Liz Bell

"…And behold an angel touched him and said to him, 'Arise and eat.'" ….1 Kings 19:5 The story of Elijah is very interesting. Although we don't know much about him, we know he's a prophet, a faithful man of God. His name means "My God is LORD". I picture Elijah as a rugged man, somewhat like John the Baptist—a caring soul but with a tone of sarcasm. As I read about him in 1 Kings 17 until 2 Kings 2, I felt his emotions went up and down. Faithfully obedient to God but somewhat tired. Elijah had a lot t[...]

BEHOLD THE MAGNIFICENT DEITY OF JESUS CHRIST!! “AND NOW WE ALL, WITH UNVEILED FACE, BEHOLDING THE GLORY OF THE LORD...” 2 Corinthians 3:18(A) “One of the most amazing revelations of God comes to us when we learn that it is the everyday things of life that we realize the magnificent deity of Jesus Christ” (Oswald Chambers).   BEHOLD!!! A word that kept stirring me as I read 2 Corinthians 3:18 over and over. I found meanings like “pay close, careful attention to”; “to take hold of…grab onto[...]

“FOR I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. ” Romans 1:16 (NIV). I love how God places scriptures in our hearts. Sometimes for the moment and sometimes to be released when He knows you need to remember. I recall searching for the true meaning of Romans 1:16 about eight years ago. New in my relationship with Jesus, I wondered how God’s Word could have such power. Then, at a Women’s Event in[...]

"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 speaking over parts of Psalm 56. She repeatedly said, "THIS I KNOW…." louder and louder, owning and declaring it and the following promises. I felt Holy Spirit speak it into me as she spok[...]

"THIS I KNOW, THAT GOD IS FOR ME"…Psalm 56:9(b) It will always amaze me how God will use His Word and others to send a message that will touch our hearts so gently, so intimately. 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 speaking over parts of Psalm 56.  She kept repeating, "THIS I KNOW…." over and over, louder and louder, owning and declaring it and the promises that came next.  And as she[...]

"A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit." Proverbs 15:4 ESV I often think about how people speak to each other.  I like to observe and listen. I've witnessed confident people crumble because someone crushed and broken them with words that fly out of the mouth and off of something as small as the tongue.  I think words are invisible but can cut like a dagger, break the heart, and shatter the spirit, sending someone living life in light and joy into darkness and depressio[...]

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.” Ephesians 6:10 ESV. During these wonderful months of HEARTstrong, I have been feeling many things.  Some I don’t yet understand. But I have been feeling the Lord drawing me closer, filling me with a desire to lean more into Him and His Word.  That word “PREPARE” that dropped in my heart before I knew about HEARTstrong, still keeps coming up. And I’ve been eager to "lean in" more, pray more, learn more of His Word and let it sink[...]

“For the body does not consist of one member but of many” 1 Corinthians 12:14 ESV. In a recent casual conversation with the Lord, I said, “I don’t feel I do enough to help grow Your Kingdom. I feel so INSIGNIFICANT, like a pinky finger. I wasn’t angry or upset at that moment, but how the Lord set me on a path of correction. I wanted to take back what I said; I wanted to take back that word “INSIGNIFICANT.” But what I said, God heard. Immediately He spoke into my spirit and said, “Is that what[...]

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV Were you the child that wouldn’t raise your hand in class, even if you knew the answer? Or hide behind the classmate in front of you, hoping the teacher wouldn’t see you? Or hide behind a parent when someone would simply say “hi” to you? Were you that shy child? I certainly wa[...]

Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered to them from destruction" Psalm 107:19-20 ESV.   As we began reading the Book of Mark for HEARTstrong, I first read a little about this book. I think it's because I really don't know much about Mark. Matthew, I know as the tax collector, Luke was the great doctor and John a faithful disciple who followed Jesus closely and wrote so much, right up to his isolation on Pa[...]