Heavenly-Minded or Earthly-Obsessed: Get on Board With God’s Agenda

Posted on May 20, 2025 by Heart of the Matter

I love to read. In my home, I have an entire wall of bookshelves packed with books, most of which I’ve already read at least once. My nightstand always holds a book or two and I have several more in the queue. I enjoy reading before bed, reading in the car (when I’m not driving, of course), and reading while soaking in the tub. I admit, my love of books borders on obsession.

Obsession is defined as: Something that occupies our mind or intrudes on our thoughts; A preoccupation with a person, idea or hobby.

People have all sorts of obsessions today: exercise, sports, social media, politics, golf, television, books, and many others. Whatever our obsession, we can’t imagine life without it. If we miss a day or two, we long for the opportunity to engage once again in our compulsion. An obsession is something we talk about, think about, and even dream about. But for several reasons, obsession can become a serious problem.

First of all, obsessions disrupt family relationships. People obsessed with work, scurry like a hamster on a wheel trying to land a six-figure salary, while their family is left on the back burner. Those obsessed with exercise, are often so self-focused they become not only physically, but emotionally distant from those they love. For some, exercise becomes a pseudo-religion. Inserting yourself into other people’s problems can become an obsession. I’ve known those who are so engrossed in searching out problems (other people’s problems) to solve or issues to champion, that their own children and spouse are left to fend for themselves.

 Obsession not only tears families apart, but it takes us away from God’s plan and purpose for our lives. It dilutes our effectiveness for the kingdom. If this idea of obsession sounds vaguely familiar, it should, especially if you’ve spent much time in the Word. In scripture, it’s referred to as, idolatry, which is anything we prioritize above God.

What is our purpose as Christ-followers?

The goal for every believer is:  To know and love God and to make him known to the lost world. Satan loves obsession because it pulls us away from this primary mission.

Am I saying Christians should engage only in overtly spiritual activities?  Surely God doesn’t expect us to sit and read our Bible all day long, does He? In our everyday lives we must go to work, shop for groceries, go to the dentist, and clean our house, right? Absolutely, we must. That’s life. But remember, the world is a mission field, and we are themissionaries. In other words, we must look for opportunities in our day to love and serve people—to engage with the lost world—to share the message of Jesus. In fact, Christians are the hands and feet of Jesus to this world.

 

Can someone be too heavenly minded?

It’s been said, one can be too heavenly minded to be any earthly good. But don’t be fooled. The most effective Christians are completely heavenly minded—obsessed only with loving and serving others, knowing God more deeply, walking in obedience to the Word, and sharing the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ. Being heavenly-minded is good!

We’re heavenly minded when take a friend who’s lost their spouse to lunch, and comfort them. We’re heavenly minded when we spend a morning at the food pantry helping to stock shelves. We’re heavenly minded when we exhibit grace at our workplace so that others will be drawn to Christ. We’re heavenly-minded when we use our gifts and talents for God’s purposes. We’re heavenly minded when we cook a meal for a sick friend or clean up a widow’s yard after a storm. We’re heavenly minded when we lovingly care for our husband and children. We’re heavenly minded when we work hard at our job with a good attitude and reflect the attributes of Jesus.

The Christian life is not a part-time job

If you find you only think about spiritual things on Sundays, perhaps it’s time to up your game. Begin to think spiritually throughout the week. Be intentional. Start your day by asking God to help you see the needs around you and to give you the boldness to act. Pray for opportunities to share the gospel. Pray for God to help you find time in the Word for study and reflection. Lead your family in reading the Bible, praying, and memorizing scripture. The Christian life is much more than simply attending church on Sunday.

Lest you think I’m against hobbies, I’m not. Hobbies are a fun part of life and can provide moments for spiritual conversation. For instance, playing golf with a friend may be a great opportunity to share Christ with him. While you’re at the gym, you can find a way to practically serve one of your regular gym buddies. You can pray with your running group before you head out on your morning run. God gave us many things in this world to enjoy and we should take advantage of them. It’s when a hobby becomes an obsession—an idol—leaving no time or space for the things of God, that it becomes a problem.

All believers, including myself, could be more focused on the mission of knowing God and making Him known. There’s nothing more important. Join me as I pray for guidance, review my priorities, examine my routines, and determine if anything in my life has become an idol. Then, let’s ask God to reveal our areas of weakness so we can make the necessary changes.

God will always make a way for those who desire to be more spiritually in tune with Him. Believers have the Holy Spirit to help us overcome our obsessions and redirect our priorities—no need to rely on our own strength. As we faithfully join God on His kingdom mission, we’ll no doubt witness the fruit of lives changed and experience joy, peace and purpose like we’ve never known. Let’s get with God’s program today!

Posted in Christianity, Church Life, purpose, Service, spiritual growth | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Steady Faith That Doesn’t Burn Out

Posted on March 22, 2025 by Heart of the Matter

Some years ago, I decided to join a gym. I knew I needed to improve my health and lose a few pounds, so I drove to a new workout place only a mile from my home. There, I was given a tour and signed on the dotted line. This gym had all the bells and whistles, from state-of-the-art machines to a nursery area for my toddler. There was even a movie theater where you could watch a movie while you cycled on an exercise bike, imagine that.

My Inevitable Gym Burnout

I was really excited at first, as I packed up my daughter each morning, anticipating the post-workout euphoria. I worked out hard on the equipment and free weights, really giving it my all. I was so proud of myself as I left the building each day drenched in sweat.

 As time went on, it became harder and harder to wake up early, pack up, and haul my tired self to the gym. Some days I didn’t feel like going so. . . I didn’t. Before long, I was down to 2 days a week and eventually, only when I felt like it (which was hardly ever). My initial enthusiasm for working out slowly faded into oblivion.

Experiencing Faith Burnout

Just like my sad foray into gym-life, and subsequent failure, people can lose enthusiasm for their Christian faith. For example, when we first come to know the Lord, we’re so excited. We can’t wait to go to church and raise our hands in praise with our new church friends. We tell everyone we meet about our brand-new faith in Jesus. We dig into the Word with an intensity and regularity that puts many long-time Christians to shame. We join a Bible study, attend a small group, and serve enthusiastically in the church kitchen. It seems we’re walking on air.

 Soon, unforeseen trials, fatigue, or the pull of sin, wear us down. Eventually, we stop reading the Word and going to church. We fall back into habits we thought we’d left behind. Why does this happen? Was our faith experience not real? Was it just a flash in the pan?

 Believers can burn out for many different reasons. Perhaps, God didn’t answer our prayers quickly, or we lost the excitement we had at first. Maybe we thought life would get easier after we came to Christ and it just didn’t. Sometimes non-Christian friends draw us back into our old life. It may be that people we looked up to in the church let us down in some way. Christians don’t always act right and that can be discouraging for new believers as they’re let down and disappointed by people they admire.

The Christian Life is not all Roses and Rainbows

Life isn’t easy for any of us. We all experience things like sickness, family problems, job loss, the death of family members, and other trials. We live in a sinful, fallen world and things happen. The good news is, when believers face difficulties, God uses all of it to make us more like Him. Our trials and hardships don’t go to waste. One day we’ll be fully perfected, when Jesus comes again. But for now, we’re a work in progress.

“In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which perishes though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. . .” 1 Peter 1:6-7 (NASB)

 None of us can exist on a perpetual spiritual high, like we may have felt when we first came to Christ. Therefore, our goal as believers is to build a steady faith that lasts—one that won’t burn out and is not dependent on our feelings or on other people. How can we develop that enduring faith? Here are some tips:

 

6 Tips for Steady Faith that Doesn’t Burn Out

  • Don’t base your faith on emotions. None of us always feels peaceful, excited, or confident. We all have down times when we feel sad or lonely or just blah. We’re human and sometimes question things, waver in our faith, or fail to live as we should. Don’t worry if the excitement you originally felt when you came to Christ fades at times. Some days you just won’t feel like shouting “Hallelujah”. Remember, emotions come and go, but the peace and hope we have in Christ are eternal.
  • Keep serving God. We all possess spiritual gifts that help us contribute to God’s kingdom work. Seek God for wisdom in this area and allow Him to guide you into the lane you were perfectly designed for. We aren’t all made for children’s ministry. Ask my sweet husband who had a child pee in his lap while serving with me in the preschool. That was his last Sunday as my assistant.
  • Stay in the Word. We need to know who God is and what His Word says to deepen our relationship with Him. The more time we spend in the Word, the more we will want to. Strong relationships take effort, even a relationship with God. Devote time each day to personal study of the Word, meditation, scripture memory, and prayer—each one a building block of steady faith.
  • Join a Bible–believing church in your community. We need each other. It’s within the body of believers that we find help for our physical needs, gain prayer support, and experience genuine fellowship. Also, as we observe the steady faith of mature believers in our church, we’ll be encouraged that ours can be the same. In your church you can hopefully find someone who will disciple (walk beside) you in the faith as you grow and mature.
  • Manage your expectations. There will be Christians who let you down. Your Christian brothers and sisters are not perfect. They struggle and sometimes don’t act right. Pastors and other church leadership sometimes let us down, as well. Keep in mind, there is no perfect church (because churches are made up of imperfect people). Base your faith on the unchanging, all-perfect, Savior, Jesus Christ, not on sinful man. Watch who you idolize (sometimes that is the pastor, who is only human, himself). Forgive often and in every circumstance, as Jesus tells us in His Word.
  • Remember that God is always in control. There’s nothing that happens in our life that God has not allowed. He will use all of it for His glory and our sanctification. My husband, by all accounts a fit person, had triple bypass surgery at 55 years old. God knew we’d experience that bump in the road. He allowed it and He would work through it. My husband made it through, and many God stories happened because of it. Just because bad things happen to us doesn’t mean faith isn’t real or God doesn’t love us. To the contrary, it means that the Bible is true. The Bible tells us we’ll experience hardship. It tells us that God uses trials to shape us into a worthy vessel for His glory.

A steady, consistent, and confident faith over a lifetime is more than possible. Don’t let disappointment, mistakes, imperfect people, or lack of emotion cause you to doubt your faith. God will never leave you and nothing can take you out of His hand once you’ve come to Him in genuine faith and repentance.

“Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong” 1 Corinthians 16:13 (CSB)

The bottom line is this: When we come to faith, it’s God who draws us to Himself and holds us there. We can trust Him. God is real and your faith is real—even on those days when you’re tired, or sad, or disappointed, and the last thing you feel like doing is praising God. That’s exactly when we must press on with confidence.

Let’s be sure to seek God’s direction and wisdom each day, resting in the security and peace we have in Him. Join me as we look forward to a beautiful, purposeful, eternity with God. Steady, unshakeable faith is a beautiful gift and it’s within reach for every believer.

“My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” John 10:27-28 (NASB)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Spiritual Encouragement | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

A Proper Perspective on Ministry: Pointing People to Jesus

Posted on February 19, 2025 by Heart of the Matter

 

Sometimes those in ministry and leadership in the church—both pastors and laypeople— forget that our mission is to point people to Jesus. For Bible teachers, deacons, worship team members, committee chairmen, and Christian writers/speakers, remembering this can be a challenge. We get puffed-up as we garner a following of folks, or begin to receive lots of compliments and positive feedback on our performance, teaching ability, or leadership skills. We become prideful and no longer point people to Jesus, but rather, bask in our own glory. This is especially a problem with some of the more visible gifts in the church.

Pointing People to Jesus or to Me?

We like to think that through our own efforts we’ve achieved much for the kingdom, when in reality, we’ve built our own kingdom with us on the throne. Pride lurks in every heart, waiting for just the right moment to emerge. Sometimes God will (mercifully) send us tumbling off our throne.

There’s a great example in scripture of the right attitude to have as we use our gifts to serve God. In John 3:25-30, John the Baptist is literally pointing people to Jesus. When John the Baptist was preaching and baptizing in the Judean desert, he knew he was paving the way for someone greater. His mission was clear: To preach repentance to the people and give them a vision for what (who) was to come.

John’s Disciples are Concerned

When Jesus came on the scene, some of John’s disciples were irritated. They relayed to John that there was a man baptizing people not far away. They were concerned some of John’s followers were drifting over there and following this new teacher instead of John. John said to them, “I am not the Messiah, but have been sent ahead of Him.” (John 3:28) He told them Jesus is the bridegroom and that he (John) was only the groom’s friend who stands beside. John then makes a profound statement that has application for us today. He says, “He must increase and I must decrease.” (John 3:30)

If only we would make that our mantra, holding it always in the forefront of our minds as we lead, serve, write, teach and sing. It’s not about me. Any gifts that I have are God’s and He decides how (and when) he’ll use those gifts in my life. My job is to point people to Jesus. Of course, it’s only God who blesses a ministry or a life and makes it a success (that is, effective for the Kingdom). It is God who draws people to Himself unto salvation, not us. He doesn’t really need us, but it’s a privilege and a blessing to be used by Him when He chooses to do so.

“The world doesn’t need to see more of me, it needs to see more of Jesus” – Dr Scott Wilson, FBC, Melbourne, FL 

Laying our Gifts on the Altar

There’s a beautiful song I’ve recently become aware of by a young singer/songwriter named, Josiah Queen. He eloquently addresses the issue of pointing others to Jesus rather than to ourselves. The song is called, “Altars Over Stages”, and the first line of the chorus goes like this:

I choose altars over stages ’cause heaven is my wages, I don’t need the spotlight so, make me a silhouette. – Josiah Queen (“Altars Over Stages”-The Prodigal, 2024)

If only we would see our ministry as an altar, where we lay it all down in honor of the King of Kings, rather than a stage for our own attention and glory. When we yield our gifts and life to Him, He will multiply the results and do miracles in the lives of people—changing their eternity. My own pastor tells us often that if we are looking to him, a mere human, for all the answers, he is going to fail us. He reminds us that his job is to always point us to Jesus.

Whether you’re a pastor, a Bible study leader, a committee member, or a worship team singer, I hope you’ll join me as I renew my focus on pointing people to Jesus this year. Let’s humbly teach, write, serve, lead, play, and sing—putting our own egos and agendas aside and prayerfully laying our gifts on the altar for God to use. What a privilege and honor it is when He does!

“He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8 (ESV)

Posted in Christianity, Church Life, purpose, Service | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Raising Genuine Christ-Followers

Posted on February 6, 2025 by Heart of the Matter

Is there anything more important to raising genuine Christ-followers than taking our kids to church? If we’re there every time the doors are open will our kids grow up to be Bible-believing, faithful, engaged believers? What is the secret to raising kids who are deeply in love with God and His Word instead of just rule followers who think they’re good if they do all the right things?

Our Empty Nest

Our own kids are grown now, and we’re grateful that each of them has made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ. Our prayer for them at this point is that the depth of their faith, and love for His Word would grow as the Lord continues to work in each of their lives. We raised our kids in church but there are certainly things we wish we’d done a better job on as Christian parents.

In this article, I hope to share some advice for parents of young children to help you on your journey in raising genuine Christ-followers.

First, I want to say that I’m not criticizing church attendance. Taking your kids to a Bible-believing church on a regular basis is essential. Find a church whose goal is to love your kids to Jesus, in partnership with you. That being said, your children’s pastor or youth pastor is not solely responsible for the spiritual development of your child. Remember, your children spend much more time in your home than they do at church. Your home is your child’s faith incubator, so if you want to raise genuine believers, you must live genuine faith in front of them. Here are some helpful reminders:

Tips for Raising Genuine Christ-Followers

  • Ensure that conversation in your home (and car) is honoring to God. Avoid gossip, and criticism of others in front of your kids. Conversations like these are not God-honoring: “Why in the world does that Joe have to run up and take the pastor a cup of water every week during the sermon, he’s such a showoff.”, “Did you notice how much weight Susie has put on?” And, for heaven’s sake, don’t roast the pastor on your way home from church. As your children listen in, they are learning whether or not you truly love and respect others (the pastor included!). (Ephesians 4:29, Philippians 4:8, Ephesians 5:4)
  • Make prayer an embedded strategy in your family culture. Pray for your children and others. Include your kids in prayer time. Pray about things that need attention as they come up—problems at school, disagreements at home, decisions that need to be made. Let your kids see you praying with your spouse. Ask your kids how you can pray for them and do it right away, in the moment. (Philippians 4:6,   1  Thessalonians 5:17, James 5:16)
  • Read God’s Word at home. Do your kids think the Bible is just something you carry to church on Sundays? Your kids should see you reading the Bible. Read it to them on a regular basis. Memorize scripture together, perhaps posting the verse you’re learning in a prominent place in the home. Share intentionally about how much you love God’s Word and why. For example, it tells us who God is—His attributes and character. It shows us how to please Him with our attitudes and behavior. It tells us about Jesus and His love for us. (Joshua 1:8, Psalm 119:97, Psalm 119:105)
  • Exhibit love, service, and self-sacrifice in your marriage relationship. Your children should see you serving each other in various ways, being affectionate, and having fun together. When children know their parents love each other, it makes them more secure and you are modeling the unconditional love Jesus has for them. (Philippians 2:3-5, Romans 12:10, 1 Peter 4:10)
  • Establish a forgiveness culture in your home. Teach your children: We forgive each other right away and don’t hold a grudge. We ask forgiveness when we hurt someone, physically or emotionally. Sin and forgiveness are key concepts when it comes to understanding salvation. Make sure you’re laying the groundwork for them to make a profession of faith when the Holy Spirit draws them to Himself. Speaking of their profession of faith—share the plan of salvation with them. There’s nothing more beautiful than a Christian parent leading their own child to Christ. (Colossians 3:13, Mark 11:25, Ephesians 4:31-32)

Dads as Spiritual Leader of the Home

In many Christian homes, spiritual responsibilities are left to mom, even when Dad is a believer. Dads, please don’t let that happen in your home. God has established you as the spiritual leader of your family, therefore, you should be the driving force behind your family’s spiritual growth and should take the lead in establishing a culture of genuine faith. Moms, of course, are critical in the day-to-day spiritual training of their kids. They often spend more time with them in the home and have more opportunity to teach, train, pray and have spiritual conversations. My prayer is that these tips help you to model genuine Christianity in front of your children so they will know that faith is about more than attending church.

 Profile of a genuine Christ-follower:

Genuine Christ-followers try to please Jesus every day, at home and at work, by living in obedience to the Word and by loving and serving others. Of course, we are sinners and will never reach perfection here on earth but we are called to obedience.

Genuine Christ-followers love the Word of God, honor it as absolute truth, and look to it for direction and help. They know the Bible is God-breathed and inerrant.

Genuine Christ-followers pray—and not just on Sundays or before meals. They believe that prayer is an essential part of the Christian life.

Genuine Christ-followers show love and respect for each other. Both within the family and in the wider world.

Genuine Christ-followers forgive—readily and regularly, just as Christ forgave (and forgives) us.

We did (what we thought was) our best at the time we were raising our children, but looking back, we certainly could have done better. Raising kids is not an exact science. Many a Christian parent has soaked the carpet with tears as they dropped to their knees in prayer for a wayward teenager or young adult child. There are many factors involved in a child’s growth and spiritual development. But we can trust that the Lord loves them even more than we do and will hear our prayers for them. God has a plan for each and every one of our children. Their spiritual journey may not look like we’d hoped, but we can trust Him.

I pray that your precious children will come to know Jesus as their Savior and will grow into spiritual maturity as the Holy Spirit works to make them more like Him. I pray that when your children leave your home, they will have a genuine, grown-up faith. One that will stand the tests of time, trial, and temptation—a faith that is their own. I pray that they will fall deeply in love with God and His inspired Word and will desire to know Him more and more.

 

Posted in Christianity, Marriage, Parenting, Spiritual Encouragement, spiritual growth | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Craving Ice Cream . . . and the Word of God

Posted on January 26, 2025 by Heart of the Matter

 

I’ve attempted many different diets in my life and have not been very successful on any of them. I’d lose a few pounds here and there but before long, my cravings would kick in—cravings for comfort foods like mashed potatoes, or chocolate, or ice cream. Perhaps you have certain foods that you crave. Many of us do.

What is craving anyway?

According to the dictionary, to crave, is to, “feel a powerful desire for something”. My craving to eat a warm brownie right from the oven, or a pint of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream is certainly powerful. It seems nothing can stop it, even when I’m determined to stick to my diet.

Craving isn’t always bad. For example, if we haven’t been eating well, our body may crave certain nutrients it’s been missing. Or, when we’re overworked and physically exhausted, we may crave a good night’s sleep.

Is craving in the Bible?

In 1 Peter 2: 1-3, Peter tells us we are to crave the Word of God. He says: “Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” (NIV)

The word for crave used here is “epipotheo”in the Greek, meaning, to long for, desire, pursue with love.  When was the last time you longed for God’s Word? So many of us only read our Bible when we follow along with the pastor’s sermon on Sundays. Sadly, it’s the last thing we think of during our busy week.

Why is it important to read God’s Word?

The Bible tells us who God is, and reveals His plan for humanity and for us as individuals. It teaches us how to live, convicts us of sin, and deepens our relationship with our Savior, Jesus Christ. It’s hard to love someone you don’t know.

How can we come to a place of craving the Word?

I’ve found that the more time I spend in the Word, the more time I want to spend there. Think of it this way: I have a friend who adopted a baby boy. At first, she was concerned because she didn’t feel a deep connection to him. As time went on and they spent more and more time together, their bond grew stronger and stronger. Eventually, she felt she couldn’t possibly love him more.

As we read the Word and allow the Holy Spirit to unveil its mysteries, we can’t help but want to know more. Although I’ve been a believer for many years, I learn something new each time I read it. I catch myself thinking, has that passage always been in there? How did I not see it before?

Are we content with spiritual immaturity?

Peter reminds us that, just as babies crave their mother’s milk for necessary physical growth, we are to crave the pure milk of the Word to grow in our spiritual lives. Many of us are in the same place we were after receiving Christ years ago. We prayed the prayer of salvation to get our ticket to heaven and now, we’re sitting at the train station waiting for our ride. We have remained in spiritual immaturity for decades. God has so much to teach us, and for some of us, time grows short. In addition, as we learn from the Word, we’re called to pass it on and disciple (teach/mentor/help) others.

We can’t ignore the first part of that verse, either. If we don’t deal with things in our life like malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander, it hinders our spiritual growth.  We’re told in Ephesians 4:22-24 to “put off the old self . . . and put on the new”, as if we were changing our dirty clothes and putting on new ones. As believers, we’re to pursue righteousness and holiness, in response to what Jesus has done for us.

Pray that God will give you a desire to read and study His Word—a craving for the pure milk of spiritual wisdom and knowledge. Pray that you’ll be able to set aside those nagging sins that form a barrier between you and others, and hinder your fellowship with the Lord. Begin to deeply study the Word of God this year—to read and meditate on it. God will certainly bless your efforts. You never know, in the process, God may take away that craving for New York Super Fudge Chunk! Wouldn’t that be Great?

Posted in purpose, Salvation, Spiritual Encouragement, spiritual growth | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment