All Articles 2018 Archives

Christmas Ends Where It Begins

12 days of Christmas are not about calling birds and lords a leaping, but about an extended celebration of Christmas.

Phillip Morrison reminds us that the Magi, the Wise Men, came later on after Jesus was older; but rather than this putting a damper on our Christmas, we need to use this truth to extend our Christmas past the first of the year.

What I Don't Remember about Christmas

Jesus picked this beginning because he knew our idols would someday reek of perfectionism and opulence, of measuring up and looking the part, of vanity.

Jordan shares this powerful post that was highlighted on The Today Show with our Heartlight.org audience.

A Labor of Love

Jesus' birth was the collision of the gloriously divine and mundanely human. It was God entering our world through the birth canal of a woman.

Phil Ware shares some thoughts on what incarnation means as the collision of mortality and eternal, God in human flesh.

Far Beyond the Monotony of Low Expectations

Advent is rooted in the work of God in history through real people to do the miraculous in the most human of things, the birth of a child.

Phil Ware reminds us to celebrate Advent and not simply settle for Christmas.

Prepare Him Room

'Prepare Him room': Inviting Jesus to reign in our hearts is how the strange beginning of the Gospel of Mark fits into the Advent season.

Phil Ware shares how Mark's gospel, which doesn't even mention the birth of Jesus, fits into the Advent season.

More than the Outskirts of His Ways

If there is a God and he's out there, why doesn't he just get it over with and show himself to us? Why this need for faith?

Phil Ware and James Nored share in word and video an idea about how we can truly understand God's greatness, glory, and grace even though we cannot understand everything about him.

Little Miracles

How a bunch of poor, but precious homeless people minister to their minister in Brazil.

Dennis Downing writes about Church on the Streets and a special morning worship service when the minister receives the ministry of the people he came to serve.

How Full Is Your Gift Sack?

Most of us only hoped to get enough of these seasons’ “givings” in our sacks not to be embarrassed, humiliated and marked as a less than desirable.

Phil Ware asks us to remember all the people who joined Jesus at his birth and challenges us to believe that these are exactly the kind of people Jesus came to redeem -- people just like us!

Jesus Came to Be One of Us!

We desperately need to push past the glitz of the season and remember the gritty grace of the manger and the glory of God incarnate in a helpless baby who came to be one of us!

James and Phil continue their series on The Story of Redemption by focusing on the birth of Jesus and what it means for us.

On Tiptoes with Angels

Christmas, like the coming of Jesus, is about waiting!

Phil Ware begins a five-part series on Jesus at Christmas. This week is focused on waiting for Jesus to come.

Lead with Gentleness

In a society where parents are overwhelmed, overbooked, overworked, and overstressed, I can be a voice of gentleness!

Tom Norvell reminds us that gentleness is essential in today's divided world because we know that Jesus is near.

A Time for Giving Thanks!

On this day when many pause with their families to give thanks to God, let’s remember what the LORD God has done to bless us!

Phil Ware reminds us to give thanks for all of our blessings!

A Day of Thanksgiving!

In hard times or times of blessing, we are never without thankfulness

How is it that all the Thanksgiving Day’s of my past had come and I had forgotten to actually give thanks? Then I realized just how long of a list I was going to have!

Your Part Is to Trust

Don’t believe the voice in your head that says that it’s up to you to do it or to overcome it.

Max Lucado reminds us that we can believe in Jesus and that Jesus can handle whatever we bring Him.

At the End of My Rope

We are here to remind each other that we are not forgotten in our struggles of life, fear, and death. We are here to be the heart, hands, and voice of Jesus to the broken.

Phil Ware reminds us that we can all reach the end of our rope and not know what to do and this is when Jesus can step in and change everything.

The Image of God

What a beautiful example of the movement from invisibility to humanity! It is so easy to allow the world to slip by as I attend to my very important tasks.

Jackie Halstead reminds us to view people as Jesus did; unique and valuable because each is made in the image of God.

Scales on Our Eyes?

We're like the apostle Paul right before he was baptized: we can't see!

Phil Ware concludes his 14 part series on how God values women and their importance in the life of His people.

Three Questions that Made Me Healthier

What I didn’t realize was that my wellness is not just about the food I put inside my body!

Jordan Harrell shares some challenges from several years ago after her baby was born and how three questions she needed to answer helped make her healthier in every way.

A Story That Must Be Told!

Regardless of our reasons in the past, let’s make sure we honor the Lord’s wishes in this circumstance and others like it.

Phil Ware continues his series of messages of how Jesus values women, focusing this week on the loving and extravagant gift of the unnamed woman who broke her alabaster jar and anointed Jesus with expensive perfume.

Living Simply?

The call to live simply and with contentment is not easy. I am not there, but I’m trying.

Tom Norvell encourages us not to grow weary in our battle to live simply so we can find true contentment.

The Most Excellent Way

Beyond sexual equality to the Jesus way of mutuality and sacrificial love.

Phil Ware continues his series on how God values women and how precious they are to Him, His people, and the future of humankind, this week focusing on sexual intimacy and value.

Wearing Jesus

Are you letting this Garment set your style?

Max Lucado reminds us that when we are baptized, we are clothed with Christ, so what people see in us they attribute to Jesus!

Treasures Old and New

This trek of discovery was our great joy in a year of deep sorrow. In the process, each of us discovered treasures old and new.

Phil Ware continues his series on how the Bible and how God values women and their role in ministry.

God Is Not Surprised!

No matter where I go or what happens, God is not surprised, and He will not abandon His own!

Tom Norvell reminds us of the truth of David's famous Psalm 139 about God's presence in every twist, turn, and chapter of our lives.

Treasure in the Details

Paul could not have made the importance of Phoebe's previous work in Cenchrae and her future work with the church in Rome more clear.

Phil Ware continues his series of reflections on the importance of women in the Bible, the ministry of Jesus, and the early church.