“I will bring him near, and he will come close to me - for who is he who will devote himself to be close to me?’ declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 30:21b (NIV). As human beings, we tend to go astray and seek out something other than God. In the Garden of Eden, we sought knowledge of a forbidden fruit. In the wilderness, we sou[...]
"At that time, Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, 'Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.'" Matthew 12: 1-2 ESV In old times, the heads of grain on the[...]
The Lord places us in situations, and at times, these are not comfortable. We are delusional if we think grassy meadows and buttercups will also surround us. Or, for this coming season, a hot chocolate, a warm fire and soothing music. As we all know, there are many challenges and stumbling blocks in our path, and one challenging[...]
"Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens, you who have done great things. Who is like you, God?" Psalm 71:19(NIV). I hum a merry, seasonal tune while decorating the house. Friends and family will come for dinner tomorrow, and I want things to look festive. I make sure there are candles dispersed throughout. There's so[...]
God loves you! How often have I heard this statement since I became a follower of Jesus? Simultaneously, I have heard a linked thought: God is Love! And frankly, if He is made of LOVE, how can He not exude it wherever He goes? There is a certain eloquent synchronicity about all of this. But I must admit that it has NOT been[...]
"This I know, that god is for me"…Psalm 56:9(b) It will always amaze me how God uses His Word and others to send a message that gently and intimately touches our hearts. I've encountered many moments like this, but one recently has stirred me so deeply. It began one Sunday in pre-service prayer. Lindsay was praying and speaki[...]
"Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life, whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst" John 6:34 (ESV), I have always loved God. I have always talked to God. Always. But one time, I was mad at God. MAD. Capital letter MAD. Mad, like, "I am not talking to you mad." Being diagnosed w[...]
When we hear testimony, it is usually what God has done in our place of need, but what happens when things have not turned out how you hoped, believed or prayed? When disappointment rolls in on how you thought it should be but isn’t! We are often asked this question on Heartstrong. We all have lived through disappointment at[...]
The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him. Exodus 15:2 When I was a little girl, I often fell asleep at the dinner table, waiting for dinner to be ready. One evening, while I patiently waited for dinner, I fell asleep and[...]
“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.” Isaiah 60:1-2 (ESV) Awaken Church. Arise and shine, for the glorious light of Christ s[...]
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