Cross My Heart Ministry

“I long to see you so that I may impart to you
some spiritual gift to make you strong
– that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged
by each other’s faith.”
Romans 1:11-12

Paul’s heart desire was to visit the church in Rome. Even as he penned his letter to them from Corinth (where he was wrapping up his third missionary journey), his travel plans included a circuitous route back to Jerusalem first. Perhaps the delay prompted the letter—and thousands of years later, we are all grateful!

In the opening verses, Paul shares his longing for the visit with them: mutual encouragement.

A special friend or family member may come to mind when you and I ask ourselves, “Who encourages me?” or “Who do I encourage?” Someone with whom we have a relationship, a history. Someone who knows us.

Paul did not know the people in Rome; most (if not all) he had never met. But in Christ, they were his brothers and sisters. The bond in Christ was the basis for encouragement. He longed to see them in person to not only pour into them, but to receive from them. This means for us, then, that every brother and sister in Christ can also encourage us.

Do you and I look for the good in every person in our spiritual family? Do we see each person with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit as one who has a spiritual gift, life experience, wisdom, knowledge from Scripture, or something else that can spur us on?

We need one another.

Mutual encouragement means we both release and receive encouragement. There is a sweet, beautiful rhythm that comes from members of the body of Christ investing in one another. God created us to need, depend upon, and encourage each other.

The writer of Ecclesiastes taught us that “two are better than one” and Paul confirms this truth in the passage above. The love we show one another may manifest itself as affirmation, a gentle rebuke, wisdom, or just spurring each other to “keep on keeping on.”

The deeper and stronger the relationship, the greater the potential for mutual encouragement. While connections are made church-wide, more personal and intimate relationships challenge, convict, and propel us forward.

Mutual encouragement is cultivated in the soil of trust and security. But it takes time to grow these kinds of relationships. Growth comes when the relationship is well-watered with honor, respect, and a teachable spirit. The fruit of those carefully-tended relationships is mutual encouragement—leading to spiritual maturity.

It takes time.

We don’t plant a seed today, expecting to harvest a pumpkin tomorrow. Likewise, the blessing of faith-based mutual encouragement also takes time to mature.

This mutual-encouragement/faith-nurturing relationship is optimized when both parties are committed to the end goals of maturing in Christ, bringing glory to God, and living a Spirit-filled life.

Time spent with an encouragement partner fills us up. We leave these encounters renewed, invigorated, equipped, and committed to God and His Word. We leave those conversations ever more determined to live an active faith.

When we choose to invest in the life of a fellow believer, we find that the blessings roll back to us … we leave our coffee meeting or lunch date filled up and ready to pour out. God is faithful to speak to us through fellow believers who share our love for Him and are indwelt by the Holy Spirit.

Do you have a mutual encourager in your life? Is there an accountability partner that you meet with regularly to discuss your journey of faith? Taking just one hour each week (or every other week) can be a life-changing investment of time. In this one hour, you can share what God is teaching you (which holds you accountable to abide in the Word of God), share your successes and challenges in living out your faith, and wrap up by sharing your personal and even confidential prayer requests.

This month, I hope you’ll dive deeper into mutual encouragement, or look for an accountability partner if you don’t currently have one. You can start by just calling a friend regularly to check in. Ask what God is teaching her. Ask how you can pray for her. Allow the relationship to unfold and grow to a new and deeper level.

Or make it more formal. Ask her to set up a time to meet weekly or bi-weekly. Commit to share a passage you have been studying, how God is convicting/teaching you, and how you can pray for one another.

God works in powerful ways when we take a page from Paul’s book and commit ourselves to mutual encouragement. Why not increase our efforts as we focus on Romans this month?

For this week’s devotional video, Laura is joined by her friend, Norma Flory, to discuss Romans 1:16-17. They discussed how important it is to read and know the WORD of God, and to not be ashamed to share it with others. We invite you to listen … and after listening, you can print your copy of this month’s bookmark (as well as the corresponding S.O.A.P. Bible study pages and other resources) from our Downloads page.

“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
Ephesians 5:21 

Here is yet another verse underscoring that our relationship with Jesus makes every other relationship work. 

If I love Jesus, I will love the “one anothers” in my life. Because I have been forgiven by Jesus, I must forgive the “one anothers” in my life. And because I want to honor and revere Jesus, I will submit to the “one anothers” in my life.  

Jesus is the inspiration, the reason, and the joyful compulsion for pushing forward to release inexplicable love, forgiveness, respect, and honor.  

And, most importantly, He is also the source of the ability to get it done.  

There is no fuel in my human engine to love and keep on loving, to forgive and keep on forgiving, to submit and keep on submitting. The assignment is way too exhausting, painful, time-consuming, and humiliating.  

I can’t do it. The “Laura” in me gives out, gives up, or (in many cases) never even gets started.

With some “one anothers” in my life, I just don’t want to. With others, I’ve genuinely tried and given up.  

A horizontal view prompts a zillion reasons (…excuses?) why I cannot and should not submit. I can easily justify giving myself a pass. Perhaps I congratulate myself for even considering extending love, forgiveness, and honor to a particular person.

But then there’s the vertical perspective. I look up. Focusing my heart and mind on Jesus brings contrition. He loves me in spite of.  He forgives me even if. He honors me no matter.  

He knows everything – all the stuff I’ve thought, said, and done. Even the ugly. The dirty. The worst of the worst that I think I’ve buried deep, He knows … and He loves, forgives, and honors me anyway.

I am wholly undeserving, yet He gives anyway.  

If I hold tenaciously to anger, resentment, bitterness, and unforgiveness and refuse to release love, honor, forgiveness, and compassion – perhaps it says more about my relationship with Jesus than my fractured relationship with my “one another.”  

• Do I trust He is big enough to protect me? 
• Do I trust He will see and provide? 
• Do I believe He is able to help me do what I could never do on my own? 
• Do I believe Him?  
• Is the object of my faith bigger than my what-ifs?  

Clearly, I have some praying and pondering to do! How about you?

Our June bookmark features verses from Paul’s letter to the Roman Church. This powerful book covers the basics of the Christian faith, explaining the gospel of grace and making the case that salvation is by grace through faith and not by works.

In this week’s video introduction to our June Write the WORD topic, Laura highlights verses from “the Romans Road” – explaining the problem and consequences of sin, God’s solution for sin, the alternative (eternal life), and our response of faith to His free gift. We pray that this teaching prompts self-reflection in your life!

You can visit our Downloads page today for your copy of this month’s Romans Write the WORD bookmark and our other free resources for June.

“Be kind and compassionate to one another,
forgiving each other,
just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Ephesians 4:32 

Just because we are believers does not mean we will not hurt each other. In fact, those we are closest to have the greatest capacity for wounding us.  

When a stranger is rude or unkind, we can (literally or figuratively) roll our eyes and walk away. But when a “one another” criticizes us, tears and sleepless nights may result. Ice cream could be involved.  

In extreme cases, those wounds are deeper than “hurt feelings.” They can bring life-long consequences. The most horrific of those behaviors cast a shameful eye on the body of Christ. The result can be years of counseling for the victim, and incarceration for the perpetrator when justice must be served.  

You and I may never (I hope) face those extreme circumstances. But we probably will encounter relationship struggles that need more than a quart of Rocky Road to overcome.  

All of us have most likely endured – and may face again – a situation where we are insulted, criticized, misunderstood, unappreciated, overlooked, condemned, maligned, or gossiped about by a fellow believer. It may come from a member of our church, our circle of friends, perhaps even our family.  

When the “one anothers” in our lives behave badly, that’s on them. They are responsible for their behavior.  

But our response to their bad behavior is on us. I am responsible for me. You are responsible for you. And one day, we will all answer to God for every bit of it. 

Are you and I holding onto a hurt … perhaps one that began years ago? Has it rooted itself in deep, growing from a tiny seed to a firmly entrenched plant of bitterness with kudzu-type tenacity?  

• Have you rounded a corner at the grocery store, seen someone at the end of the aisle, and done an oops-I-need-milk U-turn to avoid a face-to-face encounter? 
• Have you stopped going to family events when you know certain relatives will be there?  
• Do you retrieve that scene from the iCloud storage of your mind and replay it once in a while, just to remind yourself why you’re angry … and why you have the right to that anger? 

Are you a captive in your own prison of unforgiveness?

Would you consider the possibility that holding onto the hurt, refusing to extend forgiveness, may be injuring you more than the one who offended you? 

I heard someone once say, “We tend to judge others by their behavior, but judge ourselves by our intentions.” Might we tend to whitewash our role as we remember, retell, and replay? 

If you’ve made it this far, please accept some hard-earned counsel from a woman who has lived long enough to make far too many mistakes. I’ve cried and prayed with a lot of women who have been hurt, I have hurt people, and I have been hurt myself.  

Here’s the advice that bubbles up from those experiences: 

• Own your part of it.
  Hurts and fractures in relationships are seldom 100% one person’s fault. Rarely is one party completely blameless. If you are 2% culpable, own that 2%. Seek forgiveness, repent, do whatever necessary to make it right.
• Release forgiveness.
  The only way to be free from this thing in your past – and move forward into your future – is to forgive. Failing to do so robs you of today, and every tomorrow, until you do.

Let it go.   

Choose to let it go.  

Pray you can let it go.      

Allow the Holy Spirit to enable you to begin to forgive. Allow Him to open the door to the prison where you’ve held yourself hostage.  

A few additional thoughts on forgiveness: 

1. It is a choice – not an emotion.  
2. It is an expectation of Christ-followers. 
3. Because I am forgiven, I must choose to forgive. 
4. In the context of God’s forgiveness of us, no call to forgive is too great.  
5. Surely, our refusal to forgive each other breaks the heart of God. We are made in His image; as parents, we know how devastated we are when our children are at odds.  
6. Forgiveness does not mean the behavior was acceptable.  
7. Forgiveness is not reconciliation. (That takes time and work.) 
8. You don’t have to be asked for forgiveness to give it. (In fact, the person you need to forgive may have passed.) 
9. Forgiveness loosens the enemy’s foothold in our lives.  
10. Forgiveness allows us to move forward in our effectiveness for the Kingdom. 

Look back above and re-read Ephesians 4:32. If we are walking in kindness and compassion, forgiveness will be the natural result. I’m praying we all take seriously this call to exercise kindness and compassion.

Who may God be calling you – and me – to forgive today?

Colossians 3:16 challenges us to let God’s Word “dwell in us richly.” Laura claims this as her life verse, and we hope you are blessed as she reflects on the truth it contains as you watch this week’s devotional video. After listening, we invite you to print your copy of this month’s bookmark from our Downloads page.

Love must be sincere.
Hate what is evil, cling to what is good.
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.
Honor one another above yourselves.
Romans 12:9-10

Paul talks about brotherly love in this passage. That’s good. We can embrace that. (Might adapt it for ourselves to say, “sisterly love,” as well.) Almost all of us have released that kind of friendship-love. It feels good. It blesses others and also blesses us: It is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). 

But this passage also includes a sticky caveat: be devoted. 

As I wrote this verse out during my Bible study, this sentence was in proverbial neon lights:  

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.

Suddenly Paul’s imperative—be devoted—is sounding less like a random act of kindness and more like an ongoing commitment.  

Does God really expect me to be “my sister’s keeper” on a perpetual basis? 

Maybe.

Possibly.

Clearly. 

Laura: This may take a lot of time. And then I imagine Jesus responding with a great line often used by my friend Kathy’s husband, Kerry: “And your point?”  

I’m shamed and humbled as I realize I don’t mind serving when it’s a one-and-done with no ongoing commitment. I don’t mind releasing love when it’s convenient to my schedule and doesn’t interrupt my life. I might even have unconsciously (or consciously) thought, If I spend all this time loving on this “one another” in my life, when will I have time to take care of me? 

Ahhh…now we get to the crux of it, Laura. God has an answer for that, too.  In fact, it’s almost like He is listening in on my thought life, because He prompted Paul’s very next words:

Honor one another above yourselves.

Completing my be devoted assignment might mean missing my favorite TV show to support a hurting friend. It might mean carving out some time for serious prayer for the “one another” who needs help. It might mean my closet doesn’t get organized, my boxes don’t get unpacked, my laundry doesn’t get folded, or my bathroom doesn’t get painted because I’m running out to pick up her grocery order, take her to lunch, or drive her to the doctor.  

Be devoted can be messy, complicated, inconvenient, and uncomfortable. There will not always be a warm, fuzzy “thank you” at the end. There will not always be appreciation and acknowledgment of the sacrifice. I may not get to see fruit from my labor.

But is it not enough that I hear and obey my Lord? 

How about a little self-assessment? On a scale of 1 to 10, where do you place yourself on the ‘Be devoted’ continuum: Where would you place these love-one-another actions on the Be devoted line?

• While loading the dishwater today, I rinsed a mug she had given me and because it brought her to mind, I prayed, “Lord, bless her today and meet her needs.” 
• I dropped to my knees and prayed for 30 minutes for this hurting woman, asking God to provide for her needs and call her to Himself.  
• I mailed her a card with a scripture verse from my quiet time that seemed perfect for what she is going through. 
• I sent a text saying, “I love you and I’m praying for you today.” 
• I babysat my friend’s children so she and her hubby could have a date night.  
• I grabbed my keys and drove to the city office where I paid my friend’s utility bill. 
• I drove to the local café and picked up two coffees before heading to her house to talk and pray together.  

The words of Scripture are often beautiful—even downright poetic—in our ears. Many are familiar because we memorized them as children. Some are woven into the lyrics of tunes we love to sing along with; we raise our hands in church and sing them loudly, sometimes even with tears in our eyes.  

And yet, it’s as if we don’t really know them, because we don’t own the truth we say we believe. 

Are you ready to really own the truth you read? Are you ready to say it, sing it, write it, memorize, it, and then LIVE IT?  

It’s time for us woman up and get down to business … to allow God to get into our business.  

Two millennia (and lot of culture, history, and geography) may separate us from the time Paul penned the words of Romans 12, but the Holy-Spirit-inspired truth is timeless and unchanging: 

• Hate what is evil. 
• Cling to what is good.  
• Be devoted to one another in love. 
• Honor one another above yourselves.  

A passage with not one but two, “one anothers.” Might mean we need to pay extra attention.  

Sure hope God is calling you out with this one, as He is me! What does be devoted look like in your life?

In this week’s devotional video, Laura is joined by her friend, Cammi Hevener. We invite you to watch and listen as they discuss Hebrews 3:13 and how daily encouragement is vital to maintaining faith. They talk about the importance of supporting each other/community thru prayer, kind words, and sometimes, loving correction. If you’re a woman longing to grow closer to God and understand His Word more deeply, this message is for you.

After listening, we hope you’ll visit our Downloads page to print your copy of this month’s Write the WORD bookmark (if you haven’t already) as well as S.O.A.P. Bible study pages and other free resources.

“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet
you also should wash one another’s feet.”
John 13:14 

First-century foot washing was anything but glamorous. Feet in Bible times became crusty, cracked, and calloused, both from wearing strapped-on footwear (or none at all) and from walking on dusty, dirty paths. No sidewalks, automated transportation, or closed-toed shoes? That equals filthy feet.

Foot washing in Bible times was a stinky, thankless job, often performed by a servant. It was intended to welcome, bless, and refresh a guest upon entering a home. In ancient cultures, this was a daily ritual, as well as an expression of hospitality, honor, and respect. 

When Jesus washed the feet of His disciples, He was demonstrating genuine love—and leaving them with a high standard for loving one another.  

I Peter 1:22 challenges us to “love one another deeply.” In washing the feet of his disciples, Jesus modeled a love so deep it required a posture of humility. Releasing this kind of love not only blesses the one whose feet are washed, but flushes away the pride of the one doing the washing.  

Jesus was clear: “no servant is greater than his master.“

Is there a job that we might view as beneath us? Do we tell ourselves that we’ve “matured“ beyond helping with nursery duty, scrubbing the bathroom, or stacking chairs after Bible study?

In the body of Christ, we should never ask or expect someone else to perform a task we would never stoop (literally or figuratively) to do ourselves.

We think of foot washing as an act of blessing for the recipient—and, of course, it was—but perhaps another Biblical truth aptly applies here, as well: It is more blessed to give than to receive. 

As we release this blessing, as we wash the proverbial feet of the “one anothers” in our world, we are Christ’s love, with skin on. We are choosing to follow the example of our Lord Jesus.  

When Jesus washed the feet of the disciples, he washed 24 feet—including those of Judas. Even as He was kneeling in humility, performing this lowliest of acts, He knew the heart of the one before Him. He knew Judas would betray Him. Do we withhold the blessing because we consider the recipient unworthy? 

Knowing the truth makes us accountable to live the truth. Jesus said, “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” (John 13:17)

Obedience brings blessing … every single stinkin’ time!  

Whose “feet” need some loving care in your world today? Is God is calling you to be the one to do the washing? Don’t miss the blessing He has for you. It comes with obedience.

How is He calling you to love with actions? 

Sometimes love is better served up with a bucket and a towel, than with kind words and good thoughts. Today, I invite you to consider how God might be calling you to modern-day “foot washing”—sacrificial actions that could bless you or someone in your life.

For this week’s teaching video, Laura is joined by her friend, Kristin Isaac, to discuss I Thessalonians 5:11 and how to encourage one another to stand strong in our faith. After listening, we invite you to print your copy of this month’s bookmark from our Downloads page!

More than a few of us may be too young to remember these popular 1967 lyrics from the Youngbloods:  

Come on people now,
Smile on your brother,
Everybody get together,
Try to love one another 
Right now.

I have no idea if the Youngbloods were followers of Christ, but the sentiment expressed in these famous words seems to capture much of the focus of the one anothers in Scripture: love and unity.  

Clearly, this encouragement (or commandment) in the Bible is directed to those in the body of Christ. God uses these passages to provide guidance for how we are to treat each other and live in community.  

The one anothers in Scripture are specific and practical. Implementing them requires deliberate thought, action, and time.  

As parents, we feel blessed when our own children love each other and behave as friends. How much more must it please our heavenly Father when we do likewise?

Though we direct our acts towards those in the body of Christ, when the one anothers are lived out, they’re evangelical. As Jesus told His disciples (and, by extension, us): 

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples,
if you love one another.
John 13:35 

People are watching us: our children, our co-workers, our unsaved family members, our neighbors, and even strangers we encounter in our day-to-day lives. There is perhaps no greater opportunity for our walk to match our talk than in the way we choose to love our brothers and sisters in Christ.  

As you and I write the Word each day this month, let’s also commit to making every verse a prayer back to God. Let’s ask Him for a specific assignment — someone in particular to love on, be devoted to, stop passing judgment on, accept, instruct, agree with, encourage, serve, bear with, be kind to, be compassionate to, submit to, teach, admonish, spur on, offer hospitality to, or have fellowship with (and that’s just a partial list).

Tertullian, the well-known leader in the 1st-century church, recorded that pagans looked on the lives of early Christians and commented in wonder, “See how they love one another!” Let’s pray for the same observation about a few of us 21st-century believers!

In this week’s devotional video, Laura is joined by her friend, Maddy Schultz, to discuss Ephesians 4:2 and how important it is to show a Christlike spirit, and what that looks like. They discuss how this can help to create unity in the Body of Christ.

After listening, we invite you to download and print your copy of this month’s bookmark from our Downloads page.

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint
.Isaiah 40:30-31

Does today find you tired? Weary? Exhausted?

Working, volunteering, parenting our children, caring for grandkids or elderly parents, paying the bills, mowing the lawn, keeping the laundry caught up, and serving three squares a day – our duties seem endless and our responsibilities relentless.

Self-help books cheer us on. Song lyrics encourage, “I am woman, hear me roar!” We try to stay up late, get up earlier, roll up our sleeves and declare with all the Rosie we can muster, “I can do it!”

How long can we press on in our own strength? What will be the sock that causes the laundry pile to tip over (that’s my version of “the straw that breaks the camel’s back”)?

Another year goes by – they seem to do that faster and faster as we get older – and we realize that the same struggles to get it together and keep it together are still there that were there 3, 5, 7, even 10 years ago.  Will I ever conquer this challenge? Will I ever figure out how to keep going and not get tired and get it all done?

And then we read Isaiah 40:30-31 and we feel…normal. Relieved. Grateful even.

Even young folks get tired. It’s not just this old body!

And I’m reminded – again – to find renewal and strength where I’ve always known it can only be found: by hoping in the LORD.

More than a vacation, a new how-to book, a therapist, or even a bubble bath, what I really need is to put my hope in the Lord.  If I’m looking for renewal in anything – or anyone else – I’m setting myself up for disappointment and failure.

As I lift my eyes heavenward and place my hope on Him, I’m reminded (yet again) that while a clean bathroom, an organized desk, and all the grading caught up are worthy goals and good things, the absolute best and highest goal of my life is to live to please my Lord and to bring Him glory. When He is the source of my strength, I can fly like an eagle because He is the wind that keeps me afloat. I can run and not grow weary, and I can keep walking without fainting, because I am filled with Him. My eyes are on Jesus and not on my earthly challenge. He transforms not only what I do, but my why for doing it!

I pray you are ready to declare today (whether for the first time or the 1000^th):  LORD, MY HOPE IS IN YOU!

Our upcoming May Write the WORD bookmark features verses that all include the phrase, “one another.” Each verse or passage teaches, equips, and challenges us on how to interact with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

As she introduces the bookmark, Laura also offers some teaching from John 13:34-35 – the passage from Day 2 of the May bookmark. We invite you to listen to this week’s Friday teaching video as she reflects on the high bar Jesus set by lowering himself to wash the disciples’ feet.

You are my refuge and my shield;
I have put my hope in your word.
Psalm 119:114

What does God’s Word mean to you? Is it an old book with truth for another era? Is it filled with wisdom that doesn’t seem to apply to the modern age? Do you read and even memorize it, but see no real way to live it?

What does it look like to put our hope in His Word?

We can probably safely say it’s impossible to hope in something you don’t know or understand. While there will always be a mystery about God’s Word, the more we immerse ourselves in it, the more we will understand it and walk in it.

It’s interesting that we use the word Word to describe not only the Bible, but even Jesus Himself. John 1:1 describes Him this way:

In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Words are the basis of communication. We even use word to describe communication: “May I have a word with you?” Or, “They had words.”

When God chose to communicate His great love to us, He sent His only Son Jesus to Earth. Jesus came as the Living Word to convey God’s love.

God sent His written Word to us through messages now captured in scripture. These words from God serve to inspire and teach, convict and rebuke, encourage and comfort. To hope in the Word is to hope in Him. If our desire is to know God better, it is essential we become students of the Word.

There’s nothing like difficult circumstances to drive us to the Word. Read Psalm 119:114 again. The Psalmist declares, “You are my refuge and my shield…” Words like refuge and shield suggest the writer has endured challenging circumstances. Hard things tend to drive a believer to his or her knees … and also to the Word.

The older I get, the more I realize that life comes with hard things; in our journey we are either coming out of a challenge, enduring a challenge, or heading into a challenge. The means to not just endure, but grow – to not just survive, but thrive – is to immerse ourselves in His Word. God Himself will speak to our circumstance.

And, if it’s the hard thing that drives us to His Word, then we can learn to even thank God for the challenge … because it brought us closer to Him.

Grabbing hold of the Word is like grabbing a life preserver in the storm. Grabbing hold, living through, and carrying on will find us declaring with the Psalmist:

You are my refuge and my shield;
I have put my hope in your word.
Psalm 119:114

I pray His Word is your refuge, your shield, and your source of hope this day and every day.

Our local ladies are on break from our Bible study until September, but until the fall, we will continue publishing shorter weekly teaching videos from Laura, inspired by verses from our monthly bookmark. Our April bookmark includes 30 verses which include the word, HOPE. Romans 12:12 is short, but there’s a lot there! We invite you to listen as Laura shares some thoughts on this passage, and then visit our Downloads page to find your copy of our Write the WORD bookmark for April, as well as additional free resources.