Restoring Hearts Blog

“The more you have, the more you are occupied.  The less you have, the more free you are.” Mother Teresa Clutter is the antithesis of freedom for me.  Yesterday my husband and I were discussing our negative habits that prevent us from being more productive and fulfilling God’s destiny.  At the top of my list is clutter on my desk. I need to put into place systems of organization to stay on top of all my paper clutter.  (Please send me any tips that work for you!) Clutter drag

“Pain’s main function is to alert your focus to the real problem, or wound, betrayal or hurt.” Christa Black Gifford Whether we’ve been physically or emotionally hurt, pain lets us know something is terribly wrong. Pain informs us that we have been hurt and alerts us that not everything is right in our world. That is the good purpose of pain. I prefer to avoid pain at all costs. I’d rather deny its existence and sweep it under the rug and pretend it’s not there. The problem w

“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

“There was no identity crisis in the life of Jesus Christ. He knew who He was, He knew where He had come from, and why He was here. And He knew where He was going. And when you are that liberated, then you can serve.” Howard Hendricks Jesus understood who He was. He knew He was the Son of God; therefore, He didn’t have to do anything to prove He possessed that favored position. Jesus wasn’t a “wanna-be;” He didn’t perform so that others would acknowledge who He was. In fact,

“God’s Spirit continually reveals to His children what human nature is like apart from His grace.” Oswald Chambers There are times in my life I can totally relate to the Apostle Paul’s words in Romans 7:15: “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” That Scripture came to mind a few months ago after I repented from a sin. And then Holy Spirit, whispered these sweet words, which gave me comfort and encouragement. I love you Norma

“Religion is like the vaccine that stops you from getting the real thing.” Billy Graham “Right living and right believing go hand in hand in Paul’s letter to Titus.” When I read this quote in The Passion Translation introduction to the book of Titus, I was stirred to ponder. It’s true, the fruit that comes from our right thinking is seen in our right living behavior. We believe the truth and that produces righteous behavior, not the other way around. Beliefs before behavior.

“The man who does not like self-examination may be pretty certain that things need examining.” Charles Haddon Spurgeon God-awareness leads to self-awareness. One of the benefits from seeing a life coach is self-discovery. I rarely take time to figure out how God made me, or what makes me tick. Usually I uncover these discoveries by running smack into them, which isn’t pleasant. On a recent session with my life coach, we mined the treasures of my drainers and gainers and how m

“Courage faces fear and thereby masters it. Cowardice represses fear and is thereby mastered by it.” Martin Luther King Jr. Fear immobilizes and causes us to disobey God. But for those who put their brave face on, freedom is waiting to embrace them. The things I have feared the most, have become the greatest blessings when I faced them. I fear conflict, trials, failure, and success. And if I had it my way, I’d avoid them or hide from them, which is why I procrastinate. I am s

“We are healed of grief only when we express it to the full.” Chuck Swindoll Holidays are painful when there is loss. This may be your first Easter since a loved one passed away. Maybe your loss involves a change in a job or in your health. My loss may not be as devastating as a loved one dying, but to me, moving to Wichita, away from those I love, rocked my boat. All loss is significant, even disappointments. Any form of sorrow shapes us. Loss needs to be mourned, but not al

2 “Of all the passions, fear weakens judgment most.” Cardinal de Retz While in college, I lamented over the stress of my classes and couldn’t wait to graduate. But once I landed a full time teaching position and juggled that with my desire to be a good wife, I missed the life of a carefree college student. I was no different than the Israelites in Exodus 14:12 when they fled from their slavery in Egypt and Pharaoh and his troops pursued them in front of the Red Sea. They comp

“Courage faces fear and thereby masters it. Cowardice represses fear and is thereby mastered by it.” Martin Luther King Jr. God loves me too much to let me run away from my fears. In Genesis chapter 16, Hagar, Sarai’s pregnant and mistreated servant, tried to run away from her difficult situation, but the Lord wouldn’t let her. In His kindness, the angel of the Lord found her and asked: “Where have you come from?” “Where are you going?” (Genesis 16:8) Hagar replied she was ru

“Are you getting more value from Him or from your assignment?” Eric Johnson I have been on a writing adventure with God for many years. He called me to write when my heart was covered in shame and my identity was locked into performance. I liked myself when I was productive, pleased people, and kept many balls juggling without them crashing to the floor. Up and down my security went, like a roller coaster, when it was based on what I did and how well I performed. Fortunately,

Dear Friends, Two hundred forty years ago the Declaration of Independence was adopted, stating that the thirteen American colonies were set free from the British Empire. As you contemplate and celebrate July Fourth, may you also ponder another type of freedom, the day Jesus Christ set you free. Jerry Bridges said, “The death of Christ secured for us not only freedom from the penalty of sin, but also deliverance from the dominion of sin in our lives.” May you not only apprecia

“Freedom does not mean I am able to do whatever I want to do. That’s the worst kind of bondage. Freedom means I have been set free to become all that God wants me to be, to achieve all that God wants me to achieve, to enjoy all that God wants me to enjoy.” Warren W. Wiersbe December 1, 1955 was a significant day in history. That was the day Rosa Parks did not give up her seat on the bus in Montgomery, Alabama. “People always say that I didn’t give up my seat because I was tir

“Fear is faith for the things you don’t want.” Unknown Fear plagued me as a little girl. Being shy I was too afraid to talk to the telephone operator. My anxious feelings led to biting my finger nails. I was motivated to stop chewing on them for two weeks by the promise of a pair of white go-go boots. The nibbling restarted though, when my anxiety returned. My dad used to say, “Fear is the most powerful emotion.” I can testify to its power to immobilize me, to the point of di

“A self-promise is an agreement with ourselves that binds us.” Thom Gardner I received many of my sister’s clothes growing up, because I was the youngest daughter. Hand me downs is good stewardship. But in the emotional realm, there are unbeneficial kinds of hand me downs we can pass on to our children and others. As long as I live I will pursue emotional wholeness, for that’s how God has wired me. My motivation to have my heart made whole is to have closer connections with G

“Of all the acts of man repentance is the most divine. The greatest of all faults is to be conscious of none.” Thomas Carlyle House cleaning is therapeutic. Most of my life I haven’t really enjoyed cleaning but last week I crossed over to the other side as I pondered its benefits. Working hard, like any exercise, releases endorphins. Accomplishment brings satisfaction. Not having clutter staring me in the face and restoring order to my house gives me peace. Even the microwave

“Beware of anything that competes with your loyalty to Jesus Christ. The greatest competitor of true devotion to Jesus is the service we do for Him.” Oswald Chambers “‘I will bring him near and he will come close to me, for who is he who will devote himself to be close to me?’ declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 30:21b) Jeremiah wrote this Scripture during the Israelite’s 70 year Babylonian captivity. The Israelites’ idolatry and rebellion brought God’s judgment. God not only wante

“To him who still remains in this world no repentance is too late. The approach to God’s mercy is open, and the access is easy to those who seek and apprehend the truth.” St. Cyprian A few weeks ago I had a professional organizer come to my house. I have been talking and praying about de-cluttering and organizing my house for years but needed the wisdom, expertise and accountability from another person. Clutter depresses me while having things in its place gives me peace. I n

“Things are out of control because you are in control. God is asking us to yield completely so He can surround us with His protection and care.” Lisa Bevere A few months ago I discovered what happens when you’re 30,000 feet up in the air and your body decides it wants to pass out in response to feeling nauseated. I can say I was definitely not in control of that situation! Fortunately though, God was. The root of control is fear. When we struggle with insecurity, we do whatev