Hearts in Service Blog

  What is your response when facing an obstacle?  Is it to become fearful and anxious?  To spend hours worrying and replaying it over and over in your mind?  To spiral into depression? To feel like you are going to be crushed by the burden? Or something else? As I read in 2 Chronicles 20, I found a better solution for the problems we all face. 2 Chronicles 20:1-4 (HCSB) ~ After this, the Moabites and Ammonites, together with some of the Meunites, came to fight against Jehoshaphat.   People came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast number from beyond the Dead Sea and from Edom has come to fight against you; they are already in Hazazon-tamar”   (that is, En-gedi).   Jehoshaphat was afraid, and he resolved   to seek the   Lord . Then he proclaimed a fast   for all Judah,   who gathered to seek the   Lord . They even came from all the cities of Judah to seek Him. Jehoshapat is facing a huge obstacle.  Three other nations were on thei...

Isaiah 49:6 ~ He says, “It is not enough for you to be My Servant raising up the tribes of Jacob and restoring the protected ones of Israel. I will also make you a light for the nations, to be My salvation to the ends of the earth.” Revelation 7:9 ~ After this I looked, and there was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were robed in white with palm branches in their hands. My first intense exposure to missions was as a student in college in the early 1980’s. I remember sitting in rapt attention as different international workers would speak and share their stories. I would feel a deep desire stirring within my soul. God had instilled within me a heart to reach the nations. I wanted to go overseas as a missionary.  And yet, due to various circumstances, that was not to be. But that same stirring is still within me. I do my best to support missions in other ways. God, in His g...

Acts 20:24 ~   I count my life of no value to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God’s grace. I've been reading Acts lately and have been inspired by Paul's missionary journeys. As he approaches the end of the record of his travels he talks about knowing what he is going to face - beatings, jail, torture and even death, and makes this statement above. His only concern was finishing the ministry that he was given and staying the course of sharing the gospel. Most of us will never face the things that Paul faced, and yet, so easily to veer off course. We allow worries, finances, family and a whole host of other things to get in the way of the ministry we've been given or get in the way of following where God leads.  I know there have been times when I've allowed that to happen in my own life and when it does, I need to adjust my course and get back on the path that I know God has set me on...

When I started this blog 18 years ago (has it really been that long?), my goal was to share from my heart. I often share ways that God is speaking to me and I never wanted to come from a position of "I have all the answers so you should listen to me." The reality is that I'm figuring out life as I go along and I want to be transparent enough so that those reading could actually relate to what I write.  Life is hard. There are not easy answers and if anyone tells you that, they are not being honest. Sometimes as I share it seems as if I come to one conclusion about something, but then change my mind at a later date. And that is because as God deals with me I may find that I was wrong about something or need to tweak it. So the problem with being transparent is that I have to come back and write about a different conclusion.  It was interesting today as I was walking and contemplating about my life and some of what I wrote the other day about needing connection. And then I ...

Today is Mother's Day and as I reflect on my own life, there have been a few women in my life whom stand out to me.... Each Sunday, my father would pick us up and take us to our grandmother's for Sunday dinner.  I remember each week she would prepare a huge meal down to the pies and cakes for her large brood.  The women would clean up the kitchen after the meal while the men were in various stages of talking or napping around the house. We children would run around the farm, climbing trees and generally getting into trouble.  My grandmother was a sweet, soft-spoken woman who willingly served her family this way. My mother worked long, long hours as a single mom but I do remember her always making a large Saturday morning breakfast.  Apple fritters were at the top of the list.  I also recall numerous Halloween costumes being sewn for me as a child. She read to us and instilled a desire for education in me. She taught us to be responsible and to follow through on ...

I've been missing in action here for more than a week. In that time, we've celebrated a birthday (my eldest's), went to a conference for a few days, ministry activities, and just been overall busy. Plus, to be honest, I just haven't had much to say. Yesterday afternoon, I spent getting ready for today's farmer's market. I'm torn with doing it because it takes such a large chunk out of my Saturdays. However, as a people person who is alone most of my days it affords me the opportunity to get out in the community and be around people. I've met new acquaintences. I've gotten some business opportunities, including being interviewed for a local television channel next Saturday about my cookbook and plant-based eating. Being at the market meets a need I have for connection. We moved here seven years ago and there are days when it's a challenge. It has been difficult to establish deep connections with some. I'm not sure why some people hold us at ar...