Leading in Hope 2007 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.

I'm Just a Businessman

Larry Davies puts us in the place of the inn keeper who had no room in his inn for Joseph and Mary.

How would it feel to say know to Jesus?

Is This On Your List?

Larry Davies reminds of our need to repent and get our hearts and behavior right if we are going to prepare the way for Jesus at Christmas.

Why put something like this on your Christmas list?

The Inflatable Christmas

Tom Norvell compares the inflatable Christmas yard decorations to the inflatable Christians and religious people that Jesus criticized.

Wow, can you blow up your Christmas season?

My Strength Is in the Lord

Russ Lawson reminds us that faith is a muscle we exercise and when we do, we mature and grow in faith and spiritual strength.

Where do you find your strength?

Thanksgiving and Walking the Boundaries

Larry Davies offers a Thanksgiving check up for churches and their leaders as he explores things that make for healthy churches.

So what can we do to bless our churches this next year as we thank God this year?

The Flow

Rubel Shelly reminds us that life's purpose rather than externals or someone else trying to make us happy is the real key to peace and joy in life.

Do you know how to get in the flow?

The Means to Growth

Rubel Shelly reminds us that difficuty can be an opportunity to grow and become more of a person.

Does difficulty really lead to something better?

Work as Witness

Rubel Shelly reminds us that for Christians all of life is a place of sacred activity, especially our work.

Can my daily work actually be sacred work?

The Change You Want to See

Rubel Shelly reminds us that a better world begins with what we do in the small acts of righteousness and kindness in the world around us.

If you could change the world, what would you want to see?

What Will We Learn Next?

Rubel Shelly reminds us that the friendships we form shape us and change us.

So do I really become like them or they like me?

The Who's Who that Really Matters

Rubel Shelly reminds us that God's book of Who's Who is only filled with those who are servants.

So how do I get my name in this book?

All Those Terrible Stories?

Rubel Shelly is asked a hard question about the awful stories of the Bible and reminds the questioner that it is truthful, gritty, real life story of the human race while offer God's grace to redeem us.

Are we listening to what we are saying?

Something Better Than a Critic

Rubel Reminds us that there are nearly always good things to say about others if we will look and most folks need something kind and encouraging said to them.

Isn't there anything nice to say?

Just Like My Dad

Rubel Shelly tells about Matt Lovo who saved his dad's truck and prevented a major accident in a tractor trailer rig when he took over driving for his dad even though he was a kid.

How much are they picking up from us that we don't know?

Treasure in Toilets

Rubel Shelly reminds us that we need to not give up when our life seems to be in the toilet, because as often archaeologists do, we can sometimes find the greatest treasures in the most surprising places.

What are you going to find if you dig deep enough?

Cutting Off Conversation

Rubel Shelly describes how hard it is to really listen and not cut off someone else's conversation.

Why is it so hard not to interrupt?

The Last Goodbye

Teresa Bell Kindred shares some good advice for those who have loved ones dealing with cancer -- this is based on her own personal experience.

What do you do when you think the end is near?

Taking Note of a Hero's Death

Rubel Shelly reminds us that heroes should be honored and not celebrities and that we must practice to be a celebrity, because heroism is in all of us.

Why do we honor celebrity above heroism?

Choosing to Be Positive

Rubel Shelly shares with us the story of Beverly Sills and how she has kept a positive attitude through hardship and disappointment and reminds us that we can choose our state of mind.

How can you keep a good attitude at a time like this?

More Valuable than You Know

Rubel Shelly reminds us how important it is to do simple acts of kindness and not simply look for the splashy and big things to do to bless others.

How important are the little things you do for others?

The War on Materialism

Rubel Shelly writes about our greatest cultural enemy in spiritual warfare, consumerism or greed.

What's the real threat to our culture?

Good News on Marriage?

Rubel Shelly reflects on the declining number of divorces per population since the 80's and talks about the importance of preparation and commitment in making a marriage work.

Is there actually some good news out there on marriage?

Planting Seeds for the Future

Ron Rose reminds us that we need to be investing in the future by helping others see the potential that God has for them.

Are you planting any seeds for tomorrow?

Jockeying To Be Shocking

Shock jocks have tried to out do each other in shocking, crude, and obscene remarks on radio, TV, and interviews and they have crossed the line and we are the only ones who can do something about it.

Aren't we way past too far?

The Quiet Kingdom

Rubel Shelly talks about the kinds of ways the Kingdom of God grows and spreads, quietly, gently, in the faithful, every day actions of real people.

Can you hear the Kingdom advancing?