To the Household of Strong Hearts: An Epistle from Ted.

As the Household of Heartstrong, we’ve brought each other to our first Christmas and New Year together, and I anticipate that there will be others as we continue on our pilgrimage through the Bible. As much as our focus has been the subjects and concepts of bible discussion, the relational dynamics have evolved between us such that we’ve become increasingly familiar with each other’s life struggles and prayerfully responsive to them. And I expect that this also will be enlarged among us.

Many have embraced the challenge of the bible studies, if only just listening, like a morning Radio or TV Talk Show, some sharing their insights, their experiences, and even the special blessing of taking a turn teaching. The “evening edition” is a great edifying alternative to the passivity of secular TV and lends itself wonderfully to interactive viewing or listening.

The winters usually bring me to a more studious lifestyle, and these Bible studies, I expect, may often become the event of my day. As there has been more innovation emerging in the manner of teaching, I hope that this creativity will also evolve, surprising us all with yet more joy.

I continue to be challenged by the term discipleship “INTENSIVE.” Having tasted and seen that the Lord is good, not just in the duration of time, we have been faithful together, but also during this new life of predawn awakening and in the various efforts of “INTENSITIVITY” in the other disciplines. I haven’t looked up to see if such a word exists; if it doesn’t, then I’ll be bold enough to declare that I’ve now created it. And so, “Amen!!! You may hear me start throwing it around freely.

As much as these morning and evening events have been a great blessing to so many of us, other aspects of discipleship are also as vital in importance. In our sharing and teaching, some of us have emphasized the importance of an individual and personal devotional life. Those who rise early in the morning to be with the Lord, in silence and solitude, experience the joy of His presence and the value of hearing His truth in the core of their inner being.

This is the first sign in the evidence of the whereabouts of our hearts’ treasure. The indication of our first love. As it is written in the Psalms, “When I awake, I shall be satisfied beholding your form.”(Psalm 17:15). In the Revelations, Chapter 2, the Holy Spirit rebuked the Church of Ephesus for all their commendable activities, yet, they had lost their “first love.”  The gathering of morning manna is in the very person of Christ, who is the Bread of Life, the Life Who is more to us than all that we could labour for the food that perishes; the Life we are to seek first, and from Whom all things will be added unto us. Those who begin their days in this devotion have been an example to me who has often submitted to the seduction of a warm morning bed, clinging to the futility of extra moments of sleep, especially after a late night. Your personal example is an exhortation in itself.

Psalm 1 extols and makes a great promise to those who meditate upon the counsel of His word day and night. As much as I’ve been a vociferous advocate of scripture memory, my own efforts have been sporadic and often mechanical over the decades. Still, I marvel at how much the Lord transformed my thought life and posture of my heart with the effort I have given toward it. Eventually, I’ll share an intriguing testimony of how the Lord brought me to this conviction.

We have in Heartstrong, up to now been challenged only to a monthly 1 day fast. However, this week, we entered 21 days of fasting and prayer. I am often challenged by the words of Job, … “I have cherished the words of Your mouth, more than my necessary food.”… So, I’m glad that the second half of the off-season is marked for us to step up our game in this discipline, to increase our INTESITIVITY

As for prayer, many of you are spontaneous, quick on the draw and filled with compassion in this ministry. I remember what Paul says in Philippians 3:17: “Join in imitating me brethren, and mark those who live by the example you see in us.” I’m more and more appreciating this abundant example among the people of the LifeCentre and Heartstrong family. I offer myself as “accountable” to grow in this as well.

Also, our “accountability” groups are a VERY important part of all our gatherings.  The word “accountability” is easy to define but admittedly takes some courage of faith to initiate and perpetuate. The term puts forth the challenge of “honesty,” “vulnerability,” and “compassion.” but its reward and blessing is “intimacy.” The compassion which has been so evident among so many people in many circumstances in the morning and evening sessions shows that we are very capable of taking advantage of this blessing. Know the fruits of greater intimacy in our accountability groups, open the door to walk through, and the window of time to “seize the day.”

As the law of the Lord, these disciplines provide us opportunities to know, walk, and prosper in His ways, as promised to us in the very first Psalm. They are not meant to be added duties to a life already burdened with struggles. They are the holy alternatives to so many distracting worldly choices that rob us of the godly comfort that we might comfort others from, a life victorious in Christ. The Apostle Paul also reminded Timothy that, “The goal of all our instruction is the love of a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith.” (1 Timothy 1:5), and as he said to the Philippians, “the righteous character which is the fruit of our salvation.” (Philippians 1:11)

May we all press on to know the Lord, for He will come to us as certain as the dawn and His going forth is as sure as the noonday sun.

Tadeus (Ted)