Devotionals for the Heart: Why we need to say "Thank You" to God

Having an Attitude of Gratitude
A devotional by Patricia Russell

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving;

go into his courts with praise.

Give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the Lord is good.

His unfailing love continues forever,

and his faithfulness

continues to each generation.”

–Psalm 100:4-5 NLT

Just over a year, ago a very dear friend went through a serious health challenge.

She had to have what I consider one of the most dangerous surgeries on her brain.

The brain is the headquarters of our bodies. It’s the command post for our body functions. So, you know this was not just routine surgery. Family and friends prayed and prayed for her safety. She went for tests, researched, and asked questions as she juggled her ministry role as well as mothering a vibrant four-year-old and loving her husband. Week after week there still were no concrete answers until one test and an alert technician, she was finally able to receive a diagnosis.

The first prayer we offered was, “Thank you, Lord” because we now had a name, a label to put on the illness. We said thank you because she could name it and give it to God. We knew He could heal her chronic pain and discomfort which were the first signs she knew something was wrong. Many people go undiagnosed for years with illnesses and it is frustrating to know what the issue is and how can it be treated.

We trusted God, and we rejoiced when she went into the hospital and came out alive! She came out hopeful in trusting that the surgeon was able to remove the tumor which we would come to learn had been growing for several years.

Psalm 100:4 MSG reads:

Enter with the password: “Thank you!”

Make yourselves at home, talking praise.

Thank him. Worship him.

Thank you is the password to enter God’s presence.

Can you imagine coming into your friend’s home and saying thank you right away for having you over or allowing you to visit? What would that do to your heart and mind? I know for me it would tell me you’re grateful to come and be with me.

Gratitude and thanksgiving are what the Lord delights in when His children come into His presence with thanks. It’s like the red carpet rolled out for an award show. Is it easy for you to come before the Lord with a grateful heart or are you ready to unleash a grocery list of requests and concerns? Don’t get me wrong, prayer is all things communication. But just think about someone frequently coming into your home, to a meeting or a dinner opening the conversation with frustrations and all the things going wrong in their day. Would we look forward to being with them? I can say I would not.

I am so thankful that gratitude was taught to my siblings and I at a very early age. We were told to always be grateful. Our mother’s wish was that the gracious words, “Please” and “Thank you” would flow freely on our lips. My mom wanted us to live life grateful for everything we received and in everything wherever we found ourselves.

When my birthday rolls around in August, I am always grateful to be alive! The best gift I’ve received is life and I will be forever grateful. Knowing that I am loved, watched over and have access to the throne of the King of Kings. How great is our God! I’m deeply grateful to know Him as our Heavenly Father. Do you know Him? He loves you and wants to be in your life.

Let’s Pray: Father God, it is a good thing to give thanks to You for all You are and for all You’ve done. I’m so grateful for Your goodness and for all You’ve done for me. Even more, I’m so thankful for the best gift ever received through Your Son (Jesus Christ) coming to this Earth to die on a cruel cross for all mankind. Help us to always be grateful and to always find a way to praise You in every situation we find ourselves in. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Thank You” by The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Patricia is an encourager. She passionately uses her gifting as an author, speaker, pastor, recording artist, worship leader and coach. 

Stronger Resilience: Stories to Empower the Mind, Body & Spirit (a book that she wrote) was an Amazon Bestseller in October 2020.

Patricia sings! She has released two CDs titled Draw Me Nearer and Lord I Trust You.

She also travels to speak to audiences internationally.

When she is not ministering to save souls in God’s Kingdom, Patricia enjoys reading, writing and connecting like-minded people who can sharpen each other in the journey to their dreams and goals.

As a two-time breast cancer overcomer, her desire is to coach others to live life to the fullest by understanding their gifting from God and using it.

~*~
Connect with Patricia:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patrussellsings/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patrussellonline
Twitter: https://twitter.com/patrussellsings
Email: patrussellsings@gmail.com

14 Days of Love: Anchor My Heart

Today, we're shining the spotlight on a book by my author friend 

Sara Beth Williams. 

~*~

Book Blurb for Anchor My Heart:

In the aftermath of tragic loss, worship leader Matt Lawson is grappling debilitating anxiety.  

The blessings he’d taken for granted—a dream job, a woman he couldn’t wait to spend the rest of his life with, and his God-given musical talent—have crumbled at his feet, leaving him reeling in despair, unable to face the wreckage of the life he’d envisioned for himself.

Tara Pierce is ready to put past hurts behind her as she prepares to graduate college and take a leap of faith in her career. When Matt’s grief causes him to isolate himself from everyone he knows, she refuses to stand idly by and do nothing. She has traversed similar terrain before. No one deserves to travel that road alone.

Unexpected attraction flares as Tara reaches into the sea of Matt’s grief and helps ground him in reality. But Matt’s not ready to give himself away again. Can Tara risk her heart and their friendship and let God step in to heal where she can’t?

~*~
Author Bio:

Sara Beth Williams is a wife, mother of two daughters, and temporary caretaker of a lovable old lady pit and a spunky Pomeranian-Shih Tzu mix. 

She lives in Northern California. 

When she's not held hostage by the keyboard, she enjoys music, teaching, reading and spending time with her family. She is all about connecting with readers!

~*~
Buy Sara Beth's book on Amazon

~*~
Connect with Sara Beth:

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Sara-Beth-Williams/e/B07H7VZ6V6
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18403465.Sara_Beth_Williams
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/sara-beth-williams
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaraBethWilliamsAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/WilliamsSaraB
Website: https://authorswilliams.wordpress.com/

~*~
Enter this book giveaway contest for your chance to WIN a copy of this book by filling out the entry form on the Rafflecopter widget below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

14 Days of Love: The Introduction

Dear Blog Readers,

February is approaching, which means a very special holiday is approaching too!

Valentine's Day is celebrated on Feb. 14 by lovers and friends with chocolate, candies, roses, greeting cards and romantic dinners.

But here on my "God is Love" blog, we're going to celebrate this holiday with "14 Days of Love".

It's a Contemporary Romance story promo series featuring some of my author friends!

Each day from Feb. 1 to Feb. 14, you can expect to see a spotlight featuring a sweet romance story here on my blog. All of my author friends participating in this celebration have agreed to give away one, signed paperback copy of their featured book to the winner of the book giveaway contest that you can enter via the Rafflecopter widget located at the end of each daily post!

Exciting times, right?

I hope that this "14 Days of Love" series will encourage your heart.

God bless you!

Love,

Alexis A. Goring, MFA
Founder of "God is Love" blog

Devotionals for the Heart: Depression

Four key ways to love people with depression
A devotional by Jessica Brodie

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” 

–John 13:35 (NIV)

Have you ever tried to love someone with depression but it feels like there’s a wall between you? Or maybe it’s you who has depression, and while your heart longs to love well, the depression feels like a barricade so thick and high you can’t possibly overcome it.

I’ve shared before that I have a number of close family members with depression, and there have been seasons in my own life when I, too, struggled with depression. It’s a rough situation—sometimes it’s genetic, sometimes it’s because of a tough situation (such as mine, after my divorce), and sometimes it’s a combination of these. Sometimes someone’s depression responds to medication or other aids, and it’s manageable—you can reasonably function in the midst of the dark spell, even though you are at an emotional low. Other times, you’re on the wrong depression medicine for your body, or your medication stops working or you can’t afford it anymore, and you spiral ever downward until you fear you’re headed toward rock bottom.

If you have depression and you are struggling to love your people well in the midst of it, please know your efforts and your suffering are seen and appreciated. Understand you are like a battery that has run out of a charge, or a cup of water that has been emptied. You need to be recharged to run again, or filled back up with water again in order to pour out that love upon the world. Accept the grace God’s love gives you in this time. Love is, whether we can show it or not.

If you love someone with depression, here are four key things that can help:

1. Love with acceptance: Depression isn’t something you can “get over.” It’s not a choice or a mindset, and it can be paralyzing. Like diabetes or cancer, it can be largely invisible, and it’s nobody’s fault. Often it’s inherited. So keep this in mind as you interact with the person you love. Accept them as they are. You don’t need to take abuse in the form of verbal attacks, but do understand their low mood isn’t personal or something they can change. Love them anyway.

2. Love with grace. People with depression often feel lonely, hopeless, and isolated. Again, don’t take it personally if they push you away or stop calling. Let them know you care and that you are there when they are ready. Send a written note, text, or voicemail saying hi. Your loved one might be pushing others away, but they don’t necessarily want to be alone—rather, they often just feel alone. Help them know they are not alone.

3. Love with open ears. Listening to your depressed loved one is often the biggest gift you can give them. You don’t need to offer wisdom or advice or even understanding. In fact, sometimes there’s nothing at all that can be said. But being a safe person, offering that place where they can talk about their feelings, can be exactly what they need.

4. Love with peace. Speaking to His disciples in John 16:33, Jesus said, “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.” The world can be a chaotic, troubled, terrible place sometimes. It is not heaven. Culture’s lies battle hard for our hearts and attention. People with depression are often very susceptible to this, and it can make them feel worse. But in Jesus, we can find peace. One way we can love people with depression is to show them that same peace, whether we introduce them to Jesus or simply model the peace of Christ for them, opening the door for the Spirit to move better within them.

These are just four ways to love someone with depression. And if you are that depressed person, know you can use these strategies with yourself, too. Be your own friend. Give yourself that same acceptance, grace, listening love, and peace you’d give someone else struggling with what you experience.

Your turn: Do you have any other tips to share? Any other words of wisdom to help loves others in the midst of sadness, anger, frustration, or despair? I invite you to share in the comments below.

Let’s Pray: Loving God, please help me to know Your deep, vast love in the midst of depression. You know our hearts better than we do ourselves. Help us love and reflect You and pass on that love in ways that are sensitive and beautiful and fully led by the Holy Spirit that lives within each of us. In Jesus's Name I pray. Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

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

She is also the editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate, the oldest newspaper in Methodism, and a member of the Wholly Loved Ministries team. 

Learn more about her fiction and read her faith blog at http://jessicabrodie.com.

Devotionals for the Heart: Love

Love Like God
A devotional by Christa MacDonald

“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back.” 

–Luke 6:32-35a (NIV)

There are plenty of passages in the Bible that take some work to understand but this passage above definitely does not. Jesus Christ is letting us know the rules: “You want to be a Christian? Follow me, do as I do, do as the Father does.”

Jesus is calling us here to be more than just countercultural in how we treat our fellow humans; He's showing us how to reset secular culture to reflect the culture of His kingdom. The world tells us to hate our enemies. We are to love them instead.

But what does that look like, loving an enemy? Is it saying “bless your heart” and ignoring them when they irk or anger us? Is it walking away from a fight? Not suing someone when we could? Not repaying their unkindness with some of our own? Yes, but it’s more heart-deep. We can curb our actions out in the world a whole lot easier than the thoughts in our heads and the feelings in our hearts. It’s easy enough to deny that we hate someone, but harder to not feel that hate, to not have hateful thoughts.

In this world, there are some truly terrible humans. How are we to love them? Billy Graham said, “You cannot pray for someone and hate them at the same time.” There I think we have the first and probably the best way to love those that hate us. Pray for them earnestly. Not the “Dear Lord, please forgive these fools for their foolishness...” sort of prayer either. Pray for them as if they were a loved one. See if you can start with words and follow with feelings.

Remember that every single person on this earth is made in the image of God.

Irrespective of their ethnicity, culture, creed, lifestyle, or habits, they are an image-bearer. All of us have people in our lives who challenge us, even actively hate us. When next faced with that person, try to lead with love (be patient, kind, longsuffering...) and have a Gospel-centered mind going into that interaction. If your particular problem person is not a believer, they’re lost, and you may be the person that God has placed in their life to help them understand repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. Wow. That’s both an awesome responsibility and a privilege. How you treat them matters. How you feel about them matters.

The next time you’re tempted to lash out when wounded, or ridicule when made fun of, or criticize when criticized, think about the standard that Jesus sets in the verses above. Love everyone. Give freely, expecting no return. Do good to all. The bar is high, and we’re obviously still persevering on the road toward sanctification, but believers see the path as lighted by His Word. When we show love to those who hate us, we shine the light of the Gospel for a world in desperate need of direction.

Let’s Pray: Father God, please help us love, give freely, and do good in all the places in this world where you have sent us. Help us to spread the Gospel with our every word and deed. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

~*~
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: How to survive loneliness and thrive

Gaining a new perspective by tapping into innocence
A devotional by Jessica Brodie

Do you ever get lonely? I used to struggle with loneliness a lot, especially in my teens and twenties. It still rears its ugly head on occasion.

When God created the first man, He knew right away Adam needed a companion. As it says in Genesis 2:18 (NIV), “The Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.’” From Adam, God made Eve—a suitable companion, a woman to join with him as “one flesh” (Genesis 2:24).

I imagine God knew Adam would get lonely with no “kindred spirit,” no fellow human to talk with and share life with. Sometimes, when we’re lonely, upset, or grumpy, a companion is exactly what we need too. Sometimes it takes spending quality time with another person to reset. Often, that’s a spouse or close friend, and it works great.

But we humans can all too quickly lure each other into our own negative mindsets. The “grumpies” can spread like a virus—even worse than COVID. Think about the times you’ve been in a cranky mood and spent time with a friend who loves to gossip. Maybe it’s a laugh at first, but soon you start to feel worse. Crankiness begets crankiness.

That’s when I’ve found spending time with those seemingly “immune” to the grumpies—little kids, cute baby animals, or super-positive ray-of-sunshine friends—can be a big help. The innocence of children can be a balm to many a soul. Perhaps that’s why Jesus was indignant when his disciples rebuked parents for bringing Jesus little children for a prayer.

“He said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’ And He took the children in His arms, placed His hands on them and blessed them” (Mark 10:14b-16).

Animals, too, can be the same kind of balm. They can sense pain, sickness, and sadness, certainly. But they have a beautiful way of coping with it: they seem to rest in it, accepting the moment with peace.

We can often learn a lot from animals. They were created prior to and independently of humans, given the blessing of God, and instructed to “be fruitful and increase in number” (Genesis 1:22). Clearly they are of value to God—He enjoys them! He made them!

Other people are great. But there’s a unique and treasured beauty to the time we spend with those whose hearts are not tarnished by the world. Spending time with children or animals helps refresh our souls and bring a new perspective on life. Their innocence, authenticity, and simple appreciation of life can be infectious in a very good way.

If you’re struggling in life right now—whether it’s a bad day or a rotten season in your life, whether it’s mental illness or just a temporary period of “the blues”—think about ways you can cultivate that perspective of sunshine and innocence in your life.

Even in COVID, there might be volunteer opportunities at shelters or ways you can serve in your church with young kids. And if not, consider a FaceTime session with a relative or friend with littles, or funny animal videos on YouTube.

Today’s topic, gaining a new perspective by tapping into innocence, is one of 10 included in the free eBook I created to help people shrug off their worries and center themselves in the Lord. Called A God-Centered Life: 10 Faith-Based Practices When You’re Feeling Anxious, Grumpy, or Stressed, the book is FREE for anyone who signs up for my weekly blog. Learn more and get your copy here. (If you are already a blog subscriber but haven’t gotten your copy, just email meand I’ll send it to you.)

Let’s Pray: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you so much for the fresh perspective you enable us to enjoy through children, animals, nature, and others who can so quickly brighten any cloudy day. Help us remember that joy is not an emotion but the hope we find in Christ, but also help us understand that choosing happiness—choosing to banish negativity and learning to be content in all circumstances—is a step each of us can make each day. Thank you for walking with us in all things. Help us shine Your light in the world. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

Jessica Brodie is an award-winning Christian journalist, author, blogger, editor, and devotional writer. For the last decade, she’s been the editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate, the oldest newspaper in Methodism, which has won 118 journalism awards during her tenure.

She is the author of Feed My Sheep: A 40-Day Devotional to Develop a Heart for Hunger Ministry (2019) and More Like Jesus: A Devotional Journey (2018) and editor of Stories of Racial Awakening: Narratives on Changed Hearts and Lives of South Carolina United Methodists (2018), all from her newspaper’s Advocate Press.

She is a seasoned speaker and contributor to Crosswalk, Christianity.com, and the United Methodist News Service, among many others. She has a weekly faith blog at JessicaBrodie.com and is part of the team at Wholly Loved Ministries.

Represented by Bob Hostetler of The Steve Laube Agency, she is seeking a publishing contract for her two contemporary women’s fiction novels, The Memory Garden and Tangled Roots. The Memory Garden won the 2018 Genesis Award for Contemporary Fiction from American Christian Fiction Writers, and Tangled Roots placed in Contemporary Romance at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference in 2019.

Married, Brodie has four children and stepchildren and lives in Lexington, South Carolina.

~*~
Connect with Jessica:
Website: https://www.jessicabrodie.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JessicaJBrodie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjessicajbrodie
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicajbrodie/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicajbrodie/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/shiningthelightjessicabrodie/

My Blog's 10th Year Birthday Bash: Trish Perry's book giveaway

Welcome to the 30th day of my blog's birthday bash!

Please welcome my author friend Trish Perry.

She's here to give away one of her books!

Enter the book giveaway contest via the Rafflecopter widget the end of this blog post. Only residents of the USA are eligible to receive a signed paperback copy of this author's books. International residents will only receive ebook copies due to costs of mailing books outside of the USA.

Let's learn a little bit more about Trish and her book ...

Author Bio:

Award-winning novelist Trish Perry has written 17 inspirational romances for Harvest House Publishers, Guideposts/Summerside Press, Barbour Publishing, Winged Publications, and Mountain Brook Ink. She has co-authored five devotionals for Guideposts/Summerside, Broadstreet Publishing, and Worthy Inspired. 

She has served as a columnist and as a newsletter editor over the years, as well as a 1980s stockbroker and a board member of the Capital Christian Writers organization in Washington, D.C. She holds a degree in Psychology. 

Since the 2006 release of her first novel, The Guy I’m Not Dating, Trish has woven romance, humor, friendship, and faith throughout her stories of people seeking fulfilling lives together, and in spite of one another. 

She loves to entertain readers while exploring how even the faultiest of characters can grow, especially when they get out of God’s way. That growth is sometimes frustrating, sometimes poignant, and often hilarious. This theme colors all of Trish’s books.

Trish’s latest romantic suspense, A Special Kind of Double, released May 2019.

~*~

Back cover copy for Trish's book: 

When she attends a Washington, D.C. dinner party thrown by friends far wealthier than she, writer Maddie Travers is distracted by internal debates. 

Should she move back to D.C.? Should she seek work she might find more fulfilling? 

She meets the appealing “regular guy,” Dom Sebastiani, at the party and consequently wonders whether she’s ready to seek romance again. So many decisions! 

At the stroke of midnight, a shocking turn of events sets Maddie on a path that holds at least as many questions for her as it does answers.

~*~

Connect with Trish:

Website: www.trishperry.com

Amazon Author Page: amazon.com/author/trishperry

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/TrishPerryAuthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TrishPerryWrtr

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trshprry/

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/trish-perry

~*~

Enter this book giveaway contest for your chance to WIN a copy of this book by filling out the entry form on the Rafflecopter widget below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Devotionals for the Heart: Thoughts on caring for people a bit "too much"

Caring Too Much
A devotional by Amy Odland

“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” – Luke 6:27-28, 36 (NIV)

“You care too much.”

Have you ever had this said to you? Or maybe you’ve said it to someone? Is it even possible to, as a Christian, “care too much?”

In John 15:12-13 (NIV), Jesus says “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” When you think about him saying that to his twelve disciples, including Judas who would eventually betray him, you can get a better picture of what he meant in Luke 6 when he also said “love your enemies.”

According to BibleHub.com, the Greek word of enemies is echthros, which means “someone openly hostile, animated by deep-seated hatred, implies irreconcilable hostility, proceeding out of a “personal” hatred bent on inflicting harm.”

Do you have an enemy right now, someone you have deep-seated, irreconcilable hostility towards? Maybe it’s against someone who treated you unfairly or did or said hurtful things to you or a loved one. Maybe you are someone else’s enemy because of something you’ve done or said to them.

As Christians, we’re supposed to be loving and forgiving, but we don’t always do a very good job of that. We hold grudges, have angry outbursts, daydream about revenge, and want to see justice prevail quickly. I don’t know of many people, myself included, who look for ways to “lay down their life” for their enemies. But if we only love those who love us, what sets us apart from those who aren’t Christians, those who do the same kinds of acts of kindness we do? (Luke 6:32-33) 

Some of my unbelieving friends are just as kind and generous as my believing friends; the thing that sets those of us in Christ apart from the rest of the world is how we treat those who mistreat us. We become a living, breathing example of the Gospel message when we care for our enemies, which to some people, may look like “caring too much.”

Loving our enemies is only possible because of the Holy Spirit, the Helper who Jesus Christ mentions in John 14 and John 15. We love because he first loved us, because while we were still enemies of God, He sent His son to die for us. (Romans 5:10) Danielle Bernock explained it this way in one of her Christianity.com posts:

“Jesus brought up the issue of mercy repeatedly. Everyone wants mercy. The Bible tells us that mercy triumphs over judgment. Of course we want it. Giving mercy requires us to give up revenge and hand the judgment part to God. Loving our enemies doesn’t mean to allow them to continue to hurt us. That would be a failure of loving ourselves as God loves us. We can do what is in our control to protect ourselves while trusting God to step in. Loving our enemies means to see them as human beings in need of the Father’s love.”

Imagine loving your enemies in such a way you were able to say to a group of people who knew you best: “Love your enemy as I have; I’ve given you an example of how I loved mine.” Jesus Christ, in a sense, said this and then later died on the cross...even for Judas and the Pharisees. He cared about people to the point of death.

When we say to one of our brothers and sisters in Christ that they “care too much,” I wonder if we are actually meaning something else. I don’t think it’s possible, as a Christian, to “care too much” about people.

Let’s Pray: Lord, please help us care for others as you want us to. Help us love our enemies as you would love them. Give us wisdom to be able to discern when it’s time to turn the other cheek and when it’s time to “shake the dust from our sandals” and move on. Give us compassion for everyone created in your image. In Jesus’s Name I pray, Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

Amy Odland has been serving in church ministry as a volunteer leader for over 16 years, in various worship, prayer and women’s ministry roles.

Her passion for helping women stems from her own struggles and lessons learned in her journey as a Christian since first deciding to follow the Lord in 1994. 

Amy’s priorities after her faith include her family — husband Rick, and their four kids — as well as extended family who all live close in proximity and the many friends she’s made over the years.

In addition to a love of teaching and helping her husband with the bookkeeping for their many businesses, Amy has recently expanded her stay-at-home work to include leading author’s book launch teams for publishing companies like Baker, Revell, Barbour, and Lifeway.

She also enjoys teaching new authors about platform building, self-launching, and online marketing.

~*~
Connect with Amy:
Facebook: https://facebook.com/amyodland
Instagram: https://instagram.com/amy_odland
Twitter: https://twitter.com/amy_odland
Website: https://amyodland.com

Devotionals for the Heart: Loving like Jesus Christ would want you to love

Loving my friends the Jesus way
A devotional by Jessica Brodie

When I was a girl, I thought being a good friend meant being really nice or complimentary to someone, or making them feel better about themselves. That meant if my friend wore a color shirt that looked awful on her, but I knew she’d plunked down a lot of money for it, I’d insist she looked great. Or if she said something rotten to her boyfriend, I’d be supportive and tell her she was in the right, even if I thought she’d been out of line.

As the years passed and my faith strengthened, I started thinking about the Golden Rule when it came to my friendships—that is, heeding Jesus’s command in Matthew 7:12 (NIV) to “do to others what you would have them do to you.” I wouldn’t want my friend telling me a shirt looked great on me if it didn’t, so I started responding with much more honesty, the sort of thing I’d want to hear, such as, “You are gorgeous, but that color isn’t your best. Return it for the red one.” Or, in the case of the boyfriend, I might tell her she was right but that her words were harsh, and advise her to apologize.

But going so far as to offer real, bitter-truth honesty? That was far too frightening. 

I’d pick the safe path rather than risk a fight … and possibly losing our friendship. When a friend did something immoral, I would ignore it and blindly hope they’d get back on track, thinking preserving our relationship was the priority. Perhaps if I’d been a better friend and helped them see the error of their path, helped steer them back to God, their life would have taken a better course—even if it meant the end of our friendship. No, I was too worried about maintaining the way things were, too worried about offending them, too worried to take a chance. What I thought was mannerly was actually cowardice, for when it comes to true friends, they’re worth the risk.

That’s the thing about loving people—it’s always at the risk of self. Loving others means helping them win, which means we might lose. It means encouraging them to be their best selves, which might involve hurting their feelings … or my own. It means being real, taking risks, loving hard, and loving right.

Today, I’m a woman who tries my hardest to follow Christ and live my life for Him, and that comes to friendships, too. I realize I have an obligation to be far more than a companion to those in my inner circle. I need to love them as Jesus would love them. That means sticking by their side when they are facing darkness, illness, or ruin and offering them help, even it if puts me in jeopardy.

It also means pointing them in the right direction—toward the Jesus path.

Jesus is filled with kindness and compassion, of course. He loved us so much He was willing to take the form of a lowly, poverty-stricken human, suffer and die a torturous death on our account, all so He could show us the way to God. But he didn’t do it by ignoring misbehavior and making us feel better about ourselves. He loved us and, all the while, pointed us to God. He urged us to leave sin behind and repent, to live in a new way.

The woman caught in adultery about to be stoned by a crowd of men for her sins, from John 8? Jesus came to her rescue, but He didn’t say, “that’s that; now go on your merry way” to make her feel better. He said, “Go and sin no more” (John 8:11 NIV).

As Christians, we are called to love each other as Christ would—all in, holding nothing back, and always pointing to the Lord. That’s the kind of friend I need. How about you?

~*~
Author Bio:

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

She is also the editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate, the oldest newspaper in Methodism, and a member of the Wholly Loved Ministries team.

Learn more about her fiction and read her faith blog at http://jessicabrodie.com.

Devotionals for the Heart: Healing

Words of Healing
A devotional by Carrie Del Pizzo

“Jesus called together his twelve apostles and gave them complete power over all demons and diseases. Then he sent them to tell about God’s kingdom and to heal the sick.” 

– Luke 9:1-2 (CEV)

Isn’t that (the words in the Bible verse above) an interesting combination? 

Jesus gave His disciples power and then sent them to nearby cities to talk to people and heal them. If they had power, who wants to hear them talk? Enough chit-chat. Get to the action. Just heal me already.

But what if words could do the healing? Sure, the disciples used words to ask God to heal people or to command demons to leave. And we use words to pray for others. But what if the words themselves had a healing effect on more than just illness?

With Jesus, they can. As surely as words can pierce hearts and break down relationships, words can also be a salve to deep, festering wounds.

Ever been down in the dumps and had a friend say something silly that made you laugh?

That laugh really takes the edge off. Remember the last time you had to deal with a difficult customer or coworker who tore you down and made you feel incompetent? What a lift when your boss pulled you aside and said, “You handled that well.” Or maybe you’ve felt self-conscious about your new haircut and then someone compliments you on your outfit.

We’ve all experienced that flip-flop in attitude when someone’s words give us a new perspective. Imagine that type of change on a God scale: 

· If you’re feeling alone in this big world, God promises never to leave us. Open a Bible and read about this in Deuteronomy 31:8.

· If a parent walked out when you were a kid, rest in the knowledge that we are called sons of God. Open a Bible and read about this in 1 John 3:1.

· If you’re weighed down by the guilt of your sin, Jesus has washed our sins away. 

Open a Bible and read about this in 1 John 1:7.

You see, while doctors have treatments for diseases and injuries, God can perform miracle physical healing. And while we know words to brightens someone’s gray day, God’s Word can restore life.

If you know Jesus, if you have received that life, then Jesus has given you the power to tell about God’s kingdom and heal the sick.

Know someone with some deep wounds that need healing? Introduce that person to your friend Jesus Christ. The results could be life changing — for both of you.

Ask God who around you needs His healing words. If you already have someone in mind, ask God to give you His words and the courage to deliver them.

~*~
Author Bio:

In this world of texts, memes, and emojis, slowing down to truly communicate can feel like straining a muscle you haven’t exercised in far too long.

Seventeen years of business experience across a variety of industries has taught Carrie Del Pizzo the fine art of professional communications.

Partnering with corporate executives and entry-level employees alike, she has written and edited major project proposals, direct marketing pieces, sensitive client communications, employee handbooks, and user manuals.

Carrie’s love of literature and story has led her to develop and exercise her fiction writing skills as well. Aside from her personal creative efforts, she also edits for self- and traditionally-published authors and enjoys writing short dramas for church presentation.

Carrie is a wife, mom of three Americans and host-mom to numerous exchange students. Italian-by-marriage means she loves to cook and eat. She lives in Spokane, Wash., with her hilarious family who keep her in stitches and provides piles of material for great stories.

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.

Thankful Thursdays: My Birthday!

It’s Thursday and I’m thankful that today (May 23) is my birthday!

I am grateful that God allowed me to see another year of life.

Life is filled with ups and downs, twists and turns, joys and tragedies but one thing remains: God is Good and His Love for us remains forever true and unconditional throughout eternity!

Looking back over my life thus far, I wouldn’t change anything because all of these moments – good and bad – led me to the life I have today. Nothing is always perfect here on Earth but there’s so much to be thankful for and I praise God for ALL He’s done and continues to do for me and all of the wonderful people that He’s placed in my life.

Earlier this week, my Mom celebrated my birthday with me by treating me to a peppermint pedicure and manicure at our favorite day spa then she paid for an early dinner at one of our favorite restaurants where she tipped the waiters that it was my birthday celebration, so they sung the “Happy Birthday” song to me. Yesterday, my Dad treated me to a brunch at a local old-fashioned diner. I enjoyed my favorite breakfast meal there – Banana Stuffed French Toast and scrambled eggs. The diner does the whole “farm to table” approach to dining so the food there always tastes so fresh and delicious.

Earlier today, I received a birthday card from my brother and sister-in-law with really sweet wording and a gift certificate to my favorite day spa.

All throughout this day, my family and friends who are on Facebook have posted all sorts of sweet and fun "Happy Birthday" notes on my wall. Loved ones have sent text messages to my personal phone to wish me a “Happy Birthday” too! It’s been a full day filled with showers of blessings from God and the people who care about me.

I truly feel blessed to have the people who are in my life as part of my story.

I hope and pray that you will spend time thinking about what you’re thankful for then share in the comments below.

May the good Lord our God bless you and keep you!

Love,

Alexis A. Goring
Founder of “God is Love” blog

Thankful Thursdays: Lifelines

It’s Thursday and I’m thankful for lifelines!

According to Google, a lifeline is “a thing on which someone or something depends or which provides a means of escape from a difficult situation.”

God has placed people here on this earth to be there for us, people who we can turn to when we need help. For some, it may be your Mama or Papa. It may be your Grandma or Grandpa. It may be your Auntie or Uncle. It may be your cousin or closest friend. Sometimes, it may even be a professional counselor, therapist, psychiatrist or another licensed medical professional.

Did you know that as humans, we have a lifeline who will always be there for us? Professionals that you see face to face are limited to their office hours but God is available 24/7/365.

There’s a song by Mandisa called “Lifeline.” It is about how God is our greatest and most reliable lifeline. We can call on Him morning, noon and night. The Bible says that NOTHING can separate us from His love. 

Romans 8:38-39 (NIV) says, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Now, this isn’t to discourage you from seeking professional help from another human who God placed on this Earth to help you. It’s okay to talk to Jesus AND a therapist (or another mental health professional).

I know that not everybody can afford to pay a professional to help you. So today, I’m including a list of resources that we have within the United States of America that can serve as your lifeline. I know that not all of y0u who read my blog live in America. I would encourage you to find resources within your home country that can be of service to you when you need help. But for those of you who live in the U.S.A. and need help, I hope that you will reach out to the trained professionals who operate the resources that I have listed below. Please note: A few of the resources I’ve listed are not free services but most on the list are free!

My prayer for you is that you won’t be afraid to seek help when you need it. If you’ve ever contemplated suicide, I’d caution you to NOT do it! Yes, it would end your pain but it would also end your hope, your future joy and everything that God wants to send into your life as a blessing. So please do NOT give up but do LOOK up to the One (GOD) who is ready and willing to help you through anything you’re going through! And if you feel like your prayers are not going past the ceiling and you need additional support, then reach out to the trained volunteers in the free services that I’ve listed below.

Please note: I’ve copied and pasted the words from my Google search for each resource with the exception of K-LOVE (I wrote that description).

~*~
 Short List of Resources:

Resource “Crisis Text Line”: The free, 24/7, confidential text message service for people in crisis. Text HOME to 741741 in the United States.
Website - https://www.crisistextline.org

Resource “K-LOVE” Christian Radio: Reach out to the K-LOVE Pastors, Prayer Ministry and Care Team who want to listen to you and pray for you.
Website - http://www.klove.com/ministry/prayer/

*You should be able to submit a prayer request online even if you live outside of the U.S.A.

Resource “Better Help” (not a free service): Online Therapy with a Licensed Counselor. Available Anytime, Anywhere You Need It. The Time is Now to Put Yourself First. Don't Wait, Start Therapy Today! Therapy On Your Schedule. 100% Private Environment. Make a Positive Change. Get Happy, Start Therapy. Therapy From Your Couch.
Website - https://www.betterhelp.com

Resource “Faithful Counseling” (not a free service): Affordable, Professional Counseling from a Biblical Perspective. Unlimited Counseling. Counselors Available 24/7. Professionally Licensed. Readily Accessible. Therapy Anytime, Anywhere. Types: Depression Counseling, Marriage Counseling, Relationship Counseling…
Website - https://www.faithfulcounseling.com

Resource “National Suicide Prevention Lifeline”: We can all help prevent suicide. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.
Website - http://suicidepreventionlifeline.org

Resource “Hope Line”: Offering caring non-judgmental listening and referrals in times of crisis. Suicide.
Website - https://www.hopeline-nc.org/

Resource “Lines for Life”: We are here 24/7 with free, confidential, and anonymous help! Our highly trained staff and volunteers provide immediate assistance, compassionate support, and resource referrals that can put you on a path to healing. Texting on the Lifeline, Alcohol & Drug Helpline and Military Helpline is available 8am – 11pm PST daily. We’ll reply as soon as we open back up. Please remember help on the phone is always available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Website - https://www.linesforlife.org

~*~
Closing Thoughts:

God loves you. Remember that. Reach out to Him. He’s only a prayer away and He’s more present in your life than you may think!

Be encouraged, friends.

Love,

Alexis A. Goring
Founder of “God is Love” blog

Devotional: YOU are Always Welcome

Always Welcome
A devotional by Alexis A. Goring

Have you ever been scared of wearing out your welcome?

I’ve been there.

God has blessed me with wonderful friends and family who care about me and want to be there for me. However, I am scared to “wear out my welcome” with these people—as wonderful as they may be—so I keep most of my issues to myself. But lately, God’s impressed this devotional thought on my heart—that with Him, I am always welcome.

Neither you nor I can wear out our welcome when we go to God. He created you so He cares about everything that happens to you…everything.

I thank God for the wonderful people He’s placed in my life who are open to being there for me. My brother has said it’s never too late to call him. My Mom is always there for me even if some of my issues are on repeat. One of my dear friends who is a prayer warrior said I can text her anytime and one of my church friends told me that it’s never TMI because they love me and want to support me.

But still, I realize that they’re human as I am and we as humans can get weary of trying to help someone work through their issues. So I never tell them everything which is wise because the only person who will never fail you is God.

However, I do realize that having my walls up high keeps out hurt but also keeps out love (as a life coach advised me). So I’m working on trying to be more open with the people in my life who care about me. I realized years ago that I’ll never know who can be there for me if I never give them a chance to be there for me.

Most importantly, I realize that God, our Heavenly Father, cares about each and every one of His creation. He loves you and me with a fierce passion and He has endless resources and ways to help us with anything that we may face in this life here on Earth.

Best of all, God is available 24/7/365 for all of eternity. He never sleeps! He’s always awake and working to make all things work together for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). And He’s patient with those who do not love Him or know Him because He wants us ALL to be saved!

So, I’d like to encourage you today to yes, go to the people in your life who care about you and can help you with whatever you’re facing but first and foremost, go to God. Ask Him to help you and ask Him to place the people in your life who He wants to help you.

And never, ever, think that God gets tired of your prayers! No! Pray to Him about everything—your joys, your fears, your hopes, your dreams and yes, your problems! Pray to Him any time of the day or night! He’s always available and ready to help you. Best of all, you can never wear our your welcome because with God you are always welcome.

God bless you, my dear friends.

Love,

Alexis A. Goring
Founder of “God is Love” blog

Devotionals for the Heart: Suffering

Who Needs Enemies When You Have Friends Like Eliphaz?
A devotional by Kristy Horine

“Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, each one came from his own place – Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. For they had made an appointment together to come and mourn with him, and to comfort him." ~Job 2:11 (NKJV) 

Job understood the truth of this title.

This Old Testament man’s life was good. His kids were all grown up and doing good things, home life was sweet, business endeavors were flooding his accounts with incredible ROIs … then, he lost everything in a day. As if that weren’t enough, his entire body erupted with boils “from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.” (Job 2:7 NKJV)

For Job, what remained included a wife who encouraged him to curse God and die, and three friends who came and stirred up the ashes of his dreams with hot, accusing breath.

On an infinitely smaller scale, I share Job’s feelings of loss and despair. Every time I’m disappointed as a hope is doused. Every time I receive a rejection letter for the writing. Every time one of my ministry ideas is shot down. Every time a reasonable expectation is unmet, I see a tinge of the darkness.

I’m guessing you might see it, too.

By chapter 22 in Job, I’m counting down how much more I have to read. I mean, how long can this go on? I feel the sting of Eliphaz’s words in Job 22:5-11 (NKJV) where he said: “Is not your wickedness great, and your iniquity without end? For you have taken pledges from your brother for no reason, and stripped the naked of their clothing. You have not given the weary water to drink, and you have withheld bread from the hungry. But the mighty man possessed the land, and the honorable man dwelt in it. You have sent widows away empty, and the strength of the fatherless was crushed. Therefore snares are all around you, and sudden fear troubles you, or darkness so that you cannot see; and an abundance of water covers you.”

Job, man, you are drowning in wickedness. 
There must be something wrong with you. 

I somehow believed the words Eliphaz said.

With the edges of the darkness closing in, I could see Job stripping people buck naked, withholding water and food, ignoring the widows and crushing the fatherless.

I believed the false accusations. In the span of 22 chapters – 517 verses – I forgot what God said about Job. Let's read Job 1:8 (NKJV) where the Lord said to Satan: “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”

In the midst of your darkness and ashes, in the mire of a multitude of jagged-edged voices, have you forgotten what God says about you? Have you forgotten how deep and high and wide is His love for you?

Scripture tells us:

· For those who repent and believe, they will be saved (Acts 16:31).

· For those who are in Christ Jesus there is no condemnation (Romans 8:1).

· For those who are called according to His purpose, He works things out for good

(Romans 8:28).

· For those who are free in the Son are free indeed (John 8:36).

Precious friends, Eliphaz doesn’t know Jack and he doesn’t know God and what the Lord Almighty has said about you.

Push a stick into those ashes and find a little coal there. While you are hurting still, and trying to figure out a way to heal both from what is real and from what is imagined, focus on the thing that glows. It will give you enough light to make it through the night. 

~*~

Author Bio:

Kristy Horine is a Kentucky writer, freelance journalist by trade and creative by God’s grace.

She writes a little bit of everything including poetry, fiction and creative non-fiction. Her professional and creative work has been published in newspapers, magazines and anthologies in Kentucky and beyond.

Kristy founded 3rd Letter Christian Writers in Lexington, Kentucky in 2015. Read more of her work at www.kristyhorine.com.