In Chapter 1 (“An Exhausted World”) of One Way Love, Tullian Tchividjian observes that reward and punishment, this for that reciprocity defines our economy, our relationships, our careers, and our institutions. Everything in our world demands two-way, conditional love. Pastor Tchividjian adds that through conditionality, we gain safety and control- as far as those two […]
“Therefor I have cheerfully made up my mind to be proud of my weaknesses, because they mean a deeper experience of the power of Christ. I can even enjoy weakness, suffering, privations, persecutions and difficulties for Christ’s sake. For my weaknesses are made strong in him.”- 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (J. B. Phillips) Author Mary DeMuth […]
Today Mary DeMuth (The Wall Around Your Heart) concludes her discussion of ten ways we joyfully can escape Satan’s relational traps. 6. Realize you’re not the only one. Mary states that Satan would like you to believe that you are the only one with your specific problem. Our individual pain is not unique. We’re not alone […]
Author Mary DeMuth continues Chapter 10 of The Wall Around Your Heart by listing and discussing ten ways we joyfully can escape Satan’s relational traps. The first five are presented today. 1. Let go of busyness. Satan dangles overactivity in front of us as a tempting way to avoid dealing with our pain, Mary states […]
Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”- Matthew 22:38-39 In Chapter 11 (“But Rescue Us from the Evil One: Be Fully Alive”), the […]
“Blessed is he whose help is in the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God.”- Psalm 146:5 Today Mary DeMuth concludes Chapter 10 of The Wall Around Your Heart with the final three temptations to avoid. 3. The temptation to defend ourselves. Mary states that when she’s been wronged she’s lived […]
Mary DeMuth begins Chapter 10 (“And Don’t Let us Yield to Temptation: Dare to Engage Anyway”) of The Wall Around Your Heart by reminding us that when someone hurts us, we’re tempted to build an impenetrable fortress around our hearts in an attempt to protect ourselves from further pain. The unintended result, however, is isolation. […]
“For the Lord sees not as a man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”- 1 Samuel 16:7 “Christian freedom . . . is freedom to help a neighbor out and give him something to delight in.”- H. R. Rookmaker As author Mary DeMuth continues Chapter 8 of […]
As Mary DeMuth continues Chapter 7 of The Wall Around Your Heart, she cautions that if you’re an all-or-nothing person (as the author tends to be), one small mistake can open the door for widespread failure the rest of the day! For example, if you give in to anger, you’re likely to throw up your […]
Jesus said, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”- John 6:35 (ESV) In Chapter 7 (“Give Us Today the Food We Need: Ask Jesus for Help”) of The Wall Around Your Heart, author Mary DeMuth takes particular note of two words […]
In today’s post, author Mary DeMuth (The Wall Around Your Heart) concludes her discussion of five ways to cultivate a heaven-bent heart that will help us endure relational pain, yet thrive in the aftermath. 4. Let heaven frame your relationships. Mary states that when relationships go sour, such as those related to vocation loss, it […]
As Mary DeMuth concludes Chapter 5 of The Wall Around Your Heart, she states that because Jesus perfectly obeyed the Father, His actions model how we are to “navigate the infested waters of heartache”. It is important for us to maintain a minute-by-minute realization that Jesus dwells in our hearts and loves to direct us. […]