Devotionals for the Heart: How Christians can draw people to Christ

A Light So Lovely
A devotional by Jessica Brodie

Have you ever heard the saying, “You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar”?

There’s something to be said about a sweeter touch when it comes to getting along with people, drawing them to you or your point of view, or simply helping them appreciate your perspective and enabling them somehow to relate to you.

Sweetness, kindness, and general niceness are attributes I’ve always held dear. I don’t believe from reading Scripture that Jesus Christ was always particularly “nice”, but I know He was always good and always merciful. He said some hard things. He overturned tables in the temple when He was angry and blatantly insulted His enemies in front of crowds. But He was Jesus, “Word became flesh” (John 1:14), God born as a man, the son of the Father. He had the clout and the right to behave that way. We, however, are mere human beings. And we don’t know everything, so we’re not allowed to act as though we do with the sort of confidence that comes from knowing we are the son of God.

I was a bit of a know-it-all growing up, though I tried to mask it, and I’m probably still a bit of a know-it-all deep down. I remember sitting next to more obvious know-it-alls at school, bristling at their arrogant little smiles as they insisted that they were right about something, but a lot of times they weren’t right. Whether through tests or teacher instruction, they soon found out they were wrong. As the old saying goes, “They got a slice of humble pie.”

The truth is that none of us knows it all. We are not God, and though as believers we do have the Holy Spirit inside of us, we can’t pretend we know exactly what God meant in Scripture. We can read certain things in the Bible, things that were translated from ancient Greek and Hebrew, and think we know exactly what it meant, but consider how many years have passed and how much the language has changed over the years.

There are certain truths in Scripture we can understand without a shadow of doubt—the fact that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and our Savior, our only path to salvation. But some of the other things, some of the things that are in Scripture that are not necessarily the “Gospel truth”? If we feel convicted about them for ourselves, then absolutely we need to follow that conviction! We need to be obedient to God and do what we believe Scripture is telling us to do. But we cannot for a moment believe we are the only ones God is convicting, because every day at every moment, God is convicting other people.

For example, in Christianity, there are differences. For example, recently I saw a video where a woman felt convicted that she needed to cover her head in church at all times. She got this idea from 1 Corinthians 11:4-5. So now she and her daughter wear a hat or headwrap every time they are worshipping God. They’re not part of some sect that is teaching them to do these things. In fact, they’re the only women in their church that do this. They’re not asking anyone else to do it, and they’re trying not to judge anyone else who doesn’t do it. But they are personally convicted that this is what God wants them to do, and for them, this is important.

We Christians fundamentally believe in the same things. But we don’t agree on everything, and that’s not a bad thing. It was this way in the early church also. Some Jewish Christians still followed traditional Jewish ways, while others felt convicted that the old ways had been set aside with the coming of Jesus.

Remember the circumcision strife in Acts? There was a huge issue because many felt the new Gentile believers needed to be circumcised to follow The Way, while others believed this wasn’t essential. Finally, after much prayer and debate, Peter and the other apostles affirmed that we are saved through grace, not because we follow rules like circumcision. Ultimately, they decided to issue a letter settling the matter, telling the Gentiles they didn’t need to worry about this issue any longer. As they wrote in Acts 15:28-29 (NIV), “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.”

They showed tolerance and grace. God is love, and God is truth. God is everything, our Creator who knits us all together. In the Lord, we are perfectly united in the Holy Spirit. As humans, we sometimes have differences, and it’s important to remember to be kind to each other in those differences, to maintain an element of sweetness and niceness and tolerance when it comes to the convictions of other Christian believers.

I believe one day in Heaven, we will know all the answers because we will be perfectly, fully and completely of one mind with God, our Heavenly Father. Until then, let’s keep our sight on Him and not those around us. Let’s heed the words of Jesus when He told us in Matthew 7:1-5 (NIV), “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

In closing, reflect on this quote by Madeleine L'Engle. She said, “We draw people to Christ not by loudly discrediting what they believe, by telling them how wrong they are and how right we are, but by showing them a light that is so lovely that they want with all their hearts to know the source of it.”

Let’s Pray: Heavenly Father, thank You for your Son, Jesus Christ. Help us do our best to follow You in the way that we feel convicted is the right way, and not to let culture or different voices and pressures sway us from what You speak into our hearts. Help us to behave kindly to other people and offer grace and mercy whenever we have the opportunity. We are all on a journey. Help strengthen us as we approach the summit that is You. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Find Us Faithful” by Steve Green. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Jessica Brodie is an award-winning journalist, author, blogger, editor, writing coach, and devotional writer with thousands of articles to her name. 

Since 2010, she has served as the editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate, the oldest newspaper in Methodism, which has won 123 journalism awards during her tenure. Her latest book is Preparing Our Hearts: An Advent Devotional to Draw Closer to God at Christmas.

Jessica has won more than 100 writing awards. She is a seasoned speaker and frequent contributor to Christianity.com, BibleStudyTools.com, and Crosswalk.com, among many others. She has a weekly faith blog at JessicaBrodie.com and is part of the team at Wholly Loved Ministries, with her work included in many of their devotionals and Bible studies.

She’s also produced a free eBook, A God-Centered Life: 10 Faith-Based Practices When You’re Feeling Anxious, Grumpy, or Stressed.

Brodie holds a Master of Arts in English, and she graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in communications/print journalism from Florida International University. Born and raised in Miami, Brodie now lives in Lexington, South Carolina, just outside Columbia. She has also lived in Ohio and in the mountains of western North Carolina. She and her husband, Matt Brodie, have a blended family of four teenage children and stepchildren.

Brodie has written several novels and is actively seeking publication through her agent Bob Hostetler of The Steve Laube Agency. Her novel The Memory Garden won the 2018 Genesis contest for Contemporary Fiction from American Christian Fiction Writers, and her novel Tangled Roots won a third place Foundation Award in Contemporary Romance at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference in 2019. She is finishing the third in the series, Hidden Seeds, now.

~*~
Connect with Jessica:
Website: https://www.jessicabrodie.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjessicajbrodie/
Twitter: https://x.com/JessicaJBrodie
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jessicajbrodie
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicajbrodie/
Podcast: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/jessica-brodie
Download her free e-book:
https://www.jessicabrodie.com/ebook-god-centered

Devotionals for the Heart: When Jesus Christ asks you the eternal question

The Eternal Question
A devotional by Karen Marstaller

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

—Matthew 16:15 (NIV)

Questions come at us all the time. How are you? How’s work? Are you dating anyone? How’s the spouse? What are you cooking for supper tonight?

Those are the generic, everyday questions we always hear. Then there are the seasonal questions: Where do you spend your holidays? Do you have any seasonal traditions? Do you travel during the winter or summer? Where do you like to go?

And there are also those very personal questions that we don’t share with just anyone. Do you love me? Do I love you? Will you marry me? Do I want a ring on my finger? Can I commit to marriage? Do you want to have children? Where do we want to live?

These are important questions that we all must answer sometime in life, and they change the direction of our careers, our spouses, and our families.

But there is another question that holds even greater importance. It changes the trajectory of our lives here on earth, and the rewards or consequences of our answers will be ours for all eternity. This momentous question sounds like a simple one: Who is Jesus Christ to you?

Ah, there it is. Who is Jesus? People have myriads of answers. He was a good man, a good teacher. Some might think He was a prophet, or somebody in the Bible they’ve heard about. In some hearts, Jesus is the one who makes us feel guilty when we hurt other people, or who makes us angry when we meet someone from church wo has an oh-so-righteous-holier-than-thou attitude. His name might be one we’ve only heard when someone is cursing. Some might say that Jesus doesn’t even exist. He’s just a fairy tale within the pages of the Bible.

Throughout my lifetime, I’ve heard all these answers, but my skeptical heart couldn’t really buy any of them. For me, it took years of digging into the Scripture and asking what seemed like thousands of questions before my real question about Jesus was answered.

Jesus is exactly who the Bible says He is. He is the long-awaited Messiah of the nation of Israel. He is the Savior of the world. He is the Prince of Peace. And there’s more! Jesus is the lover of my soul. He lifts my weary head. He forgives my sins. He is the Lord of my life. Jesus is God’s Son, and because I have believed that Jesus died for my sins and I have asked Him to forgive and save me from those sins, I’m also considered a member of the family of God.

There’s even more than all that! When Jesus Christ returns to earth to take His faithful followers home, I will be welcomed into God’s eternal heavenly Kingdom to live forever. My death won’t change anything but my address because the life I am living now is centered on Jesus. And that’s exactly what eternity promises.

There’s nothing in my life that has earned God’s favor. Just the opposite is true. I was sinful and rebellious toward God. Nothing could convince me that He is real and that all His promises are true until He opened my eyes to read the Bible and He gave me the ability to trust Him. His first gift to me was belief in Jesus. His second gift was His forgiveness of every sin. His third and lasting gift is His abundant life in Jesus Christ, right here on earth for now, and then forever in Heaven with Him.

So, each of us is faced with the question, “Who do you say Jesus is?”

Your eternity hinges on your answer. Which will you choose? Eternal salvation in Heaven with the Lord who loves you, or eternal damnation in hell without Jesus? Remember, dear one, eternity is just as real as Jesus is, and what we choose now determines either eternal life or eternal death.

Choose Life, Beloved. Choose Jesus.

Let’s Pray: Dear Jesus, I trust You, and I believe that You are the only way to be saved in your Kingdom. Please forgive my sins and accept me into Your family forever. Thank You, Lord. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Choose Life” by Big Tent Revival. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

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

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

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

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

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

Devotionals for the Heart: Why we need to learn how to number our days

Numbering Our Days
A devotional by Karen Marstaller

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

—Psalm 90:12 (NIV)

When God created us in His own image back in Genesis 1:27, He also designed us with an internal clock.

Only He knows the exact moment when our time on earth expires. We are clueless when we try to determine our life’s span, although many of us desperately try to figure it out, especially when we try to stave off death by taking any number of vitamins, special diets, or guaranteed exercise programs to postpone the inevitable.

But God isn’t interested in us scrambling around trying to number the days of our lives. He already sewed that up. In Psalm 90:12, God calls us to do more than just buy stock in the most recent Fountain of Youth. He calls us to make every one of our days count—for eternity.

Okay, that sounds daunting, right? We tally up the scores for our good days and our bad days, hoping that the good days will somehow counterbalance the bad ones. Then, maybe, our eternity will be in Heaven, and not in Hell. That will never work, but God has a plan.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to Earth in the form of a helpless baby and grew into a man, the Son of Man. He began to teach people about God, His Father. And because He is God, He never had days when He was bad. He went through His life only doing good—our sinless Savior.

Then the evil in people killed the Son of God—crucified Him, and then buried His lifeless body. But three days later, Jesus rose from that grave, defeating death and all the evil that tries to rule us. And because of Christ’s resurrection from the dead, we can accept His sacrifice for our own sins and believe in Him as our Savior. That decision leads us to not just good days, but the best days as we prepare for our life in Heaven with Him forever.

So, today counts, but with another question: “How?”

The possibilities are endless! Because we believe in Jesus as our Savior from sin, we are God’s children, His men and women. We read His Word, the Bible, and gain wisdom. We are just and kind to every person we meet. We respect the other eight billion human beings who share the planet with us. And we tell as many people as we can about the living Jesus who died for us so that we wouldn’t have to die eternally for the sins we’ve committed. We teach them to turn away from their sinful lives and to trust Jesus with their todays and their tomorrows.

Most of all, throughout each day, we are obedient to our Lord. He tells us to love God and to love all those eight billion image bearers of God. And not just like them, either. Jesus tells us we are to love them as much as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:39). And that is hard. So, we try to obey, and the Lord Jesus helps us to do it. We won’t ever be perfect at loving others as we love ourselves, but our honest attempts are what count. They make our days count.

And now for the best part: Our obedience leads to the ability of our hearts to gain more and more of God’s perfect wisdom. It grows more love, more kindness, more goodness, more of everything that creates connections between us. People draw close to new life in Jesus. And we have whole new families of people we may not know, but who share the love of Jesus with us. And our hearts grow fuller and richer with His love in us. These are the days that count, for today and for all eternity.

Let’s Pray: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your salvation. Thank You for Your wisdom. Please give us Your strength as we walk through our days and as we make them count—for You. It’s in Your Name we pray, Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Teach Us to Number Our Days” by Marty Goetz. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

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

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

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

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

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

Devotionals for the Heart: How to comfort people who are deep in grief

Comfort for those who grieve
A devotional by Kayla de Jong

“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.”—Galatians 5:13 NIV

As someone who lost four family members in about a year’s time, I’m no stranger to grief and how it affects a person, their relationships, their health, and their outlook on life. Therefore, I would like to share some advice on comforting those in your life who are also experiencing grief.

My advice is based on my own experience and biblical concepts, but keep in mind that everyone grieves differently. This means that listening is key, not just to the words someone says but also their tone and noticing what things they are not saying.

Begin by gently asking what your loved one needs and desires in their time of mourning then brainstorm ways to meet those needs and desires that are realistic and foster an attitude of hope and healing for both of you. Remember: Everyone processes grief at a different pace. Don’t rush someone through their grief or make them feel like they are grieving incorrectly. True and total healing comes from God. It is not something we can rush or force. God is not afraid of a person showing raw emotions or having weak moments because He foresees it all.

God is the best Comforter. Point the griever back to Him because God is the only way in which a hurting person can find ultimate healing, relief, joy and peace. Reassure the griever that they are not alone. God is omnipresent. Remind them that the lessening of grief as time passes does not signify a lessening of love for the deceased person.

Suggestions of helpful questions to ask your grieving loved one are:

How are you doing emotionally?

How are you doing physically?

How are you doing spiritually?

How are you doing relationally?

Instead of saying the cliché, “Let me know if there is anything I can do to help”, offer specific help. Ask questions like: “What household chores can I do for you?” or “May I run any errands for you?” or “I’d love to cook dinner for you. What’s your favorite meal?”

The following activities may be beneficial to a grieving person. You can offer to do these things with that person but be respectful and don’t take it personally if that person prefers to do these activities solo (or not at all).

Here’s a shortlist of activities that may help someone who is grieving:

#1: Write down memories of the deceased loved one to ensure the memories won’t be forgotten.

#2: Make a scrapbook about the deceased loved one.

#3: Keep a grief journal to process thoughts and pray to God, pouring out your heart before Him because He will send His Holy Spirit to comfort you.

Of course, praying for and with a hurting person is encouraging. This can be true even if the griever is not a Christian. Sometimes death opens a person’s heart to Jesus Christ and His free gift of salvation because they start thinking about eternity and life after death.

Many people find comfort in the words of Job (a book in the Bible) and in the Psalms (another book in the Bible). Here are some more verses that are worth sharing and memorizing: Romans 8:2, James 1:2-4, and Romans 15:13.

There will be moments when you and the person you are trying to help are frustrated with each other. You may find yourself wondering why you are even bothering to help. In moments like these, reflect on 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 ESV, which says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

Remember: God gives us the ability to comfort people who are hurting, and He calls us to do so. Whether you ever see the fruits of your labor or not, rest assured God sees your heart, your motives, and your obedience to Him.

Let’s Pray:

Dear Lord,

I know you call Your children to imitate Jesus Christ and His attributes, including kindness and compassion. Help me to be kind and compassionate to those who are hurting, even when I face rejection. Let me point hurting people to You. Thank You for comforting me as only You can. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Reason for the World” by Matthew West. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Hi! I’m Kayla de Jong! 

I’ve lived in Indiana my whole life and was blessed to have been raised in a Christian household. I have an associate degree in library science and have worked in various libraries for over six years. I love reading and writing!

I have mostly written poems, some of which were published in the compiled works of a local writers guild. I am in the middle of seeking a new career. I would love to be an author, artist, or journalist. But most of all, I would love to be a stay-at-home mom someday.

~*~
Connect with Kayla:
E-mail: kaylagmcdaniel@gmail.com

Devotionals for the Heart: When and how grief can be good for us

Good Grief
A devotional by Kayla de Jong

“Jesus wept.”

— John 11:35 (NIV)

What is grief? Some people would describe it as a dark night. But there is hope!

Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky who was critically acclaimed as one of the greatest novelists in the literary world, once said, “The darker the night, the brighter the stars, the deeper the grief, the closer is God!”

After unexpectedly losing my mom when I was only 21, I found myself wrestling with God in my grief. Hopefully, the insights I have gained on my grief journey can benefit you as well, even if you are not grieving the loss of a loved one. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the definition of grief is “deep and poignant distress caused by or as if by bereavement.”

I’ve learned that grief is not just about death; it is about loss. Perhaps you are grieving losing a spouse through divorce or the lack of relationship with a child or the decision a friend made to stop following Jesus Christ. I believe grief is a good thing if done the way God intended. And knowing how to grieve in a godly way can not only help you grieve but also prepare you to walk with others in their grief journeys.

Let’s read Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 (NIV). It says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot.”

Knowing that there is a season for everything—happiness and sadness—comforts my soul. I am comforted to know that God does not expect me to feel happy all the time. To me, these verses give Christians the permission to have what society deems “negative” emotions. While this is not a devotional about emotions, I will quickly say that I don’t think God views our emotions as good or bad. However, I think what matters to Him is how we handle them and how they affect our behaviors and relationship with Him and others (and ourselves). Ecclesiastes 3:4 supports this idea by declaring weeping and mourning appropriate for certain times. Notice how we are not instructed to always dance and laugh.

Another concept that has helped me understand grief from a biblical perspective is that God grieves too. And knowing that God expects me to manifest characteristics that are His, this means God expects me to grieve as well. Let’s talk this through: Jesus Christ wept on His way to raise His friend Lazarus from the dead, knowing fully well that Lazarus would soon be alive again. Yet He wept (John 11:35). Why? I believe He was not only showing His followers that it is okay to grieve, but I also love the footnote found in the Amplified version of The Holy Bible that suggests Jesus was angry at the sorrow induced by death.

Now let us look at biblical instruction on grief in 1 Thessalonians 4:13 (AMP), which reads, “Now we do not want you to be uninformed, believers, about those who are asleep [in death], so that you will not grieve [for them] as the others do who have no hope [beyond this present life].” In other words, Christians can grieve but not without hope. We know if we continue to follow Jesus Christ then we will be reunited in Heaven with our fellow Christians who have passed away and are no longer living on Earth. When we are in Heaven, we will be fully healed and holy in the Presence of God. Simply put, in the midst of our bereavement, we can choose to rejoice that God has provided a means to eternal life with Him that is far better than this life on Earth.

So, based on these few biblical examples, it seems that grief is an appropriate response to death. God, even though He is omniscient, and death is no surprise to Him, grieves too. However, it is clear that we are not to view death as “the end.” Instead, let it serve to remind you of eternity and salvation and hope from God.

Let’s Pray: God, thank You for giving me hope while I am grieving and let me share this with others who have lost someone or something important to them. Thank You for the time I had with my loved ones who have passed away. Help me to have a healthy perspective on grief. Thank You for comforting me, Lord, when I am sad. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Light of that City” by Allison Durham Speer. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Hi! I’m Kayla de Jong! 

I’ve lived in Indiana my whole life and was blessed to have been raised in a Christian household. I have an associate degree in library science and have worked in various libraries for over six years. I love reading and writing!

I have mostly written poems, some of which were published in the compiled works of a local writers guild. I am in the middle of seeking a new career. I would love to be an author, artist, or journalist. But most of all, I would love to be a stay-at-home mom someday.

~*~
Connect with Kayla:
E-mail: kaylagmcdaniel@gmail.com

Devotionals for the Heart: God's Grace

God's Grace Holds Us Together
A devotional by Sarah Cole

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.—2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NIV) 

As a dog sitter, part of my job is finding compatible breeds for my dachshund Frank.

Last summer, I took a chance on Rufus, a 45-pound bulldog. Well behaved and sweet, Rufus seemed like a good fit. But Frank insisted on being the center of attention, and his jealous rage ignited an all-out war for my affection.

When Frank simmered down, I thought I had a handle on the chaos. But when Rufus rolled in the mud at the dog park, jumped in the kiddy pool, and then shook himself—an act that splashed water and dirt all over my new outfit, I had a had a temper tantrum. As pet parents watched me storm away, I felt powerless and ashamed of my weakness.

When Paul wrote his letter to the Corinthians, he had reason to boast (2 Corinthians 12). After he witnessed a vision of Heaven, God kept Paul’s pride in check by allowing Satan to afflict him with a “thorn in the flesh.” In his suffering, Paul surrendered himself to God, and his weakness became his greatest strength.

We can learn a lesson from this Bible story because when we experience victory, our pride often keeps us from admitting we need God’s help. Yet Jesus understands our weaknesses, and instead of holding them against us, His grace holds us together.

Merriam-Webster defines grace as “unmerited divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration or sanctification.” As an extravagant act of mercy, Jesus Christ went to the cross to pay the penalty our sins deserve (1 Corinthians 6:20). His resurrection made it possible for us to have a relationship with Him and His spirit within us changes us into His likeness (Philippians 2:13). When we’re tempted to beat ourselves up for falling short, we must remember that God’s wrath was satisfied by the beating Jesus took for us.

If you’ve reached a boiling point and feel like giving up on yourself, Jesus won’t give up on you. He died to give you victory, not defeat (1 Corinthians 15:57). So, instead of living in shame and regret over your weaknesses, let Him empower you to overcome them. He lived a perfect life, so you don’t have to! If you’re a perfectionist like me, there's no better news than that.

Let’s Pray:
Dear Heavenly Father, the battle between my flesh and spirit has left me discouraged and defeated. When I’m tempted to try and fix myself, You gently remind me that your grace is enough to enable me to finish strong. You walk alongside me, making me more like Your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank You for your extravagant love and grace when I need it the most. You are my strength when I’m at my weakest, and I rejoice in You. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Everything Falls” by Fee. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Sarah Cole’s interest in writing began in grade school when her poem was published in the local paper. Since then, she has written for her college newspaper and two community newspapers where she wrote restaurant reviews and articles for their ‘best of’ spread.

Her experience as an administrator in the marketing field gave her the opportunity to write ads for a local business journal.

After a 20-year detour and a three-year season of adversity, God reignited her passion to write. Two divine appointments later, the short story she wrote about her father appeared in the St. Paul Almanac, and a short story about her cocker spaniel Gigi was published in Mysterious Ways by Guideposts. She believes her adversity was worth the lessons God taught her.

Sarah's devotionals have been published in David C. Cook’s The Quiet Hour and Devotions, The Secret Place by Judson Press, and Pray a Word a Day by Guideposts. Her short story will be featured in an upcoming book, Too Amazing For Coincidence, also to be published by Guideposts. To this day, Sarah smiles, pinches herself and gives God all the glory.

When she's not writing, she's enjoying her hobbies that include dog sitting, watching cooking shows and taking day trips.

~*~
Connect with Sarah:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smittyc65
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@SarahCo45835279
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarah.cole.52 

Devotionals for the Heart: When God opened the Heavens for humankind

Rend the Heavens
A devotional by Kerry Sue Teravskis

“Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you.”—Isaiah 64:1 (NIV)

One year while in Mexicali, a Mexican border town below Southern California, my college sweetheart (now husband) and I were with over 3,000 high schoolers, youth pastors, and others to serve and minister to the churches in that region of Baja California. For one week, we lived in tents, used bottled water, had minimal showers, and ate cafeteria-style food out in the open field.

It was beautiful because it was about the people and serving God.

However, because it is in the desert, Mexicali is very hot and can get very windy. This one year, the winds were powerful, lifting tents and their contents all through “Tent City” while the youth with their pastors were in the various villages doing vacation Bible school, service projects and the like.

Those of us on the tent crew could only watch as the tents flew past. Sand and dust were flying everywhere, stinging our eyes and coating our teeth with grime. Torn tents, misplaced belongings, and shocked campers reigned that night in camp. They usually returned late at night, tired, hungry and in desperate need of a shower (but not getting one that day, nor on the previous days). The sight which met them was most unwelcome.

Setting things to right, repairing tents, finding belongings and getting settled for the night—all with a good attitude—was most important. Amazingly, it did happen. There were a few complaints, but for the most part, folks took it in stride, as a natural part of working in a third world country with little amenities, and on a mission’s trip.

Isaiah desperately asked God to rend the heavens because he needed God’s presence immediately. He desired for God to dismiss the divide between Himself and Israel. He asked for a rending. A rending is a tearing. A ripping. Intentional or not, it is a separation of one object into two. Usually a tearing leaves ragged edges (and for this seamstress, not the easiest to repair).

A ripping is done because stress is placed upon the object that could no longer hold itself together. A water balloon filled to the breaking point always breaks. It bursts open and water splatters everywhere. It’s fun for when you are playing with water balloons, but it’s not always fun with other objects such as tents that you need for shelter.

Like matters of the heart or in times of pain, hurt, affliction, and struggles. When our pain gets too intense, relief is cried for, begged for and uppermost on our minds. The prophet Isaiah was crying out for God to rend the heavens. I believe he was saying, “Rip them open, God! Do something. Break into our world.”

What’s interesting is what Isaiah said previously in Isaiah 63:15. He asked God to look. But he moved past that to the desperate cry for a rending. He did not want just a glance, a look or God’s attention. He wanted and desired God’s action. Isaiah wanted God to rend the barrier between God and humankind. And to him, the barrier was Heaven (the place where God lives).

God did indeed rip apart the heavens—on purpose and with purpose—for us. He planned a course of action for His people. God sent His Son to step into our neighborhood (John 1:14) with the cry of a baby, just like it says in Luke 2:6 (NLT): “And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born.” God split the divide. He tore the veil between His glory and our sin. He did it. We did not. Nor could we. God heard the cry of Isaiah and answered.

Does God still do this, many thousands of years later? When we cry out for Him to rend the heavens, does He still engage? Does God care enough to be in our lives or does He just look down upon us?

I would say a resounding yes! Looking around would draw this same conclusion, but at times it could be perceived as cloudy or obscured because of the vast suffering, brokenness, and obvious lawlessness in this world. It’s when we ask the old-timers, the pastors, the new believers, we see the calm assurance God is indeed for us. Sometimes, we who have been walking with Jesus Christ for a bit, get lost, discouraged, or tainted.

Let us shout the battle cry, “Oh, that You would rend the heavens and come down!” Let us believe, without a shadow of doubt, God will. Even if it is not immediate, God does answer. He does hear because He is not deaf. He is not disinterested, He is not put off, He is not unapproachable. God is for us.

God was with us when His Son (Jesus Christ) did rend the heavens and walk here on this Earth (John 1:14). And when Jesus returned to Heaven, He left His Holy Spirit with us so we could be filled with Him. Filled to bursting like a water balloon. Filled to overflowing like water in a cup. Let us hold onto this and bask in God’s goodness. Let us not lose hope. Let us endure, abide, and remain in the everlasting arms of our Heavenly Father (God).

Let’s Pray: Oh God, rip the heavens to come to this hurting—and sometimes stubborn—heart. I need You. I need to know You are in my neighborhood and in my life. I need to know that You are for me and are concerned about my pain. I need You, Lord. I admit my wanderings and ask for you to forgive me for going astray. I submit to You and Your hand of love. I find my comfort and solace in You alone, God. Thank You for being holy and calling me to holiness as You come down to Earth and actually call me higher to Heaven. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Let The Heavens Open (Live)” by Kari Jobe. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Devotionals for the Heart: The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure

Hidden Treasure
A devotional by Tessa Huckstep

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.”

–Matthew 13:44 (NIV)

Sometimes, Christianity can seem radical.

I have witnessed Christians who radically turn their life upside down once they accept Jesus Christ into their heart and life. The shift is often drastic and may even appear to be crazy to those who have not yet met our Lord and Savior, Jesus, personally. But no matter how many times I witness this radical shift, I can feel the excitement and freedom that these new Christians are experiencing for the first time in their life. They have found a hidden treasure, reserved only for those who put their trust in Jesus Christ.

But this treasure is not really hidden. This treasure also has no limits. Every person who has ever lived could take this treasure and no one would have to go without. The moment someone finds this treasure, they understand what the man in the verse shared above for this devotional understood: This treasure is worth selling everything for. If you have experienced this treasure, you know that the treasure refers to Jesus Christ and His gift of eternal life.

I smile even now as I remember the day I found this treasure. However, we are not limited to finding this treasure only once. We always smile and enjoy hearing the stories of new Christians, but we often forget that we too have treasure to find. Yes, we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and we are on our way to Heaven, but our treasure does not end there.

Just like the treasure in the verse above, our treasure is often hidden. It is something that we cannot see or touch, but we know it is there. Our treasure is not money, fame, or influence. Our treasure is our relationship with Jesus Christ. A relationship with Jesus Christ is worth selling all our worldly possessions for. He is worth getting rid of our pride, selfishness, and personal desires. Having an intimate and personal relationship with our Creator is the most beautiful treasure we could possess in this life.

Have you forgotten about the treasure in the field? Are you holding onto the things of the world instead of selling everything for a relationship with Jesus Christ? Jesus Christ is the great Treasure of the Christian life, dear reader. He is worth every sacrifice that you give of yourself. Trust Him wholly and find your treasure in Him.

Let’s Pray: Dear Lord, thank You for offering Yourself as the greatest gift. Please help us to see that a relationship with You is all the treasure we need. Grant us the radical faith to leave the world behind and trust only in You. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Treasure” by Meredith Andrews. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Tessa Huckstep grew up in rural Illinois. She was born to Christian parents and has known Jesus Christ personally since the age of five.

Currently, Tessa is attending community college and majoring in elementary education. In the future, she plans to teach in the public school system, hoping to bring the love of God with her.

Tessa enjoys being active in her local church. She serves as a co-teacher for the two-to-five year old class where there is never a dull moment.

It is Tessa’s passion to be a girl after God’s own heart and through her studying of God’s Word, Tessa longs to draw closer to her Savior. Through her writing, she longs to take others with her on this journey of faith.

Tessa loves all things Regency, needlework, and dainty teacups of every size.

When she isn’t writing or studying for exams, she can be found in the kitchen with more flour in her hair and on the floor than in the bowl, though the mess is always half the fun!

~*~
Connect with Tessa:
Blog: https://beautifulbeloved937002841.wordpress.com/

Devotionals for the Heart: Letting go of "good" to receive God's best

A Better Inheritance
A devotional by Aubrey Taylor

“For we will not inherit with them on the other side of the Jordan and beyond, because our inheritance has come to us on this side of the Jordan to the east.” 

–Numbers 32:19 (ESV)

As the people of Israel neared the Promised Land, their thoughts began to turn to claiming their inheritance. Naturally, they had their own ideas about what best suited their needs.

Two tribes, Reuben and Gad, had a particularly large number of flocks. Before entering the Land, they saw a place that was well-suited to these needs. However, it lay on the east of the Jordan, outside of God’s promised inheritance for the entire nation of Israel—a land that already included space for these two tribes.

I can’t help but wonder what lay on the other side of the Jordan River, what parcels of land God had intended for these two tribes, as well as half of the tribe of Manasseh which also ended up settling east of the Jordan. I wonder if they ultimately missed out on something better. They were willing to take what looked good to them, and I’m sure it was good, but what awaited them on the other side of the Jordan? What did some of the other tribes end up enjoying that was originally meant to bless the people of Reuben, Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh?

Naturally, I also wonder, am I settling for something that looks good, or do I long to discover God’s best?

I don’t mean to say that we should sit idly and wait for God’s best, or that blooming where we are planted is bad. But in this life, we know nothing is ever permanent. While serving Him in the circumstances I currently find myself, am I also allowing myself to grow too content? Am I unwilling to consider anything that might disrupt the status quo? Have I decided what my inheritance will be, or am I continuing to seek Him, believing that there may be more He wants to do in and through my life?

Ultimately, it’s not just about allowing Him to direct my path in this life. Do I find such contentment and joy in this life that I forget about the life to come, where we will dwell with Him forever?

As I reflect on these things, I cannot allow myself to feel condemned. He knows that I tend to grow too content with the things around me, and that that carries a risk of complacency. But He is always there, lovingly and gently calling me to more.

Rewards and crowns await all of us in Heaven. We will lay those things back at His feet. Let us press on toward His very best in this life, so that we may have all the more to give back to Him when we see Him face to face.

Let’s Pray: Dear Jesus, I realize that there is always more to be done for Your Kingdom here and now. I pray that You will make my heart both thankful and sensitive: thankful for what You have given me, but not so content that I am unwilling to go farther with You if You call me to do so. Likewise, do not let me become so comfortable in this world that I am tempted to forget about the next. I want all that You have for me, both here and now, and in the life to come. In Your Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “The Best is Yet to Come” by Donald Lawrence & The Tri-City Singers. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

The only child of a single parent, Aubrey Taylor filled her younger years by creating characters and writing stories. This ended around age sixteen when music, friends and part-time jobs began to fill her time. After that came college, work, marriage, and children.

It wasn’t until the world was beginning to come out of the COVID pandemic that God led her back to her love for writing, coupled with a passion she’d always had for history. It was time to start a new adventure! Her current long-term project is Gott Mit Uns, a German-perspective 20th century historical fiction series.

Aubrey lives in Upstate New York with her husband and three children. She’s busy keeping the home, caring for her family, doing research for and writing her books.

Aubrey enjoys music and is involved with the worship ministry at her church as well as a German choral group. She also plays gigs occasionally with friends as a singer and acoustic guitarist. After all that, she finds time to sketch, craft, and hike.

She is a lover of Jesus Christ, The Holy Bible, history, German culture, tea, and cats.

Aubrey has a special heart for those who struggle with severe anxiety, depression and PTSD.

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

Devotionals for the Heart: Life lessons on the true meaning of "home"

Make Yourself at Home
A devotional by Sharon Musgrove

“I’ve loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love. If you keep my commands, you’ll remain intimately at home in my love. That’s what I’ve done—kept my Father’s commands and made myself at home in his love.” –John 15:9-10 (MSG)

Home is my happy place.

I’ve always been a homebody, preferring to stay in, comfortable and reading a good book, rather than going out and having what others call a good time. I’ve loved decorating the houses I’ve lived in, remodeling outdated rooms, and finding my design style over time. When I was pregnant, the nursery was my ultimate nesting focus.

I’ve been a homemaker for many years. Yet, all the energy I’ve spent in setting tables and fluffing throw pillows does not accurately reflect the “home” Jesus Christ speaks of in John 15. Here Christ says, “Make yourselves at home in my love.” This is not a material location with floors and walls, but a spiritual place of relationship. This shift in meaning from physical place to heart space intrigued me to look deeper at the essence of what it means to make a home.

This scripture begins with the attribute of love. Jesus says, “I’ve loved you the way my Father has loved me” (John 15:9). The center of God’s Kingdom is loving others. In fact, the very next verse in John 15 states this way of living as mandatory. It reads, “This is my command: Love one another the way that I loved you” (John 15:12 MSG; emphasis mine). Jesus lived out a sacrificial love, his priority being forgiveness of offense and unity in relationship.

Families don’t always prioritize this kind of love within the home. More commonly, being right is more important than being together. Hierarchal structures of head of household, and powerplay instead of teamwork, can create an atmosphere of jealousy, distrust, and sometimes violence. This does not reflect the heart of God. Nor is it following His example of how to love.

Christ reiterates that He kept His Father’s command. His habit of love was his habitat. And that’s the kind of homemaking he instructs us with—living a lifestyle of love for people. This mirrors our true home in Heaven.

Any house rule set by Jesus has a purpose that is meant for good. Jesus reveals to us in John 15:11 that his intent in making love mandatory is in spreading and growing joy. Let’s remember what Jesus says in John 15:11 (MSG): “I’ve told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature.”

The worst years of my life were those when my family was not unified. There was no joy. Accusations flew and hateful statements were hastily made. Lines were drawn and barriers thickened. Home in those days was not a safe place. And no number of scented candles could mask the stink of our brokenness. It wasn’t until we could sacrifice pride and humbly share the hurts on our hearts, exchanging both apologies and forgiveness, that our house returned to being a home.

When my adult children return home these days, they kick off their shoes, dig through the refrigerator, and lay on the couch. Together we cuddle, tell stories, and enjoy each other’s company. This level of comfort and trust came through applying the love rule and is how we can now abide in a joy wholly mature.

It is only when we can say to others, “I’ve loved you the way my Heavenly Father has loved me", that we are making ourselves at home in Christ's love. In following his command, we build a home that is like God’s Home in Heaven.

This is the art of homemaking—joyfully living out love.

Let’s Pray:
Holy Father, Thank You for Your love. Thank You for the example and the sacrifice Jesus lived out for us to follow on earth. We thank You for inviting us into Your Kingdom. May we follow Your command to love others, that we might be at home in You. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Always Be My Home” (song) by Rachael Lampa. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Sharon Musgrove is a self-proclaimed sociologist. The opportunities opened to her, over the years, have led her on a fascinating journey observing human behavior.

She has a diverse background in business, fitness, and health industries. This background led her to a unique position writing curriculum and teaching for two private, Christ-based, residential recovery programs. Both programs primarily served women in the homeless community.

Sharon has traveled multiple times to Kenya, serving on medical teams and teaching in the rural Maasai communities. She’s been privileged to participate in Leadership camps for maturing young women. These annual camps have a mission of encouraging and empowering the impoverished, underprivileged, and often abused young Maasai girls.

Identifying personally with the brokenness of the women she’s served, Sharon sees all people as needing more encouragement regardless of cultural or socioeconomic status. Within these ministries, Sharon has witnessed the transformative power of loving words spoken to the broken-hearted. Sharing God’s love and witnessing its transformative power has become her passion.

In her leisure time, Sharon enjoys her garden, health food, travel, and a good story. She and her husband, Jeff, divide their time between Oregon and Hawaii. They have two grown children.

Currently, Sharon is encouraging others via her inspirational blog, but prefers sharing face to face. Additionally, she is studying Christian fiction writing.

~*~
Connect with Sharon:
Website: Sharonmusgrove.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Sharon-Musgrove-Untethered-102208978041060
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharonmusgrove_untethered/

Devotionals for the Heart: Our Dreams and God's Plans for our life story

The Unexpected Journey: Dreaming with God
A devotional by Tessa Huckstep

“And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” –Luke 2:12 (KJV)

I am a dreamer and I have a habit of dreaming big dreams.

Like most Christians, I want to do big things for Christ. I want to start a movement, impact generations, and make a difference in the world. We tend to think about long term goals and plans, especially at the beginning of a new year. God wants us to dream big dreams, but often the journey to accomplishing these dreams is not what we expect.

Throughout this Christmas season, I have considered how unexpected the birth of Jesus Christ was to the people living in that time period. The Son of God (Jesus Christ) was sent to this Earth to save the souls of humankind. God could have sent Jesus as a mighty warrior or as a victorious king, but He chose to have His Son be born of virgin (Mary) who was engaged to marry a poor carpenter. After Mary gave birth, she placed Jesus in a manger and wrapped him in swaddling clothes. This may not sound like the beginning of a big dream, but it is the beginning of the biggest and most wonderful dream of all. This was how God planned to save all humans and give us eternal life. Read John 3:16 for details. 

God has the most beautiful ways of surprising us. Sometimes, He gives us gifts that we believe are burdens or are insignificant. Then, one day, we understand why God put that trial or heartache into our lives and we simply cannot praise Him enough for it. Jesus is the greatest gift we have ever been given. Yet, He had to be wrapped in swaddling clothes. With God, things are sometimes not as they seem. The way that Jesus entered this world was unexpected, but far more beautiful than any story about a mighty king or warrior.

I also like to consider the first thirty years of His life. Jesus was a carpenter. He probably took exceptionally good care of His mother, and He probably lived a life that is similar to our own. He most likely had a schedule to follow, responsibilities to keep, and countless tasks to do. But I think He spent this time with His Father, prayed often, and simply loved the people around Him.

Perhaps our biggest problem is that we are each looking for external signs of change. We all want to see the visible miracles and physical healings. But what about the miracles that take place within your heart? These are the most beautiful miracles of all. Jesus healed many blind, sick, and dying people, but the greatest miracles He performed were the ones where He saved a soul in His Kingdom.

As you look back and reflect on this year, you may feel a little disappointed that you are not as far along as you thought you would be. Maybe you cannot even see where the road of life is taking you. Maybe you are struggling with your progress in your personal relationship with our Savior. Just remember that God’s big dreams do not usually follow the carefully planned schedule that we created.

Dream big, but do not become discouraged when things look different than you expected. Keep your eyes on the Savior and you will never be disappointed. God will fulfill His plans. Our life on Earth is the journey, but our destination is always Heaven and spending eternity with Jesus Christ. He is the one constant and the one absolute that we have in this life on Earth. Lean into God and trust Him with your whole heart.

Let’s Pray: Dear Lord, thank You for the unexpected blessings You have given us this year. Please help us to remember that You are the Author of our real life stories and You have a perfect dream for us. Grant us the courage to look beyond our current circumstances and always look to You. Allow us to find peace in our journey as You write our story. In Jesus’s Name I pray, Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Heaven on Earth” by Darlene Zschech. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Tessa Huckstep grew up in rural Illinois to Christian parents and has known Jesus personally since the age of five. 

She is currently attending community college and majoring in elementary education. In the future, she plans to teach in the public school, hoping to bring the love of God with her.

God’s dream of Tessa becoming a writer was revealed to her at the age of sixteen and she hasn’t been able to stop since. Though she has not yet been published, Tessa enjoys writing historical romance novels and speculative fiction.

Tessa believes God loves stories, and through her writing, she wants to reveal the happily ever after God dreams of for each of his daughters—one where Jesus is the knight in shining armor.

Tessa loves all things Georgian/Regency, needlework, and dainty teacups of every size. When she isn’t writing or studying for exams, Tessa can be found in the kitchen with more flour in her hair and on the floor than in the mixing bowl, though the mess is always half the fun!

~*~
Connect with Tessa:
Blog: https://beautifulbeloved937002841.wordpress.com/

Devotionals for the Heart: Loving People and Living for Jesus Christ

Start with the end in mind
A devotional by Patricia Russell

"I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us." —Philippians 3:14 (NLT)

Have you ever heard the words “start with the end in mind” in relation to planning an event, a recording or any project? What do you think the reason for this is?

The end is what you want to accomplish. The end is the culmination of all the plans, preparation and processes you’ve gone through to arrive at the destination. So, in order to write the plan, having the end in mind and working backwards is ideal.

When one’s life has ended, and final goodbyes are planned to honor the person by having a homegoing service, there are many people who want to share their thoughts about the person and what they meant to them. I have often thought about who would say what about me at my homegoing. The more we think about it is the more we want to live with that end in mind. What I mean is, I want to love people so well that if I die before Jesus Christ returns to Earth to take His faithful followers home to Heaven, the life I lived leaves a legacy behind showing everyone that I loved people, I loved Jesus, and I used my God-given gifts for the benefit of others.

The best person to teach us how this is actually lived out is Jesus Christ. On the night of His arrest, He gathered His disciples together for dinner. He asked them to eat bread and drink wine in remembrance of Him. So that when He died, they would remember and reflect on what He taught them. Now, the question is, “Are we following Jesus, serving Him and others, and living intentionally with purpose from day to day?”

We should also ponder these questions: “Do we do things, share knowledge with people, encourage and empower others so that we are not keeping the knowledge to ourselves?” and “What mark are we intentionally leaving on this world so that when we leave, they will know we were here? Will people know through the way we lived and legacy of faith we leave behind, that Jesus loves them?”

The apostle Paul had accomplished so much when he said in Philippians 3:12, “I press on”. 

He had not finished. He still had more to do. He was focused on the end goal. The goal kept him moving in the right direction. He continued by saying in Philippians 3:14: “I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”

The race was ongoing, and he was not quitting. No one wants to quit when there is a “prize” to gain. And when God is giving out prizes you know it’s gonna be good.

The Apostle Paul calls us who are spiritually mature to agree to run to win. How do we do this? We listen and look for people who need encouragement to keep going. You know how just one word of encouragement can change your life for the better. Just one word can push you forward when you feel like quitting. Weeks will come, months will pass, and years will close but whatever you do, don’t give up. Focus on the goal which will keep you pressing forward despite the discouragement and distractions. Stay determined like Paul and run to win!

Let’s Pray:
Father God, we praise You and thank You for everything. You know the end of our days and it is your desire for us to receive the prize you have set before us. Lord, we believe your Word and know you will strengthen us as we run this race of life to win! In Jesus’s Name we pray, Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Press On” by Selah. 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

Devotionals for the Heart: God's Plans

The Wonder of God’s Plans
A devotional by Karen Marstaller

For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.”—Isaiah 57:15 (ESV)

With my miniscule brain, it’s hard to wrap my mind around the vastness and immensity of the Lord God, the Creator of innumerable galaxies, and the Ruler of Heaven and Earth. I stand in awe at His work. I shake my head in wonder at His miracles. I can’t grasp the complexity and symmetry of the rotations of the sun, moon, stars, and planets, or of the beautiful progression of the seasons of winter, spring, summer, and fall.

Ever since the time God created our world, He continues to orchestrate it with a complete and perfect plan for every atom, every speck of dust, and every molecule of water and air. Each one provides balance and nurtures life on this earth. And even though we live here, we understand very little of all that we take for granted.

In Genesis, chapter one, the Lord explains the process of creation for us. God spoke, and light began to shine. At His word, water separated from the face of the formless void. His voice set the celestial worlds in orbit, and His authority created everything we see. In the next chapter of Genesis (chapter two), the creation of the first human is described. The Lord Most High bent down to scoop some clay He had made, and with it, He shaped a man in God’s own image—Adam.

From the immense nothingness around Him, God designed a perfect world and set it into motion. Then He took a humble clod of dirt to fashion the man who would bear the image of God for all the rest of us. Next, He breathed His own breath into Adam—the breath of life. To this day, we all continue to breathe God’s life into our own lungs. And even as misshapen and marred by sin as we are, we still carry the very imprint of God in our bodies.

And yet God had more plans. Even in the rebellion of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, God provided a way to bring His sin-sick, desolate children back to Himself. Just as Adam and his wife (Eve) tried to hide their sin from their Maker in Genesis, chapter three, so do we. We’ve mostly graduated from using fig leaves to much more elaborate disguises, but it’s still our sin that separates us from our holy Lord, and we’ll do anything to hide it.

Sounds hopeless, doesn’t it? Yet all through the Bible, God points us toward a relationship with Him. In Isaiah 57:15, He again reminds us that He doesn’t just dwell in loftiest heaven, He also dwells with us—the lowly in spirit and the contrite in heart! Because of Him we have hope!

So, don’t waste any more time, dear one! Whisper to our gracious Father in Heaven. He hears every word of your heart. Tell Him all about your troubles and let Him dwell with you while you cry. He promises He will stay with us (Matthew 28:20) and He will wipe away every tear (Revelation 21:4). His forgiveness delivers us from the agony of our sin (Colossians 1:13-14) and He rejoices over us in love and gladness as we turn back to Him (Zephaniah 3:17).

What peace and comfort are ours when we come humbly to Him—the Lord of Heaven and Earth!

Let’s Pray: Dear God, we praise Your Holy Name! You are amazing! Thank You for loving us, for comforting us, and for renewing us as we run to You for forgiveness. Please teach us how to rest in You, and how to trust You every moment of every day. Thank You, Lord! In the Name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “The Maker” by Chris August. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

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

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

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

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

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

Devotionals for the Heart: When God won't heal you on this side of Heaven

Healed Through Jesus
A devotional by Cyndi Staudt

“Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.” 

–Matthew 4:23 (NIV)

Huddled over the tiny casket at the front of the room were the family members still in shock at the nightmare unfolding before them. How could their sweet toddler be gone? 

We had cried out to God, fasted, and prayed around the clock, yet God had chosen not to heal their sweet child this side of Heaven. At a complete loss on what to say and how to support them through this journey of grief, I fought to find words to express to God how I was feeling. If I was honest, I was probably a little angry with God. At the very least, disappointed. This was a good family, faithful in their walk with Jesus, always serving and giving to others selflessly. They didn’t deserve this.

I didn’t feel like praying but knew I needed to. I wanted to turn away from God in a toddler-like tantrum, but I knew that wasn’t going to help. In a gentle whisper, the Holy Spirit encouraged me to come back to what I knew about God and sit there for a while. As I reflected on the character of God and was reminded of the immutable nature of God my breathing began to slow and my thoughts began to quiet. And in the stillness, He soothed my hurting heart and spoke sweet truths to my spirit until I could crawl to my knees and come to Him with all my raw emotions in prayer.

It can be hard to understand how and when God chooses to heal His children (or not), regardless of their age. I would be willing to bet most of us have prayed for someone’s healing at one time or another only to have it delayed or, perhaps, withheld completely. Maybe we have believed for a restored relationship that remained forever dismantled. Or watched a loved one’s mental capacity be stripped away until they were virtually unrecognizable. We know that God can heal, but it doesn’t always mean He does. And this can be a hard truth to wrestle with. We want to make sense of it all. Find a logical conclusion. Unfortunately, one is rarely available.

It can test our faith when we pray and believe God for healing and it doesn’t happen. But we must be careful not to let doubt creep into our minds and hearts. When healing is delayed or doesn’t come at all we must trust that God is still able, faithful, loving, and gracious. He promises perfect health to us. Sometimes that comes in this life while other times it comes in the next. We must believe that God is still on His throne, He is still sovereign, and He is still in the business of doing miracles whether we receive the answers, outcomes, and miracles we are seeking or not.

Friends, let’s not lose sight of the truths we know about God. When we are faced with what seems like insurmountable or unfair circumstances, we are called to continue to seek God and come before Him in prayer.

There are also practical things we can do while we are continuing to seek Him and cry out to Him. We can seek medical advice, counseling, or assistance as the situation calls for. We are to pray like it depends on God and work like it depends on us. That way no matter what the outcome, we know that we have done everything we can, then we leave the results up to God. 

Whatever God decides to do, we need to trust Him and praise Him in the process, knowing one day we will all find ourselves forever healed in Jesus.

Let’s Pray:

Heavenly Father,

We know that Your ways are not our ways and Your timing is not our timing. Help us to remember this when we are confused and wondering why our prayers are not being answered in the ways and timetable we had hoped or imagined. Let the Holy Spirit within us remind us of what we know to be true about You even when what we see and feel tries to tell us otherwise. Give us eyes to see You in the midst of our circumstances and ears to hear You through the noise of our lives so we never lose sight of Who you are. We thank You for all You do for us and for Your grace to see us through the highs and lows of life. In Jesus’ s Name we pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Light of that City” by Allison Speer. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

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

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

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

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

Devotionals for the Heart: Why there is always hope, even in grievous times

Hope in the Grief
A devotional Jessica Brodie

Have you ever experienced a time of loss and sadness that is simultaneously also filled with deep joy? That was our family this week as we journeyed to Ohio to celebrate the life and mourn the passing of my husband’s grandfather.

Grandpa Bob was 95 when he died, and what a man! A World War II Navy veteran who enlisted at age 17 and saw significant action—including the Battle of Iwo Jima, the Okinawa Invasion, and Operation Crossroads for the Bikini Atoll nuclear bomb tests—he also served in the Korean Conflict on the USS Wisconsin. After his discharge, he spent his career in Ohio’s oil and gas drilling operations. He had three kids, then remarried and gained three stepkids, and at his death claimed 12 grandkids (plus spouses) and 15 great-grandkids, all who loved him dearly.

Matt and I and our four kids road-tripped from South Carolina last week for the funeral, joined by parents and a host of other cousins, aunts, and uncles, all of us surrounding Grandma Mary, his wife. At age 99, she and Grandpa Bob still lived in their house. Together, we mourned his death but celebrated his life with deep and affirming joy.

Why joy? See, in addition to being an outstanding person and family man, Grandpa Bob’s most important role was “child of God.” A Christian and active member of his local United Methodist church, one thing we all knew when Grandpa Bob passed on was that we didn’t need to wonder or worry what would become of him. We knew, because he was a follower of Jesus, that he was assured eternal life.

Yes, there were tears at his funeral. We miss him! But there was also… laughter. Giggles. His eulogies at the service—delivered by his pastor, one of his sons and his stepson—recounted stories about mishaps with dynamite and catching himself on fire, his love for John Wayne and gardening, his silliness rolling around on the ground with puppy dogs or playing at Cedar Point.

“Loyal, faithful, and hardworking,” are how his pastor, Jim, described him. “Disciplined but always fair,” his son, Uncle RJ, said.

A man of stories, said everyone.

That’s how I, a latecomer blessed to marry into this family, knew him. Grandpa Bob was an outstanding storyteller. I remember how we’d visit and he’d tell about standing on the deck of his ship in WWII, or about riding horses, another of his loves.

Uncle RJ shared how he had the opportunity these last years to spend at least two mornings a week having long coffee chats with his dad, listening to old tales told and retold, sometimes the same story twice in one day. What always struck RJ was the joy with which he told those stories. That’s what I had loved, too…and, come to think of it, is what always makes an extraordinary storyteller. It’s the love of the tale.

Grandpa Bob had that. He shared that. And oh, what a legacy.

A couple of the grandkids were not able to attend the funeral, and during the service, Uncle Warren shared a special memory one of his own sons had about Grandpa Bob. During their last visit, they’d sat on the porch together talking about the future, and Grandpa Bob passed on some sage advice to him: “We are ultimately measured as men by how we react to uncontrollable things.”

Wise, wise words from a good, good man.

As Pastor Jim said at the funeral, an eternal perspective in this life keeps us in balance. As believers in Christ Jesus, we know infinitely more awaits us in heaven. The casket is not our end.

Each of us who believe can hold fast to the promises of Scripture, promises like 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14: “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him” (NIV).

It's not that we do not grieve, but that we don’t grieve as others.

Our grief is rooted in hope, in joy, in promise.

We will be together again one day—thanks be to God.

Rest in peace, Grandpa Bob. We love you dearly.

Let’s Pray: Father God, thank You for the hope You give all of us who believe in and follow You: the hope of salvation. Thank You that the casket is not our end. Help us spread Your word to others so they can share in this, too. 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. Learn more about her fiction and read her faith blog at http://jessicabrodie.com. She has a weekly YouTube devotional and podcast.

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