In his Introduction to One Way Love: Inexhaustible Grace for an Exhausted World, Tullian Tchividjian notes that the need for inexhaustible grace for an exhausted world never has been more urgent. Pastor Tchividjian further observes an unquestioning embrace of performancism in all sectors of life. He then offers his definition of performancism: “Performancism is the […]
The Wall Around Your Heart (Nelson Books, 2013) The framework of Mary Demuth’s latest book, The Wall Around Your Heart: How Jesus Heals You When Others Hurt You, camps around the eleven phrases of the Lord’s Prayer, prayed in the context of community. The author comments: “Tucked within this prayer are secrets to understanding conflict, […]
In Chapter 9 of The Wall Around Your Heart, author Mary DeMuth delves further into forgiveness, discussing nine surprising things about forgiveness. Today the first three facets of forgiveness are presented. 1. Forgiveness makes you act counterculturally- as Mary describes, “to bless instead of curse, to rest instead of retaliate, to keep walking instead of fighting.” The […]
Mary DeMuth begins Chapter 9 (“As We Have Forgiven Those Who Sin Against Us: Defy Bitterness”) of The Wall Around Your Heart, she notes that trials are normative in the life of believers- and they often come in the form of people. Rather than moving forward in holy momentum, we become ensnared by our focus […]
“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 […]
In Chapter 8 (“And Forgive Us Our Sins: Be Repentant”) of The Wall Around Your Heart, Mary DeMuth opens by stating that when we’ve been hurt, it’s much easier to zero in on someone else’s heinous sins than to be aware of our own and confess those sin patterns. Yet, a healthy perception of our own […]
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. […]
“O Lord, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief . . . . Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. For your name’s sake, O Lord, bring me out of trouble.”- Psalm […]
“For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.”- Galatians 6:3 In Chapter 4 of The Wall Around Your Heart, author Mary DeMuth continues her presentation of five kingdoms we build on earth with her discussion of the third kingdom- The Narcissistic Kingdom. Mary adds that this kingdom also could […]
“We can’t imagine the freedom we find from the things we leave behind.”- Michael Card (“Things We Leave Behind”) In Chapter 4 of The Wall Around Your Heart, author Mary DeMuth looks at four types of kingdoms we build on earth that keep us living stalemated by the past. Today Mary discusses the Woe-Is- Me Kingdom. […]