Devotionals for the Heart: Why being kind to everyone is powerful

The Power of Kindness
A devotional by Cherie Mendez

“God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.”—1 Peter 4:10 (NLT)

Kindness is a timeless virtue. It can brighten someone’s day, mend a fence, even change someone’s outlook on life. God has gifted us to be tender, benevolent, and useful to others.

My mother-in-law has Alzheimer’s disease. She was widowed a few years ago and couldn’t live alone. My husband and I got involved with her caregiving and there were many sacrifices that came with our decision. The biggest lesson I learned in this experience is that the smallest act of kindness can go a very long way.

Sometimes it’s as simple as saying hello, or giving a smile. You never know what someone is going through. We all have something to give—maybe it’s our time, a kind word, or a listening ear.

We live in a world that seems so polarized. As Christians, we need to make an effort to reach out to others as Jesus Christ reached out to us. We need to extend grace to people with whom we may not share anything in common.

Here are three ways we can show kindness:

Way #1: Be merciful. As Christians, we are called to extend grace to those who can be difficult and underserving. Romans 12:20 (NIV) says, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.”

Way #2: Serve the hurting. Matthew 25:40 (NLT) says in the words of Jesus Christ, “I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!”

Way #3: Forgive freely. Ephesians 4:32 (NLT) says, “Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”

People are hurting. One small act of kindness can greatly affect others. It’s not the size of the gift that matters, only the gift. Sometimes kindness calls us to step out of our comfort zone and reach out to those who are different from us. God wants us to embrace agape love—to serve, forgive, and uplift others even when they are being difficult.

At one point in my career, I had a boss who was extremely demanding. I was often the one asked to stay late, take on difficult assignments, or handle the work no one else wanted to do. There were moments when I felt overlooked, frustrated, and honestly resentful. What challenged me most wasn’t the workload; it was my attitude. I realized I was keeping score internally: who was appreciated, who got treated more gently, who got away with doing less. And I felt hurt.

But during that season, I began learning what “agape love” really means. Not just kindness when things are easy, but choosing patience, excellence, and grace even when it isn’t reciprocated the way you want. I started seeing my boss less as ‘the difficult person in my life’ and more as a human being carrying pressures I couldn’t fully see.

That didn’t mean becoming a doormat or pretending everything felt good. It meant deciding that bitterness would not define me. I learned to serve with integrity, speak respectfully, and keep my spirit clean even when I was tired or stretched.

Looking back, that experience taught me that agape love is not based on how someone treats you; it’s based on choosing to allow Jesus to make me into the person He wants me to be.

Let’s Pray:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You that your kindness that leads us to repentance. Thank You for teaching us to love others even when we don’t feel like it. Thank You for your grace and your word that guides us in these challenging times. We love You, Lord.

In Jesus’ name, I pray.

Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection: “Show Me How to Love” by Babbie Mason. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Cherie Mendez is a professional actress and photographer. 

Her passion is to help women understand their true worth and walk in their God-given purpose. After many years working as a Christian in the entertainment industry, she is thankful to be able to share all her learning experiences in her blog posts and on Instagram.

Some of the topics Cherie loves to write about are:

· Coping with rejection

· Finding your purpose and using your talent for God’s glory

· How God always looks at the heart and the meaning of inner beauty

· Understanding that we are all a work in progress and God is not done with us yet

Cherie’s TV credits include “The Equalizer”, “Bull”, and “Blue Bloods” (CBS). She also appeared in the PureFlix film “Revelation Road 3: The Black Rider”.

Cherie and her husband Jimmy live in New York. They are thankful to have been married for 30 years. In their free time, they enjoy traveling, photography, and movie night.

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Connect with Cherie:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheriemendez/

Interview with Nancy Naigle about her new novel "Home No Matter Where"

Author Interview with Nancy Naigle about “Home No Matter Where”

Alexis: Congratulations on the release of a new novel! Why did you write this book?

Nancy: After To Light the Way Forward came out last year, I wasn’t ready to leave these characters behind. I fell in love with Tug and Rosemary’s relationship, and while Nina found her footing by the end, I knew there was more healing to come. That thread stayed with me and wouldn’t let go. Whelk’s Island was calling. And then there was Fisher. He showed up with a quiet strength and a story of his own that unfolded in such a meaningful way. Writing him was a joy.

This book came from that place, wanting to see what happens next when people choose to keep showing up for each other, and for themselves.

Alexis: How does the title “Home No Matter Where” play into the theme of your story?

Nancy: Home No Matter Where is about discovering that home isn’t a place on a map, it’s the people who hold you steady when life shifts. On Whelk’s Island, three generations of women learn that even when everything changes, love, grace, and connection can lead you back to a place of peace, and a feeling of home.

Alexis: Is the setting of your story, Whelk’s Island, a real location on Earth or completely imagined by your mind? Share how you created this setting for your story.

Nancy: Whelk’s Island is a fictional town on the coast of North Carolina, but it’s rooted in places that feel very real to me. I’ve always loved the Outer Banks, especially around Kitty Hawk, and those beautiful barrier islands like Atlantic Beach and Emerald Isle. When I created Whelk’s Island, I imagined a stretch of coastline that doesn’t really have anything built out yet and let my heart fill it in. I pulled from my own memories of growing up in Virginia Beach, along with years of visiting the North Carolina coast, to shape the rhythm, the charm, and the sense of community you feel there.

It may be imagined, but it’s built from places and moments that are very real to me, and I think that’s what makes it feel like somewhere you’ve been, or somewhere you’d like to go.

Alexis: Why is Whelk’s Island special to the characters in your story?

Nancy: Whelk’s Island is special to these characters because it becomes home in all the ways that matter. For some, like Tug and Fisher, it’s where they’ve always belonged. For others, like Rosemary and Amanda, it’s where they found healing, connection, and a fresh start. It’s not just a place on the map, it’s where life changes, hearts mend, and people find their way back to what matters most.

Alexis: Tell us about Nina, who is the leading lady of your story. What are the desires of her heart as she tries to heal from her divorce?

Nancy: Nina is trying to find her footing after a life she counted on falls apart. More than anything, she wants peace, for herself and for her daughter. She isn’t one to ask for help, but when Kendra starts acting out, Nina lowers her guard and asks for help. As she and Kendra both heal, they begin to see that home and happiness don’t have to look the way they used to.

Alexis: Kendra is Nina’s daughter and she apparently is a challenge to her mother. Why does Kendra give her mother such a hard time?

Nancy: Kendra is giving Nina a hard time because she’s hurting. Her world changed in a way she didn’t choose, and she doesn’t know how to handle it. The anger and acting out are really about feeling lost and unsure. At her core, she just wants to know she’s still safe, still loved, and that her family isn’t completely broken, even if it looks different now.

Alexis: When Nina brings her daughter to Whelk’s Island, planning to spend a restorative summer with Rosemary, who is Nina’s mother, does everything go as planned? Why or why not?

Nancy: Not exactly, but in some ways it turns out even better than Nina expected. Her relationship with Rosemary becomes a source of comfort and strength. But Kendra struggles more than Nina anticipated, even running away when things get overwhelming. It’s not the smooth summer she planned, but with the help of Tug and Fisher, it becomes something deeper, a season of growth, healing, and second chances.

Alexis: What was your favorite part of telling this story featuring three generations of women (Rosemary, Nina and Kendra) being under one roof for the first time in years? Describe the conflict and the sweetest moments of their time together.

Nancy: I loved writing the dynamic between Rosemary, Nina, and Kendra because it’s full of love, history, and real-life tension. The conflict comes from each of them handling change differently, Nina trying to hold things together, Kendra pushing back, and Rosemary gently holding space for both.

The toughest scenes to write were when Kendra runs away. I could feel Nina’s urgency and fear as I was writing them, and that stayed with me.

The sweetest moments are in the quiet shifts, softer conversations, shared laughter, and the way they slowly find their way back to each other. I especially loved the family getaway in the mountains. There’s a sense of breathing room in those scenes that lets their relationships settle and grow.

These folks aren’t perfect. But the situations are real and rooted in love.

Alexis: Who is Fisher? Describe his role in this story and explain what makes him so attracted to Nina as well as what draws her to him.

Nancy: I love Fisher! We first meet Fisher in To Light the Way Forward as the easygoing surfer who’s always willing to lend a hand, just a genuinely good guy. But in this story, he steps forward as the hero, and we get to see so much more of who he is, his backstory, his quiet strength, and even a few hidden talents that make him stand out in ways Nina doesn’t expect.

Fisher has a way of showing up without being asked, which is exactly what Nina needs, even if she’d never say it out loud. He offers steady support without pressure, and that allows her to start letting her guard down.

What draws him to Nina is her strength. She’s doing her best to hold everything together for her daughter, even when it’s hard, and he sees that. And for Nina, there’s something about Fisher’s calm, grounded presence that makes her feel safe in a way she hasn’t in a long time.

Together, they find a balance, he brings a sense of peace to her world, and she reminds him what it feels like to truly connect and open his heart

Alexis: How do the real-world themes of forgiveness, growing up, letting go, and healing from pain play into your fiction storytelling with these characters?

Nancy: These themes are at the heart of the story because they’re part of real life. Each character is facing something, and their journeys show that forgiveness, growing up, and letting go don’t happen overnight. Healing comes in small steps, in choosing to show up for each other, and in finding hope again, even after things fall apart.

Alexis: Why does it require bravery to start anew? Explain how you showed this in your story.

Nancy: Starting over takes bravery because it means stepping into the unknown. It means letting go of what you thought your life would look like and trusting that something good can still come from what’s ahead.

In this story, Nina shows that kind of courage. She leaves behind the life she knew and brings her daughter to Whelk’s Island, not because she has all the answers, but because she knows something has to change. That’s not easy, especially when things don’t go as planned.

Kendra shows it too, in her own way. Growing up and facing hard truths about family and change takes a kind of bravery that doesn’t always look pretty.

And even Fisher, with his quiet strength, has his own journey of opening up and letting someone in again.

I wanted to show that starting anew isn’t about having it all figured out, it’s about taking the next step, even when you’re unsure, and trusting that healing and hope are still possible on the other side.

Alexis: In what ways do you hope this beautiful book will impact people who read it?

Nancy: I’ve always said if one of my books helps one girl through one bad day, then it’s done its job. My hope for this story is that it reminds readers there is still hope, even when life doesn’t turn out the way they planned. That healing is possible, that some relationships can be mended, and sometimes loving someone might mean making hard, healthy choices when it comes to protecting your heart.

If someone closes this book feeling a little more patient, a little less alone, or a little more open to what’s ahead, then that means everything to me.

Alexis: Thanks for the interview, Nancy! Would you like to share closing thoughts? If so, please write that now.

Nancy: Thank you for sharing The Shell Collector novels with your friends. You know, this all started with The Shell Collector written as I grieved the loss of my husband.

These characters have walked with me through the toughest times of my life and have become so special to me. It means more than I can say to share their stories with readers. These are the books of my heart. I hope this release, Home No Matter Where, leaves folks feeling encouraged and maybe reminds y’all that no matter where life takes you, you’re never as far from home as you think.

~*~
Author Bio:

USA TODAY and ECPA bestselling author Nancy Naigle writes uplifting coastal women’s fiction and sweet romance that feels like a deep breath of salty air. Her stories invite readers to slow down, escape to the shore, and rediscover hope, healing, and the comfort of close-knit seaside communities. 

Her breakout novel The Shell Collector debuted in the Top 20 on the ECPA Bestseller list and was adapted as a Fox Original Movie. Along with beloved coastal reads like Sand Dollar Cove, later brought to life as a movie on the Hallmark Channel, Nancy’s stories deliver heartfelt summer escapes filled with family ties, second chances, and quiet moments of grace found along sun-washed beaches and weathered piers.

A former Senior Vice President at Bank of America, Nancy now writes full-time from small-town Virginia, inspired by coastal traditions, handwritten notes, and the simple joys that make a place feel like home. Her books are perfect for readers who love clean romance, emotional women’s fiction, and feel-good beach reads that linger long after the tide rolls out.

If you’re dreaming of a story that feels like a seaside getaway and a gentle reset for the heart, welcome to Nancy Naigle’s coastal story worlds.

~*~
Book blurb for Home No Matter Where:

Three generations of women confront their pasts and discover it's never too late for new beginnings in this heartwarming novel of second chances and unconditional love—from the bestselling author of The Shell Collector. 

“In Home No Matter Where we travel to beautiful Whelk’s Island, where a close-knit community puts us right at home. Along the way we meet compelling characters caught in realistic storms and learn faith-filled lessons about weathering them.” —Denise Hunter, bestselling author of More Than Friends

Nina is at her wit's end with her teenage daughter, Kendra. Still dealing with her own wounds of divorce, Nina hopes a change of scenery will help. She and Kendra head to the serene coastal town of Whelk's Island to spend a restorative summer with Nina’s mother, Rosemary—bringing three generations under one roof for the first time in years. Amid the island's charm, old wounds begin to heal, and as new friendships bloom—especially with the steady and enigmatic Fisher—light begins to break through the cracks of Nina’s tightly controlled life.

Kendra's reckless behavior continues but Fisher’s intervention during a critical moment for Kendra sparks a sense of hope in Nina that she thought was lost. Still, change is never easy.

As the women navigate the tides of forgiveness, growing up, and letting go, healing begins and new love brings surprises. While Whelk’s Island may not hold all the answers, it has a way of reminding people that moving forward doesn't follow a set path—it requires the bravery to start anew.

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Buy Nancy’s book:

Amazon

Audible

Barnes and Noble

Books-A-Million

Christian Book

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Connect with Nancy:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NancyNaigleAuthor/

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

X: https://x.com/nancynaigle

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nancynaigle

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/nancy-naigle

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4575284.Nancy_Naigle

But most importantly, sign up for my newsletter and stay connected with me on my website www.nancynaigle.com where I post a blog under the FOR READERS tab, and my event calendar is kept, plus I keep subscribers up to date on sales, events and other cool happenings.

"He Calls Me Daughter" (film) is now streaming online via Angel Studios

When Momentum Influencers Network (MIN) asked me to share more about the film titled “He Calls Me Daughter”, I agreed because my life was positively impacted through watching this film a few weeks ago and I believe this documentary would make a significant difference in the lives of females who are suffering from father wounds and struggling in their faith walk with Jesus Christ.

He Calls Me Daughter will start streaming via Angel Studios this April 23. Angel is a platform for deeply personal, healing-centered stories rooted in faith.

Before I share my review with you, I’d like to share words from Angel Studios about this film: He Calls Me Daughter is a deeply personal and emotionally powerful film that explores what it means to carry a father wound and what it takes to heal from it. Through raw storytelling and spiritual insight, the film reveals how unmet needs from an earthly father can shape identity, relationships, and self-worth. But it also offers a path forward. One rooted in the love of a Heavenly Father who restores, redeems, and redefines what it means to be a daughter. This is not just a story about pain. It is a story about healing, forgiveness, and identity.

Here’s some additional info from Angel Studios with some notes from me:

What happens when the one meant to protect you is the one who hurt you?

Now there’s a movie filled with real-life stories and ending with practical resources to help you heal those wounds from your earthly father and show you the pure, healthy and protective love of your Heavenly Father.

This documentary is for: Women navigating pain, abandonment, or broken relationships with their fathers. Faith-based audiences seeking healing, identity, and restoration. Parents, especially fathers, who want to better understand their role and impact. Viewers drawn to emotionally resonant, testimony-driven storytelling.

Core Themes in this film are:

1. God as the Perfect Father

Even when earthly fathers fail, God’s love remains constant, personal, and healing. He steps into the gaps left behind and restores what was missing.

2. Healing the Father Wound

The “father wound” shapes how daughters see themselves, love others, and relate to God. This film brings language and clarity to that pain, while offering hope for healing.

3. Forgiveness Through God

Forgiveness is not easy. It is a process made possible through a relationship with God, who enables true release and restoration.

4. Identity as a Daughter

At the core of the film is a powerful truth: your identity is not defined by what you lacked, but by who calls you His.

5. A Message to Fathers

Fathers play a critical role in shaping their daughters’ sense of worth and security. This film is both a wake-up call and an invitation to show up, love deeply, and lead well.

Why Angel Matters

Angel provides a home for stories that go beyond entertainment and into transformation. He Calls Me Daughter is the kind of film that resonates deeply but is often overlooked by traditional platforms. Angel ensures stories like this are seen, shared, and experienced by the people who need them most.

This film speaks directly to the pain many women carry but rarely name. We want women to know: Healing is possible, even from deep father wounds. Your identity is not defined by your past, but by your Heavenly Father. Forgiveness is not weakness, it is freedom. Fathers have the power to shape, protect, and affirm their daughters.

The tone and style of this film is:

● Emotionally honest and vulnerable

● Hopeful, healing, and faith-centered

● Reflective rather than preachy

● Personal and relatable

● Uplifting without minimizing pain

If your relationship with your dad left wounds, this film is for you.

Call to Action: Watch He Calls Me Daughter now on Angel and experience a story of healing, identity, and restoration. Join the Angel Guild to support more stories that bring hope, healing, and truth to the screen.

~*~

My Review of “He Calls Me Daughter” (film):

Captivating. Poignant. Transformational.

Those are three words to accurately describe this film aptly titled “He Calls Me Daughter”. If you are a female who has had a complicated relationship (or no relationship) with your earthly father so much so that it has distorted your view of your Heavenly Father, then this movie is for you.

Filled with real-life stories and testimonies from women in the real world, this movie will touch your heart and transform your mind to see God as who He really is—a loving Heavenly Father who will heal your wounds inflicted by your earthly father if you let Him.

This movie highlights the pain of several women—a few who are not well-known but have influence and the rest who are famous, including Christian comedian Chonda Pierce and Lynsi Lavelle Snyder-Ellingson who the owner and heiress of the In-N-Out Burger company that is popular in the state of California. The testimonies shared by these ladies are both heart-touching and heart-wrenching at the same time. But the powerful point in everyone’s story is how God has touched the broken hearts of these women and carefully restored their faith in His Love which is greater than the love any earthly father can give his daughter.

I like how this movie showed a full-circle journey for each woman featured. I also appreciated how they featured stories that a variety of women from different backgrounds, ethnicities, cultures and backgrounds can relate to. This movie leaves no stone unturned in getting their core message across to women who are hurting.

This film was worth the time I spent watching it. At the end of the film, the hosts talk to the audience for a few minutes to point them to a resource you access by scanning a QR code. The resource is a curriculum for women who need help healing from their father wounds.

I highly recommend this documentary to all females who are suffering from father wounds and need a healthy dose of hope and healing from their Savior.

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Watch the trailer for He Calls Me Daughter here.

Visit the official website for He Calls Me Daughter film here.

Join “He Calls Me Daughter” via Angel Guild:
https://www.angel.com/guild/join/he-calls-me-daughter

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#HeCallsMeDaughterAngelMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

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

Devotionals for the Heart: Why we need to forgive everyone who hurt us

Why We Need to Forgive
A devotional by Hannah Benson

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”—Ephesians 4:32 (ESV)

Have you ever been hurt?

If you’ve lived on this Earth for any amount of time, then you’ve probably been wounded in some way. Maybe you’ve been hurt by the words of a friend or their inconsiderate actions. Maybe you were hurt physically. Maybe they meant to hurt you.

Maybe they didn’t.

Either way, you know what I’m talking about. Pain is not fun, especially when it’s caused by another person. Maybe we feel like we were in the right, and they’re the ones who need to apologize. Maybe that’s true. Maybe we did nothing wrong. Maybe, in cases such as abuse, we are the victim. Or maybe we’re seeing the speck in their eye while completely avoiding the log in our own (Matthew 7:3-5). God calls us to forgive one another as Jesus Christ forgave us.

Gulp.

When we really think about it, we have no right to withhold forgiveness from someone. No matter how wronged we’ve been, no one could ever hurt us as deeply as our sins have hurt Jesus. He suffered in every way we do (I would say even more so) and never sinned.

Jesus was unjustly accused. He was beaten. His flesh was torn, and they crucified Him for a crime that He didn’t commit. Even when He was unjustly treated, He did not defend Himself, but He stayed silent. And He forgave them.

Even if we weren’t there physically spitting in Jesus’s face or mocking Him, we have still sinned, and our sins hurt Him. The Bible says in Romans 3:23 (ESV), “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

But Jesus still chose to die for us. Romans 5:8 (ESV) says, “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Even when we were at our worst, Jesus loved us. Jesus, the perfect Son of God, chose to die for us even though we didn’t deserve it.

Why then would we withhold that same forgiveness from others?

Forgiveness is hard. And what do we do if the other person doesn’t even ask for it? It is a truly humbling experience to forgive when the other person doesn’t ask. Maybe they were right to begin with and we must humbly realize our error. Or maybe they are truly wrong, but they still think they’re right. It’s not about right or wrong anymore, is it?

I heard once that we don’t forgive for their sake. We forgive for our own. It’s true because holding on to bitterness and anger will only serve to make us bitter and angry. We should not want that to happen to us! As difficult as it is to forgive, we must. Not simply for the sake of the other person, but so that we may find freedom. Sometimes, we also must forgive ourselves. Is there something that you are angry at yourself for? Do you blame yourself for something that happened this morning? A long time ago?

Dear friend, choose to forgive yourself. Jesus forgave you. He proved it when He shed His blood for you on the Cross as stated in John 3:16 and Ephesians 1:7. Therefore, you must also choose to forgive yourself. Jesus didn’t die so you would live enslaved by unforgiveness, bitterness and anger. He wants you to live in freedom!

Do you think that choosing to forgive the other person and yourself will bring about the freedom your heart longs for? I believe it will because the Bible says so, and forgivness has set me free too!

Let’s Pray:
Dear Father God, I know that You forgive me for all my sins. You proved it when You sent Your Son to die on that cross for me. Please forgive me for withholding forgiveness from others. They are sinners, as am I. You have died for them, as You have me. You love us all. Please help me to forgive others and even myself as You have forgiven me. Thank You for giving me freedom. Please help me learn to walk in it. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Forgiveness” by Matthew West. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Hannah Benson is a Jesus-follower who’s passionate about sharing the love of Christ with others. 

From the time she could hold a pen, she was writing. But it wasn’t until she was sixteen that she began to seriously follow God’s calling to write a novel. Hannah is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and has at least four novels in the works. For the past five years, she has been involved with her local Biblical theater company. She wants to show others the love of Jesus through the creative arts.

When she’s not acting or working on her upcoming novel, you can find Hannah laughing with her siblings, cuddling her little fluffy dog, or reading books (usually historical fiction or fantasy stories). You can read more of Hannah’s writings on her blog or on her Instagram where she strives to write content that leaves others feeling encouraged.

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Connect with Hannah:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannahlynnauthor/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Hannah-Lynn-Writer/100073790792576/
Blog: www.loveunconditional.blog

Devotionals for the Heart: When your idea of "family" is complicated

When the Idea of Christian Family is Complicated
A devotional by Jessica Brodie

We hear it all the time—“Father” God. My “brother” or “sister” in Christ.

Likening our relationships with the divine and each other to family members is a common thing. Jesus used familial terms, as did the apostles Peter and Paul.

For some of us, myself included, this analogy works well. I love the idea that I am a “child of God”, that God is my divine parent, and that in Jesus Christ, because of the power of the Holy Spirit that connects us all, I have Christian brothers and sisters across the globe. It makes me feel valuable and reminds me the connection between us is intimate and personal. Just as if we were one big body, if one of us hurts, we all hurt.

But what if the concept of family is painful for us? What if we had an awful, dysfunctional relationship with our earthly father? What if we experienced abuse at his hands, or if he abandoned the family and we never knew him? How would calling God our “father” feel if this is the case for us?

Or the concept of Christian siblings—what if we have a poor relationship with our family? What if we are estranged from a brother or sister, or they harmed us in some devastating way that we are still struggling to forgive?

Recently on Twitter, a Christian woman commented about how she unfollows anyone who calls her “sister in Christ” because she feels it is inappropriate and harmful. Yet my experience is so different. I genuinely am heartened when someone calls me sister. I have a handful of close Christian male friends, friends I have done ministry and mission work with alongside my husband, who I regularly and joyfully call my “brothers.” Feeling like someone is my sister or my brother is helpful for me because it tears down unhealthy human divisions such as racial, age, or cultural barriers. I know in heaven we’ll all be united, and this is my way of helping “Thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).

And it’s the same with God as father, for me. While I personally think God is so incomprehensible and all-powerful that even ascribing something as basic as gender is a bit like putting God in a box, I still like to think of God as my father. Yes, it’s a human way of looking at it, but Jesus called God his father, and I find it helps me feel closer to God when I call him my father, too.

I loved my earthly father, but I had a complicated relationship with him. He struggled with mental illness and alcoholism, and though he died a Christian, his issues created much pain in our family. Yet when I think of God as “father,” it’s healing for me. God is perfect, the ideal representation of what “father” should represent. He’s the father who never lets us down, never causes pain.

But note one important thing here: all of this is “for me.” See, for me it is healing and helpful to consider God my father and other Christians my brothers and sisters. Yet I know it’s not that way for everyone.

We live in an imperfect world, and other people do let us down, sometimes in horrible, evil ways. When it’s our family, this can have devastating reverberations, sometimes for generations.

Some of us eventually get to the point where we can push aside pain about human family and come to understand and fully appreciate the heavenly family we have instead. But for some of us, that pain is just too raw. We don’t get to that point of acceptance until much, much later in life.

And that’s OK—because God understands.

It’s important to realize our kinship as Christians is far deeper than family ties or family names and roles. Father, brother, sister, mother… those are just titles. The reality is the connection we have through the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit lives inside of each of us who believes in and follows Christ. As we’re told in Romans 8:9, “If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.”

It doesn’t matter what label we ascribe to that connection, whether brother or sister or friend, or no word at all. The label doesn’t change the truth, and the truth is that the Holy Spirit lives in and connects each of us to one another, with Christ as our head.

If you are one who has complicated family dynamics and struggles with the concept of God as father or fellow Christians as brothers and sisters, take heart. God knows you and knows why you feel this way. God understands. Perhaps in time, your heart will come to understand the concept of family in a new light.

If you are one who doesn’t have these issues and struggles to understand those who do, I pray you are filled with compassion over the pain some of us have had to experience. We don’t have to understand to love each other and respect each other.

Whether we call ourselves family or not, the reality is that we are one—no matter what label we use.

Let’s Pray: Lord, thank You for all the ways You love us. Help us heal and grow in spite of the issues we face here on earth, and help us love each other well. Enable us to remember the words of Romans 8:28, “That in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” In Your holy name we pray, Amen.

Song of Reflection: “God’s Family” by Tommy Walker. 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. 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 the editor of a number of other books from her newspaper’s Advocate Press, which she helped found in 2017.

She has won more than 100 writing awards and is a seasoned speaker and frequent contributor to Crosswalk.com, Christianity.com, and BibleStudyTools.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.

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. 

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Connect with Jessica:
Website: https://www.jessicabrodie.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JessicaJBrodie
Facebook Author: https://www.facebook.com/authorjessicajbrodie
Facebook Personal: https://www.facebook.com/JessicaJBrodie
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicajbrodie/
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicajbrodie/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/shiningthelightjessicabrodie/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jessicajbrodie

Devotionals for the Heart: How to let your light shine for Jesus Christ

Let Your Light Shine
A devotional by Angela Anderson

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” –Matthew 5:16 (NKJV)

It was a Friday morning at the airport, and I was on my way to see a friend for a weekend getaway. I was so excited because it had been almost a year since the last time we saw each other. I had to dress in layers because I was heading into a much cooler climate, so I boarded the plane in a sweatsuit, wearing a T-shirt underneath, and carrying a winter coat.

When I sat in my window seat on the plane, a lady took her seat next to me, and then a gentleman sat down next to her, closest to the aisle. As the other passengers began to board the plane, I started getting a little warm. I became so uncomfortable that I removed my sweatshirt and remained in my T-shirt.

As the plane left the runway, the lady next to me started chatting with the man next to her. She then turned to me, and we exchanged a few friendly words. As she spoke, I could not help but notice the book on her tray. It was a survival guide for someone with breast cancer. She turned her attention back to the book and continued turning the pages, intently reading each paragraph.

I wanted to say something caring or even encouraging, but I could not find the words. I started to silently pray for the lady next to me, and I asked God to give me the words to say to her. She continued reading the book, only looking up when the flight attendant asked her if she wanted a snack or a drink.

The pilot made the announcement to fasten our seatbelts for landing. The flight went by so quickly and I still was not prepared with any words of spiritual wisdom for the lady next to me. I was a little disappointed as the plane approached the gate and the passengers began to gather their belongings. As I watched each person leave the plane, I remained in my seat.

The lady next to me got up and started to walk away. As she turned to say goodbye to me, she told me that really liked my T-Shirt. I looked down to see what she liked about it, and I realized I was wearing my black T-Shirt with the word “faith” written on the front. I thanked her with a smile and told her to take care as she exited the plane.

Sometimes when we think that words of encouragement will help a situation, the best thing we can do is be silent and allow our light to shine in someone’s life. That may mean showing others the love of Christ through our actions, our demeanor, our tone, or even by a simple message written on our shirt. We should always be willing to reach out to others and pray for those who are going through hard times. When we are willing to let our light shine, God can use us to impact even strangers, if we make ourselves available to Him.

Let’s Pray: 

Dear God, Please give us opportunities in life to let our light shine, not for our own glory, but so that we may point others to You and that they may give You glory. We thank You for Your love. We worship You for Your kindness and compassion. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Hold Up the Light” by The New Jersey Mass Choir. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Angela Anderson was born in Brooklyn, NY, and raised in NJ. She found her love for writing when she was in elementary school. She continued writing through high school, college, and into adulthood.

Angela is the author of a devotional book titled, Just When I Thought I Knew God, and a children's book that is not yet published.

In 2021, Angela started writing articles for an online magazine called Christian Women Living, where she focuses on writing messages for mothers and sharing advice on parenting. In addition to this, Angela wrote a devotional that is featured in a book published by Proverbs 31 Ministries. The book title is Hope When Your Heart is Heavy.

Angela has a passion for inspiring and impacting others through her writing as well as speaking. She is the co-founder of Anchor Moms, a ministry to cure loneliness in Motherhood. Currently, this ministry meets via a group on Facebook.

Angela has been married to the love of her life, Duane Anderson, for 17 years. Together, they have two sons: Thomas (age 9) and Ryan (age 4). Angela’s favorite pastime is journaling, and she also enjoys spending quality time with her family. Her personal mission is to empower others to achieve their goals and dreams.

~*~
Connect with Angela:
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/angela.thomasanderson
Facebook fan page for her devotional book, Just When I Thought I Knew God:
https://www.facebook.com/jwitikg/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelanderson1104/

14 Days of Love: All Your Heart

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

LeighAnne Clifton.

~*~

Book Blurb for All Your Heart:

Alex is determined to use college on the other coast to escape her small Southern town and workaholic mother. However, a prom-night assault and the resulting pregnancy require a drastic change of plans.

Alex flees with every intention of ending her cross-country trek at an abortion clinic. Instead, finding herself stranded and scared after wrecking her car, Miss Matilda welcomes Alex to town with love and open doors. It just happens that Matilda runs a crisis pregnancy home.

When Alex strikes a deal with Chad, the handsome mechanic with secrets of his own, the citizens of Burton discover Alex’s artistry, prompting a business partnership with Matilda’s nephew. Alex soon discovers the life-altering sweetness of trusting Jesus, but her past hurts make it difficult to trust Chad with her heart.

Then, secrets within the pages of an old diary discovered at the home threaten to tear families apart. Can the people of Burton learn to heal the hurts of the past by trusting the Lord with all their hearts?

~*~
Author Bio:

LeighAnne Clifton and her husband Bill call South Carolina home.

After meeting while both earning their degrees in chemical engineering at the University of South Carolina, the pair married and settled in Aiken. They have two grown children, a son-in-law, and a pair of spoiled cats.

Before writing All Your Heart, LeighAnne wrote The Little Vessel, a modern-day parable for all who need reminding that God has a unique purpose for their lives. Readers should look for the sequel to All Your Heart to be released in early 2022.

LeighAnne, like Alex Powell, loves to upcycle old junk into beautiful, one-of-a-kind pieces. She shares her thoughts on Christian living, DIY projects, and the latest book news on her blog.

~*~
Buy LeighAnne's book on Amazon or PenIt! Publications

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Connect with LeighAnne:
Blog: https://alive-leighjourney.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leighaclifton
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leighanne_clifton_author/

~*~
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: Safety

God is our safe place
A devotional by Alexis Newlin

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous run to it and is safe.” 

– Proverbs 18:10 (ESV)

Do you have a need to feel safe in your life? Is that need preventing you from taking steps of faith in your Christian walk with God? Here’s how I handled one aspect of this need to feel safety in my life.

I struggle very much with the fear of being hurt by another person, whether it be a friend, spouse, sibling, stranger…I do not want to get hurt. Because of this fear, I often try to put myself in situations where I won’t experience hurt and I won’t try to connect with a person unless I can feel completely safe with them.

I told one of my friends this while out to lunch one day and she told me these wise words:

“That’s a lot to put on a person – feeling safe with them. It’s an impossible request to meet. Only God is your safety. No one on this earth can fulfill that. You may need to repent to God for this, for seeking safety in someone other than Him.”

Bam! My eyes were opened. SAFE. That’s it! Not feeling safe was the root of my fear. If I didn’t feel safe, there were a lot of things that I would refuse to do outside of this situation.

I had to feel safe and secure before taking action in many areas of my life. So after realizing this, I took this new information to God. We went on a journey to find out where my holding on to safety higher than anything else came from. This is what we found:

As a child, my environment was unpredictable. It was not always safe. As I grew older, I vowed to always have a safe place and have those around me that I considered safe. It became an idol. What I called being cautious was actually me being fearful. Yikes.

God then had me look up the definition for safe from Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Here is what I found to define the word safe: free from harm or risk : UNHURT 2a: secure from threat of danger, harm, or loss 3: affording safety or security from danger, risk, or difficulty 5a: not threatening danger : HARMLESS 6a: not likely to take risks : CAUTIOUS b: TRUSTWORTHY, RELIABLE.

I look at this definition and to me, being safe on this earth almost seems impossible. We encounter things and people that could harm us every single day. There is no way that we can go one day without encountering some sort of physical, emotional or mental harm.

I was honest with God, telling Him: “I am trying to grasp the concept that you God, are my safe place. That you will protect me and keep me from harm. Many painful things happen every single day. How are you keeping me safe if I get hurt?”

It is so beautiful when God answers.

This is what He said to me and it redefined my definition of safe:

I use your pain to grow you. The injuries you encounter help you grow stronger and stronger each and every day. How do you grow without trial?

A flower must work in order to bloom. It must break its way out of the seed, and then plow through the soil to get to the water and sunlight it needs just to bloom. When it blooms, behold, there is all manner of things that can and will destroy the flower – too much rain, not enough water, too hot, too cold – yet it still blooms.

You are to bloom no matter what you encounter. When trials come, when you feel afraid or face danger, when you feel unsafe then I, God, will be there. I will be a safe place. I will stand beside you; hold you up so you do not fall.

Despite what comes, I am your safe place.

This sent me on a quest to study everything the Lord says about His safety and protection. I found so much. I keep finding verses that show how He has protected us and continues to protect us. Words like, refuge, stronghold, strong tower, shield, shelter, secure and fortress describe our Father and the beautiful things that He does for us if we run to Him. Some of my favorite verses from this study are:

Proverbs 18:10 says, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous run to it and is safe.”

Proverbs 30:5 says, “Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.”

Psalm 28:7 says, “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song, I will praise him.”

This has been such a beautiful journey to take with the Lord and a journey that I am still walking. It was hard to admit that at times I do not feel safe with the Lord. But, had I not admitted it, I would still have this barrier between God and me. God will do anything to let us know how much He loves us and cares for us.

Although there are times I don’t feel it, it gives me comfort to know that His protection and love for us is splashed all over the pages of His word. God is, and will always be, my safe place.

~*~
Author Bio:

Alexis is a 36-year-old lover of Jesus, loose leaf tea, roller coasters, writing stories and going on adventures. Originally from Marietta, GA, Alexis now resides in Fresno, CA. 

You can always find Alexis outdoors enjoying a walk in her neighborhood, scoping out the newest food truck, hanging out with friends or planning her next trip.

Her church, The Revival Center, and family mean the world to her. They have supported her through the loss of her mother and her own cancer diagnosis.

Alexis enjoys encouraging others by reminding them not to look at what they see, but to always look to God, who is working in the unseen.

Alexis currently writes for several online ministries and launched her first podcast – The Brave Podcast – in January 2020.

~*~
Connect with Alexis:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apeachincali/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/apeachincali
Podcast: http://thebravepodcast.buzzsprout.com
Website: www.apeachincali.com

Devotionals for the Heart: Greetings

Joyful Greetings
A devotional by Sharon Musgrove

“This letter is from James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am writing to the “twelve tribes”—Jewish believers scattered abroad. Greetings!”
– James 1:1 (NLT)

I absolutely love vacationing on the Hawaiian Islands! Sunshine, warm ocean breezes and vibrant blue waters are a soothing balm to my to frazzled mainland soul. Conversely, the zesty pineapple and sweet mango revive my taste buds during winter’s lull in fresh produce at home. It is a sensory feast that contrasts the gray days of home.

While I delight in all the tangibles, it’s the Hawaiian “Spirit of Aloha” that I desire most. This spirit of aloha is a lifestyle of love and unity. The Hawaiian word “Aloha” is associated with “Hello” and “Goodbye,” but also means love, kindness, compassion and grace. So when greeted with, “Aloha,” it is more than an acknowledgment that we see each other. The heart behind the word says, “Friend, together we share the bounty of this earth. I am grateful it is this way. May there be friendship and love between us!”

I want in on that.

It turns out, the early church also had a single word of greeting that included in its meaning, not only love, but the good news of Jesus Christ! This word, “Greetings,” in the Greek, is “chairein,” actually meaning “rejoice!”

My favorite use of this word occurs in James 1:1 (NLT) (italics are mine): “This letter is from James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am writing to the “twelve tribes” —Jewish believers scattered abroad. Greetings!”

Rejoice!

There are two amazing things about “Rejoice” as a greeting here. First, James describes himself as being a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ ... and he is happy about that! James is writing to Jewish refugees and suggesting joy!

The context of the Jewish people in those days was that they went from being slaves in Egypt to slaves of the Roman Empire (with some rescuing in between). They were accustomed to living in slavery and were desperate for freedom. Not only that, but their own Jewish laws kept them in a state of works-oriented, religious slavery. Ouch and double ouch ouch! 

I relate to living in slavery to the expectations of the culture I reside in. I relate to being tethered to the works mentality and the lies that I must produce to be of value. That’s why I desperately want escape...to Hawaii...or frankly, any other culture but the one I feel stuck in!

Secondly, James continues, post-greeting, to encourage believers by suggesting they should consider the trials they continue to encounter as “opportunity for joy.” Wait, what?

According to James 1:2-4 (NLT), he says, “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”

How on earth can I be rejoicing when I feel cut to the bone?

James reminds that while we reside physically in a world that hurts us, God is using that hurt to heal us. When we allow God to work in us, we’re making headway in His Kingdom, rather than squirreling in a cage. Not just for Heaven’s sake, but here on Earth too.

Jesus Christ came to set us free from the law and from living a single life to living an infinite one! To live in Jesus’s name is to live life His way ... happily tethered to good deeds and in love with all life. Unified with God and unified with man. That sounds like paradise! I think I feel the sun and taste pineapple on my lips! 

Apparently, I forgot the culture my faith brought me.

What if we change our greeting? What if we lead with a salutation that is encouraging, both to ourselves and our neighbors? A salutation that reminds the truth of the Spirit of God? Would you see rainbows on your dreary days?

Let me be the first. Friend, rejoice!

~*~
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 recovery programs served women primarily from 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.

Easily identifying personally with the brokenness of the women she's served, Sharon now 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, make their home in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. They have two grown children. Currently, Sharon is writing her first Christian historical fiction novel utilizing her study, experience, and understanding of self-destructive behaviors.

Devotionals for the Heart: True Love

Love isn’t supposed to hurt
A devotional by Jessica Brodie

It started off innocently enough, like a sweet dream, but then it became a horrible reality that she couldn’t escape.

He caught her eye, said all the right things, and soon they were dating. Then came the jealousy—she was paying “too much attention” to her friends or her studies, she shouldn’t wear that because it “sent the wrong message,” it was her “fault” that man smiled at her, she shouldn’t tell her parents what he said because it would “make him look bad.”

Eventually, he snuck his way into controlling every aspect of her life. Her life centered on him. Angry words soon escalated. He’d punch a wall, break a glass. The first time he hit her, he bought her roses, swore it’d never happen again.

The last time he hit her, she wound up in intensive care.

Despite what singers on the radio might want us to believe, real love—true love—isn’t supposed to hurt. But we know all too well that it can hurt. It can even kill.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Domestic violence is not just physical violence—black eyes and bruises. Sometimes the scars are invisible: threats, manipulation, yelling, humiliation. Sometimes it’s stalking someone online or following them wherever they go, or making them do things they don’t want to do.

And it happens all around us. According to the Center for Disease Control, one in four women and nearly one in 10 men have experienced physical, sexual, or stalking-related domestic violence during their lifetime, and more than 43 million women and 38 million men experienced psychological aggression by an intimate partner in their lifetime. These are not just headlines. This is happening every day to women—and men—all around us. People we know. People we see in our neighborhoods or in social settings.

With the vast amount of bad news we hear almost daily, it’s tempting to tune it out, rationalize it away, think it only happens to “someone else” or even turn off the news altogether. But as followers of Christ, as children of God, we cannot afford to harden or shield our hearts from tragedy. We must hear with open ears, see with eyes wide open, and do what we can to stand up and help whenever and wherever possible.

Data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Supplementary Homicide Report reveals that, nationwide, 92% of women killed by men were murdered by someone they knew and that the most common weapon used was a gun. Of the victims who knew their offenders, 62% were wives or other intimate acquaintances of their killers. Nearly 11 times as many females were murdered by a male they knew than were killed by male strangers.

This is not acceptable, and the Bible calls us to do something about this.

Proverbs 31:8-9 (NIV) says, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy." Jesus, in Matthew 25:40, says, “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”

If you suspect someone you know is a victim, talk to her. Ask how you can help. Call the authorities. See what your church can do to get involved or whether domestic violence shelters in your area could use donations or support.

Love isn’t supposed to hurt.

As the apostle Paul writes about love, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

That is love. Jesus is love.

It’s time to do what we can to help spread awareness about what real love is and stop the violence.

*NOTE: Here is a short list of resources for victims of domestic violence ...

Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 799-7233 or visit them online at https://www.thehotline.org/

The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (https://ncadv.org/) offers resources for victims and survivors of domestic violence here (https://ncadv.org/resources).

~*~
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/shiningthelight.

Devotionals for the Heart: God Cares

God Cares
A devotional by Nanci Rubin

“Does God Care?”

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve asked that question. But I can unequivocally say, “Yes, He does!"

When you’re hurting and you can’t see beyond your pain, His Word brings hope. But the times when our pain is constant and unrelenting, then the assembling of ourselves with one another becomes a healing balm. When our church family is interceding on our behalf, healing can begin. There is no family like the family of God. We need one another.

“Not forsaking the assembling of yourself together, as the manner some is; but exhorting one another, and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” 

~Hebrews 10:25 (KJV)

I have so many friends who have been wounded and silently sit on the sidelines no longer willing to enter a church. Their reasons are their own. I have survived two church splits in my lifetime, neither was pretty and they left wounds that lasted a long time. Healing comes but as with all things, it came in God’s time.

I’m grateful that I didn’t become bitter. I have a couple of friends who never entered a church again. They have chosen to embrace their pain, to nurse it and rehearse it. The past holds them frozen in time. They no longer trust any ministry. It saddens me to see the wounded remain victims. God created a family and we complete each other. I pray my friends will trust again and allow God to bring them to an area in which they are willing to be healed. We need to keep our eyes on Jesus. Men will fail, He never will.

I was reading a book recently that was conveying how many born-again Christians who are the children of God but have never become acquainted with our Father. An interesting topic and one I have never considered.

I think a lot of us don’t realize how interested He is in each of us individually (not just as a group, or a body, or a church). He is interested in each of His children, and He loves every single one with the same love. I’ve also read that often our relationship with our earthly fathers creates an atmosphere of how we perceive our Heavenly Father. It is difficult for those of us who have had absentee fathers, abusive fathers, or harsh and cold fathers to see our Heavenly Father as the loving, caring Father He is.

In the Old Testament, after the tabernacle was built first and the temple second, they didn’t know Him as Father God. They knew Him as Elohim, or Jehovah. They did not know Him personally.

The enemy doesn’t want you to know God’s love. He wants to beat you down and tell you, your sin is too great and you can’t be forgiven. He calls to remembrance the ugliness of our sinful past before coming to Jesus.

God is not mad at you, He is mad about you! His love for you is so great there is nothing on earth to compare it to. God is love. When we’ve committed sins and remain in isolation from our guilt will eventually cause us to feel He’s not here or He doesn’t care. 

The ruse of the enemy is to alienate us from our Father, but all we have to do is repent, confess we’ve missed the mark, ask for forgiveness and move on. We’re all sinners saved by grace. 

God is not holding a big stick to wield across your back. Jesus made a way for us to cross the chasm of sin and come back to fellowship with our Heavenly Father. We must learn to see ourselves as God does. He sees us as the finished product of love, complete and whole. 

Don’t be down on yourself, God loves you just the way you are. He’ll hide you under the shadow of His wings when you need healing, He’ll carry you when you can’t walk, He’ll fight your battles for you, and He’ll never leave nor forsake you.

It is a privilege to be in service to the King. Blessings to you all.

~*~
Author Bio:

Nanci writes Inspy Amish romance. She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and two fur kids, Romeo and Juliet, rescue cats. She is working on her debut novel, Plain Justice.

She retired earlier than planned from nursing to care for her mother, diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Her mom passed last year at the age of ninety-nine and Nanci has delved more into her writing.

She is active in an intercessory prayer ministry in her church, belongs to The Woman’s Club, a service-oriented volunteer organization dedicated to the welfare and enrichment of the community and volunteers two days a week at the Mary Washington Museum.

Currently, she's enrolled in Rhema Bible College’s correspondence Bible studies. She belongs to ACFW and RWA. When she’s not working, reading or writing she’s hiking with her husband at Shenandoah National Park.

Devotionals for the Heart: Let It Go

Don’t Nurse It. Don’t Rehearse it. Let it go.
A devotional written by Nanci Rubin

"And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offense toward God, and toward men." ~Acts 24:16 (KJV)

I cannot tell you how much time I’ve spent looking in the rearview mirror of my life and questioning why God didn’t answer my prayers. I have been so myopic over the hairline fractures in my life that I was blinded to what God had for me. There was a season where it seemed every sermon I heard dealt with past offenses and forgiveness. It took me over a year before I got it! You cannot see where God is leading when you’re looking backward. I can see now how God had things He wanted to get to me, but I was too dumb to receive them and beyond stubborn to forgive, which would have enabled me so I could.

When one is betrayed it opens one up for a tremendous propensity to not forgive and to become a martyr. I kept the pain of my betrayal hidden, or so I thought. I absolutely refused to give it up. It was my pain and I reveled in it. In the midnight hour I would rehearse the pain over and over, sometimes I mentally plotted revenge. I had imaginary conversations with my betrayer that I could never have had in reality. Somehow these nighttime scrimmages lent a measure of relief from the continuous pain I lived with. Make no mistake, betrayal is toxic. Unforgiveness is unhealthy and it kept me tied to the one I had been hurt by. Until I was willing to confess my unforgiveness and pray a blessing over those who had hurt me did I finally have peace over the pain of betrayal. I was stuck in my own misery.

We have to be mindful of the necessity of forgiveness. In Matthew 6:15 (KJV) Jesus said, “But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” He couldn’t have said it any simpler, we are compelled to forgive. It’s not an option, we need to do it.

We must be careful not to say we won’t forgive someone. I had a pastor many years ago, a wonderful man of God, married to an anointed woman gifted with a music ministry. The church prospered under their leadership and God was blessing it then overnight, it all fell apart.

The pastor’s wife had an affair with one of the deacons, but to add insult to injury, it was the pastor’s best friend. He could have chosen NOT to forgive, but he didn’t. He did not become embittered. Everyone in the church was in total awe of his ability to forgive.

Revenge not only lowers you to your betrayer’s lowest level, what’s worse, it boomerangs. One who seeks revenge is like a fool who shoots himself in order to hit his enemy with the kick of the gun’s recoil.

Revenge is the most worthless weapon in the world. It ruins the avenger, all the while confirming the enemy in the wrongdoing. All of this is the beginning of a root of bitterness. And what strange things bitterness can do to us. It slowly sets, like a permanent plaster cast, perhaps protecting the wearer from further pain but ultimately holding the sufferer rigid in frozen animation. Feelings and responses have turned to concrete. Bitterness is paralysis.

Bitterness is a cyclical, repetitive, tightly closed circle of self-centered pain. It carries us around and around the same senseless arc, around and around ourselves. Like a child learning to ride a bicycle, knowing how to ride but not how to stop, we pedal on and on, afraid to quit, yet wishing desperately for someone to come and take the handlebars, break our circling, and let us off. Bitterness is useless. Repayment is impossible. Revenge is impotent. Resentment is impractical.

Only forgiveness can reconcile the differences and restore healing to a relationship. God knew that we could not hold to offenses because offenses will eventually take hold of us. I am proud to report that my Pastor NEVER carried unforgiveness or bitterness. He befriended and continued to pastor the man he trusted most and who’d hurt him most. Although his marriage failed God blessed him years later with a wonderful woman of God who stands with him in their ministry. He has been blessed beyond measure. But would this have been his outcome if he’d held to unforgiveness? If he’d nursed his pain? Rehearsed his revenge?

No, God said we must forgive, and in doing so we can receive healing. Let’s not hold offenses and be locked to the past. Let go and allow God to intervene.

~*~
Author Bio:

Nanci writes Inspy Amish romance. She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and two fur kids, Romeo and Juliet, rescue cats. She is working on her debut novel, Plain Justice.

She retired earlier than planned from nursing to care for her mother, diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Her mom passed last year at the age of ninety-nine and Nanci has delved more into her writing.

She is active in an intercessory prayer ministry in her church, belongs to The Woman’s Club, a service-oriented volunteer organization dedicated to the welfare and enrichment of the community and volunteers two days a week at the Mary Washington Museum.

Currently, she's enrolled in Rhema Bible College’s correspondence Bible studies. She belongs to ACFW and RWA. When she’s not working, reading or writing she’s hiking with her husband at Shenandoah National Park.

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Devotionals for the Heart: Shellie's thoughts on science and Heaven

When We All Get to Heaven
A devotional by Shellie Arnold

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” 
~Revelation 21:4 (NIV)

My husband, Stephen, loves science. Science, astronomy, nature—they all point him to God. For Stephen, watching the stars is a spiritual experience. They provoke him to worship.

So, you’d think I’d support that, wouldn’t you? My husband learning about science, nature, the stars, details about God’s creation. The problem is, he usually shares these facts when I’m trying to go to sleep. And I don’t care. Because I want to go to sleep.

One time he was trying to explain to me that scientists had recently stumbled onto a new fact—I don’t even know what the fact was—that pointed to (wait for it) the possibility of the creation of our world being the result of intelligent design. Stephen loves those kind of “discoveries.”

But I was irritated. I wanted to go to sleep, but he kept talking.

And mean Shellie came out. She doesn’t appear very often, but this time, she did. I sat up in bed, and I said: “You know what? When we get to heaven, God is going to take all you science types into a big classroom. And He’s going to ask every one of you, ‘How do you think I did it?’ and you’re all going to have the wrong answer. Then He’s going to say, ‘This is how I did it." And you’re all going to say, ‘Wow, I never would have thought of that.’”

After having this particular conversation with Stephen—aside from being convicted and having to apologize for letting “mean Shellie” come out—I started thinking about heaven. And the older I get, the more difficult things I face, the more I think about it. Because sometimes what gets me through the week, or the day, or the moment, is focusing on heaven and what it will be like.

The above verse tells us there will be no tears in heaven—over tragedies, frustration, or rejection. Can you imagine?

There will be no death in Heaven. From cancer or Alzheimer’s or MS. There will be no more mourning in Heaven.

There is no more crying in Heaven—over disappointment or betrayal.

There will be no more pain in Heaven—emotional, physical, or otherwise. Everyone there will love God. Every touch will be right and honest and pure.

In Heaven, the old order of things will pass away. Pride will no longer cause discrimination. Power will no longer corrupt. Greed won’t exist. Shame won’t exist. Every beautiful thing we lost when Adam and Eve sinned will be restored.

You see, Heaven is the anti-thesis of all that is awful and painful here on earth. The complete opposite of everything that wounds and scars us.

It’s relief. Blissful, permanent relief.

When life throws things you didn’t expect at you, remember heaven with all its promise. You can make it through this—you can, with God’s help and strength—because on the other side, all of the things that made this side so difficult will be gone.

The One thing that will be the same, is Jesus, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit. Our lives on this earth are merely a taste of what being close to God will be like. Because finally, finally there will be no barriers between us. We will see Jesus. We can touch Him and feel His scarred hands cup our face. We can look into His eyes and find Heaven.

Don’t give up when life kicks the breath out of you or when one (or more) of these insidious things that inhabit our world happens to you.

Because for you and me, Heaven is just around the corner!

~*~
Author Bio: 

Shellie Arnold is a writer and speaker on marriage and family. She truly believes—despite baggage, neglect, or mistakes—if a husband and wife listen to God, they can live happily ever after. Her passion is sharing how God is helping her do exactly that.

She maintains a blog at www.shelliearnold.com and is the founder of YOUR MARRIAGE resources.

Shellie is a mother of three and has home-schooled for over twenty years. She lives in Ohio with her husband of thirty-one years.

~*~
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Website - www.shelliearnold.com