Remember the feeding of the 5,000?  Of course you do, it’s one of Jesus’ most spectacular and most well-known miracles.  Well, as soon as the meal was finished, Jesus insisted his disciples get in a boat and go on ahead to the other side of the sea while he dismissed the people. When the crowd left, Jesus climbed the mountain so He could be by himself and pray. He stayed there, alone, late into the night.

And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.  Matt 14:23

Here is what I have learned from personal experience: when I expend a lot of emotional, physical or spiritual energy ministering or giving to others, I’m left drained.  I can keep going for a while, but somewhere along the way if I don’t pull apart, I’ll end up physically sick, discouraged, frustrated or just plain grumpy.  It’s not a lesson I’ve fully learned…yet.  Understanding usually comes more “after the fact,” in a hitting myself on the forehead, “Duuuh” type of moment.  “Oh, yeah, that’s why I’m in this shape.”  But it’s something I’m working on, and perhaps it’s something of which you also need to be aware.  There was a song in my formative, spiritual “growing-up” years that encouraged us to give until there was no more to give…love until there was no more to love.  I discovered the hard way that it’s possible to give until there is nothing left, and it’s not necessarily a good thing.  Being emotionally, spiritually and/or physically drained, leaves you and I open to the emotional and spiritual attacks of the enemy and a good number of physical ailments.  It’s much better to follow the example of Christ and after demanding seasons, pull apart into the mountains for a time of solitude and prayer. 

Find a place alone with God to be restored; then you’ll be ready for further ministry.   The journey is a very private and personal experience.  No one can go with you.  Although you and I pray corporately in services, prayer meetings and family devotions, in order to experience all that God has prepared for you, you must spend time alone with the Lord.  God has designed a personal path for you to follow.  I can give you some traveling tips, but only the Lord can guide you on your journey. 

Have you ever stood ankle-deep in the ocean?  Gradually, the waves, one wave right after the other, rearrange and re-deposit the sand around your feet.  If you stand still long enough, you’ll find your feet and part of your leg buried in the sand.  It takes no effort whatsoever on your part.  All you have to do is just stand there and the ocean will do the rest.

It’s the same with life.  You don’t have to do anything to sink into negative thought and behavior patterns.  Life just pours in on you wave after wave after wave.  Sometimes the waves are so strong they nearly knock you over.  Other times the waves of this world wash so gently over you it almost goes unnoticed.  But the results are the same.  You end up buried in the affairs of life.  Without concentrated, deliberate action on your part, the tide will wear away the under girding of your faith and relationship with God.  To stop the erosion, you need to do more than hold your skirt or pant legs up a little higher.  You need to find a way to be alone with God.

1.     Find time for solitude and silence. 

We need to make the most of our time with God by stopping everything else and being still.

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. Psalm 130:5 (NIV)

No relationship escapes erosion.  The tides of the cares of this world do their work silently, without fanfare, and without invitation.  Solitude is not an escape from the difficulties of life.  It’s not when you’re so fried you can’t do anything else but sit there.  Solitude is a time for alertness and expectancy.  It’s a time to listen to the gentle breeze of the Holy Spirit.  So what time is best for you?  When are you most alert?  When do you have the best chance to “be alone” with God?  Again, this is a personal thing.  What works for you?  I know those who love early Morning Prayer.  Not me.  I’m not a morning person…for me time alone with God is best accomplished mid-morning or mid-afternoon.  I know women who like their alone time to be after everyone’s to bed. What’s best for you?

2.     Find a place of solitude and silence. 

Make your external environment as quiet as possible so that you can be still in your internal environment.  Solitude is not just being alone.  When I think of “alone,” I think of a woman sitting by herself in a crowded restaurant or a child longingly looking at other children at play.  Alone turns so easily into “loneliness.”  So get that picture out of your mind.  I’m not talking about being alone; I am talking about solitude.  Solitude is a beautiful word.  When I hear the word solitude I think of sunlight streaming through trees, a walk on a quiet beach or a single crystal clear soprano voice.  Perhaps that’s because I hear the sound of “solace” in it, a source of consolation or relief, comfort, and cheer. 

Solitude is a place where you relax mind and body while you meditate on the goodness of God.  It requires being comfortable enough with self so that no other voice is needed besides the Lord’s.  The voices of men drown the voice of God.  Silence will speak to you more in one day than the world with television, radio, and other voices can teach you in a lifetime.  Find solitude, and soak in the richness of God’s presence. 

Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.   Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.  He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday.  Rest in the LORD,

and wait patiently for Him.  Ps 37:4-7  (NKJV)

There it is…the word rest.  Rest is as important part of solitude as finding alone time or silence; perhaps even more so.  God considers solitude very important to the development of spiritual leadership.  He often imposed periods of solitude on His chosen leaders.  Moses experienced forty years of isolation before God charged him to lead the Israel out of Egypt.  There were other marked times in Moses’ life where he withdrew from the press of activity to meet with the Lord.  David had his days of solitude while shepherding and then later during times of exile. Paul was in a desert for three years before he began his ministry.  Jesus had the 40 days in the wilderness before He began His earthly ministry.  The list goes on and on.  Solitude is not an option.  It is a requirement for any who want to be used by God in a significant way.

Rest, but don’t sleep.  Silence and solitude without engaging the mind will put you to sleep. How many times have you “laid before the Lord” during your prayer times?  Okay, don’t answer.  But understand silence does not mean comatose. Practice spiritual concentration.  Remember: solitude is a time for alertness and expectancy.  Mediate on scriptures you have memorized, or spend some of your time memorizing new scripture.  Think about it; use your “worrying skill” to consider ways it can be applied to your circumstances and relationship.  Like a cow chews her cud, chew on the word until you get the last drop of goodness from it.  Think about an attribute of God and again how it applies to your life.  Meditate on the faithful actions of God in the past in scripture, in the lives of people you know and in your own life.  And most of all listen. Wait in active stillness,   

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.

Ps 130:5-6 (NIV)

The Lord desires to meet you in the secret places of the rocks.  He longs to hear your voice and see your face.  Make or find a place where solitude and silence is possible. Find a quiet place in a library, a room in your home, a room in a church; somewhere, anywhere where you think you will not be interrupted. Consider making a spare room in your house into a sanctuary. We make rooms for watching television, why not make one for communing with God?

Pastor Chris

Posted under Heart to Heart

Mountain Top Experiences from God’s Servants

Welcome friends to an adventure like none you have ever known. You are about to embark upon the most exciting trip imaginable. There are heights in God that you have only been able to gaze at from afar. The lessons this term will take you to the foothills of the Mountain of God and teach you how to climb its wondrous peaks.

I just came back from the Smokey Mountains. They were magnificent. I loved them. From a distance they were beautiful, majestic, and a bit mysterious. Although I’m a city girl, I love the mountains. I’ve seen the sunrise over the Himalayan Mountains, took an airplane trip to the peak of Mount Everest, driven through the Rockies, took helicopter rides to the summits of Hawaii’s most beautiful mountains and even managed to climb in the Balkan Mountain range. Here’s what I can tell you from these experiences; a trip to the mountains is an awe-inspiring experience. But it’s not without personal cost. I have learned that up close and personal encounters with mountains can be exhausting, painful and even dangerous. It’s also peaceful, restoring, and revealing. That’s why I am extending an invitation to come mountain climbing with me. I’ll help you learn a few techniques, point out a few pitfalls and introduce you to the majesty and wonder of God’s presence.

In the last days, the mountain of the Lord’s house will be the highest of all – the most important place on earth. It will be raised above the other hills, and people from all over the world will stream there to worship. People from many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of Jacob’s God. There he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths.” Micah 4:1-2a (NLT)

I’ve learned the Lord wants, and I’ll go so far as to say He longs, to take you to new heights of relationship with Him. He wants to take you to the mountain top so he can love you, teach you, empower you and work through you in a more spectacular way than you ever dreamed possible. There are powerful, new places to which He wants to lead. Do you want to miss all that God has planned for you? No, of course not! But it’s so easy in the hectic rush of every day life to hurry past the magnificent summits to which God wants to lead without even noticing them. It sounds impossible, but it’s happened to you before, and I dare say that it will happen to you again if you don’t slow down and answer HIS CALL to come apart. Be still and hear His voice calling you to come up to His holy mountain.

Ah, I hear my lover coming! He is leaping over the mountains, bounding over the hills. My lover is like a swift gazelle or a young stag. Look, there he is behind the wall, looking through the window, peering into the room. My lover said to me, “Rise up, my darling! Come away with me, my fair one! Song 2:8-10 (NLT)

Each week we’ll revisit a mountain top experience of one of God’s servants. From these summits we’ll experience the place of God’s presence, and learn of His longing to speak to us and love on us. In the peaks we will learn how God’s provision is released through obedience, giving and prayer. We’ll see God as He truly is and find a cleft in the rock where he will give us insight and direction. Though the peaks can be dangerous, they are also a place for protection in times of financial oppression, enemy attacks, heartache and personal failure. We’ll come to embrace the place of solitude and prayer. The lessons will start promptly to give more time in your small groups for discussion and of course prayer. Included in your notes each week will be a place you can record your thoughts, prayers and answers from the Lord, a sort of prayer journal. At the end of the lesson there will be part of an allegory of another young woman’s trip through the mountains that is a part of my next book. You get a sneak peak. But the most glorious view will be of the Lord Himself as you undertake your own personal journey through the mountains of HIS WILL. You won’t want to miss one of the five weeks.

If you are new to Heart to Heart; let me explain that it is a ministry designed to empower women through love, sharing, prayer and the ministry of the Word. It is definitely not women’s ministry as usual. We realize women don’t need one more thing to do in our over-crowded, over complicated lives. But we do need connections; we need help balancing the craziness of life in the 21st Century. And many of us need to find healing for emotional wounds of the past and present. We’re so busy taking care of everyone else, we rarely have the time or energy to take care of ourselves. Heart to Heart is a holistic approach to these needs. This year Heart to Heart is offering something new; small groups for children called “Little Hearts” curriculum, that parallels the women’s called “Mountain Climbing.” For a small registration fee your children will receive a nylon backpack, mountain climbing supplies, fun crafts and their own prayer journal. Each week they will receive a take-home paper with ideas for family fun times and discussions based on that week’s lesson that you can share with them.

The doors open each Wednesday night at 7:00. The children will go to their small groups and all the women will come into the multipurpose room for a time of pampering, food, a visit to the coffee bar and fellowship. The meeting formally begins at 7:30 with a time of teaching. This is new. There will be no preliminaries, as I want to give you as much time as we can for small group discussion and prayer. In your small group you will be able to make connections with women that can support and assist you through the ups and downs of life. This is where the real fun begins. Heart to Heart wants to encourage, empower and equip you to effectively minister to the world around you. The small group ministry is just the beginning. The small groups will reach out to women elsewhere through special events, seminars, retreats and conferences. I’m looking forward to the journey we will take together. See you there,

Pastor Chris

Posted under Heart to Heart

Think about the stories of Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and Rupunzel. What do they have in common? Well, there is the princess factor of course, and of course the happy endings. But there are also the bits of real life, the happy moments, the times of struggle and the inevitable bad guy; or in most of these stories, the evil woman. The strategies of each villain were different, but their intent was the same; keep the princesses away from their royal heritage.

The strategies the enemy uses on each of us, the daughters of the King of Kings, are different. But the intent is the same; keep the princess away from her royal heritage. The villain uses people and circumstances to keep you from living the life you were born to live. Tragedy, death, sickness and poverty are often a part of it. But the most consistent strategy used by the enemy against women in the 21st Century is keeping us so busy, our lives are filled with frustration and stress rather than the royal privileges of joy and peace. Has the villain in the story of your life tried that strategy with you? Have you ever found yourself so busy and so stressed that you didn’t know if you were coming or going?

Practical Help for the Real World

I’m going to start by being 100% transparent and tell you that I do NOT have all this figured out. I feel like Paul when he said, “Brethren…” okay, let’s change that up a bit. “Sistern,” no that sounds like I’m talking to a group of wells. Let’s try it this way, “Hey ladies”…“I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Phil 3:13-14 NKJV

The workload involved in leading three churches, developing new leadership for additional campuses, overseeing prayer and counseling ministries, fulfilling the great commission here at home and abroad, pursuing God’s purposes for Heart to Heart, writing, teaching, preaching, being a mom and wife, AND working out everyday makes me sometimes feel like a hamster stuck on a revolving wheel. I’m sure you know the feeling; like you are running as fast as your little legs will carry you but you’re still not getting anywhere. Then I’m confronted by the scripture, “be still and know that I am God” (Ps 46:10), and I just want to sit down and have a crying jag. But of course that would take up too much time; time I don’t have, so I just keep going. It’s obvious to anyone who knows me that I haven’t quite nailed this lesson yet. But I am working on it as Christ is working on me.

I’m reminded of a song by Joel Hemphill that I taught to our children’s ministry years ago. It was called “He’s Still Working On Me” and the chorus went something like this:

He’s still working on me to make me what I ought to be.
It took Him just a week to make the moon and stars,
The sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars.
How loving and patient He must be, He’s still working on me.

But that is not a bad thing. I’m a work in progress, and so are you. So I’m not coming to you as an expert, as one who has it all together. I’m coming as one who has had to work in this area A LOT. Through the journey I’ve learned to:

Choose tasks well. There are times when you have absolutely no control over what is going on in your life. You have no choice. But there are other times when you only “think” you have no control. Typically, that’s because you are being pressured by people. I can’t tell you how many times I hear in a week, “I know you are really busy, but…” There is this implied suggestion that no matter how busy you are, you MUST see to my needs. The further implication is that if you don’t…well…you are not measuring up to the standard of Christ. I don’t know if it’s the message they are trying to communicate or if it’s something internal. I just know that it is hard to refuse. I’m sure you understand because as women, we are nurturers, fixers, and pleasers by nature.

There’s this myth floating around that women can do it all, have it all and be it all. But it’s not just a fairy tale; it’s a lie from the pit. There is no such thing as superwoman. From time to time my husband calls me superwoman. I love that my husband has this opinion of me, but it’s also a problem when it causes me to try to live up to the title. Even Jesus had to say “no” on occasion. On at least one instance when told, “Hey, you’ve got to come to this town; the whole town is waiting for you to preach,” Jesus replied, “No I’m going to go to another town.” There was this one guy who told Jesus, “Arbitrate this argument between my brother and me.” Jesus politely told him, “No, that’s not my job.” So if Jesus didn’t try to be all things, to all people, at all times, why do you and I? Jesus didn’t set out to disappoint people, but that’s what often happens when you do the will of the Father rather than the will of the people. If you are pleasing God, don’t worry too much about what people think. When pressured, look to Jesus for His nod of approval before getting involved.

Know when to say NO. I think you and I often take on more than we can handle because we want to please other people, or avoid appearing lazy. Why do we do that to ourselves? It’s a form of self-abuse. The good news is that Jesus died to free you from self-guilt and self-abuse. I don’t know when you should say yes or no, but I do know that instead of giving a quick answer to people, you should take the time to pray. If you sense that this activity is just too much to take on right now, have the courage to say “no” and be OK with your decision.

Saying “no” will disappoint people but your effectiveness in the kingdom long term depends upon it. I can’t, no matter how hard I try, make everyone happy; and neither can you. But you can please the Lord. So play to an audience of one, Jesus.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matt 6:33-34 NIV

Seeking God’s kingdom purposes has to be your top priority. When it is, everything else will take its proper place. Every day ask God for HIS priorities for that day. God’s will has to be lived out on a daily basis. I suggest that at the beginning of every day, you present your schedule to God. Ask him what you should cross off; ask him what you should put on. Ask him if you are misplacing your priorities. After you have prayed over and prioritized your to-do list, stick to the plan. Quit trying to do everything.

Posted under Heart to Heart

Cinderella dressed her step sisters for the ball. She followed them into the court yard and watched them be whirled away until the carriage disappeared through the trees. Then Cinderella went back to her usual seat in the chimney corner and sat down and cried. Suddenly she heard a voice say, “What is the matter, my poor child?” She lifted her tear stained face and to her astonishment saw a mystical lady with a long ebony wand. “Did nobody ever tell you that you had a fairy godmother?” the lady asked. Cinderella thought for a moment and then told her, “When I was a tiny child…someone did, but I thought you had forgotten me.”

How often have our thoughts kept us from receiving what “belongs” to us? How often have our thoughts kept us living beneath our royal privilege? How often have our thoughts kept us from doing what we can for the kingdom of Christ?

One of the most popular and famous children’s books of all time is “The Little Engine that Could.” It’s not a fairy tale, nor a story about princesses; but one that could have great impact on our lives. The story has sold millions of copies and appeared in numerous editions since its first printing in 1930. Who hasn’t heard of the little engine with a big heart? The origin of the popular story can actually be traced back to a Sunday School publication, printed in 1906. If you recall, the story is about a little railroad engine that was employed to pull a few cars on and off the switches. One morning, a long train of freight cars asked a number of big, tough engines designed for hard work to take it over a hill. None of the big engines were inclined to help. One by one they all offered excuses why they couldn’t, or actually, wouldn’t help the long train of freight cars. When the train had exhausted all other options, in desperation it asked the little switch engine who immediately agreed to try. The little engine puffed, “I think I can, I think I can” all the way up the hill. When it reached the top and began its descent, the little engine congratulated itself, “I thought I could, I thought I could.”

You probably remember this childhood story, but have you applied its lesson concerning the power of thought to your own thought life? If you think you can’t do something, you are probably right, for “I can’t” has never accomplished anything. On the other hand, if you think you can, and you are unwavering in your determination, you will eventually be able to declare with the little engine, “I knew I could.”

Practical Help for the Real World

It’s a very basic concept; one simple enough to illustrate in a children’s book. Your personal growth is determined by your thinking patterns. You will be no better or worse than the thoughts that you entertain. YOU ARE WHAT YOU THINK! Who you are emotionally, socially, intellectually and even physically can never transcend your level of thinking. Your thought patterns create the ceiling beyond, which you cannot aspire. It defines who you are. “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” Prov. 23:7 NKJV

The activity of your mind flows like a stream through your consciousness. Psychologists call this the “stream of thought.” Thoughts pass briefly through a narrow window of awareness before streaming beyond consciousness to influence every part of your being. The predominant thoughts passing through this window of awareness are the basis for your emotions and the motivation behind your behavior. They determine your spirituality, forge your character, shape your attitudes and believe it or not, influence your immune system. They affect whether you move toward:

- health or disease,
- victory or defeat,
- accomplishment or failure.

They determine whether you are an essentially happy person or sad. There are now scientific studies that prove your thoughts influence everything from your emotions to your physical healing. Science and psychology are just beginning to confirm what God said thousands of years ago.

Considering the potential influence of our thoughts, it’s amazing we’re not more aware of their flow. Although readily available, most people don’t intentionally listen to them. They go through their day with uncensored mental programming playing in the background of their minds; clueless why they feel or act the way they do. A lot of unhappy people complain about feeling miserable, ignorant of the power they possess to change those feelings through healthier thinking.

If you want to change how you feel or behave it’s a “no brainer.” First monitor and then modify how you think. This attention needs to be intentional and specific. Respond to life’s challenges first with your mind and then your heart? Constructive and helpful thoughts will eventually cause you to feel hopeful and encouraged. But if your thought processes take a downward turn towards worry, you will feel anxious and troubled.

What have you been thinking about today?

The truth is without careful monitoring your thoughts will always stray into dangerous territory. That’s why Paul encouraged you and the Philippian church to focus our thinking.

“And now, brothers, as I close this letter let me say this one more thing: Fix your thought on what is true and good and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely, and dwell on the fine good things in others. Think about all you can praise God for and be glad about. Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you.” Phil. 4:8, (TLB)

Posted under Heart to Heart

I can’t tell you how many times I have cried out, “I can’t take it anymore. It’s just too hard.” There have probably been too many times to count; yet, I’m still here. If you are reading this or hearing me speak; you know that you are still here too. It’s not really about whether or not you can take it any more. You are, and you’re going to make it all the way through to the end. The question you need to ask yourself is, “In what manner am I going to make it?” Are you going to make it by dragging your feet and whining all the way, or are you going to make it in a way that brings God glory. Do you want to just barely survive or do you want to prosper in your pain? I know some of you are thinking right now, “How about NO pain at all?” Unfortunately, life brings with it both good and bad. How we respond to the bad is up to us. It all begins with a choice. Today, choose to face impossible situations with courage and faith. Choose to reach out to God.

I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward – to Jesus. Phil 3:12-14 (MSG)

I know it’s “easier said than done.” It’s hard to reach out and touch God when you are facing impossible situations. It’s hard when it feels like God is a thousand miles away, and all of the phone lines and cellular towers are down. At such times it is important to remember that your feelings are appallingly undependable. Feelings vacillate so easily. They are influenced by what you eat, how much you exercise, sickness, hormones, stress, colors and even something as ridiculous as the weather. However, the truth that cannot be changed is that God is never closer than those moments when you feel all alone. If you will trust the Lord, even when you do not sense His presence, He will give you the strength to do what presently seems impossible. He will help you to overcome. He is telling you right now:

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity; Jeremiah 29:11-14 (NKJV).

Hope often finds its way into casual conversations. You hope that it doesn’t rain. You hope that it does rain. You and I talk about hope so much that we have diluted the word until it means little more than wishing. But hope is a great deal more than just wishful thinking. It doesn’t even come from your personal desires or wishes. Hope comes from God, and is directed back to God. “And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you.” Ps 39:7 (NLT) Genuine hope is confident expectancy, it is a firm assurance about things that are yet unseen and still in the future. Hope is not frail, tentative or perishable. It does not give up, even when faced with postponement or apparent failure. It is a powerful living thing. But hope is not enough when you are faced with impossible situations. You must act on that hope in order to receive the help you so desperately need.

STEP ONE: Bring your thoughts into alignment with God’s Word. Although my father owns a garage, I know very little about the workings of a car. I know some of the basics; the need for gas and an occasional oil change. I also know that tires need to be aligned so that they wear evenly to reduce the risk of blowouts. See Dad, I did listen…a little. To align tires or even margins on a page like this one, one must line up to a given point of reference. If we want God’s help we need to line up our thoughts and words with His own. Scripture gives us our point of reference.

You are my refuge and my shield; your word is my only source of hope. Ps 119:114 (NLT)

For too long we have given our thoughts, as well as our mouths, permission to do whatever they wanted to do. Whatever we think, whatever we feel, just flows out of our mouths. We don’t even think to check them against the Word of God. I’m sure you can think of times when your words reflected your feelings rather than your faith. Remember: your words have power.

He replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, `Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. Matthew 17:20 (NIV)

Rather than going on and on about how impossible the situation is, you need to make declarations of your faith in God’s ability to use you and keep you.

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” Heb 10:23 (NKJV)

Confession comes from the Greek word, “homologeo” (hom-ol-og-eh’-o); which means to assent, acknowledge, speak the same thing, to agree with, to declare. It is an open, bold, courageous declaration of faith. Confession is the result of a deep, inward conviction. Confession is when you really agree with God’s assessment of the situation. It is affirming God’s Word from a deep, inward conviction. It is a bold, open, courageous declaration of your faith in what God has to say about you.

In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan. Eph 6:16 (NLT)

The Roman shield was very large, four feet by two and a half feet. It was designed to protect the whole body. It was also made of wood, which was why enemy soldiers often used flaming arrows. They would dip the tips of their arrows in tar or pitch, ignite them and then shoot them into the air. The archers would aim for the wooden shields rather than the bodies of the soldiers, which were barely visible behind the shields. The strategy behind this type of attack was to cause panic in the soldiers and tempt them to throw down their burning shields, making them vulnerable to the spears of the enemy. The burning arrows mentioned in the above passage represents every type of assault devised by the enemy, anything to make you panic, drop your guard and react to the circumstances rather than respond in faith.

STEP TWO: Worship! I have no idea what you might be going through right now. You may be experiencing sickness, accidents, fire, tragedy, jobs being snatched away without notice and personal crises of every description, and it may all be happening this week. I wish that I could make it all better, but I can’t. However, I can help you by sharing this important key from scripture…PRAISE THE LORD!

Come, everyone, and clap your hands for joy! Shout to God with joyful praise! Psalm 47:1 (NLT)

The word “shout” in this passage comes from the Hebrew word “ruwa” which means: to split the ears with sound, make a joyful noise, shout for joy, sound an alarm, triumph. I’m not asking you to go through the motions of praising God until things are better or you feel better. I’m encouraging you to give it all you have, 110% right now, in the midst of your circumstances. But I’m not asking you to “fake it til’ you make it.” I’m asking you to go deep within yourself and find something for which to praise God. Bring it up from your toenails, if need be, but find a way to truly worship God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind. I’m asking you to praise the Lord with everything you have. The more you dwell on your problems, the worse you will feel; but the more you lift up your voice in praise, the better you will feel. I must confess that there have been times in my life when I have gone to God in prayer, cried out my complaint to him, and felt just as bad when I rose from my knees. But I do not recall a time when I praised God to the best of my ability without somehow feeling stronger and more encouraged when I was through. I believe that is because praising God in the midst of your painful circumstances is an act of faith, and faith always attracts God’s attention. So I am encouraging you to press into His presence through praise and worship to receive the strength you need to face every obstacle. “Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10 (NKJV)

Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship, for they will walk in the light of your presence, LORD. They rejoice all day long in your wonderful reputation. They exult in your righteousness. You are their glorious strength. Our power is based on your favor. Psalm 89:15-17 (NLT)

The phrase “joyful sound” in this passage comes from the Hebrew word, “teruw’ ah” means to clamor, an acclamation of joy or a battle-cry; especially the blowing of the trumpets, alarm, joy, jubilee, loud noise, rejoicing, shouting, joyful sound. Do you know the joyful sound? Do you know how to shout with joy in the face of adversity? There are times to rest in quiet satisfaction in the love of the Lord. There are times when we sit and just know that He is God. There are times when we peacefully meditate on His Word. And then there are times when we need to let it rip!

Letter from the King

Dear Daughter,

I love you so very much. More than I could possible explain in words. I endeavored to show you just how much when I stretched my arms wide and allowed evil men to secure them to cross with spikes, in your place. All of your pain, all of your sickness, and all of your struggles were with me that day as I hung between heaven and earth. I know exactly what you are going through for I went through it with you. I felt everything you are feeling right now. My arms are no longer secured to the cross; they are around you. I want to comfort you. I want to strengthen you. I want to empower you to do the impossible. I want to make you a garden whose streams are fed by My high places. We will commune together in this secret garden, sheltered in the cleft of the rock. I will tell you of my great desire for you and of the plans that I have in store for you. Because most of all, I want to make your trials a stepping-stone to your future blessing. I only ask that you run to me rather than from me during this dark hour. Then, together we will not only endure, we will conquer. I know that you want me to take you away from this difficult, seemingly impossible place. But if you will let me, if you will come to me and surrender your will to mine, I will make this impossible place, the place of your greatest triumph. Don’t listen to the lies of the enemy. I love you. I have never loved you more. This is not the end, it is the beginning.

All my love,

your Father the King

Posted under Heart to Heart

Once upon a time, there were a hundred princesses all gathered in one room. They ate and drank, chatted and prayed. They enjoyed their times together away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. But they had no idea of their royal heritage because of a spell put upon all daughters of the earth by a wicked witch. It was during a time of innocence before scribes recorded such things as dates. The King and his daughter were enjoying a quiet time together in the palace. Unbeknownst to them a wicked witch watched their laughter and joy as they shared the events of their day. Alone in the dark corner, the witch was filled with jealousy at their easy smiles and companionship. Why should the princess enjoy such luxurious settings or restful fellowship? Unable to continue watching, the witch slithered away, keeping to the shadows to avoid notice. Once back in her den under the earth, away from the shining moon and twinkling stars, the witch brooded over what she had seen and heard. Hatred, pride and jealousy burned within her heart until only one thought consumed her. Why should she live in a den under the earth and the princess in the courts of the King? The thought soon twisted and changed shape into another. What could she do about it?

The witch neither slept nor ate while she contemplated the problem and its solution. After days and nights without sleep her twisted mind devised a plan. It was simple but cunning. It could work. She took an apple and poisoned it with a spell. The spell was clever for it would affect not only this princess, but all who would follow…

“May the daughters of the earth
Work hard to take care of their hearth
Leave them little time to relax, play or sing
hide from them the fact that they are daughters of the king”

The spell would work; the only thing needed was for the princess to take a bite of the spellbound apple. If she did, she would be thrown into such a frenzy of activity she would forget her royal heritage. The princess would be blinded to who she was. She would be bound and weighed down by daily cares. Her royal robes would be exchanged for rags of works, her tiara misplaced; her joy stolen. And so would it be for all of the daughters of the King that came after.

One day soon after, the princess left the safety of the palace and the watchful eye of her father, the King, to go into the village and visit a fair. Her father had warned her that it wasn’t safe for her to go into a village alone, for the King had enemies who would try to hurt him through her. But she had watched the fun from her tower room window and wanted so much to be a part.

“I love my father. He has provided me with everything a princess could want…except fun. I just want to have some fun.” The princess explained to a dust mote drifting through the window. She continued to confide in the speck of dust. “Look at them singing and dancing. What harm would befall me if I just visited the fair just for a little while, maybe play one of their games, or taste some of their treats? It is broad daylight. Nothing bad would happen to me, would it?” When the mote answered not a word, the princess considered it approval of her plan. “Well, that’s it then. I’ll go and just see if it is as much fun as it looks.”

Little did she know that a crow, one of the witch’s spies, was listening to her monolog from the tiles of the castle roof. Before she had even turned from the window, the crow had flown away to inform the witch of the princess’ plan. By the time the princess, in disguise as a peasant girl, arrived at the village fair, the witch had set up a sweets booth with the spellbound apple on display.

The princess roamed the cobbled streets of the village taking in all the sights and sounds. In her haste to get to the village, she had chosen to forgo her noon repast, and realized she was more than a mite hungry now. She caught a whiff of something truly delicious from the food booth at the corner. She noticed a little old lady, kind in her appearance, beckoning her to come and try her wares. Almost as if her feet had no will of their own, they walked straight to the booth. The princess was warmly greeted by the kindly old woman. “Oh, such a pretty young lady…but a hungry one if I take my guess. You look as if you could use a tasty treat.”

The princess admitted, “I missed my noon meal and now I am excessively hungry. Your scones look and smell delicious…how many pence for two?”

“Oh, deary…look and smell delicious they do. But they were baked this morning and are a bit on the stale side. This apple, however, is a tasty treat indeed.” At the princess’ speculative look, the witch quickly continued. “Not an ordinary apple, you see. It has been sprinkled with a secret ingredient that makes it the most delicious treat in this booth. Aye, it is. Try it Deary, and see for yourself.”

Briefly, the princess remembered her father’s warning about enemies but the memory was overshadowed by the aroma of the tasty treat begging her to take a bite. And bite she did and immediately, forgot who she was. She looked down at her peasant clothes, and in confusion into the satisfied eyes of the old witch.

“What are you doing girl? Slacking off? Do you see this mess on the street? I told you to clean this up at least a dozen times this morning. Do you want another good beating with the switch? Get busy, now.”

With no memory of who she was, she took the old woman’s words as truth and began to clean the street. She cleaned and cleaned through the day and into the night, barely resting as the words of the witch resounded in her mind. “Get busy now…do you want a good beating with the switch?” She cleaned all of the streets of the village and traveled through the woods to the next village to continue her charge.

The King grieved for his lost princess, stricken with the knowledge she worked like a servant girl from sun up to sun down, when she should be sitting quietly in the palace chatting about her day with him. Occasionally, he would receive word she was in this village or that, but by the time he sent a messenger to bring her home, she was off to yet another place to clean. Centuries passed, and all daughters of the King were trapped in the same spell. Though it was whispered about in the smoky rooms of taverns and village inns, it became just another sad tale to share on a cold winter’s night.

Centuries passed until one day, a prince of royal heritage sought out the daughter of the King. He knew something the wicked witch did not know. The spell was good and strong, but there was a way to break it. There was ONE way to break it. The blood of royalty could render the spell void.

He caught up with the princess turned slave, in the village of To-do. “Princess!” the prince called out. But not knowing he referred to her, the young woman kept right on working. So he took her by the elbow and turned her around to face him. He looked her in the eyes and called her princess once again. Seeing the confusion and doubt, he knew that there was only one thing he could do to save her from her dreary life. He knelt down and picked up a limb from a prickly thorn bush. Looking into her eyes once again, he said, “Princess, this blood is for you.” Then he pricked his thumb and drew her hand into his. When his blood was applied to her hand, the confusion and doubt lifted from her eyes and she whispered back to him, “princess.”

Now it must be known, that each princess must apply the blood of the prince to her own hand before the spell is broken. “Princess, will you apply it to your own?” 100 princesses in this room, will you apply the blood of the prince to your life?

Posted under Heart to Heart

You are a Princess…

You and I live in a crazy, broken, hard-to-understand, disappointing and downright evil world. So how do you cultivate the true heart of a princess, one that is full of dreams, wonder, purpose and joy? Fairytales are wonderful, especially when you are a little girl. But how does one feel like a princess when there are those extra couple of pounds and the ball gown doesn’t fit, the carriage has a flat tire, there isn’t enough money to pay the royal bills, the kids are screaming…well, I think you get the picture. Life rarely gives you and me “happily ever afters.” So, how do you keep a princess heart in the real world? How can you feel like a princess when the enemy of the King is doing everything in his power to inflict doubt and skepticism? Subtly he asks…

- If you are a daughter of the King, why is He allowing you to go through all of this?

- If you are a daughter of the King, why did you throw a fit the other day?

- If you are a daughter of the King, why is your to-do list longer at the end of the day than the beginning?

- If you are a daughter of the King, why do people treat you like a peasant girl?

- If you are a daughter of the King, why does the mirror crack when you look into it rather than tell you that you are the fairest of them all?

- If you are a daughter of the King, why does it hurt so much?

- If you are a princess, where is your tiara?

Through the course of this series we will be addressing issues that have the potential of stealing the “princess heart” in each of us. Each lesson will begin with a bit of a fairytale story, and then we’ll put real life problems on the table and look to King’s Word for solutions. Real solutions to situations you and I face every day in the REAL WORLD. Each lesson will close with a letter from the King to his royal daughter, oh and that’s you.

Each week we’ll have refreshments fit for a queen, honor a princess for a day with a tiara and special chair…and yes, we’ll still have pampering for all of the rest of us princesses. You won’t want to miss a week.

It would be nice if all you had to do is repeat the following rhyme several times a day as you look into the mirror,

Deep inside, deep down

In my heart I wear a crown.

Come, come into the light,

Princess heart shining bright!

The wicked witch is wide of the mark

I’m not a peasant girl off on a lark

Royalty is my birthright

A princess true even in the dead of night.

But it’s obviously going to take more than saying a few lines of a poem to capture and maintain the princess heart. I encourage you to take advantage of the devotional guide at the end of each lesson which includes a section for deportment (simple activities that will help to transform your heart), prayers to pray and scriptures upon which to mediate.

At the close of the term we will have a ball, complete with a ceremony ordaining you as a true princess of royal birth. We really will have a happily ever after girls- it’s just the here and now that needs a bit of work.

Posted under Heart to Heart

Heart to Heart was created for women, just like you, who are so busy they sometimes neglect the most important things in life, like taking care of themselves, investing in relationships and the big one, seeking after the Lord. After Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem in Judea during the reign of King Herod, a band of scholars that some call the wise men and others magi, arrived in Jerusalem from the East. They asked around, “Where can we find the newborn King of the Jews? We observed a star that signaled his birth in the eastern sky. We’re on a pilgrimage to do homage and worship him.” When word of their inquiries reached Herod, he was deeply disturbed, as was most of Jerusalem. Herod immediately gathered all of the high priests and religious scholars in the city and asked them where the Messiah was supposed to be born? They didn’t even have to do a Google search; they knew…Bethlehem, Judah territory. The prophet Micah wrote, ‘O Bethlehem of Judah, you are not just a lowly village in Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.”

Armed with this crucial information, Herod arranged a secret meeting with the scholars from the East. Devious man that he was, Herod pretended to be as devout as they were so that he could find out when the birth-announcement star first appeared. He told them about the prophecy concerning Bethlehem, and urged them to go find the child, leaving no stone unturned. He also told them that when they found him to immediately send back word so that he could join them in worship. Oblivious to his real objectives, the scholars set off to do as the king had instructed. When they set out, the same star that they had seen in the eastern skies appeared again and led them ‘til it hovered over the place of the child. They could hardly contain themselves: They were in the right place at the right time! They entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. In a dream, they were warned not to report back to Herod. So they worked out another route, left the territory without being seen, and returned to their own country. Matt 2:1-12
The wise men teach us two important things about our relationship with God and that is to “stay focused” and “keep seeking”! They journeyed on camelback from the East (probably Iran) – for almost 2 years! Think of the difficulties such a journey would entail: the cold…heat…sand storms…cloudy nights…away from the comforts of home, family and friends. For what? A star that they believed signaled the coming Messiah. Think about it: is there any cause for which you’d be willing to put your life ‘on hold’ for 2 years in order to pursue?

But also think about how easily we become distracted and discouraged. Someone said, ‘it isn’t the mountain ahead that wears you out – it’s the grain of sand in your shoe’. It is the little annoying things…the everyday cares and frustrations of life that sidetrack us. Do you remember the parable of the seed and soils found in Matt 13? The thorny ground represents those who hear and accept the Good News, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares of this life, so no crop is produced. Think about how easily we become discouraged over our apparent lack of progress. What dream have you given up on because it just didn’t seem like it was ever going to happen. Don’t quit, don’t give in, don’t give up!

Lazy people want much but get little, while the diligent are prospering. Prov 13:4 TLB

Word of God…We mostly get discouraged with ourselves. Where there is breath…there is hope. Keep Seeking… I know that it has almost become a cliché’ but, “Wise Men Still Seek Him!”

One thing I have desired of the LORD, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple. For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock. When You said, “Seek My face,” My heart said to You, “Your face, LORD, I will seek.” Ps 27:4-5, 8 NKJV

I hope ALL of us recognize that we don’t know everything & dare not be content, but continue pursuing Him w/all our heart!

“Keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And the door is opened to everyone who knocks.
Matt 7:7-8 NLT

Come on now…we’re all a bit lazy from time to time. I am. So are you. Do you get up to change the channel on the television or do you use the clicker? We do seek for some things, but do we seek after the Lord…or do we take Him for granted.

• Seek Him for wisdom, knowledge and understanding. The older I get the less I know.
• Seek Him for comfort. Life just keeps dishing things out…we continually need to seek Him for His mercy, grace and comfort.
• Most of all seek Him for who He is…the lover of your soul, your savior, bridegroom, redeemer and friend. That’s what lover’s do. Just like you call out for loved ones when you first get home.

If you are interested in knowing more about Heart to Heart, you can e-mail me at chris@h2hworldwide.com. If you are interested in receiving 6 free lessons designed to empower and instruct, sign up today. The small group curriculum has already been translated into Spanish and is presently being translated into French. Our goal is to translate the curriculum into many of the languages of the underserved nations of the world. There has been so little information available to Christian women in some of these countries in the past. If you know someone who is able and willing to translate the curriculum into another language, please e-mail me. We are also sponsoring Heart to Heart Conferences in different nations. Just as Heart to Heart was a fresh approach for women’s ministry here in the states, we plan to make these conferences unique to the nations they are serving. Have a blessed and seeking holiday season.

Much love…

Chris McQuay

Posted under Heart to Heart

Who knew? Who knew what God was going to do with Heart to Heart when all of this first started? Not me, certainly. All I knew was that I didn’t like traditional women’s ministries. Not that they didn’t fill a need, but they just didn’t appeal to me. My life is so full that I didn’t want to have more meetings, retreats and bake sales. I think that many of you are a lot like me. Your lives are already so overwhelmed with family, career and ministry, you don’t need to add something else to the calendar. I wanted a fresh approach to women’s ministry that would meet the needs of women in the 21st Century. Most of the women I know are so busy rushing about taking care of everyone else’s needs that many times they don’t have time for their own needs. Even though women are more capable than ever before, many still struggle with feelings of failure, low self-esteem and feeling disconnected. Women need emotional wounds of the past to be healed. Women need to recognize their value and worth. Women need to make healthy connections that help them feel like they belong. Does any of this sound familiar? Do you have similar needs in your life?

When God created you He gave you a healthy self-concept and filled you with confidence. But people and circumstances may have robbed you of your sense of self-worth. If you lost it somewhere along the way, you need to fight to get it back. If you have it, you need to hold on to it tight. Paul encourages you in Hebrew 10 not to throw away your confidence…because a healthy self-concept and confidence comes from God, not from you. You have confidence not because of who you are, but because of who He is. When you recognize that all that you have, all that you are, and all that you do is the result of God’s power and grace, it takes a lot of the pressure off. It is not about you, it is about Him.

For the LORD will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being caught. Prov. 3:26 NKJV

Do you feel the need to be connected to a community of women who “get that?” Do you want friends to accept you as you are, not a plastic version of the politically and spiritually correct woman that has been forced on many of us? Heart to Heart is a small group ministry created to help women connect in this fast-paced and stressed-filled world. It was designed to empower women through love, sharing, prayer and the ministry of the Word. It was developed with you in mind!

Heart to Heart is a new approach to women’s ministry. It looks different, sounds different and feels different. We thought about you and all that you go through each day and shifted the H2H small group to include a bit of pampering as you walk through the doors. We like to think of it as “H2H Extreme.” As you wander through the room decorated with a new more youthful and welcoming atmosphere, you can stop at the coffee bar for flavored coffees or specialty teas. You can chat with women at the refreshment tables or just sit and rest listening to the musical theme for the evening. Then it’s time for the lesson before breaking into small groups.

If you are interested in knowing more about Heart to Heart, you can e-mail me at chris@h2hworldwide.com. If you are interested in receiving 6 free lessons designed to empower and instruct, sign up today. The small group curriculum has already been translated into Spanish and is presently being translated into French. Our goal is to translate the curriculum into many of the languages of the underserved nations of the world. There has been so little information available to Christian women in some of these countries in the past. If you know someone who is able and willing to translate the curriculum into another language, please e-mail me. We are also sponsoring Heart to Heart Conferences in different nations. Just as Heart to Heart was a fresh approach for women’s ministry here in the states, we plan to make these conferences unique to the nations they are serving.

Lastly, our vision is to support organizations that minister to women in need in our region. We want to provide hurting women with spiritual support through our small groups, education, fellowship, Christian counseling and possibly extend housing beyond the emergency shelter status. We want to help inform and educate the Christian community regarding women’s issues including domestic violence, abuse, marriage, parenting and leadership. Phew…all that, and more. But even with such lofty goals and visions, we don’t want to forget you. This all started because of you and you will continue to be our focus. You are the reason for H2H…and the reason why we are now a non-profit organization. If there is a better way that we can help you understand how deeply you are loved and valued by God, please don’t hesitate to tell us. We value your input. Much love… Chris McQuay

Posted under Heart to Heart

If I have said it once this year, I must have said it a hundred times. Trying to balance managing the household, e-mails, sermons, meetings, counseling, speaking engagements, writing, the on-going exercise program, devotions, mission’s trips, conferences and the growing needs of my parents has been difficult to say the least. But know that I’m not alone. I have talked to enough women to know that I am not alone in “Overwhelmed Land.” Women are having trouble balancing family, career, ministry, education and the ever present need for “me time.” Can you guess what most of us leave out of the mix? This is a real shame because it is what enables us to actually meet the needs of others.

The last thing that I want to do is add to the load you are already struggling to carry. I want you to know right up front that this series is not about what all you need to do in order for you to make it to the “SUPERWOMAN” level…the insufferably perfect Proverbs 31 woman. The purpose of these lessons is to help you understand that you have been made in the likeness of your Heavenly Father, and that He has passed some of His most enduring traits down to His daughters. I want to help you to see yourself, as you really are, God’s most precious and priceless creation.

While fashioning you, God gave you qualities of Himself…warmth, tenderness, vulnerability, and mercy. But you aren’t just soft and mushy; you are also strong. He created you with a rich, full sensitive nature and a strong indomitable spirit. God made you to be fiercely devoted, steadfast, loyal, and even jealous.

I wish that I was there with you right now so that I could love on you a bit and tell you what a fascinating and wonderful creation you really are. Although I can’t, I do hope these lessons will help you to realize that it’s not about trying to balance it all or having it all. It’s about being all…being all that God created you to be.

As you learn to relax and accept that you are valuable and loved by your Father, that love will begin to overflow to others… It is a natural progression from God’s heart, to your heart, to others. The purpose of this course is to allow God’s love and acceptance to so permeate your being that it naturally flows out to others in need of love. It’s not something that you do; it is who you are. What can be accomplished through women who know who they are, recognize the qualities given to them by God, have accepted their purpose, and are rested, loved and free from guilt? It boggles the mind doesn’t it?

I must offer a word of caution…if you don’t want to hear about how wonderfully you were created in the image of God or how dearly He loves you; you may not want to subscribe for these lessons. But if you are tired of the guilt and feelings of inadequacy, subscribe now. It is my hope and prayer that lessons will bring a sense of peace, joy and purpose to your life…

Posted under Heart to Heart