Leading in Hope 2006 Archives

For over 30 years, Heartlight has shared articles to help people live for Jesus in everyday life. While we are no longer publishing new articles, this enduring collection features relevant pieces throughout the year to encourage faith, offer biblical perspective, and speak to real-world joys and struggles.

Cutting Loose the Dead Weight

Light a stuck anchor prevents a boat from advancing or moving, so we often get stuck in our pasts and can't go forward until we get rid of the dead weight that weighs us down and holds us back.

Why do we hang on to it when it weighs us down?

What Is It You See in Christmas?

Christmas has unfortunately gotten so caught up in conflict that we lose sight of loving folks the way Jesus came to do.

Why do we fuss and fight over such a wonderful time?

I Hate War

A trip around the Mall in Washington, D.C., leads Tom to reflect on how much he hates war and how he longs for the peace of Christ.

Will they ever cease? Will we ever have relief?

'Tis the Season

Rubel reminds us that Christmas is the season for many things depending on who we are. So let's use this season to be a blessing and not to stir trouble and let's do it responsibly and with grace.

So what are you going to focus on this season?

Two Hours a Week

Mentoring kids offers a great chance for Christians to honor the call of Jesus to care for orphans.

How much time are you willing to invest in the life of a child?

Stretching for Our Gods

Patrick Odum reminds us that to grow we have to stretch, reach, and sacrifice but that is more than worth the effort because Jesus gives us back far more than we can ever give.

What are you willing to sacrifice to achieve or find?

Exercising the Spirit: Witnessing

One of the key spiritual disciplines is witnessing to others, because sharing our faith in Jesus is crucial to others finding God!

Don't let this title turn you off!

How Fragile Is Your Ego?

Our egos are fragile and important but also dangerous, but we must learn humility.

Can your ego handle the call of Jesus to humility?

Vulnerably Successful

So often, ministers and pastors won't let others minister to them, but we need to minister and be ministered to, we need to bless and be vulnerable so we can be blessed.

Why is it so hard to let folks minister to us?

Exercise Gives Energy

Serving may be hard work, but like good exercise, it develops us into a healthier people.

Why in the world would anyone want to go to such an effort?

Exercising the Spirit: Fasting

Fasting is a way to draw closer to God.

Are you really hungry for God?

Hearing Problems

We have a hard time understanding because we don't hear or listen to understand what Jesus is saying to us!

So how is your hearing these days?

Desensitized

The price of gasoline kicks off some creative questioning by Russ as he wrestles with the serious desensitization that has occurred in many lives.

Have you seen your own values slipping a little lately?

Lift Up Your Eyes

Lift up your eyes is a call for vision, a call to not walk in fear of danger, but to look for the new, the glory, the things God is calling us to embrace.

Where are your eyes pointed these days?

To the Swift!

A hard difficult trip and a close connection after a flight delay turns out to be a good chance for Joey Cope to learn a lesson about God's power to use us as we are.

Is there any way you can make it on time?

Run and Don't Burn Out!

Burn out seems to happen more and more frequently, but when see why it happens, we realize that folks are losing sight of the goal and are often motivated for the wrong reasons.

Can you keep running and not grow weary?

Tenacious Persistence

Both God and satan use the principle of tenacity and persistence to shape and form things just like nature does, but how we use it is everything.

Have you found the power of simply doing that right thing again and again?

Right Now!

Mike learns to not put off prayer, but when someone has a need, he says, "Let's pray right now!"

Why do we put it off and then forget?

Exercising the Spirit: Hospitality

Hospitality is the Christian virtue of entertaining strangers, outsiders, and guests and recognizing in them angels or even the presence of God in the Trinity.

When was the last time you entertained angels?

The Fear of the Lord

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and worship, but it is not a terror of the Lord, but an enraptured love-filled walk with a holy God.

Why should I excited about fearing the Lord?

Change is Constant

Change is a constant so how we deal with it is crucial and is part of our heritage as God's people.

How can change be a constant that ties us to the past and gives us hope for the future?

I Will Bear Much Fruit

We must remain connected to Jesus if we are going to bear fruit in the Lord.

How productive are you going to be in your walk with the Lord?

Lost

What would happen in church, church folks, got serious about seeking lost people like Jesus did?

When's the last time you helped a lost person?

Exercising the Spirit: Generosity

The spiritual discipline of generosity is crucial if we are going to grow in the spirit.

How can being generous grow our spirits?

Change is Constant

Change is inevitable and we should appreciate many of the changes, but we need to trust in God who does not change.

Do you really want things to quit changing?