Articles Tagged 'Mature'

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.

Stretching for Our Gods

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.

What are you willing to sacrifice to achieve or find?

Keeping My Eyes on the Prize

Phil Ware continues his series on Jesus and transformation and focuses today on our walking with Jesus each day in the gospels and learning his words and talking with him and taking on on his character and compassion as the Spirit transforms us.

We have to follow the Lord, and Jesus promises to empower our becoming like him through the Holy Spirit.

What is CORE: Training

Phil Ware continues his series on What is CORE focusing on the training -- teaching to obey -- element of the Great Commission.

Our practice of omitting from the Lord's Great Commission is more likely based on our preference for the attractional model of doing church.

What is CORE: Training

Phil Ware continues his series on What is CORE focusing on the training -- teaching to obey -- element of the Great Commission.

Our practice of omitting from the Lord's Great Commission is more likely based on our preference for the attractional model of doing church.

Until...

Melissa Troyer looks at her life, the gray in hair, the wrinkles around her eyes, and reflects that things are not quite what she dreamed, but then, in a way, they are better and God is not through with her yet.

I dreamed of traveling the world, getting married, and sailing off into the horizon. And I am, only it's a whole lot nittier and grittier than I imagined.

Questions

Ron Rose wants us all to ask ourselves some important questions at this stage in our lives to be ready to instruct those who are younger and also ourselves.

What big things — have you learned in life? How do you know that the big things are big things?

Raindrops and Crucibles

Ron Rose is back with his coffee, friends, and insights into life, faith, crucibles, and raindrops.

In every crucible, God longs for us to see Him, to trust Him, to lean in on Him.

Growing Up Into Jesus

Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in a virtual, DIY, worship through words and music using YouTube videos to encourage us to grow in Jesus now that we have tasted that the Lord is good and crave good spiritual food.

Not only will the Holy Spirit help transform us to become more and more like Christ, which must be our goal; the Spirit will also produce God's fruit of goodness in us.

Mothers Pray for Their Children

Melissa Troyer shares a prayer all mothers of deep faith can pray over their children, and the children of others.

What is more powerful in shaping the heart and faith of a child than a mother who prays for her children?

Unleashing God's Holy Fire

Phil Ware completes his four part series on growing to become like Jesus through the transformative work of the Holy Spirit, the transformation that Jesus promises us when we choose to follow him as his disciple.

The Father has given us access to holy power and a way to bless each other through prayer if only we will take advantage of it!

Keeping My Eyes on the Prize

Phil Ware continues his series on Jesus and transformation and focuses today on our walking with Jesus each day in the gospels and learning his words and talking with him and taking on on his character and compassion as the Spirit transforms us.

We have to follow the Lord, and Jesus promises to empower our becoming like him through the Holy Spirit.

The Journey with Jesus to Transformation

Phil Ware's first in a four article series on Jesus' work of transformation in us, this week, we are called to follow Jesus.

Why does the character we long to have take so long to develop?

A Breathtaking Mystery

Melissa Troyer reminds us of the breathtaking partnership we have with Christ to remain in the process of transformation.

The more I discover, the vast possibilities ahead yawn even wider before me.

What is CORE: Training

Phil Ware continues his series on What is CORE focusing on the training -- teaching to obey -- element of the Great Commission.

Our practice of omitting from the Lord's Great Commission is more likely based on our preference for the attractional model of doing church.

Leaving the Imprint of a Mother's Faith

Phil Ware writes about Mary as the mother of Jesus and reminds that Jesus, along with every other child, was 'wet cement' given by God to form into the person the Father wants them to be.

What's a mom supposed to do with wet cement?

How Can I Grow to Be More Like Jesus?

Phil Ware answers a question he is often asked by those who are new followers of Jesus or people whose spiritual lives have stagnated: "How can I grow spiritually?"

I want to grow spiritually — to be more like Jesus — but can I really do that?

Ancient Wisdom, Today’s Grace: Surprise!

Phil Ware continues his series on 'Ancient Wisdom, Today's Grace' and focuses on our desire to continue to grow in Christ.

When is it okay to think that we've arrived at spiritual maturity?

Unleashing God's Holy Fire

Phil Ware completes his four part series on growing to become like Jesus through the transformative work of the Holy Spirit, the transformation that Jesus promises us when we choose to follow him as his disciple.

The Father has given us access to holy power and a way to bless each other through prayer if only we will take advantage of it!

The Journey with Jesus to Transformation

Phil Ware's first in a four article series on Jesus' work of transformation in us.

Why does the character we long to have take so long to develop?

The Sweet Grace of Opportunity

Phil Ware writes about four remarkable young women -- Karen, Melody, Annie, and Jinda -- and how Compassion and mission trips and Jesus have changed everything for them.

What sweeter taste can there be than the taste of grace?

The Real Love Stories... and Why There Really Are No Blurred Lines

Ann Voskamp writes about the love she shares with her farmer husband and how he loves her with real love.

So where can we find real love stories today?

Don't Rush God

Rubel Shelly reminds us that rushing around to get where we think God wants us to be is seldom God's plan and seldom accomplishes what God wants to do in us.

Can we really become all God has made us to be if we rush ourselves to God's goal?

Prayer: Warrior or Weakling?

Rick Brown reminds us that prayer begins simply, and in the process fo growing we all end up developing and growing in our prayer life.

Does prayer feel like sand getting kicked in your face?

What is Core: Christyle

Phil Ware continues his series on What is Core by calling us to true discipleship, people being conformed to be like Jesus and living out the cross, burial, and resurrection in their lives.

So do we make people think of Jesus?

Last Words: First Priority

Phil Ware begins a series of messages on the Great Commission and Jesus' last words which must be our first priority.

Are we listening to what Jesus said?