Heartbeat

Confession

Many drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs require their patients to invite a member of the family to the facility to listen to them confess their weaknesses.
A nurse told the story of a man who invited his father to one of these meetings. The father, after hearing his son’s confession, stood up and said to the group, “I have never loved my son more than I do right now.”  The son received the strength he needed to move forward in his life.
What if you had the unconditional love of a father? Well, you do. And He is waiting patiently for you. Pray and confess your problems to God today.

What’s in a Name?

Is there a story behind your name? Often, the names we were given are family names. Carrying the memory of a loved one in the next generation. But no matter where your name came from, names are important.
The actor and poet Jude Idada said, “Names are powerful and are prophecies of the future. The name you are called is a sign of what you are and what you would become.”
Throughout the Bible names have always had tremendous significance. None more important than the name of our Savoir. Isaiah 7:14 says.
“Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” Immanuel means “God with us”.
The very name of Jesus was a reminder that God wrapped Himself in human flesh and became one of us so that He would die in our place.
The Creator of the Heavens and Earth He knows your name. Do you know Him?
 

What is Worship?

What do you love? What’s something that you’d pay anything to experience? A concert? A car? A sporting event? And have you ever been in a place where the enthusiasm is just so contagious that you can’t help but join in? Whether you realize it or not, this is worship.
Whatever it is that you pour yourself into and place the highest possible amount of value on is the object that you worship. You were made to worship. So what do you worship? Hopefully it’s not a car, a sports team, or an entertainer. It wasn’t God’s intention for you to worship other parts of His creation – He longs for you to worship Him.

We Need Each Other

Has something good happened to you recently? Have you taken the time to tell someone about it? Or. Are you experiencing some difficulties in your life? Have you been brave enough to share them with a close friend? No matter what you’re going through- the good and the bad, it’s important to have people in our lives we can share with.
We humans were designed to be in community with each other. We were meant to share life together – to help each other bear the weight of the bad and to celebrate the joys of life. The Bible speaks about this where it says, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.” Remember, we’re all in this together.

Wonderfully Made

In Psalm 139 verse 14 the psalmist writes,
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
In today’s culture, we’re lead to believe that the way we look dictates our worth.  If we’re not thin enough or muscular enough, or if we don’t look like the person on the cover of a magazine, then we’re not worth much.
The truth is we’re created by God and made in His image.  We should be celebrating His work. That’s us – you and me. He loves who we are, not just the way we look. So give thanks to God today because you are fearfully and wonderfully made.

Not Religion but Relationship

Some people look at faith as a set of religious exercises: attend church, do good deeds, pray, and read the Bible. But that’s not at all God wants for us. He wants a relationship. He’s set on redeeming a fallen world. He gave his life to make that possible, and He’s promised to stay with us forever.
When Jesus returned to heaven, He promised to send the Holy Spirit to be our helper, comforter, and friend. He knew it wouldn’t be easy to do what is right in a fallen world. His Holy Spirit is right there with you. He wants a relationship. Not a religion.

Hope!

Having a bad day? How about a bad week or a bad month? Whether it’s an uncomfortable paper cut or a car accident, we can always find hope in the middle of our struggles.
In the Bible, the Book of Hebrews tells us that if we believe God then we know we have the things we hope for. So take heart. We have a rescuer in God. He cares about all of our concerns, and He understands our trials.
So find peace in the words of Jesus Christ in the Gospel of John, “In this world you’ll have trouble.  But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Judge and Jury

In a court of law, the defendant stands before the judge and jury while evidence is brought forward meant to either convict or acquit. Lawyers prepare their cases and make their presentations with the hope that jury will rule in favor of their client.
I’m so glad that in life, I have the opportunity to see everything I’ve done wrong acquitted. The Bible tells us that Jesus stood in our place so that we wouldn’t have to bear the punishment for our sin.
Today accept the grace and forgiveness offered by God through His Son, Jesus Christ.  Then, it’s “case dismissed!”  You belong to Him!
 

Dream Again

We’re encouraged to dream as children. Often, we’re asked questions like what we’ll be when we grow up, or who we’ll marry.  However, somewhere in the middle of life, we find it hard to dream because life gets in the way.
But God is asking you to resume dreaming, not for wealth or possessions but for the richness of life only He can provide.  Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”
Today ask God to show you His plan for your life and start dreaming again.

Helper’s High

Harvard researchers conducted a study that showed how giving is such a powerful immune booster that it can be experienced just by watching someone else in the act of giving.
In this well-known experiment, students who watched a film of Mother Teresa as she tended the sick in Calcutta got an increase in immune function.
In the book Healthy Pleasures, psychologists described what they called the “helper’s high,” a warm glow and a sense of vitality that comes from being energized and calm.  So, Go help someone today!  It’s good for them and it will be euphoric for you!