Perhaps you’re going through a dark and desperate night, but just as calm comes after the storm, so will your salvation. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us .
For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love, He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us .
Perhaps past experiences have jaded us to only expect the worst. But, that’s not true! And, it’s a lie from the enemy. God said, For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future! Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us .
Friends, even on our darkest days, there is beauty, nothing is wasted. Think about the verses in Matthew 6:25-34. Why do we worry about our every day life? Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us .
Most of us, generally believe we’re on the right path in life. We make our own decisions and know where we’re going. All seems well until the road twists and turns with anxiety, fear and worry. How did something so certain change so quickly? Philippians 4:6 states, “Don’t be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” With so many choices in life, relying on God for guidance is the only way to know we’re headed in the ...
I like to think of myself as a work in progress, this helps me to have grace with myself but to also be faithful in surrendering daily to God and His plans for my life. I believe, each day God is helping me grow into who He created me to be. I’m not perfect, I don’t have it all figured out. BUT, I don’t need to know every detail of what my life will look like, I just have to trust Him. It's pretty cool to think that each day, whether it’s filled with lots of good things or filled with lots of ch...
Our friends and community become life-shapers to us. So, who, in your life are helping to shape you and push you to be the best that you can be? Not everyone in your life will be your coach, advocate or cheerleader! In the Bible, Amos 3:3 asks the question, “Can two walk together, unless they agree?” Many times, it’s healthy to respectfully disagree with a friend. But this is never acceptable if this person is hindering your growth in Christ. If you’re in a negative relationship that is holding ...
Think about the last time you went shopping for clothes. What would you do if the sweater you were trying on didn’t fit? Would you force it on or look for one in the correct size? Sometimes we do this with scripture. We may pluck out a verse here or there to suit our needs or fit our opinions. But, out of context, we can do some serious damage by reading the word of God in this way. We may end up attempting to force a verse into a situation that was never intended to fit our expectations. When w...
In the Bible, when the woman with the issue of blood touched the hem of the Savior’s garment, Jesus already knew that she was going to touch Him. He already knew she was in the crowd. After all, He is God in the flesh. Now, while He could have pointed her out, Jesus asked, “Who touched Me?” God wants us to ignore the crowd around us, look past the chaos, and approach His throne boldly. It could have been an unmentioned miracle, but Jesus would have this unnamed woman speak up publicly, for what ...
Thank you so much for listening to HEARTBEAT! We have some exciting news to share! Beginning this September we’re joining Salem Media Group’s Christian podcast network, LifeAudio. LifeAudio is home to top charting, Christian podcasts and they’re proud to bring entertaining, life-changing, and family-friendly podcasts for the engaged, evangelical Christian audience. This partnership in ministry will allow HEARTBEAT to be in front of even more potential listeners as we continue to create the show ...
Consider how you introduce yourself to someone new. You might say something like, “Hi, I’m Janine and I’m a school principal.” Or, “Hi, I’m Jake and I’m an engineer”. In these examples, we say our name followed by our job title or some major accomplishment. It’s easy for us to get so wrapped up in what we do , that it becomes who we think we are . In contrast, God values us before we do anything. He would introduce us as Janine, Jake and Meagan as dearly loved children of God. To God, who we are...
In Genesis 1, verse 28, we read “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth”. Did you know that some people actually point to this scripture to excuse human behavior as we mistreat the planet? Well, according to Strong’s Concordance, did you know that the phrase, “have dominion” is the Hebrew word, radah ? This Hebrew word is related to other words which mean descend, wa...
A boy was told by his father not to play with his watch while he was away. However, not long after he left, the boy decided to just have a look. He put it on just like he always saw his dad and began playing around the house. Before long, he tripped, fell and landed on the watch. (glass break sounds) When his dad came home, his son was nowhere in sight, hiding in shame for what he had done. This isn’t a new story. Adam and Eve hid from God when they realized what they had done. Sin and guilt had...
Nehemiah chapter 8 verse 10 says: “The joy of the Lord is my strength.” Are you choosing to rely on God daily or are you depending on someone or something else? Trust me, that cup of coffee you’re drinking is not all you need to tackle the day. C.S. Lewis said, “Relying on God has to begin all over again every day as if nothing had yet been done.” Meaning, we need to connect with our heavenly Father every single day. After you pour that first cup of coffee, or before you even get out of bed, mak...
Author C.S. Lewis said that if our charities don’t pinch or hamper us, then they are too small. People today are generally civic minded. They desire to help others and give back to their communities. But Lewis would have us ask ourselves whether or not our efforts are really enough. Are we contributing just enough to check a box for ourselves- or are we really helping our neighbors in need. I find C.S. Lewis’ statement personally challenging. So I’m looking to do something this week that will re...
For the average car owner, what do you do when something goes wrong with it? If the engine starts making a terrible sound, do you look for a schematic diagram of your car, or do you take it someone who knows how to fix it? The author and Bible scholar, N.T. Wright says that, “ The Bible isn’t like an accurate description of how a car is made. It’s more like the mechanic who helps you fix it.” When we read our Bible, we shouldn’t be reading it for the purpose being able to spout out Biblical know...
I have always been fascinated by the process of metamorphosis. How there can be such a profound change in form from one stage to the next in the life history of an organism. Think, for example, of an ugly, ground-crawling caterpillar that ultimately becomes a beautiful butterfly with wings that enable it to fly. The amazing thing is that spiritually, such a complete transformation can happen to us! The person I am today I know is vastly different than who I would have been without Christ. 2nd Co...
A while back, I had posted a quote by a pastor I admire, hoping to instill some peace in someone who really needed to hear these words. But, without fail, an anonymous person commented something so hateful that it took me a while to share a message like that again. I allowed this person to make me doubt myself, made me feel inferior and unqualified to share about my own faith. But I found peace in 1st Corinthians, 1:28. Because the Apostle Paul reminds us that God uses what and who the world des...
Life doesn’t always work the way we think it should. High expectations slam against unwelcome surprises. At those times it’s hard to feel the presence of God. If He is everywhere and loves us like he says he does, why does he allow the loss of a job or home or a loved one? God has gone to great lengths to make himself known to us— through the Bible, through his people, through nature, and through his only Son who died for us. The author and speaker, Dr. Joel Muddamalle (Mood-am-AL-Lay) says that...
Questioning your faith or having doubts doesn’t mean your faith isn’t real- or that you’re a fake Christian. Having questions is perfectly normal, and healthy. People who don’t take the time to ask hard questions about their faith will eventually have a serious struggle when they experience a tragedy or come across the probing questions of an intelligent skeptic. The pastor and author, Tim Keller writes, “It is no longer sufficient to hold beliefs just because you inherited them.” In other words...
A lot of us avoid reading the Old Testament because we find the God depicted there scary and remote. We look for ways to make Him more tolerant, less stern. But the truth is that God has always had relationship with people based on their covenant. God seeks intimacy with His people, but it must be on His terms. When Moses and his people reached Mount Sinai on the way to the Promised Land, God spoke to Moses. It was there that God made a covenant with Moses and the Jewish people that renewed the ...
There are several research articles on the “Mystery of intuitive decision making”. In fact, some define intuition as “Knowing without knowing”. As a believer, how many times have you been at a crossroads in your life and you just knew which way you should go? With prayer, you were probably even more confident with this choice, right? In the Bible, James says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” This abi...
What does the word happy mean to you? The Merriam-Webster definition is that happiness is “characterized by well-being and contentment.” I’m sure we can all agree that usually the state of being content comes and goes depending on our circumstances. The truth that I’ve discovered is that happiness isn’t a destination but a journey. It’s not something we find, but something we create. Every day is truly a gift. Sometimes these gifts are obvious. Other times these blessings are hidden in the trial...
As any parent of young kids can attest, getting your kids to clean up their room can be an absolute headache at times. You can imagine the bickering and whining. Yet, as soon as the parent begins to help them, the kids jump at the task and start to clean up. This is what Grace does for us. It reminds us of how God jumped into the mess of our lives and started His work before we even lifted a finger. We’re then motivated by the power of His Grace to continue what He’s started. The moment you acce...
Are you in a difficult season right now? Unfortunately, even being a new creation in Christ doesn’t grant us a trouble free life. Do you look at your to-do list and feel overwhelmed? Problems at work? Relationship troubles? I promise, that even if it feels like God has distanced Himself from you during this time nothing could be further from the truth. So, in the midst of these hard times reach out to God and know He has not forgotten about you. In the Bible, Isaiah chapter 41 in the Message say...
A friend of mine who recently got their motorcycle license was telling me of a lesson they learned early on. When riding, it’s important to keep your eyes and your head pointed in the direction you want to go. If there’s an obstacle in the road you’re trying to avoid, the last thing you need to do is stare at it. If you do, that’s inevitably where you’ll go. This is a lesson we can apply to life. The Bible encourages us to speak words of faith, believing that if God has placed a desire on our he...
Since the creation of the ID or driver’s license it’s been the goal of many underage troublemakers to get their hands on a fake ID. It may have their picture but someone else’s name and more importantly their age. Usually it’s to buy alcohol underage or to get into a club. However, depending on the circumstances, using a fake ID can land you in jail for up to a year! When it comes to our faith, are we who we claim to be? Maybe we claim to be a new creation in Christ but we continue to act like o...
The Bible is full of stories of broken people who had a special encounter with God. One of those "broken people" was King David. David on more than one occasion was forced to bury his children. His son Absalom had committed a coup against his father David as a result of David's inability to resolve problems with his family. Tragically this story results in the death of his son. The bible tells of David's dark mourning as he cries out, wishing he had died in his place. Obviously, David was a grea...
The word “disciple” literally means learner. In the Bible it’s used 269 times, but only as a noun. The first followers of Jesus were called his disciples (a noun) and he commanded them to quote- “make disciples” of others. Over the years, Christians started to use “disciple” as a verb. To help another believer grow in their faith means “to disciple” them. Therefore you can’t be an obedient disciple without also discipling–it would be like calling yourself a cook without ever actually cooking! Th...
In photography, a focal point is important to communicate the desire of the artist. It’s the main point of interest in a composition. It may be the one object that remains in focus while everything else may not. The photographer, Scott Wyden Kivowitz describes it as, “Something that people will remember before forgetting the rest”. Throughout the New Testament, the authors focus the reader on Christ. The one who brings hope and peace to a world in desperate need of it. Keeping Christ as the focu...
