Restoring Hearts Blog

“Those are unfit and unworthy to rule over men who are not willing that God should rule over them.” Matthew Henry At times it’s easier to discern what something is by comparing it to what it’s not. King Saul in I Samuel 15 is an example of this, as he demonstrates what an ungodly leader looks like. God asked Saul to destroy ALL the Amalekites and all that belonged to them (verse 3). Saul spared King Agag and the best of the sheep, cattle, the fat calves and lambs (verse 9). G

“The essence of true holiness consists in conformity to the nature and will of God.” Samuel Lucas A friend explained that when she buys something at a second hand store labeled “as is” she realizes she may be buying something with defects. Our salvation is similar, in that God paid the exorbitant price of His Son’s life to purchase each of us “as is,” flaws included. The morning after the conversation with my friend, the Father spoke these words to me. May they resonate withi

“Faith never knows where it’s being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading.” Oswald Chambers When I first met Jesus as a fifteen-year-old, my love for Him compelled me to obey Him. Gradually, that love relationship turned more into a dutiful servant who followed rules. Years later the Lover of my Soul wooed me back into a close relationship with Him. I went from feeling like an orphan to relishing and embracing my relationship as His daughter and His bride. Readin

“When I choose to obey His leading, He will reward me with His power, Presence and supernatural blessing.” Priscilla Shirer As a newlywed in 1977, my sister got on The Price is Right game show and won both showcases!  How exciting it was for her to win rooms full of furniture, until it came time to pay income tax on her winnings.  Another popular game show today is Let’s Make a Deal.  The host offers deals to a few audience members and they have to decide if the offer is a va

“Our rest lies in looking to the Lord, not to ourselves.” Watchman Nee I’m a crammer. I’ve been known to cram large boxes of Tupperware into my then 1974 Datsun B-210, breaking the rear-view mirror. I enjoy the challenge of cramming groceries in the refrigerator. Cramming too much into my schedule though can have negative results. I became tired and without emotion or motivation after a busy Fall schedule of travel and additional holiday responsibilities. Those symptoms signa

“Every woman, no matter what her age, who is just barely a step ahead of another woman in her walk with Christ is an ‘older woman’ and has the raw material to help another grow.” Dana Yeakley Yesterday I turned 64. There are many things I know now that I wished I knew when I was much younger. An awareness of certain truths at an earlier age, could have spared me from heartache and hurt. If I were to write a letter to my younger self, this is what I would say. Dear Younger Me,

“There are no disappointments to those whose wills are buried in the will of God.” Frederick William Faber As a young woman in my twenties, the big mystery was to know God’s will, regarding my relationships, career or ministry. Some things still haven’t changed in my sixties. Because I have grown in lordship and submission to God’s preference, I pursue to understand His will all the more. The difference is it’s not as much a mystery. My almost fifty years of walking hand in h

“Being a disciple means deliberately identifying yourself with God’s interests in other people.” Oswald Chambers A few weeks ago, I meditated on the calling of the first disciples in Luke 5:1-11. Here are some of the principles I learned from that passage of what it means to follow Jesus. When we’re followers of Jesus, we do what He asks us to do and we obey even when it may not make sense. In verse four, Jesus asks Simon to let down their nets in deep water. And though Simon

“…Every choice along the way matters and they have real consequences.” Katherine Reay Last Monday I began a three-part series on soul care. Our mind, will and emotions comprise our soul. The previous week I wrote on stewarding our mind. This week’s post is on how to take care of our will. We exercise our will by the choices we make. Our will is the “chooser” portion of our soul which makes decisions. Scripture tells us we reap what we sow. If we make choices to please our sin

“Destiny is not for comfort seekers. Destiny is for the daring and determined who are willing to endure some discomfort, delay gratification, and go where destiny leads.” T.D. Jakes In order for the Israelites to enter their Promise Land, they first needed to cross over the Jordan River. Likewise, it’s essential for us to negotiate our personal Jordan to complete our divine destiny. The Jordan represents barriers which come between us and the fulfillment of our destiny. Our J

“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.

“No man securely commands but he who has learned to obey.” Thomas A. Kempis My grandpa started the first real estate company in Arizona in 1920. The family business was eventually handed over to my parents. While I was in high school I worked part time, filing papers and other jobs at the family business. I didn’t decide what I would do, didn’t initiate the jobs I would perform, but instead did what my parents asked me to do. I discovered Jesus behaved the same way as He carr

“The will of God will never take you to where the grace of God will not protect you. To gain that which is worth having, it may be necessary to lose everything else.” Bernadette Devlin Prior to our move to Wichita, I sensed we were being sent there. We obeyed, without being clear on why or to whom we were being sent to. The Bible is full of Scripture that refers to the sovereignty of God and how He sent His servants to places with specific purposes. God tells Gideon in Judges

“Man is most truly himself…not when he toils but when he adores. And we are learning more and more that all innocent joy in life may be a form of adoration.” Vida Scudder I collect nativity sets and when you look at most crèches, Jesus is in the center. I’ve never seen one displayed where the babe in the manger is off to the side or hidden in the background. Usually baby Jesus is in the middle and all eyes are focused on Him. My favorite nativity scenes are the ones where the

“A life unexamined is a life not worth living.” Socrates No one knows me better than God. It’s the artist that fully understands all that their abstract painting represents. The creator is the one who best defines their creation. They, more than others, realize their masterpiece’s full potential and purpose. While engaging in the process of completing my Life Plan, I discovered like the psalmist in Psalm 139:14, that “I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” My goal in going thr

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Hebrews 12:1 I’ve run a few marathons and have discovered what’s needed to complete a race. I would not have been able to finish without John, my husband and running partner. He encouraged me with his determination and helped me keep a doable pace. The rewards for fi

“Often in Scripture, one regular person followed through on one regular act of obedience, and many experienced a ripple effect.” Priscilla Shirer I was fifteen years old, a sophomore in high school, when my friend, Kathy Knackstedt, asked me to attend a Young Life small group Bible study. That afternoon the leader presented the Gospel message and I invited Jesus into my heart. My friend was a regular teenager doing what Jesus prompted her to do. I’m sure she had no idea the r

“The pearl of justice is found in the heart of mercy.” St. Catherine of Siena Open book tests delivered good news and bad news to my mind. I no sooner thought, Yes, I don’t have to study as hard or memorize the material, when this thought Oh, no, open book tests are harder, permeated my mind. Micah 6:8 is an example of an open book test from God. “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly

“He is most available to those who are most available to Him.” Jack Deere I’ve learned the best way to communicate with a child is to get down on their level and look them square in the eyes. It’s all about positioning. Positioning is also essential when it comes to hearing God’s voice. I’m not talking about our posture, but the attitudes of our heart. God loves it when we have childlike faith and complete trust that He will speak. Jesus in Matthew 11:25 said, “I praise you,

“He reveals Himself to us so that we may know Him, love Him, and serve Him.” John Wimber The first time I heard God’s voice in 1988 was while driving on Grand Avenue in Phoenix, Arizona. He called me “Mary.” At the time I could have passed as Martha’s twin in Luke 10, always busy doing things. My daily quiet times with the Lord was more to check off my to do list, rather than like Mary, who sat at the feet of Jesus. Since 1998 I’ve been making time to sit still with the Lord