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 Russ Lawson · 2 Corinthians 5:16
Christmas has unfortunately gotten so caught up in conflict that we lose sight of loving folks the way Jesus came to do.
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 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 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 Patrick D. Odum · Acts 9:16 · Growth
Patrick Odum reminds us that to grow we have to stretch, reach, and sacrifice but that is more than worth the effort because Jesus gives us back far more than we can ever give.
by Scott Owings · 1 Peter 3:15 · Witnessing
One of the key spiritual disciplines is witnessing to others, because sharing our faith in Jesus is crucial to others finding God!
by Russ Lawson · 1 Peter 2:22 · Humility
Our egos are fragile and important but also dangerous, but we must learn humility.
by Jeff Lee · Philippians 4:13 · Ministry
So often, ministers and pastors won't let others minister to them, but we need to minister and be ministered to, we need to bless and be vulnerable so we can be blessed.
by Mike Barres · Luke 6:38 · Sacrifice
Serving may be hard work, but like good exercise, it develops us into a healthier people.
by Scott Owings · 1 Corinthians 7:5 · Fasting
Fasting is a way to draw closer to God.
by Russ Lawson · Mark 8:13 · Communication
We have a hard time understanding because we don't hear or listen to understand what Jesus is saying to us!
by Russ Lawson · 2 Corinthians 11:3 · Morals
The price of gasoline kicks off some creative questioning by Russ as he wrestles with the serious desensitization that has occurred in many lives.
by Bill Sherrill · Ephesians 1:18 · Vision
Lift up your eyes is a call for vision, a call to not walk in fear of danger, but to look for the new, the glory, the things God is calling us to embrace.
by Joey Cope · 2 Corinthians 12:9
A hard difficult trip and a close connection after a flight delay turns out to be a good chance for Joey Cope to learn a lesson about God's power to use us as we are.
by Bill Sherrill · 1 Corinthians 13:3 · Perseverance
Burn out seems to happen more and more frequently, but when see why it happens, we realize that folks are losing sight of the goal and are often motivated for the wrong reasons.
by Bill Sherrill · Romans 2:7 · Perseverance
Both God and satan use the principle of tenacity and persistence to shape and form things just like nature does, but how we use it is everything.
by Mike Barres · Matthew 18:19 · Prayer
Mike learns to not put off prayer, but when someone has a need, he says, "Let's pray right now!"
by Scott Owings · Hebrews 13:2 · Hospitality
Hospitality is the Christian virtue of entertaining strangers, outsiders, and guests and recognizing in them angels or even the presence of God in the Trinity.
by Rubel Shelly · 2 Corinthians 5:11 · Romantic Love · Reverence
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and worship, but it is not a terror of the Lord, but an enraptured love-filled walk with a holy God.
by Rubel Shelly · Hebrews 11:13 · Change
Change is a constant so how we deal with it is crucial and is part of our heritage as God's people.
by Tom Norvell · John 15:5 · Failure · Fruitfulness
We must remain connected to Jesus if we are going to bear fruit in the Lord.
by Patrick D. Odum · Ezekiel 34:11 · Lost
What would happen in church, church folks, got serious about seeking lost people like Jesus did?
by Scott Owings · Deuteronomy 15:8 · Generosity
The spiritual discipline of generosity is crucial if we are going to grow in the spirit.
by Rubel Shelly · Malachi 3:6 · Change
Change is inevitable and we should appreciate many of the changes, but we need to trust in God who does not change.
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