Restoring Hearts Blog

“Nothing will kill your contentment faster than comparison.” Steven Furtick Several years ago, I wrote three posts on what crushes contentment: covetousness, complaining and comparison. Covetousness causes us to focus on what we want or lack, which makes us miss the joy of what we already have. Complaining expresses dissatisfaction to God and challenges His goodness. Comparison is a judgment toward ourselves or someone else, which leads to feeling inferior or prideful. If tho

“The enemy knows that without surrender, we will never experience the freedom that God offers us.” Katherine J. Walden I almost ran up to the altar call at my one hundred-year-old mentor’s memorial service. Germaine loved to intercede and release God’s spiritual gifts to those she met, so it was fitting the remembrance and honor of her life included an opportunity to receive prayer. I don’t remember the words prayed over me, but I do remember falling back onto the floor. I li

“People can always sense when you are judging them, and it causes them to put up walls to defend themselves against your judgments, hindering the possibility of personal connection.” Katherine Ruonala Last week’s post was on a rebellious son and a religious son. I have struggled with being religious, performing and following the rules, to puff up my pride and feel better about myself. The end result is being judgmental in my heart and mind. Even though I may not say anything,

“When we really understand who God is, we begin to recognize who we are. Revelation about Him leads to revelation about ourselves.” Katherine Ruonala The more I get to know God, the more I realize how little I know about Him. Understanding who God is and His attributes, leads me to understand my identity as His child. In order to live out of that identity, I need to believe those truths within my heart. Then and only then, can I possess my true identity in Christ. For years m

“I am not yet able to fully believe that where my failings are great, ‘grace is always greater.'” Henri Nouwen There are many nuggets of wisdom in the parable of the lost son found in Luke 15:11-32. Pause for a few minutes and read this passage. As I’ve reread these Scriptures, I am able to identify with both of these sons. But I relate most to the oldest son, the one who judged his sibling and thought all along he was more of a laborer, than his father’s son. How we see ours