For over 30 years, Heartlight has shared articles to help people live for Jesus in everyday life. While we are no longer publishing new articles, this enduring collection features relevant pieces throughout the year to encourage faith, offer biblical perspective, and speak to real-world joys and struggles.
by Rubel Shelly · 2 Corinthians 5:17 · New Year
Light a stuck anchor prevents a boat from advancing or moving, so we often get stuck in our pasts and can't go forward until we get rid of the dead weight that weighs us down and holds us back.
by Mike Barres · Isaiah 30:20-21 · Walk
We need to move beyond merely getting folks saved to getting them to grow as followers, disciples of Jesus, who walk the walk and not just talk the talk.
by Paul Faulkner · Matthew 6:14-15 · Forgiveness
Forgiveness is forgetting to remember the hurts you forgave and giving others, and yourself a fresh start on life.
by Larry Davies · Luke 17:1-7 · Forgiveness
Resentment kills us, but forgiveness allows us to exercise a growing faith like a mustard tree and let God do the impossible within us.
by Patrick D. Odum · 1 John 3:14-16 · Forgiveness
The old Gallows of the city of Chicago were left in the basement for years and years and this reminds Patrick of things that we allow to sit around in our hearts and fester and destroy us for years.
by Alan Smith · 1 John 3:16 · Grace
God's love exhausts all analogies and can only be defined by what he did in Jesus on the cross and in the manger.
by Phil Ware · Luke 2:1-12 · Angels
Whether Christmas comes on December 25 or not doesn't really matter, what does matter is that Jesus came and the angels declared it and that we celebrate it with great joy.
by Russ Lawson · 2 Corinthians 5:16-17
Christmas has unfortunately gotten so caught up in conflict that we lose sight of loving folks the way Jesus came to do.
by Charlotte Barres · Matthew 25:37-40 · Christmas
The real place Christmas happens is in our hearts, where love, joy, peace, and kindness are found.
by Paul Faulkner · Ephesians 5:15-16 · Christmas
The best gift that can be given is the gift of dedicated time to a family member.
by Randy Becton · John 3:16 · Grace
Jesus is the reminder of God's unconditional love and willingness to search and sacrifice to find us and bring us home as our love-sick father.
by Jamie Shell & Brent Nidiffer · Amos 5:21-24
We get so caught up in the fluff we forget the focus of God, like justice and mercy.
by Alan Smith · John 3:16 · Christmas
An older lady's mistake with Christmas envelopes reminds us that God never forgets to pay for our gifts!
by Phil Ware · Matthew 2:16-18 · Church
Family fights, shopping mall stampedes, world unrest and wars all will continue through the Christmas season, but we should not be surprised: Jesus came to save our fractured world.
by Patrick D. Odum · John 3:16 · Prayer
Life is unfair and in the unfairness we need to learn to pray and keep after it and not relent, not praying those PC prayers, but gut check from the heart prayers that are real.
by Tom Norvell · John 16:33 · War
A trip around the Mall in Washington, D.C., leads Tom to reflect on how much he hates war and how he longs for the peace of Christ.
by Paul Faulkner · Hebrews 1:1-3 · Christmas
Even Napoleon Bonaparte was awed by the astonishing Jesus who came to earth as a baby.
by Tammy Marcelain · 1 Corinthians 10:13 · Cancer
Sin, a form of spiritual cancer, can be defeated like physical cancer and this victory leaves us feeling excited and on top of the world, but we must work hard for the victory and God will help us.
by Teresa Bell Kindred · 1 Timothy 6:8 · Christmas
Priceless memories that you make with those you love are far more valuable and enduring gifts than anything you can purchase with money.
by Rubel Shelly · 1 Peter 1:12 · Christmas
Rubel reminds us that Christmas is the season for many things depending on who we are. So let's use this season to be a blessing and not to stir trouble and let's do it responsibly and with grace.
by Phil Ware · John 1:12-13 · Christmas
Jesus wasn't just born into our world in the womb of Mary, but he longs to be born into our world again in each individual Christian the Holy Spirit gives birth to in the world.
by John Cragg · James 1:27 · Orphans
Mentoring kids offers a great chance for Christians to honor the call of Jesus to care for orphans.
by Mike Barres · Matthew 25:37-40 · Help
Mike talks about a time when someone helped him on a hike and it reminded him of how we have to help those who come behind us.
by Paul Faulkner · Mark 6:30-32 · Rest
Without rest we cannot restore our bodies and our health, but this is not a new idea, it is God's fitness plan from long ago.
by Russ Lawson · Psalm 139:13-16 · Conception
Russ finds out about a grandbaby because of a sonogram and the baby is wiggling around all over the place and reminds us that life begins in the mind of God.