With Joy!

Yesterday, during lunch, I opened my Bible and started reading from Psalms and Proverbs. The following verses about joy caught my attention.

"The Lord is my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusts, and I am helped; 

my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to Him." ~ Psalm 28:7

"An evil man is ensnared in his transgression, but a righteous man sings and rejoices." 

~ Proverbs 29:6

Before I took a break for lunch, I had been cleaning at Alongside (a retreat and counseling ministry for pastors and missionaries) and was just "enduring it." I was tired yesterday, so my work was just to "get it done". While I ate my lunch and meditated on God's Word, I recognized that my attitude was wrong. I wasn't cleaning refrigerators and bathtubs with a heart of joyful service. I was vacuuming and dusting with a heart of "work". 

There is nothing wrong with working, being focused on the task, and doing a good job, but God calls us to so much more than just enduring this life and the things He has set before us to do. We are to live in joy and sing songs of praise because of Him.

A verse that God has used in my life recently is Colossians 1:11 which says, 

"May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, 

for all endurance and patience with joy." 

Paul could have ended the verse with "endurance and patience", but the Holy Spirit inspired him to add, "with joy". Because God gives us strength, we can endure, but not just endure, endure with great joy. 

Last evening while I washed dishes, I found myself again just doing it for the sake of doing it and not finding joy in it. But how can I find joy in doing the dishes? By remembering that it's more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35), that I'm serving as if I'm serving Jesus (Colossians 3:24), and that I'm showing love to my family through my service.

One of the most practical ways I've found to "endure with joy" is to sing while I work. Singing lifts my heart and reminds me of the joy I have in Jesus. We have such a wonderful gift of salvation and abundant life! May we never forget, but always delight in our God!

Having a joyful heart is being able to sing while we serve, rejoice in everything, and have an attitude like Jim Elliot, the missionary martyr, who wrote, "Wherever you are, be all there! Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God." 

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice." ~ Philippians 4:4 

Let's walk this path with joy! It's a wonderful road with Jesus and the joy that He brings us!

Blessings,
Christina

Soli Deo Gloria ~ To God Alone Be the Glory!

Isaiah 30:21

"And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' 
when you turn to the right or to the left." ~ Isaiah 30:21

Fellowship at Bright Lights

Some of the sweetest joys of the Bright Lights conferences included the fellowship the leaders shared in Christ and the time we spent working together to serve the Lord.

As Christian young women who love ministry came together from across the country, we enjoyed  wonderful conversations about the God, His Word, His work, and our lives. Meeting other lovely young woman who are seeking after Christ and serving Him faithfully encourages me to press on and continue to love and serve the Lord.

"But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, 

and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin." ~ 1 John 1:7

It was great to serve together by reaching out to the girls who came to the conference. So many young ladies need to be pointed to Christ, to know the sweetness that comes through salvation and living for the Lord, and to have godly role models. Being willing to reach out and talk to a younger girl makes a big difference in her life. In whatever service God gives us (during the conference we had a variety of jobs - including cleaning the bathrooms!), we have the joy of serving Him and it's amazing to serve Him alongside other believers!

"Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into His presence with singing!" ~ Psalm 100:2

As Christians, we have the privilege of walking through life side-by-side. Let's delight in the fellowship we have in Christ and serve Him with a happy heart.

I will be sharing more about what I learned about fellowship during the conferences in the August "Matters of Her Heart Email", so stay tuned!

Blessings,

Christina

Soli Deo Gloria ~ To God Alone Be the Glory!

Photos from Grace Mally's Blog

Isaiah 51:10-11

"Was it not you who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep, 

who made the depths of the sea a way for the redeemed to pass over?"

"And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; 

everlasting joy shall be upon their heads: they shall obtain gladness and joy, 

and sorrow and sighing shall flee away." 

~ Isaiah 51:10-11

Photo Credit: Alyssa H. and Christina B.

Young Ladies Fellowship Meeting: August 9th

Hello, Friends! 

You are invited to an informal Young Ladies Fellowship Meeting at Kellogg Forest on Saturday, August 9th! Moms, daughters, and ladies of all ages are welcome to attend. We will be studying the joy and privilege of walking in God's ways during our devotion time. I'm looking forward to a special afternoon of fellowship, being in God's Word, and enjoying good exercise! 

Please bring your Bible, a picnic lunch, and good walking shoes. If you can't come for the whole meeting, feel free to join us whenever you can. 

Tentative Schedule

12:00pm - Lunch

12:30pm - Singing, Devotion, Prayer

1:15pm - Walking

2:45pm - Goodbye!

Please contact me if you can come, if you need directions, and if you have any questions: mattersofherheart@gmail.com.

I look forward to seeing you all soon! Feel free to share this invitation with anyone who may be interested. 

Blessings,

Christina

"For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, 

but the Lord looks on the heart." ~ 1 Samuel 16:7

Proverbs 12:28

"The path of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death." 

~ Proverbs 12:28

Psalm 119:11,105

"I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you…

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." 

~ Psalm 119:11,105

Bright Lights Conferences

Hello, Friends!

I was privileged to help with two Bright Lights conferences in Iowa recently! It was such a blessing to work with this ministry and serve alongside many wonderful leaders by encouraging young ladies to be strong for the Lord while they are young and to have hearts that are radiantly pure for Him. God is so good and I grew throughout the conferences in many ways and was grateful to be used of Him, by His grace, for His glory.

You can read about the conference on Grace Mally's blog: www.brothersandsisters.net/gracenotes and you can learn more about the Bright Lights ministry at brightlightsdiscipleship.com.

Blessings,
Christina

Soli Deo Gloria - To God Alone Be the Glory!

Photo from Grace Mally

The Joy of Spending Time With the Lord

Follow this link to watch a new "Thoughts From the Heart" video about the joy of spending time with the Lord: https://vimeo.com/101239279.

In Christ's love,
Christina

Soli Deo Gloria ~ To God Alone Be the Glory! 

Jeremiah 6:16

"Thus says the Lord: 'Stand by the roads, and look, 

and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; 

and walk in it, and find rest for your souls...'" 

~ Jeremiah 6:16

Psalm 23:1-3

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 

He makes me lie down in green pastures. 

He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. 

He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake." 

~ Psalm 23:1-3

Photo Credit: Alyssa H.

Isaiah 43:1b-2

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; 

I have called you by name, you are mine. 

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; 

and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; 

when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, 

and the flame shall not consume you." 

~ Isaiah 43:1b-2

Photo Credit: Sarah S.

Standing on the Rock

Have you ever stood on a solid rock? When I stand on a rock, I am upheld, secure and steady. The rock is not going anywhere. Our God is like that strong, unmovable rock. When we are standing on Him, He will never falter or let us down. He is a perfect, solid rock, upon which we can stand securely.

“On Christ, the solid Rock I stand –

All other ground is sinking sand,

All other ground is sinking sand.”

~ From “The Solid Rock” by Edward Mote

Life is full of changes. Some of these alterations may seem exciting, while others are difficult. But either way, there is only one thing that does not ever change. Our God is firm and steadfast. Today I was reading from 2 Samuel 22. David writes:

“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God,

 my rock, in whom I take refuge…” ~ 2 Samuel 22:2-3a

David recognized that the Lord was His Rock and He leaned on God alone. He continues,

            “For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God?”

~ 2 Samuel 22:32

Only God is a rock. Other people will fail and falter, but God will not. He is always faithful and true. For, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

In my life, circumstances have changed. People become different over the years. Friendships have been altered. One moment I feel one way and the next I’ll feel another. Places are different. Health changes depending on what I eat and how much sleep I get. My schedule differs depending on my season of life. So many things in my life have changed over the years. Some of the changes were great (like starting a Bright Lights discipleship group), while some were more difficult (like moving when I was eleven). Through every single change, God has been a solid Rock for me. Whatever I face, He is right there, upholding and strengthening me for the task. He lives and He is real.

“The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be my God, the rock of my salvation.”

~ 2 Samuel 22:47

As we walk in God’s ways, let’s remember the joy of knowing that though things around us may change, He will never change. Whatever lies ahead in our path – good or difficult – God is holding us. We are secure in Him! He is forever faithful. He’s wonderful! Let’s always lean on Him.

“Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.”

~ Isaiah 26:4

With blessings in Christ, our Rock,

Christina

Photo Credits: Christina B., Alyssa H., and Doug B.

Soli Deo Gloria - To God Alone Be the Glory!