All Articles 2021 Archives

God of Fresh Starts

Hope is an olive leaf — evidence of dry land after a flood.

Max Lucado reminds us that the God of hope gives us fresh starts just as he did to Noah with the olive leaf and the dove.

12/30/2021 by Max Lucado

Jesus, After Christmas Coming

Christmas isn't over; it has only just begun if we recognize that it is our job, together, to be Jesus to the world!

Phil Ware reminds us that Christmas isn't over, but now our role is to be Jesus' people, his presence, in our world.

12/28/2021 by Phil Ware

ToGather: Christ Is Mine (December 26, 2021)

Despite all the challenges, Mary and Joseph accepted their part in salvation's plan and their faith brought us God's gift of love, his beloved Son, Jesus!

Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in a virtual, DIY, worship through words and music using YouTube videos to call us to recognize God's great love in sending Jesus, the joy Jesus' birth brings, and the truth that Jesus is with us and for us in this

12/25/2021 by Demetrius Collins & Phil Ware

This Light: Emmanuel

I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life (John 8:12).

Melissa Troyer is moved by a family and church celebration of Jesus as the Light during Advent season and reflects on what this means to us all.

12/23/2021 by Melissa Troyer

Merry Christmas!

We pray the Lord blesses you with the grace of Jesus' presence this Christmas!

Merry Christmas blessing

12/22/2021 by Heartlight Team

The Cosmic Christmas Story

Don't forget the wildest story, the cosmic war story, behind Jesus' coming to earth!

Dan Bouchelle reminds us of another story of the nativity, a violent one, a clash between heaven and hell, good and evil, the evil red dragon and the Christ child.

12/21/2021 by Dan Bouchelle

ToGather: Leaving an Enduring Legacy through Christmas (December 19, 2021)

The enduring legacy we want to leave at Christmas is our lasting trust in God to deliver us from darkness and to lead us into the grace of his goodness by being present with us in Jesus!

Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in a virtual, DIY, worship through words and music using YouTube videos to call us to recognize God's great love that led Jesus to come to earth and live as one of us to save us and show us how to live.

12/18/2021 by Demetrius Collins & Phil Ware

Our Intersection with Joy

God's long story of grace intersected the mess of our world, and the rest of this story is our good news of great joy.

James Nored on video and Phil Ware with words remind us that the circumstances of the moment can be swallowed up in the greater joy of God's long story of grace that came to us in Jesus of Nazareth.

12/16/2021 by James Nored & Phil Ware

Escaping the Monotony of Low Expectations

Advent is rooted in the work of God in history, through real people, to do the miraculous in the most human of things, through the birth of a child.

Phil Ware reminds us to celebrate Advent and not simply settle for Christmas, especially in a hard year like this one.

12/14/2021 by Phil Ware

ToGather: Living Water for Our Soul-Drought (December 12, 2021)

If all we have is a once-a-year sentimental baby Jesus, then we don’t have the real Jesus and our souls remain parched and thirsty and our whole being longs for SOMEONE more!

Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in a virtual, DIY, worship through words and music using YouTube videos to call us to find Jesus' gift of the Holy Spirit the living water to end our soul-drought.

12/11/2021 by Demetrius Collins & Phil Ware

More than God's Whisper

How could God help us understand his faithful love for us, yet demonstrate his desire for us to live in our world with his righteous character and gracious compassion?

James Nored and Phil Ware share the meaning of Jesus' incarnation in word and video using a simple but powerful allegory.

12/09/2021 by James Nored & Phil Ware

Entering the Mystery!

The Holy Spirit gives birth to Lord in the heart of each new Christian and longs to bring that new follower of Christ to full maturity in Jesus.

Phil Ware challenges us to enter the mystery of the conception and birth of Jesus the Messiah with Mary and find ourselves caught up in the story of Jesus with her.

12/07/2021 by Phil Ware

ToGather: The Way of Christ Jesus (December 5, 2021)

Far too often the incarnation of God in Jesus as Immanuel, God with us, gets lost in all the theological language, and the call of Jesus for us to live with each other in love is forgotten.

Far too often the incarnation of God in Jesus as Immanuel, God with us, gets lost in all the theological language and forgets the call of Jesus to live with each others in love.

12/04/2021 by Demetrius Collins & Phil Ware

Mothers Pray for Their Children

What is more powerful in shaping the heart and faith of a child than a mother who prays for her children?

Melissa Troyer shares a prayer all mothers of deep faith can pray over their children, and the children of others.

12/02/2021 by Melissa Troyer

Strategy for the End Times

I may never untangle every nuance of Jesus' prophecies about the destruction of Jerusalem and HIS coming at the end of time but I can be ready!

Phil Ware focuses on what we need to do, and who we need to be, by looking at six intersections with our world during these last days as we await the return of Jesus, the glorious Son of Man!

11/30/2021 by Phil Ware

ToGather: Thanking God for Our Women of Faith (November 28, 2021)

Many of us have experienced the goodness of God through the life of a woman of faith who helped shape us and mold us in our personal walk with Jesus.

Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in a virtual, DIY, worship through words and music using YouTube videos to call us to give thanks for the godly women of faith in our lives.

11/27/2021 by Demetrius Collins & Phil Ware

Blessed Thanksgiving!

The prayers of the Heartlight.org and VerseoftheDay.com team pray that you have a blessed Thanksgiving!

The Heartlight.org and VerseoftheDay.com team gives thanks for you and prays you have a blessed Thanksgiving.

11/25/2021 by Heartlight Team

Thanksgiving!

How do we keep our concerns for the future and our hardships from the last two years of Covid 19 from stealing the joy of our Thanksgiving?

Phil Ware reminds us to keep thanksgiving a part of our daily lives even though we face challenging times, difficult circumstances, and discouraging realities.

11/23/2021 by Phil Ware

ToGather: More than Unstoppable! (November 21, 2021)

When Jesus emerged from the tomb victorious over death, we were empowered to believe that God is more than unstoppable and HE can do more in us, for us, and through us than we can imagine!

Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in a virtual, DIY, worship through words and music using YouTube videos to call us to recognize God's greatness

11/20/2021 by Demetrius Collins & Phil Ware

Sometimes, God Takes His Time!

Life feels like it is in slow motion when are waiting for the bad seasons to end and God's new fresh life awakens to redeem and refresh our weary souls.

Max Lucado encourages us to endure and not lose hope because sometimes God takes time to make his perfect will happen and redeem our messes.

11/18/2021 by Max Lucado

Rest and Power for the Weary

Our resources run low, our spirits grow tired, our bodies shut down, we can’t handle another thing, then Satan throws in a storm or two. What do we do?

Phil Ware continues his reflections on what it means to be a JesuShaped disciple, this week focusing on our need for rest and time alone with God.

11/16/2021 by Phil Ware

ToGather: Called to Holiness, Not Passing Judgment (November 14, 2021)

Can we really pursue obedience and have a deep passion for holiness and still welcome people who practice their faith differently than we do?

Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in a virtual, DIY, worship through words and music using YouTube videos to call us to recognize God's greatness and to living a life of holiness that refuses to judge others in Christ over non-essential practices.

11/13/2021 by Demetrius Collins & Phil Ware

Imagined Fears?

Fears are often more what we imagine than what is real!

Ron Rose is in his mobile office and at Black Rifle Coffee having a cup of beyond black visiting with people and inviting them to share a conversation and invite God to be part of the moment.

11/09/2021 by Ron Rose

ToGather: Cheerful Generosity (November 7, 2021)

Why we should we be thankful, cheerful, and generous in a world full of negativity!

Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in a virtual, DIY, worship through words and music using YouTube videos to call us to live generous lives of grace where we are joyful recipients of God's grace and cheerfully generous in our acts of mercy.

11/06/2021 by Demetrius Collins & Phil Ware

Beyond the Reach of Corruption and Decay

Are humans that predictable? Are people really so selfish? Do we nearly always pursue some payoff or reward in every situation?

Phil Ware writes out of a quiet time study of Matthew 6 and the memory of the crass motivation often behind our behaviors, even our most religious behaviors.

11/04/2021 by Phil Ware