him for three years. Seeing Him on The Cross of Calvary, they must have thought, “This is it; this is the end.” They had wonderful ideas and aspirations that Jesus was going to be a military ruler and king. The one who would set the Jews free from oppression (at that time, the Roman Empire was the oppressor). Then He was hung on a cross and He died. How disappointed they must have been to watch him die. They thought all their hope was gone!

But that was only the beginning of the story. God has a bigger plan than what we have imagined.

The Scriptures tell us that everything that we can see is temporary and it is what we cannot see that is permanent. There is a lot that we do not see. When the disciples saw that Jesus was no longer in the tomb where His dead body had been laid, they were puzzled. It was when they saw Him alive afterwards, that they realized He had been raised from the dead and that all that Jesus had been telling them about was spiritual. He had been speaking to them of permeance, far beyond the simple things they could see. It was not only for their day and time, it was for eternity.

That is what Jesus did for us when He came back. He saved us! He is a permanent Savior. He did overcome death, and all obstacles of sin that separate us from God. Be careful not to let the temporary things of this world blind you to the permanence of the next.

It is simple: When sin separated us from God, God made a way to eliminate the separation. He did that by sending Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice.

When we realize that we are separated by our sin and that we need a bridge to get to God, Jesus becomes that bridge. We are saved by the Grace of God by the death of Jesus and His resurrection and our acceptance of Him as our Savior (John 3:16-17).

Jesus is our Ultimate Superhero! He is all powerful, all knowing, all loving, all forgiving and all compassionate. Jesus is, a REAL superhero in a world where all others are imaginary creations made from our longing for a true superhero who will restore us to fellowship with God. Jesus fulfills our true needs and restores hope.

The good news is that Jesus fulfills our true needs and restores hope! Thank God for Him!

Let’s Pray: Thank you God for showing us Your great love for us by sending Jesus to save us. Thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit to comfort, guide and teach us. May we be filled with Your Holy Spirit and reflect Your love to this fallen world. In Jesus’s Name we pray, Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

Writing stories that take the reader on a journey to parts unknown has been a lifelong love for Tema. She enjoys all history and continues daily to hone both her knowledge of history and her writing skills.  

God is her guiding light and the reason for every endeavor in her life. She is a member of the South Carolina ACFW chapter as well as an active member of her local RWA chapter, Carolina Romance Writers. 

Tema has served as past President and Secretary as well as holding various chair positions. She is the honored recipient of the Harold Lowery Service Award, presented by the Carolina Romance Writers.

God has gifted her with a loving husband, two children and three grandchildren who are the delight of her life. In her spare time, she gardens and digs into genealogy for nuggets to use in her stories.

~*~
Connect with Tema:
Website: https://temabannerauthor.com
Blog: www.temabannerauthor.com/blog
Instagram: Instagram.com/temabanner

Devotionals for the Heart: Humankind and The Holy Spirit that unites us

One in the Spirit
A devotional by Glynis Becker

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”
–John 14:26 (NASB)

The Holy Spirit is a mystery. I know that the Spirit is real and that God dwells with us as believers in the form of the Holy Spirit, but I admit that I don’t really understand it all.

I’ve always liked the metaphor of the Holy Spirit being like the wind and how we can’t see the wind, but we certainly know it’s real when we feel it or when we see the evidence of it.

Living in the Midwest has given me both a perspective on the wind and a grudging appreciation for it. Out here a 50 or 60 mph wind can come out of nowhere, scream across the prairie, shake the house, rattle the windows and be gone. In some places you can look miles away to see dust clouds and know that the wind is there. You can look at wind maps and see where the winds are the highest and where they are moving to. Amazing.

What if there was an app on my phone that I could open up and see where the Holy Spirit was moving at any given time? I’m trying to imagine what that might look like. Maybe it would show me what the Spirit is doing in the lives of people around me. Or maybe it would be a map with different colors for how well things are going in prisons or churches or governments. Maybe it would spur me on to help with missions work or sharing hope or giving encouragement. Maybe it would have an alarm that would remind me each hour that the Spirit is with me, that He is for me and that He is my comfort in all things.

I think more than anything, an app like that would remind me that all believers, regardless of doctrine, creed, or culture, are part of something greater. We are a multifaceted web of flawed humans, living our lives in a broken world. Our purpose should be one of unity and love through our shared connection of having the God of the Universe living inside of us, something I too easily and too often forget. We should all be trying to show the world the good news that Jesus loves them.

The old song “We are One in the Spirit” makes me think of evenings around a fire at camp. But more than just a pretty song, there is such a truth to it, especially in the line “They’ll know we are Christians by our love.” Looking at the world and its division even among believers, I sometimes wonder whether that has ever been or will ever be true.

But today, if I stay in connection with the Spirit through Bible reading and prayer, I’m much more apt to be in better connection with my brothers and sisters in Christ and the world might look a little more like what God intended. So maybe I don’t need an app after all!

Let’s Pray: Please help me see where your Holy Spirit would lead me, Lord. I want to be part of the work of your Spirit in this world. Give me a greater love for my fellow believers. Remind us of our connection to You and to each other and Your charge to love one another. 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 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.

Devotionals for the Heart: Spiritual insight from watching pinwheels

Pinwheels
A devotional by Glynis Becker

“One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD and to meditate in His temple.” –Psalm 27:4 (NASB)

Spring comes relatively late where I live. The month of March can be anything from snowy and cold like winter or rainy and warmer like spring should be. Right now there is no snow on the ground, but also no green grass or buds on the trees. There are no gardens and no flowers. Add in gray skies and the world can seem exceedingly drab.

But the other day, on my drive to work, my eyes were drawn to something colorful. I drive the same way every day, but this time I noticed a row of bright garden pinwheels planted outside a plain white house. I’m sure they’ve been there since last summer when they stood in the midst of flowers and plants. It may have been the contrast of the rainbow colors against the brown grass and the white siding, but I think what my peripheral vision really caught that day was the movement.

There was very little wind that morning, and a line of primary-colored pinwheels stood still as stone. But one, the one on the edge, spun in place. Just a few degrees off its axis and the one pinwheel that was not absolutely in line with all the others had caught the breeze and been able to accomplish what the others hadn’t: fulfilling its purpose.

What is a pinwheel meant to do? It’s not a windmill or a water wheel, so there is no energy generated when it spins. There’s really nothing for it but to catch the wind and be beautiful.

I continued to think about that pinwheel and how it compares to us as believers.

In Acts Chapter 2, the coming of the Holy Spirit is described as a “noise, like a violent rushing wind” (Acts 2:2 NASB). It’s no wonder we’ve come to think of The Spirit of God as a wind, a breeze, or a movement we feel but can’t see because it feels like the perfect analogy.

But here’s a good question: If we are all given the Holy Spirit when we become believers, why do some people seem to “catch the fire” or seem more “in tune” with the Holy Spirit than others?

Maybe, like that pinwheel, some of us have positioned ourselves just a bit differently, in order to catch the wind of whatever God is doing. So what might happen if each of us, instead of facing the same way everyone else is, turned our faces toward Him a little bit more? Would we catch a new movement of the Spirit? Would we be able to better fulfill the purpose for which we were created?

All the pinwheels are beautiful. All of us are beautiful. But when we all spin in the direction of the Holy Spirit? Well, no one will be able to look away!

Let’s Pray: Sweet Holy Spirit, turn our faces to You today. Make sure we are in tune with Your movement in the world and not going our own direction. We want to catch the fire. We want to be part of what You’re doing. Allow us to be beauty in a colorless world. We love you. In Jesus Christ’s beautiful name we 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.

Devotionals for the Heart: Peace

When Jesus Christ speaks peace over your life
A devotional by Christa MacDonald

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” – John 14:27 (NIV)

My day job involves working with the public so I have seen it all or at least I feel I have. Recently though, after helping someone with a difficult and tricky situation, I got an email back from them that made my jaw drop and not in a good way.

It was a kick to the gut full of anger over an error in their minds, which was actually just an omission on their own part, something outside of my control. The day had already been a rough one and this email, arriving late in the day, was extra painful.

I was utterly overwhelmed and sad as well. I had liked this client and thought I had made them happy with my work. To get an email telling me the exact opposite, with a rather vulgar term thrown in, was gutting. I left the office feeling about as low as I ever had at work. Driving away, I realized what I needed to do was pray for my client. Whatever they went through today had to be pretty bad to have produced an email like that. I had already taken the action needed to address their concern so that part was done. Letting what they said trouble me wasn’t going to help anyone. In prayer, I could unburden my soul.

After praying for them I felt a kind of peace, the kind that only comes from the Spirit. It didn’t take away the disappointment I was feeling entirely, but I was comforted. It reminded me of the verse above. Often I wonder how can I not be troubled in this world full of it? There’s so much to be fear, so much to worry about sometimes and it’s utterly overwhelming. But, people of faith have a God to turn to when the storms of life start to blow. No matter what happens, God is provident. He has us in His hands.

The peace of God's Holy Spirit has been left with us. When life is hard, when we’re troubled, when we feel overwhelmed, that’s the time to pray. From the big stuff to the little, before we react, before we take how we’re feeling out on the world, we can pray and ask for peace. Not the peace of a quiet life and boring news cycle, but the peace of God, which passes all understanding. 

Remember: Jesus says in John 16:33, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Whatever feels like it will overwhelm you, remember our God is provident, omnipotent, and He loves you. If you believe in Him, He has given you His peace.

~*~
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: Amanda's thoughts about a Biblical hero

Be Like Bezalel
A devotional by Amanda Wen

“See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft.” – Exodus 31:2-5 (ESV)

One of my favorite Biblical heroes is Bezalel. He’s not one you hear a lot of Bible stories about in Sunday school, nor is his name one that trips easily off the tongue the way Joshua, Esther, Ruth, or David do. In fact, I’d guess even many lifelong Christians would be hard-pressed to remember the guy or what he’s famous for.

But anyone who saw the Tabernacle would instantly know that name, because the original dwelling place of God, the portable sanctuary where His Shekinah glory resided, was largely Bezalel’s handiwork. Bezalel was a master craftsman, enormously gifted and spectacularly skilled in a variety of fields, including metalworking, stoneworking, textiles, and woodcarving. The source of this gifting? The Holy Spirit.

Before Jesus’ death and resurrection tore the curtain of the Holy of Holies and forever removed the separation between God and man, the Holy Spirit did not automatically indwell believers. Instead, God filled chosen men and women with His Spirit to accomplish certain tasks. Joshua (Numbers 27:18), the judge Othniel (Judges 3:10) and King Saul (1 Samuel 10:10) were all filled with the Spirit at specific times for specific reasons. In addition, this power came upon Mary when she conceived Jesus. (Luke 1:35).

But after Jesus returned to the Father, His Spirit came to indwell believers (Acts 2). Any of us who profess Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord receives the Spirit of God to dwell inside us and enable us to do what He has called us to do. And just as Bezalel did nothing to earn this indwelling, we don’t earn it, either. It’s automatic, as much of a grace-gift as salvation itself.

As a believing creative, I’ve often heard that we should create “in the Spirit.” For a long time, this puzzled me. How would I know when I was doing it, or, more importantly, how would I know when I was not doing it, so I could get back on track?

But I don’t think there’s any magic to it. No easy steps to follow to make sure we’re “creating in the Spirit.”

Brothers and sisters, if the Holy Spirit lives inside you, than any creative work you do for the glory of God is done in the Spirit. Little by little He uses our work, our circumstances, everything about our lives, to shape us to be more like Him. In return, we glorify Him by what we give back: the gifts and talents He’s has given us, along with the enabling of the Spirit to create what He has called us to create.

It’s pretty awesome to think about.

One final thought: Bezalel was filled with the Holy Spirit in order to construct God’s dwelling place (the Tabernacle). Mary was overshadowed by the Spirit to conceive the Word made flesh, God’s only Son, in order that He might dwell with His people here on Earth. And now we as believers are filled with the Holy Spirit and so become His dwelling place. 

1 Corinthians 6:19 tells us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. The places where God’s Shekinah glory dwells.

And because of this indwelling of the Spirit, like Bezalel, we are able to do whatever He calls us to do. It might be something spectacular, like building a tabernacle. 

More probably, it’s simply enabling us to do the everyday tasks He puts in front of us, whether that’s raising children, writing books, creating art, making music, or serving faithfully at our day jobs. Not because of anything we do, or anything we are on our own.

It’s only because of who He made us to be.

~*~
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