Cross My Heart Ministry

Jesus answered,
“I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6

This verse may be familiar to many of us. The phrase, “…the way and the truth and the life” may easily roll off our tongues, because we have heard it quoted many times. We may have committed it to memory if we grew up in Sunday School or Awana.

But as we write it out (are you writing the WORD with us this month? It’s not too late to join us!) we may be struck by the combination of these three descriptors: way, truth, life.

These are an interesting combination. As we focus on the words individually, it prompts us to ask, “What do they have in common?”

What do way and truth have to do with life?

Jesus could have said, “I am the hope and the peace and the joy.” Or – “I am the purpose and the reason and the end.” Many combinations might seem to be more logical than, “the way, the truth, and the life.”

Without going deep in the Greek or consulting theological writing, it seems way denotes the path or the journey.

If we have a destination in mind, our Maps app may offer lots of routes for getting there. If our stomach growls, there are lots of ways to satisfy it. We are accustomed to options for the choices we make.

You may have heard some suggest there are many ways to get to heaven. Having a plethora of options on Earth could make some resent the fact that eternal salvation has only “one way.” Those naysayers might even call this suggestion intolerant.

And that’s where the next word becomes important: truth. By its very definition, truth is exclusive. While many suggestions and options can be presented, what matters is what is the truth. Anyone can say with confidence, “I think you can get to heaven if your good deeds outweigh your bad…if you’ve done your best…if you’ve tried to be a good person…”

At the end of the day, all the “I thinks” and “I believes” mean nothing. Have you ever tried to get out of a speeding ticket by telling the officer, “I believed the speed limit here was 55” when he informed you it was a 25 mile-per-hour zone?

Believing — passionately — that the moon is inhabited by purple people does not make it so.

Believing — with all your heart — that you have a fairy godmother who, upon your death bed, will appear and escort you to heaven will not make it happen.

Believing — quite confidently — that I-40 will take you to Florida will leave you disappointed.

Our passion, devotion, and confidence will make zero difference in achieving our destination goal. What matters is the truth.

Truth was not only used to describe Jesus. Truth also was featured prominently in the Armor of God:

“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth
buckled around your waist…”
Ephesians 6:14a

When we don our spiritual armor, the belt of truth goes on first. Perhaps that is to remind us that truth is the foundation of everything else. Jesus not only described Himself as, “the truth,” He also declared in John 17:17, “… your word is truth.”

As followers of Christ, we put on the armor of God daily so that we can take our stand against the enemy. Ours is a spiritual battle. We know we stand against the enemy. We also stand behind the truth.

If we want to know the way, we must have truth to show us the right way. And that’s the means to reach life … eternal life. Real life. Life that matters.

Is God’s Word your source for finding the way, the truth, and the life?  Is it your go-to for answers to life’s questions?

When the world argues there’s some gray in the decision, His Word may reveal clearly what is black and white.

When the world tries to push, pull, and tug us off course, the Word of God is our compass pointing due north.

The Psalmist describes it as a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. We need that illumination to live well and stand firm in today’s world — and we need to understand the importance of modeling that truth for our children, grandchildren, neighbors, friends, and family.

Seeking the way, the truth, and the life is a daily choice:

• Get up.
• Will yourself to HIS way.
• Put on your belt of truth.
• Immerse yourself in the Word of God.
• Rejoice in the life you have in Him.

Yesterday is gone. If you sought truth from scripture yesterday and walked in the light of that truth, you chose well. But today, the battle begins all over again. Find the way, put on your belt of truth, and celebrate your eternal life in Jesus … TODAY.

Each day is a fresh start — for good or otherwise. Protect yourself from the lies of the enemy today, by choosing to believe Jesus. He alone is the way, the truth, and the life.

John 3:16 seemed the perfect choice for a Good Friday verse. Please take a moment to watch this week’s teaching video, and to listen as Laura examines a verse familiar to many (or even most) of us. We hope you might glean some fresh insight and inspiration to what believing in Jesus means.

It’s not too late to download our April bookmark and join us for the last third of the month as we read, write, and dwell on verses with the word, LIFE. What could be more appropriate for this Easter Sunday, as we celebrate Christ’s resurrection and the eternal LIFE He secured for us on the Cross.

Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.
Psalm 63:3

Life is good. You’ve probably said that a few times – perhaps in response to a passing “How are you?” from a friend. The response has become almost a cliché, on par with:

• Can’t complain!
• Awesome!
• Fine!
• Great!

One organization has successfully transformed “life is good” into a thriving business. (Maybe you own a Life Is Good tee shirt.) Their mission is to spread the power of optimism and their tag line reads:  LIFE IS NOT PERFECT. LIFE IS NOT EASY. LIFE IS GOOD.

As a follower of Christ, I can’t argue with that statement. In fact, I agree with it. My life is good. I am grateful for the life I have, and am well aware that I am blessed far beyond what I deserve.

Even though life is never perfect and is often not easy, life is still good.

Life … is … good.

But God’s love is better. Because of God’s love we need not settle for good … we get better. We get eternal life. We get freedom in Christ. We get hope for eternity.

And all that is made possible because of God’s love. Love that is better than a life that is good.

The nerdy part of me wants to make it work in an equation:

Life = Good

God’s Love > Life

If we pause to count our many blessings – to make a list of all the things that make this life good – that list might include:

• A devoted, godly husband
• Children that bring delight
• Grandchildren that bright delight multiplied!
• A safe home
• Plenty to eat
• Friends I can count on and confide in
• A pastor who preaches the Word
• Coffee
• My Bible
• The ability to read
• Air conditioning
• A library card
• A KitchenAid mixer
• Photo albums
• Chocolate
• Laughter
• Tylenol when I have a headache
• Sweet tea on a hot day

The list is endless. Some seem trivial and others more substantial, but all are blessings of a good life.

As good as this life may be, God’s love is better. God’s love trumps every other blessing. God’s love brings peace and joy that transcends this life and reaches to eternity. Because of God’s love, my destiny for eternity is secure. I have confident hope.

Life here is good. I love the blessings this life brings. Anticipating that life for eternity is even better brings wonder … amazement … peace … joy.

As I ponder and embrace the truth that God’s love is better than life, the only possible response is praise. I can’t help but glorify Him. As natural as breathing is the song on my lips to the God
who loves me.

The one whose love is better than life must be praised. He must be glorified. The
deep sense of belonging – of abiding in Him – brings a delightful desire to glorify Him.

Surely, there is no better way to observe the Sabbath than to allow our lips to glorify our great God! Let’s declare with the Psalmist:

Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you!

Our word for April is LIFE — and appropriate for the month we celebrate eternal life in Christ. In this week’s devotional video, Laura shares thought from one of the verses on the bookmark: II Peter 1:3. We invite you to listen as she explores living a godly life and how we can do it. 

You can download your copy of the April Write the WORD: Life bookmark here.

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:13 

Jesus not only taught this truth, He modeled it. We may contribute to causes we believe in. We may donate our time or share our talents, but giving one’s life is the ultimate sacrifice.  

These chaotic times lend themselves to considering life and what it means to us as citizens on earth, and certainly as citizens of heaven. As Americans, many of us may be unable to quote the Declaration of Independence in its entirety, but if any portion is committed to memory, it’s most likely this: 

We hold these truths to be self-evident,
that all men are created equal,
that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,
that among these are
Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

What does it mean to have a right to life as a citizen of America? How do we exercise that right? Does that right ever interfere with the right to life of another person?

Those questions become more sobering and significant during seasons of global upheaval. Around the world, we see war and violence and political unrest. As a citizen of this country, I am tremendously grateful for members of the military (and our local law enforcement) who continue to do their jobs — and lay down their lives, if need be — so we can live ours in relative peace and safety.  

According to the research site Macrotrends, the average life expectancy for a person in the United States in 2025 is 79.4 years. Some live longer, some less. But when stacked up against eternity, even the 119 years of supercentenarian Sarah DeRemer Knauss of Hollywood, Pennsylvania (the longest-lived person in the United States, who passed away in 1999) seem insignificant.  

How can we measure a lifetime on earth to eternity in heaven? One grain of sand on a seashore? One drop of water in the Pacific Ocean? One tree in the vast Amazon rain forest? We may find it difficult to isolate and remember one day in our finite lifetime … so how can our minds even begin to fathom infinity? 

But what we choose to do — actually, who we choose to trust — in this life is what determines how we spend the next one in eternity. This month, as we read, write, think, and pray over verses that all include the word life, I pray we are challenged to think of this life we have as not only a right, but a great gift. God Himself orchestrated where and when we would be born, the family we are part of, the place we would live, and the individuals with whom we interact and build relationships.  

Jesus, the holy perfect son of God, gave His life willingly and sacrificially to make our eternal life a reality. Has that truth become trite or stale? Has familiarity made it less precious?

I’m asking God to give us all fresh gratitude for this life and a renewed urgency to live it well. The clock is ticking on today … how are you spending the gift of these hours?  

You and I may never be asked to lay down our lives for a friend or to die for our faith, but every single day, most of us are likely to have an opportunity to die to ourselves. Anyone can stand up and demand their rights, but only the strongest will lay down their own in love for others.

How might God be calling you and me to give up our rights — or die to ourselves — during these challenging days?  

This week’s teaching video concludes our study in John 17, as we unpack the prayer Jesus prayed for US! Given our human nature, He prays something unlikely: unity in the body. We not only see the WHAT He prays, He gives the WHY. We invite you to watch and listen to Laura’s newest teaching as she shares the startling purpose for our unity in the body of Christ.

“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news.” Mark 1:15

The word believe in this passage is preceded by the word repent. John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, preached repentance and the message was confirmed by Jesus Himself.

Our sin blocks our access to God. Because He is holy, we cannot enter His presence carrying our sin. But God will take care of our sin problem—if we will allow Him.

Our sin hinders our ability to believe God … or to even want to believe Him.

We want to hold onto our old ways, even if those ways are not good for us. They are familiar. And familiarity is comfortable.

That old pair of shoes may have holes, they may offer little protection from the elements, but they are familiar and that makes them comfortable.

The same is often true for our sin.

When conviction comes, we often hold on firmly with a toddler’s attitude that screams, “Mine!” But are we holding on when we should be/could be/need to be letting go?

What are you and I holding on to that God is asking us to let go? It could be the books and shows we call “entertainment.” It may be eating to unhealthy excess. Could it be unforgiveness? Greed? Laziness? Gossip? Something else? Do you have the courage to ask the Holy Spirit, “Show me … convict me … help me!” when it comes to that comfortable sin?

Could it be that what we grasp so tightly—the behavior or attitude or lifestyle that we think will keep us happy—is actually robbing us of true joy?

It’s time.

Let it go. Lay it down. Give it to God.

Allow Him to take it away and give you something better: Himself.

• Are you ready to put your faith in Him?
• Are you ready to repent from your sin—and believe Jesus?
• Are you ready to release the ordinary and embrace the extraordinary?
• Are you willing to repent from the flesh and believe in the divine?
• Are you ready to turn from the natural and toward Jesus, the supernatural?

Lay it down, my friend. Let it go. Let God take it from you.

Walk away from whatever that is and walk to Him.

The time has come! Repent. Believe.

Our Write the WORD bookmark for April is ideal for the weeks leading up to Easter. Each day’s verse includes the word, LIFE. We invite you to read, write, ponder, and pray as you celebrate the LIFE we have in Christ … and to listen as Laura offers reflections on one of the verses, Psalm 16:11..

Once you’ve listened to Laura’s introduction of the April Write the WORD. we hope you’ll visit our Downloads page for your own copy of the monthly bookmark.

The Ninevites believed God.
They declared a fast, and all off them
from the greatest to the least,
put on sackcloth.
Jonah 3:5

Wouldn’t we all love to see this response when we deliver a message from God?

Clearly, the warning from God to the residents of Nineveh was not only heard, but also acted upon by the recipients. While we might expect the one who delivered the message to be thrilled by that outcome, Jonah was anything but happy when the Ninevites repented and God relented.

When God directed Jonah to deliver a message of coming judgment to the Ninevites, Jonah set off immediately – in the exact opposite direction!

What we often overlook in the story is why he ran. It wasn’t so much the message itself, but rather who he was to deliver it to. Nineveh was the capitol of Assyria. And if you were a Jew in Jonah’s time, Assyria was the arch enemy. Jonah did not want to deliver the message because he was afraid the Ninevites would repent … and knowing God’s character, he knew God would show compassion and mercy to these sworn enemies!

Do you and I hold out on sharing the gospel because in our heart of hearts we really don’t want certain people to receive compassion and mercy? Do we hesitate, somehow convincing ourselves that others are especially deserving of God’s judgment?

When we truly grasp how much we have been forgiven (and how little we deserve God’s mercy), our response to the gospel will be the same as that of the Ninevites: mourning and humility. They received the message, and their response proves they took it to heart.

The gospel is a simple message, but it changes everything.

Awareness of the true depth and depravity of our sin will prompt a self-awareness that leads to profound mourning. That mourning brings us to a place of repentance and readiness to believe.

The message is consistent: repent and believe. It was true for the Ninevites then, and it is true for us now.

In our faith journey, repentance and belief will bring on a desire to share this good news with others so they, too, can repent and believe. We worship – and invite others to worship – our great God of compassion and mercy, who has forgiven our sins even though we deserve condemnation.

Jonah’s reluctant obedience marks him as an immature believer. A selfish believer. And later, a whiny believer. But as we point a finger at him, we must simultaneously examine our own hearts and our own behavior.

Perhaps Jonah’s story can prompt some self-examination:

• Have I acknowledged the depth of my sin?
• Have I mourned my sin?
• Is my faith in God self-centered and shallow?
• Do I see myself as a starving person who has found the bread of life?
• If so, do I delight in pointing others to find that same bread?
• Am I harboring resentment towards any specific person or group?
• Do I intentionally share the gospel?
• Do I celebrate when others repent and come to Him?
• How am I choosing this day to believe God?

In this week’s teaching video, Laura shares Lesson 3 of a 4-part study on John 17. Jesus may be facing an excruciating death on Friday, but His prayer on Thursday is not self-focused. We see His intimacy with God the Father and His concern for His disciples. His prayer for His disciples is for:

• Protection
• Joy
• Sanctification

As He prepares to return to heaven, He sends them out to carry Gospel message forward.

 
To view all teaching in this series, please visit our YouTube channel and look for the Playlist of John 17 teachings.

Abram believed the LORD,
and he credited it to him as righteousness.
Genesis 15:6

The word, credited, carries the meaning of assigning value or putting something into someone else’s account.

Where NIV uses credited (as noted above), other versions translate this Hebrew word:

• Counted (KJV)
• Reckoned (NASB)

My husband, the college professor, has often been asked by his students, “Will you give me credit for this answer?” or “Can I get partial credit?”

In the old days, country doctors (and probably city doctors, too!) accepted milk or eggs in credit for services rendered.

We use the phrase, “I’ll give you credit for trying…”

It all carries the meaning of imputing something—assigning value—in place or for something else.

In this case, Abram’s belief is deemed equal to righteousness. Abram is not righteous (because he is a sinner like every other human being) but instead is declared righteous because of his belief in God.

He gets credit for his belief.

Believing—we might also call it faith—leading to righteousness may look, sound, and feel like a New Testament idea … but here we find it all the way back in the first book of the Bible!

Note that Abram was credited with righteousness by belief:

• Before he was circumcised
• Before the law was given (that would come 400 years later with Moses)
• Before Christ came to earth

God’s beautiful plan to redeem us has always been the same: BELIEVE HIM.

Have you placed your faith in God? Like Abram, have you received credit to your account because of your belief?

When we place our faith in Jesus—believe Him and accept Him—our account gets credited with His righteousness. It was true for Abram then and it’s true for us now. What are you waiting for?

In John 17:1-5, we get to listen in as Jesus the Son prays to God the Father. You can learn a lot about a person by listening to him or her pray. In this week’s teaching lecture, Laura asks several key questions about Jesus and endeavors answer those questions from the text of His prayer.

 
This is Lesson 2 of a 4-part series on John 17. To view all teaching in this series, please visit our YouTube channel.