“Guess what, Aunt Valda. I have a boyfriend!” my niece looked at her dad as she giggled. “Oh, really?” I hadn’t seen my niece for three months. This new development in her six-year-old social life was a shocker. “Who is your boyfriend?” She stated his name. “He’s in my class at school.” Her young face glow[...]
The following is a testimony of how a study of Psalm 71 impacted one of our Heartstrong Lifegroups: At the Lifegroup session on December 6, 2021, during the discussion on Psalm 71, two verses captured Judy Morris's attention and deeply spoke to her: "Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone[...]
"He answered, 'The Scriptures say: Bread alone will not satisfy, but true life is found in every word that constantly goes forth from God's mouth.'" Matthew 4:4 TPT I am not a gardener. At least not a good one. Despite all my efforts (and I try a lot), all my plants end up dying fairly quickly (I'm grateful that a misguided fr[...]
"He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection." Psalm 91:4(NLT). Have you ever noticed that sometimes when you are fighting a battle, when you are scared, you just want to run and find a safe space where the rest of the world cannot find you? A bad[...]
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations" Jeremiah 1:4-5 (NIV). By far, the greatest gift in life is the gift of understanding. Understanding who you are, whose you are, and why you are here. Knowing that your identity is a child of the Most[...]
"Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I with them." Matthew 18:20 (NIV). Isn't it interesting how misled the general population is on the importance of having an active church body in the community? There are truly a thousand things going on at Church that exist beyond the Sunday sermon, and all of them are bene[...]
For many years now, I have begun each year with a word or a series of words to take with me over the course of the next 365 days. For me, my words for 2022 came to me long before 2021 was even close to being over. I wanted to take a moment and share what God has laid on my heart with you. My first word for 2022 is JOY. This is[...]
Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes." Isaiah 54:2 (ESV). Isaiah 54 is named the eternal covenant of peace. The study notes for this chapter say God commands his people to prepare joyfully for their future. Thi[...]
Last spring, as the snow started to melt during a few warm March days, I decided to go for a walk with my dog in the woods behind my house. It is a beautiful walk beside a creek and then up steps that are built into the hillside. The loop takes about twenty minutes to walk, a bit longer sometimes with my old dog, who stops at e[...]
I try to picture it. “Sweating blood.” Nope. My mind registers the words, but it can’t quite comprehend being put upon to such a degree. Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane is a brutally honest portrayal of what was within Him during the time leading up to Him being arrested and finally led to the cross. The Bible says in[...]