How is your heart today? Is it broken? Is it hurting? Is it fearful? Is it angry? Is it hard? What about peaceful? Is it joyful? Our heart, or the seat of our emotions, feels many things. God created us with those feelings. And yet, God asked us to have a heart of flesh instead if a heart of stone (Ezekiel 36:26). What does that mean? A heart of flesh is a heart that is soft. It is pliable. It…..
Heaven. People want to go to this glorious place where there is no more suffering, pain or tears. I know I want to end up there! Jesus talked about the kingdom of heaven, or God’s work on earth to bring people into His family, and ultimately into heaven in Matthew chapter13. He said some interesting things: It would be offered, but not all would receive it. The reception of God’s wonderful gift would depend upon the condition of our hearts……
I am a planner and administrator. I like to have everything organized and scheduled not only for the present day, but also into the future. If things don’t go as I plan, or I get behind in my schedule, my natural tendency is to get anxious. I’d read Matthew 6:25-34. I’d read Jesus’s words that I should not be anxious about anything, but I couldn’t seem to get the concept into my heart and live it out. How could I…..
Don’t you wish you could be loved perfectly? No issues, no hassles, just understood, accepted, and totally loved for who you are? I have wonderful news! There is someone who loves you that way. It is God, who loves you so much, He created you. He “knit you together in your mother’s womb” (Psalm 139:13). He joyfully and lovingly designed every part of you; both your physical body and your emotional makeup. He delights in you and loves you perfectly!…..
I needed some new shoes! Nothing elaborate, just some shoes. In fact, I needed two pairs of shoes. My navy flats had totally disintegrated. My black dress heels had a split in the side. I had them stitched, but the mend was visible and the shoes were giving out. I had looked for replacements during the few times I had gone to the stores, but could find nothing! What was I going to do? I have written about following the…..
Do you love music? I sure do! It can so perfectly express our thoughts and feelings. Right now I am thinking of a little song I learned as a child. It is such a simple song, and yet expresses such a great truth. This song originated from something Jesus said. While talking to a crowd of people, Jesus said, “Everyone who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon…..
With all the unrest in our nation, I have been a bit fearful. Have you? It feels like some of the things we have counted on are being shaken. As I thought about how there are changes in our nation, I came across Psalm 46. Verse two states, “Therefore we will not fear, though the earth shakes and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.” I don’t know about you, but I think I would be fearful in…..
Division is so painful– most of the time. Dividing an apple may not be painful. (Although we may not want to give up our half of the apple!) But most of the time, division is very painful. Breaking a limb is painful. A division within a family is extremely painful. A church division hurts and harms many people. So does a divorce. And now, our beloved United States of America is so divided! What can we do? Often when people…..
Do you long for a life free of troubles? If you are like me, you want to shout, “Yes! No more troubles!” Many people are told if they will just accept Jesus as their Savior, all their troubles will be over. But I ask you, “Did Jesus have troubles?” Yes, He did. Right after Jesus was baptized, the Spirit (God) led Him into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. There he endured hunger and thirst for forty days. Afterwards…..
Do you have a restless, unfulfilled, perhaps unidentified need or desire deep within your heart? Does this deep yearning rise up within you, desiring fulfillment? Many people try to satisfy that need with financial success, notoriety, more toys, sex, relationships, or conquering new goals. While these may bring some fulfillment, they will never bring the deep lasting fulfillment found in a personal relationship with Christ. Tom Brady, quarterback for the New England Patriots, expressed that unfulfilled yearning. He has three…..