Special Features 2013 Archives

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.

A Gift Worth Re-gifting?

Tom Norvell reminds us that this is really a gift worth regifting -- Jesus -- because he is our hope, joy, love, and peace and others need to hear us speak of him when they need him most.

Is there really a Christmas gift worth regifting?

Be Careful with this Gift!

Rick Brown reminds us about dangerous Christmas gifts for kids and the most dangerous Christmas gift of all, Jesus.

What gift at Christmas can get you in the most trouble?

That Star?

Patrick Odum talks about the Christmas star and how it may have been identified, but how that doesn't nearly as much as the One who was born being the One who made the stars.

Is this really the Christmas star?

Exchanging Your Christmas Dream for a Bigger One

Rick Brown shares an insight from the Westjet Santa Claus video and says we need to ask God for more and greater vision.

Does God really have a bigger dream for you than He gave Joseph and Mary?

Forgiveness

Phillip Morrison talks about the greatest Christmas gift of all, the gift of forgiveness.

Why would they let the person responsible for their son's death off the hook?

Silence at Christmas to Listen

Rick Brown writes about LSTN headphones, hearing, Starkey hearing foundation, 400 years of silence after the Old Testament, years, silence, quiet, need, hear, hearing, listening, listen, Immanuel.

If we listen, it is not so silent a night at Christmas!

Consecrated?

Patrick Odum takes a risk and invites us to not be so pig-headed about how bad Black Friday or even shopping on Thanksgiving might be, but decide for ourselves and let others do the same as long as we do it giving thanks to God!

Black Friday a part of Thanksgiving, really?

The Rabbi's Nudge about Thanksgiving

Rick Brown gives us insights on abstract prayers and the Rabbi's teaching that would help us be more thankful.

So can we learn to be more thankful?

Sighing for Home

Phil Ware continues his thoughts on the Immanuel passages in Matthew and challenges us to not settle for less than an experience of God -- Father, Son or Holy Spirit -- and not simply religious experience.

How do we deal with the longing?

This Treasure Is up for Grabs

Ron Rose writes about the good things he used to find in the garbage dump and how there are special surprises and treasures that he found along the way and how we can do the same thing with people if we are willing to get messy.

Treasure among all the garbage?

Illness, My Teacher

Jackie Halstead reminds us of our need to slow down and let God lead us instead of thinking we can be in charge of our own lives.

Can anything good come from being sick?

Blessed Assurance

Phillip Morrison reminds us that our assurance is based on what God does and has done in Jesus, not what we can accomplish for God!

Where is your certainty found?

Practice the Wine of Kindness

Rick Brown reminds us to be focused on meeting the felt needs of people and use that to invite them to Jesus.

What would you have done with the jugs of water?

God's Redeeming Love!

Brian McCutchen reminds us that God's love is redeeming -- it forgives, cleanses, makes whole, and buys us back from our messes and lifts us from our burdens.

We must never forget God's most consistent message to each of us!

Fighting Terror

David Capes uses The Voice translation to drive home the point that technology is not going to save us from ourselves, but only gracious trust that Jesus is Lord and our following Jesus into the world of forgiveness.

Will technology be the difference?

Help?

Phil Ware reminds us to care actively for those suffering violence in the Muslim Spring that has now turned into the violent summer.

Do we notice or care?

You Were Born to be You!

Tom Norvell reminds us that God made us uniquely to be us and the best thing we can be is to be who we were born and re-born to be.

Why are you here? What is your purpose? Can you know?

So Glad God Doesn't Require a Smartphone

Max Lucado reminds us that we don't have to know how to use a smartphone to talk with the Creator of the universe who also happens to be our ABBA Father.

Which smartphone does God require of us?

I've Been Wanting to Talk to You

Phillip Morrison talks about a campaign in Austin, Texas, called Explore God and about trying to introduce people to conversations about the Lord.

Been talking to anyone about the Lord lately?

Willing!

Patrick Odum reminds us that Jesus majors is making the unclean clean and taking the outcast and bringing them back home into community.

If you are willing and able, Jesus can make you clean?

Influence: Not a Church Word!

Ron Rose reminds us that influence and starting over and being a new creation is something God does all the time and we just need to begin.

Can we really start over?

When Did God Change?

Brian McCutchen talks about the night he was baptized and the fear he felt and his desire to know he was going to heaven and now he is assured of those things because he understands God's grace.

Is it me, or has God changed his opinion on grace?

You'd Do It All Again

Max Lucado writes about the high cost of doing God's work and the hope, joy, and crown we will glory in when we go to be with Jesus and it will be all about people!

Why pay such a high price and take such a big risk?

Check Your Assumptions

Ron Rose deals with a person who has had very difficult times and feels that prayer is not acted upon by God even if he hears them and that miracles are for times gone by.

Why trust in a God we cannot see and seems to never do us any miracles?

What's Keeping You from Joining the Party

Rick Brown writes about the prodigal son parable and reminds us that there are two sons who are lost and need to come home to the heart of the father and join the party he longs to throw for both of them!

Have you missed the story about the other son?