Finding My Story in God's Story

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.

Finding Our Path to God

by James Nored & Phil Ware · John 14:6 · Salvation

James Nored and Phil Ware remind us of both the exclusive claim of Jesus as the only way to God and the inclusive fellowship of welcoming all people who truly believe in him.

The Bible and the early church were both exclusive and inclusive about salvation and fellowship.

ADVENT brings us LOVE

by James Nored & Phil Ware · Philippians 2:6-11 · Love

Phil Ware shares Scriptures and James Nored shares an inspirational video regarding the blessings and significance of Advent, Jesus' coming to earth as God in human flesh as our Savior and Lord.

God chose to come to us, suffer at our hands, and sacrifice himself so we could know the depth of God's redeeming love for us.

ADVENT brings us GOD

by James Nored & Phil Ware · John 1:1-18 · Incarnation

Phil Ware shares Scriptures and James Nored shares an inspirational video regarding the blessings and significance of Advent, Jesus' coming to earth as God in human flesh as our Savior and Lord.

Advent is the celebration of Jesus' coming to earth as Immanuel, God with us in human flesh!

ADVENT brings us KINGDOM

by James Nored & Phil Ware · Luke 2:4-20 · Advent

Phil Ware shares Scriptures and James Nored shares an inspirational video regarding the blessings and significance of Advent, Jesus' coming to earth as God in human flesh as our Savior and Lord.

Advent is the celebration of Jesus' coming to earth and bringing God's heavenly Kingdom shown in his ministry, lived by his people, and ultimately experienced at his return!

ADVENT brings us HOPE

by James Nored & Phil Ware · 1 Peter 1:1-3 · Advent

Phil Ware shares Scriptures and James Nored shares an inspirational video regarding the blessings and significance of Advent, Jesus' coming to earth as God in human flesh as our Savior and Lord.

Advent is the celebration of Jesus' coming to earth as the Son of God and our Savior. Inextinguishable hope is just one of the blessings of ADVENT!

Which Way Will I Run?

by James Nored & Phil Ware · Mark 14:50-52 · Resurrection

James Nored and Phil Ware share in video, words, and images some of the many reasons Christians have to believe that Jesus was raised from the dead and is Lord, Christ, Jesus, and Son of God!

Will I run in faith to follow the Jesus of the empty tomb even if it means I have to follow him to a cross of my own?

Unless a Seed

by James Nored & Phil Ware · John 12:23-33 · Crucifixion

James Nored and Phil Ware remind us of the dark night that began the long, painful, and lonely journey of Jesus through his Passion to bring us to God.

Jesus had many opportunities to walk away from the shame and pain of the cross, but he chose the Father's will and our need over his comfort.

Our Intersection with Joy

by James Nored & Phil Ware · Luke 1

James Nored on video and Phil Ware with words remind us that the circumstances of the moment can be swallowed up in the greater joy of God's long story of grace that came to us in Jesus of Nazareth.

God's long story of grace intersected the mess of our world, and the rest of this story is our good news of great joy.

More than God's Whisper

by James Nored & Phil Ware · Hebrews 1:1-3

James Nored and Phil Ware share the meaning of Jesus' incarnation in word and video using a simple but powerful allegory.

How could God help us understand his faithful love for us, yet demonstrate his desire for us to live in our world with his righteous character and gracious compassion?

The Way of Jesus #7: Which Way Will I Run?

by James Nored & Phil Ware · Mark 10:46-52 · Resurrection

James Nored and Phil Ware share in video, words, and images some of the many reasons Christians have to believe that Jesus was raised from the dead and is Lord, Christ, Jesus, and Son of God, and how his love defined the way of Jesus through the cross to

Will I run in faith to follow the Jesus of the empty tomb even if it means I have to follow him to a cross of my own?

The Way of Jesus #6: Buried

by James Nored & Phil Ware · Mark 10:46-52

James Nored and Phil Ware remind us that Jesus died and was buried and that his burial has special significance for us and how they helped define the way of Jesus through the cross to the empty tomb.

Jesus died. He was buried. He was raised from the dead. Each one of those facts reminds us that Jesus was not some antiseptic hero from a distance.

The Way of Jesus #5: Because of Love

by James Nored & Phil Ware · Mark 14:34-35 · Crucifixion

James Nored and Phil Ware remind us that Jesus gave his life for us because of his love for us and his unwillingness to leave us in sin and how his love defined

Why would the sinless Son give himself, surrender his life and his dignity, to save those who were ungodly, helpless, sinners, and enemies of God?

The Way of Jesus #4: Who Do I Say Jesus Is?

by James Nored & Phil Ware · Mark 8:29 · Confess

James Nored and Phil Ware share in word and video the meaning of Jesus' trials before Pilate, Herod, and the Jewish Ruling Council and how they helped define the way of Jesus through the cross to the empty tomb.

Jesus' trials focused on his true identity, although those who tried him didn't really want to know the truth.

The Way of Jesus #3: Unless a Seed

by James Nored · Mark 8:29 · Crucifixion

James Nored and Phil Ware remind us of the dark night that began the long, painful, and lonely journey of Jesus through his Passion to bring us to God and helped define the way of Jesus through the cross to the empty tomb.

Jesus had many opportunities to walk away from the shame and pain of the cross, but he chose the Father's will and our need over his comfort.

The Way of Jesus #2: Unsettling the Religious Status Quo

by James Nored & Phil Ware · Mark 7:1-13 · Religion

James Nored and Phil Ware remind us of the deadly consequences of a religion that forgets the love of God for broken people and the mission Jesus has for us to the lost world and helped define the way of Jesus through the cross to the empty tomb.

We must always remember that God's love for broken people and our call to his mission must matter most.

The Way of Jesus #1: Truly See the Coming King

by James Nored & Phil Ware · Mark 8:29 · Triumphal Entry

James Nored and Phil Ware share the significance of Jesus' Triumphal Entry as they begin a special Holy Week series.

When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked,

Overcoming the Greater Pandemic: From Guilt to Forgiveness

by James Nored & Phil Ware · 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 · Forgiveness

James Nored in video, and Phil Ware using the Scriptures, remind us of the beauty and the cost to God of saving us and forgiving us, and giving us a new life.

A genuine disciple, and especially an apostle, follows the path of Jesus who gave up his life to seek, serve, and save the lost.

Overcoming the Greater Pandemic: From Hopeless to Living Hope

by James Nored & Phil Ware · 1 Peter 1:3-9 · Hope

James Nored and Phil Ware share a message of hope in video and word and Scripture to remind us to be ready to share our living hope for those caught in life's dark winter.

We can't think of a more important commitment for us as believers in our uncertain times.

Overcoming the Greater Pandemic: Finder and Mender

by James Nored & Phil Ware · Luke 15 · Lost

James Nored in video and Phil Ware with words reminds us that God is the finder and mender of lost and broken things and lost and broken people.

God's people have been in lost places before our time. They made it safely through their wilderness to better times and better places.

Overcoming the Greater Pandemic: Have You Been to the Mountaintop?

by James Nored & Phil Ware · Matthew 1:23 · Joy

Phil Ware and James Nored speak to the isolation pandemic accompanying COVID-19 and share ways and invite us to share ways to find joy and hope on the mountain with Immanuel.

Many feel as if they are caught in some kind of auto-repeating Groundhog Day experience with COVID-19.

Overcoming the Greater Pandemic: From Lonely to Connected

by James Nored & Phil Ware · John 13:34-35 · One Another

Phil Ware and James Nored speak to the isolation pandemic that is accompanying COVID-19 and share ways and invite us to share ways to battle the loneliness and isolation.

Let's move from talking about the problem to providing each other ways to address the loneliness and isolation!

To Win Your Heart!

by James Nored & Phil Ware · Luke 2 · Incarnation

James Nored and Phil Ware challenge us to faith in the eternal God who chose to reveal himself by becoming human and living in our world

On this Christmas Day as we bring this year's journey to an end, the question you need to ask is as important to answer as it is simple to ask!

Until We Find Our Dream

by James Nored & Phil Ware · Matthew 6:9-13,33 · Peace · Sound of Music

James Nored and Phil Ware share in video and words the wonder of Jesus’ birth and how it changed the world with the Sound of Music and tie this to the New Year with New Hope prayer hour.

What an incredible story of transformation from an atheist to a Christian missionary in primitive Papua, New Guinea, and it is the real

Our Intersection with Joy

by James Nored & Phil Ware · Luke 1 · Jesus coming

James Nored on video and Phil Ware with words remind us that the circumstances of the moment can be swallowed up in the greater joy of God's long story of grace that came to us in Jesus of Nazareth.

God's long story of grace intersected the mess of our world, and the rest of this story is our good news of great joy.

More than God's Whisper Inviting Us Out of Flatland

by James Nored & Phil Ware · Hebrews 1:1-3 · Incarnation

James Nored and Phil Ware share the meaning of Jesus' incarnation in word and video using a simple but powerful allegory.

How could God help us understand his faithful love for us, yet demonstrate his desire for us to live in our world with his righteous character and gracious compassion?

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