Heartwarming Publications

Good-bye Yesterday, Hello Tomorrow

2010-05-01T11:55:00.000-07:00

"But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before". Philippians 3:13

How do we face the future when the past plays over and over again in our mind, creating a motion picture of constant rewind, pause and play, fast forwarding through the bad parts we would rather forget? How do we get past feeling like the victim and shine victoriously, facing the bright future full of the promises of God that are waiting for us?

When the pains of the past, piles of disappointment and stacks of failure start collecting, we must realize this type of inventory is only going to produce regret, fear, depression and future failure unless we stop entertaining it. When we allow the enemy to remind us of the bad, we have the option to keep thinking about it or stop, tell the devil to leave and start renewing our mind with what God says. When we base our thoughts on the past, we fail. When we place our thoughts on what lies ahead, believing God's Word, accepting His healing and provision, we win. When we step out in faith and receive what God has in front of us and forget the former things (Phil 3:13), we will no longer harbor the negative and we will finally see ourselves the way God sees us and we will embrace the new. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come." II Corinthians 5:17

Even the most broken life can be used for God's glory. God has a plan. Dream big!

Hungry

2010-04-23T06:24:00.000-07:00

"He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things." Psalm 107:9

What are you hungry for? What satisfies your soul to a point where you are completely full, lacking nothing and no longer carrying around an empty heart? Is it an unhealthy, emotional hunger; one that drives you to unhealthy snacks when you feel sad, lonely, deprived, depressed, or mad? How long does that full feeling last before you are craving something else?

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." Matthew 5:6

Are you carrying around burdens no one should have to bear? Do you feel like giving up? Do you think there is no one who understands your hurts, regrets, your longings? Someone does care. His name is Jesus. He knows your heart and wants only the best for you. Only He can satisfy your every need and desire. He can fill the empty place in your heart. He can heal your wounds of the past and give you a bright future. Only He can give you an abundance of lasting, true joy. Are you hungry for Him? Do you long to spend time alone in His presence and seek after Him? Does your soul long to worship Him and do you struggle and feel empty when you haven't spent time with Him?

"He satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's." Psalm 103:5

He is the only way to peace. Whatever your struggle is, He is the answer. Victory through Jesus Christ is yours as a child of God. Ask Him for help. He is waiting for you. Trust Him, believe Him.
Thank Him for the answer. Praise Him always. He truly is all you need.

"Heavenly Father, thank you for being the one to fill the emptiness I feel. I trust you and believe you care about me and love me more than anyone else is capable of loving me. Thank you for satisfying my soul. I am hungry to learn more about you and to live life according to your will. Thank you for continuing to walk with me as I would never want to be without you. I love you, Father. In Jesus' loving name, Amen".

Do You Know Jesus?

2010-04-09T14:45:00.000-07:00

“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Acts 2:21

God knows everything about us. He loves us more than we can ever imagine. He knows our thoughts, hopes, dreams, struggles and sorrows. He will never leave us, no matter what. He loves us so much that He sent His own son, Jesus, who willingly died on the cross for us.

“All my longings lie open before you, O, Lord; my sighing is not hidden from you.” Psalm 38:9

The Bible says that when we confess that we have sinned and ask Jesus into our hearts, we are saved.

“If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9

Although no one is expected to be perfect, we are all instructed to live our lives led by God and receive His love, mercy and forgiveness. God's desire is that we live an abundant, satisfied life. He has many promises for us in His Word, the Bible.
Psalm 119:105 says that God’s Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. God’s desire is for us to read His Word daily, walk in a relationship with Him and become part of a Bible teaching church or Bible study group so that we may fellowship with other believers. Jesus is our connection to God. We are to trust Him and invite Him into our hearts and lives.

“By grace you have been saved through faith, and not of yourself; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

If you would like to accept Jesus as Lord of your life, please pray this prayer and receive the joy of your salvation:

"Dear Heavenly Father, in Jesus’ name, I confess that I am a sinner. I believe that you sent your son, Jesus to die on the cross for my sins. I ask that you would come into my heart and be Lord of my life. Thank you for loving me so much and for sending your only son to pay the ultimate price for me so that I may know you. Thank you for making me new, in Jesus' precious name, Amen."

“If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation.” II Corinthians 5:17

If you have prayed this prayer of salvation, we rejoice with you!

Romans 8:38 promises that nothing can separate us from the love God has for us.

Standing Firm

2010-04-08T08:48:00.000-07:00

Do you feel like you are always fighting the same battle? Are you in a situation that has caused you great discouragement, fear or frustration? If so, there is a solution. Don't give up your fight. Don't lose the battle because you chose to give up. Be tenacious and don't give into the lies of the enemy and the discouragement trying to tear you down. The Bible says that our battle is not with flesh and blood, but with powers of darkness. Yes, satan is the root of every sense of defeat, every voice of negativity and every lie. He wants us to lose the battle, but God wants to give us victory!

Ephesians 6:11-17 reminds us to put on the full armour of God daily so that we may "take our stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

To be a strong and victorious soldier in God's army, we need the Word of God to be hidden in our hearts. If we take the time to study the scriptures we will always find verses pertaining to how to deal with our situation, whatever it may be. The Bible is brimming with promises we can carry with us, reminding us daily of our inheritance as a child of God, now and forever.

" Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us victory in the situations we are now facing and for reminding us that your Word is full of answers, instruction and encouragement. We put on the full armour of God so that we can stand firm against the darts of the enemy. We no longer have to give in to discouragement, fear or doubt, but we can boldly, with all confidence in you, stand, knowing that when we are weak, you are strong. In Jesus' mighty name, Amen."

Knowing His Voice

2010-03-24T15:38:00.000-07:00

"My feet have closely followed His steps; I have kept to His way without turning aside. I have not departed from the commands of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread." Job 23:11-12

Amazing, isn't it? Job, a man so blessed in all he did, a man so blameless and upright who, in losing everything, in all his horrific sufferings didn't curse God but rather fell to the ground and worshipped Him upon hearing the news of his family's death.

"He fell to the ground in worship and said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised." Job 1:20

Job immediately made his choice not to turn away from or blame God, but to follow and trust his heavenly Father through it all; through the pain, heartbreak, tragedy, disappointment and torment. Though it had to be beyond difficult for Job, he depended on God, believing He would help him. He praised and did not curse God. That is vital. He made the right choice; a decision that would prove victorious for him in the end. Job fixed his eyes on God. He didn't look to the left or right. He didn't look at the past. He didn't listen to the voices all around him, telling him to give up on God, to curse God and just die. He gazed his eyes on God, pressed forward and followed God. What tenacity that took.

Job depended on God's word more than food or drink. He abandoned what would have been the norm and went after the blessings God had for Him, not even knowing what the outcome would be. That is faith and that faith allowed Job to go through the fire and not come out smelling like smoke. He later received all God had for him, which was beyond his wildest dreams.

Would we be able to suffer like Job and praise God through it all? Could we ever encounter pain, loss, and suffering and still focus on the fact that God has a plan, that He will give back what was taken from us and then some? Could we look past our trials and tragedies and grab hold of the outstretched hands and open arms that say, "Come, follow Me?" Would we be able to mute the voices around us pulling us in every direction but the one we need to take? Will we know His voice; the right voice to follow? Will we be too busy, too afraid, or will we forsake all and follow the Great Shepherd and be the sheep He longs to care for?

"When He has brought out all His own, He goes on ahead of them, and His sheep follow him because they know His voice." John 10:4

Praise Power

2010-03-15T09:35:00.000-07:00

"Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord." Psalm 150:6

God inhabits the praises of His people. When we worship, He is right there in our midst. He knows what we need and is the answer. He longs for our worship because He loves us. Worship is about praising God for who He is, not for what He does or what He can provide for us. It is about communicating to Him how AWESOME He is, how powerful and great He is and how much we appreciate and love Him. Like countless men and women of the Bible, we can worship our way through any storm, any captivity and any enemy we encounter. God moves when we worship through our circumstances, no matter what the end result might seem to be. Sometimes we don't feel like worshipping, but that is exactly when we should.

Recall with me the real life events of Paul and Silas found in Acts 16:22; The men were harshly beaten and thrown into prison. Midnight fell upon them and wow was it dark, like the dark times we face (our "midnights!"). The jailer was ordered to shackle their feet and keep them bound in the inner prison. During their captivity and at their darkest hour, Paul and Silas began to worship and sing praises to God! Rather than trembling with fear, complaining or wondering how on earth they would get out of that terrible place, they lifted high the God of all creation, the God so strong and mighty, the God they adore.

As the other prisoners listened, (imagine what was going through their minds), suddenly, a strong earthquake came, the prison foundation was destroyed and the doors opened and the prisoners were free from their chains and shackles! Was it a coincidence that the earthquake came when it did? Not a chance. Praise moves God. He used that earthquake to free Paul and Silas, who believed in God and His mighty power. They didn't have a specific prayer. They didn't ask God for anything. They simply worshipped Him.

Let's pray:

"Heavenly Father, we praise and thank you for real life Bible truths that we can refer back to for encouragement, and for answers to life's tough questions. Help us to realize whether we are in bondage, captive or imprisoned, worshipping you is the key to setting us free. Whether it is relationships, fears, frustrations or discouragements keeping us bound, we choose to worship you today. We simply go to your throne of grace and mercy and shower you with the praise you so deserve. Blessed be your holy name. In Jesus' name, Amen".

Juniper in the Desert

2010-03-03T06:02:00.000-08:00

God is omnipotent. The first time I ever heard those words, I learned that He was everything I would ever need; everything. God encompasses all things; there is nothing left out. The dictionary defines omnipotent as all-powerful, possessing complete, unlimited, or universal power and authority. God has the final word. The world can be falling apart around me, but God is in control. He always has been. He always will be. God is omnipresent. He is everywhere; continuously and simultaneously throughout all creation! He is present all the time, in all places. Why do I worry if God is omnipotent and omnipresent? Fear and doubt accomplish nothing but good toward the enemy and anything but good for me. What if I surrender completely to God and His omnipotence?

Would it be possible for me to trust Him completely and remain still, resting in His care, no matter what? Would I truly believe that He would tread down my enemies and allow me to live valiantly as Psalm 60:12 so encourages? There is a place; a secret place where I can go to find refuge and safety in the One who protects me with the strength of a fearless lion, yet is as gentle as a lamb, providing me with serenity and peace, even in a storm.

Like the strong and tenacious juniper tree, I want to thrive in the desert. Like the rare tree that grows through rock, without water, twisted and without direction, living and blooming in barren landscape, I want to flourish where God plants me. Even if I am tired, afraid and burdened, even when there seems to be no way, I want to push through the rock and reach for all God has for me. The unique juniper tree had purpose. In all its' imperfections, God used it. He created it to be different from the other trees for a reason; He used it as a place of refuge, "He lay down and slept under a juniper tree; and behold, there was an angel touching him." 1 Kings 19:5. God, in His omnipotent power, is the source of my strength, joy, peace, hope and love. When I seek Him, praise Him, trust Him and take refuge in Him, I will find ways in which He will use me and become like a juniper in the desert.

Bloom and be blessed!
Marie

He Will Calm the Storm

2010-02-16T11:00:00.000-08:00

Are you in a storm? Not the weather kind, the life kind. No matter how large or small the turbulent waves of frustration, fear and disappointment are tossing you about, remember that God is with you. You are not alone. He will carry you through and make a way out in His perfect time as only He can. It might or might not be the expected outcome, but He will do what is best. Not only does God have the answer. He is the answer.

Proverbs 19:21 says, "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails."

We often wonder why it takes so long for the One who is so Mighty to save us, but we must keep in mind that He is at work behind the scenes, working things out on our behalf even though we might not see evidence of it. We will learn more and grow stronger as we walk through the trials of life, following God's lead and listening for His voice, rather than trying to get out our own way, causing us to go around and around the same mountain. God knows exactly what we need much better than we do.

Isaiah 55:8-9 says, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

God's plans are to bless us, to give us abundant life and to make Himself real to us. His desire is that we trust Him to be our Deliverer and Strong Tower no matter what the situation looks like and no matter how hopeless it seems. When we seek Him and His infallible Word, we will find comfort and direction. When we praise Him and life Him up during our storm, we will feel the peace only He can give us and His voice will be all we hear in the midst of what might seem like an eternal trial.

"He stilled the storm to a whisper, the waves of the sea were hushed."

Psalm 107:29

Let's Pray:

"Heavenly Father, thank you for being with us through the storms of life. Where would we be without you? Thank you for quieting the storms in our lives right now so that all we hear is your voice. Thank you for being the peace and calm during this time in our lives. We need you and love you. In Jesus' precious name, Amen".

Whole in One

2010-02-01T16:18:00.000-08:00

"For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord." (Jeremiah 30:17)

God wants us to be whole and well. He wants us healthy and strong in every area of our lives; spiritually strong, strong in our faith, strong in His Word. He wants us to be stable and well in our minds, our emotions and in our physical bodies. He wants us free from the bondage and captivity that sickness and debt hold us in. He wants us to stop worrying and trust in Him. He is the only way to find peace. He is the only one who can change our circumstance and heal our heart.

When we are walking with God, we are over comers, more than conquerors, we are victorious and we are whole; not perfect, but whole. Those who are miserable may think everything would be better for them if they were in a different situation. But they are usually wrong. For example, a single woman might think she would be happier and more complete if she only had a husband. But, the best time for a single woman to get married is when she is already whole; when she is content by herself and in her heart, when she has a relationship with God and when she can look in the mirror and say, "I am a child of God" and believe that she is loved by God unconditionally. She doesn't have to depend on someone to love her because she already feels the security and matchless love of the Father.

God’s Word promises many wonderful things for God's children, and although we aren't promised a perfect life or one without problems, He has promised to walk with us and deliver us. "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all." (Psalm 34:19)

His desire is that we all live healthy, productive, Godly lives, remaining whole and complete in Him. He so loves us and wants us strong throughout our journey of life, helping others along the way. As we walk THROUGH the process of healing from the inside, out, we are a witness to others of Jesus' love and grace.

In His precious love,

Marie

Let's pray together:

"Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for creating me the way you did. My desire is to be whole and complete in you and not to depend on someone else or to wait until something gets better to be happy. I receive your grace and the joy only you can fulfill in me. Please search my heart and show me the areas I need to become whole in and restore me. I believe you will and I thank you for it. In Jesus' name, Amen".

2010-01-20T19:36:00.000-08:00

God's Assurance, Our Insurance

Jesus said, "With man, this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible." Matthew 19:26

Are you facing a situation today that seems impossible? Do you need a miracle? God, in His omnipotent, invincible, unstoppable power is able to do more for you than you can ever imagine! His Word says that ALL things are possible with Him. God goes beyond what we can imagine and does even greater things!

"Now unto Him Who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us." Ephesians 3:20

It is easy for us to focus on the problems in our lives, and even try to solve them in our own strength and thinking. But God is strong and mighty to save.

"Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle." Psalm 24:8

Sometimes we get overwhelmed and we forget who is in control. We often tell God how big our storm is, rather than telling our storm how big God is. When we declare to God how awesome He is, and show Him how much we trust in His power, we will begin to see a change in our situation. Add even the tiniest morsel of faith, and we will start to see the light at the end of even the darkest tunnel. God has said that we could move mountains if we do not doubt.

Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, but if you say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea', it will happen." Matthew 21:21

God is working behind the scenes on our behalf, even if we do not see it. God has a mighty plan for our victory, no matter what the situation might be. We are to be encouraged and trust Him completely, believing today and everyday that nothing whatsoever is impossible with God.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for showing me that there is a way out of my troubles today. I trust that you have made a way where there seemed to be no way. I choose to believe that all things are possible through you. Thank you for the victory I am going to receive. Please help my story to become a testimony of encouragement to those around me, that they, too will trust you. I love you. In Jesus' precious name, Amen.

Rest in His care,
Marie

♥ The Love of My Life ♥

2009-10-27T07:10:00.000-07:00

God is......AWESOME. His love is amazing. He is perfect in every way. Oh, how we long for true love; the real kind; love that conquers all; true, lasting love that rescues us, comforts us, makes us feel special and gives us a "Cinderella" life.

Is there really that kind of perfect love out there? I have heard many stories that get close, I have witnessed the cutest couples hand in hand, seemingly without a care in the world. I have settled in at night to watch my share of "love story" themed movies that could make even the hardest heart an ocean of tears. The movies seem so real, but are merely actors and actresses playing their parts. I know of real couples who seem to be in perfect relationships, and God does bless us with mates we love and who love us, and He instructs us in I Corinthians 13 to love. But we could search high and low and find that there is no love like God's love. His love is true. He is faithful. He is always with us. He is a constant encourager. He made the ultimate sacrifice for one reason; He loves us. He makes us feel special, because He made us special. He blesses us with surprise gifts all the time.

God calls us and draws us to Himself and even wants our time. The Bible, God's Word is a love letter from His heart to ours; the greatest gift we'll ever receive! He never rejects us, no matter what. He embraces us regardless of how ugly we get on the inside or out. Imagine, there is someone who loves us in spite of who we are, in the midst of our failures and imperfections, and so unconditionally. God loves us. Shower Him with your love today, not for what He can do for you, but for Who He is. ♥

"Heavenly Father, I just want you to know how very much I love you. I am eternally grateful that you love me. Thank you for your sweet, unending and steadfast love. You truly are the love of my life. In Jesus' precious name, Amen."
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
"I am my beloved and he is mine." (Solomon 6:3)
"I am with you always". (Matthew 28:20)
"God gives us richly all things to enjoy." (1 Timothy 6:17)
"I have loved you with an everlasting love, with loving kindness I have drawn you." (Jeremiah 31:3)
"The Lord your God is with you…He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will calm you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." (Zephaniah 3:17)

You are loved,
Marie

Considering Lilies

2009-08-28T07:03:00.000-07:00

Why do I worry when God has told me to simply seek Him? He didn't tell me to spin around and search for answers. He didn't say I would make a single step of progress by trying to figure it all out on my own. He simply said to seek Him first and everything else would fall into place; "seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you". (Matthew 6:33)

Luke 12:27 reminds us to consider the lilies of the field and how they blossom so effortlessly and bloom so gracefully. God wants us to know that He loves us more than He loves the lilies, so how much more will He do for us? So much more. He is the answer to everything, regardless of what the situation might be. We can rest assured that we will find the direction we need when we seek Him first and spend time in His Word, learning all we can about our Father, His love for us and His promises to us. "He who promised is faithful". (Hebrews 10:23) ♥

~ Father, please help me to release my fears and worries to you now. I no longer need to search for answers anywhere but at Your feet. Please help me to seek You first each day, confident that as I do, You will make divine deposits into my life and give me the direction I so desperately need. Thank you for the answers I need today. I love you. In Jesus' name, Amen.~

Grace,
Marie

At His Feet

2009-08-26T05:18:00.001-07:00

God is so merciful and compassionate. He watches over me when I am busier than ever; burning the candle at both ends, rushing here and there just to make it through the day, only to start it all over again the next. What would become of my life if I suddenly became still? What if I stopped long enough to catch my breath, and give God; my loving, caring Father my time? Am I willing to invest the time God has given me in the most important relationship there could ever be? God won't chase after me and demand my time. He will lovingly and patiently wait for me to give my time to Him. I want my time to be His time. I want to be still and know that He is God. I want to sit at His feet and take the time to know Him, love Him and be the daughter He wants me to be. ♥

In the Father's Love,
Marie

First Things First

2009-08-24T07:17:00.000-07:00

First Things First

"I will lift up my eyes to the hills from whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth." Psalm 121: 1-2

Whether I am overwhelmed by an oversized to-do-list, running out of time for a deadline or realizing there is no way to be two places at once, I am reminded that I am not alone without help. I have the supernatural support of a living God who wants to help me and lets me know that He does. He loves me and knows how much I can handle. He is very much aware of the hustle and bustles of everyday life, but He is not the author of chaos and confusion. He has given His children (us!) peace and rest. We often feel we are too busy to take time out for God and His Word, when that is the only way we are actually able to tackle our to-do-list, meet our deadline and be where we need to be when we need to be. Putting God first; there is nothing better and no more efficient way of getting the job done (and that is only one of the benefits!)

God's peace and rest to you!

Marie

Carry On

2009-08-21T19:46:00.000-07:00

Jesus performed miraculous works throughout His earthly ministry. He healed the sick, raised the dead, encouraged others, and went through villages and marketplaces to comfort and teach people. He worked numerous wonders in His lifetime and was a positive light to so many. The incredible reality is that Jesus has instructed us to continue His work here on earth! He has given us the honor and the responsibility of proclaiming the message that God is Love. He is our Savior, our Healer and the lifter of our heads. We must go as Jesus said, to the lost and hurting world. Jesus is with us, so we never have to feel alone or afraid. Jesus also promises that the Holy Spirit will be our guide and will empower us as we continue His ministry.

There is no need to wait for the “right” time to minister to others. There are opportunities all around us everyday to carry on and continue greater things, and when we take the first step, Jesus will be faithful to lead us and walk with us all the way. "Anyone who has faith in Me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these." John 14:12

In His love,
Marie

Faith and Walks in the Wilderness

2009-08-18T10:02:00.000-07:00

Before I can achieve victory in my everyday life, there is a vital weapon I cannot win without - faith. Matthew 17:20 says, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." God does not expect me to be teeming with faith. He simply asks that I take the next step toward believing He can do that which I ask in my time of need. It is the smallest morsel of faith that moves God in every situation because it is what pleases Him. “But without faith it is impossible to please God: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 1:6. I cannot expect God to move on my behalf when I beg and plead with Him in desperation. He already knows my situation and how badly I need a miracle. I can ask Him, thank Him and have faith that He will do a mighty work in me and for me. He loves me and delivers me, yet He allows me to go through walks in the wilderness. If I didn’t, I would be a weak, useless soldier in His army.

Be strong and blessed!
Marie

Juniper in the Desert

2009-08-18T08:56:00.000-07:00