Articles Tagged 'Struggle'

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.

Sharing in the Joy!

by Phil Ware · John 4 · Spiritual Warfare · Sow

Phil Ware takes into John 4 and Samaria with Jesus and let's Jesus speak to us about the sower and the harvester rejoicing together.

O God, please, will you let me see a little harvest... Please!

Let's Go Somewhere Else

by Phil Ware · Mark 1:35-45 · Ministry

Phil Ware talks about spending time in communion with God so that we can know best how to respond to those who need compassion and yet help us keep to our mission.

Why would Jesus leave someone behind?

Tough Times Toughen

by Paul Faulkner · 1 Corinthians 10:13 · Temptation

Tough times, even when they are filled with temptation can help us grow and better appreciate good times when they come.

Wow, tough times can be hard, but is there a payoff to them?

Eternity: Beyond Separation to Hope

by Gene Vance · 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 · Grief · Death

Gene Vance shares insights from his book, 'Transition to Eternity' to help us find great hope and anticipation of Eternity with Jesus!

When this life-altering grief and separation invade our worlds, we are left with many challenges, some seem insurmountable.

Sky, Dirt, and Dreams Unfolding

by Melissa Troyer · Genesis 12:1-3 · Waiting

Melissa Troyer shares her insightful, home-loving momma whose meditations about life, family, and faith help us grab what is most important in life.

Buried deep in the earth of our hearts, God has buried dreams and hopes. While they lie under the surface, they ARE there.

Jesus Comes in the Storms

by Max Lucado · John 16:16-18 · Presence

Max Lucado reminds us that we are not alone in our storms, but Jesus comes to us in the storms before he stills the storms.

Do you feel too far from the shore, too long in the struggle, and too small against the waves, with Jesus is nowhere to be seen.

Eyes on Jesus

by Demetrius Collins & Phil Ware · Hebrews 12:2

Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware share a powerful virtual worship in Scripture, songs, and communion focused on Hebrews 12:2 and our need to fix our eyes on Jesus to continue with perseverance and endurance as we follow Jesus and seek to become like him.

As human beings, we live where we look: Our lives follow the focus of our hearts.

Starting Over Having Learned Lessons from the Past

by Melissa Troyer · Jeremiah 6:16 · Motherhood · Starting over

Melissa Troyer combines her journey through motherhood, her realization of inadequacy, her belief in God's sufficiency, and the willingness to teach using our own failures.

We AREN'T enough, but He is. It is the goodness of the Lord that brings us nose-to-nose with our desperate need for Him.

Our Chorus is the Gospel

by Patrick D. Odum · Romans 8:18-39 · Hope

Patrick Odum picks up a line from a Bruce Springsteen interview and helps us understand the need for being real about our struggles but also celebrating our hope in the gospel.

'The verses are the blues, the chorus is the gospel.'

Life Happens!

by Brian McCutchen · Psalm 73 · Assurance

Brian McCutchen uses the journey of Asaph in Psalm 73 to remind us that life happens to everyone, but God is with those who love him.

No one is exempt from life’s challenges.

The Promise in the Crown of Thorns

by Max Lucado · Mark 15:17 · Jesus · Cross · Thorns

Max Lucado reminds us of the grace and love shown to us in the crown of thorns Jesus wore to the cross.

There is more to the crown of thorns Jesus carried than meets the eye at first glance.

Honesty with God on Our Journey of Faith

by James Nored & Phil Ware · Genesis 15 · Faithfulness

James Nored and Phil Ware remind us that Abraham's journey of faith wasn't easy, his life was not perfect, and his questions for God were real.

Thankfully the Bible is honest about the flaws of our heroes so we can know that we can be a person of faith useful to God, too!

Simple Oil Changes

by Max Lucado · Romans 8:14-16

Max Lucado reminds us that God wants to help us through our hardest challenges.

Why is it so hard to let our Father help us?

The Struggle to Find Faith

by James Nored & Phil Ware · Mark 9:2-29 · Unbelief

James Nored and Phil Ware look at C.S. Lewis and his struggle to find faith and our own challenges in believing.

I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!

Ancient Wisdom, Today's Grace: Finding God's Will

by Phil Ware · Acts 16 · God's Will

Phil Ware begins a series for church leaders and congregations in transition which uses Paul's experiences in his ministry to Macedonian churches to help us in our struggles today.

Throughout the Bible, we find great examples that can help us sort through our challenges today.

Finding My Story in God's Story

by James Nored · Genesis 1 · phil · phil

James Nored begins to share his great video series on the Story of Redemption, entitled Finding Your Story in God's Story.

Life's ultimate questions need answers. Do you know where to find them? Do you know how to share them? Do you know how your story fits into God's big picture?

When Life Takes You Off Guard

by Rubel Shelly · Ephesians 1:17-23 · Hardship

Rubel Shelly reminds us that the heroes of scripture had to endure many of the same kinds of challenges we do, that is what makes their witness so powerful.

We need to remember that hardship and family dysfunction and unfairness are not new for God's people and are the backdrop of their courageous lives of faith.

Good News for Christmas

by Rick Brown · Luke 15:1-32 · Christmas

Rick Brown writes a beautiful story on the background of Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer and a reminder that Jesus came for all of us misfits so we could know we fit in.

In the dark night of the soul or caught in the foggy haze of confusion, is there good news for me?

The Gift We Really Need

by Cathy Messecar · Isaiah 9:6-8 · Christmas

Cathy Messecar reminds us what we need most at Christmas and that only God can give us what humanity and our broken world cannot give.

So watcha asking for this Christmas?

The Rhythms of the Kingdom

by Tim Woodroof · Acts 9:1 · Church Growth

Tim Woodroof continues his series on change in the book of Acts and the changes facing the church today.

In the ups and downs of church life, is it good to be on a plateau?

The Discipline of the Wilderness

by Mark Frost · Deuteronomy 8:2-5 · Interim Ministry

Mark Frost of http://www.interimministrypartners.com shares part two on the journey through the wilderness during the interim and how God is preparing his people for great things.

So is there anything good that can come from our time of challenge and hardship?

The Truth about Hypocrites at Church

by Steve Ridgell · Luke 10:30-37 · Hypocrisy

Hypocrites intentionally act different from what they say. That is not true about Christians.

They are why some won't come to church, but the truth about hypocrites is not what you think.

More than a Gamble over Clothes

by Phil Ware · Matthew 27:35-37

Phil Ware shares some thoughts on the soldiers who gambled over Jesus' garments as he died and then later came to faith.

Is there a higher gamble that one can make in life?

Community and Mission

by Phil Ware · Revelation 2

Phil Ware continues the http://interimministrypartners.com team series on a church finding its mission and living it out so it can grow and be vital and make a difference.

Looking around can help us find our way forward!

Discovering the Character of Your Church: Personal vs. shared Values

by Phil Ware · Romans 12 · Values

Phil Ware continues the series on values and leadership, especially conflict in the leadership because they cannot discern operational, personal, strategic, theoretical, shared, and other types of values.

Why can't we just do it the way I see it?

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