Cross My Heart Ministry

“A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for a time of adversity.”
Proverbs 17:17

•  Do I love at all times? 
• Am I a faithful friend? 
• Do time, schedules, and commitments handicap my ability and availability to love well? 
• Do I leave margin, so I am available? 

All good questions for self-evaluation as we ponder the truth found in Proverbs 17:17.  

As recipients of love, we certainly want to be loved at all times. And when life is full, stressful, and challenging, we are especially grateful when caring friends see our plight and lean in to offer love in practical ways. Often, our load is lightened immeasurably when a friend loves on us with a roast for dinner, a kind note of encouragement, cleaning our bathrooms, childcare, offering a listening ear, or the power of prayer (to name just a few).  

We want to be – we love to be and long to be – loved on at all times by others.  

But the question is: do we release love at all times?  

The writer of Proverbs goes on to make clear the specific kinds of “all times” he is referring to: “adversity.”  

Adversity means challenging circumstances, difficult situations, and uncomfortable conditions. I think he’s talking pain here. It might be emotional, physical, mental, relational, or financial. It may be chronic or temporary. But if adversity is anything, it is usually painful.  

Regardless of the type or timing of pain, this passage makes it clear that being born into the family (and let’s count “sister” as well as “brother” here) means we show up at all times, and especially times of adversity. Family might be physical family, but as followers of Christ we are born again into the family of God. The body of believers becomes our own extended family.  

Putting our love on means showing up. It can be uncomfortable, awkward, depressing, and certainly it will be inconvenient. It might be messy (physically or emotionally). It might not smell good, sound good, or look good. But when love leads out, we are propelled forward to walk – even run –in the path of love.  

Paul challenges us in Romans 12:1-2, to “offer [our] bodies as living sacrifices” and then in the very next chapter he exhorts, “let no debt remain outstanding except the continuing debt to love one another.” You may have a Ph.D from Financial Peace University and have cut up every credit card you own, but you will never be out of debt when it comes to the obligation to love others! Releasing love yesterday satisfied yesterday’s debt, but today is a new day.  

As the summer draws to a close and families prepare for yet another school year, many of us are mapping out schedules, waiting for EFA funds to arrive, picking out books, and evaluating extracurricular activities for our kids. But are we also preparing them to be good friends and faithful family members? Are we training them in what it means to love well at all times, and also modeling that behavior for them?  

We know, of course, that most (if not all) things are better caught than taught. That means I’m called to intentionally, deliberately, strategically do some out-loud loving on others in my life … and to pull my children or grandchildren alongside as I do it.  

Love is best served up as an action. It’s good to say, “I love you” and everyone delights in getting a note of encouragement. But let’s consider how we can truly release love by showing up, expending some time and muscle, making the sacrifice, in order to be a blessing. How can we walk in love?  

As we lean into loving, we may also – amazingly, and perhaps surprisingly – discover the truth of another Biblical passage: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35) 

Are you ready to start behaving like a member of the family? Are you ready to put your love on and live it out loud? 

For this week’s devotional video, Laura was joined by her friend, Ingrid DeYoung, to discuss Philippians 4:4. In this passage, Paul gives a command to believers and reinforces it by repeating it.

May we always take God’s commands to heart, because we serve a loving and generous God who knows what is best for us!

Visit our Downloads page today for your copy of this month’s Write the WORD bookmark!

It was July 1961.  Almost exactly 65 years ago.

Legendary coach Vince Lombardi walked onto the field for day one of training camp. His Green Bay Packers team was comprised of professional athletes who almost won the NFL Championship in the previous season.

Was he armed with a new playbook? Had he prepared a new regiment of strength-training exercises? What new ideas would he share to get them over the top next time?

Coach Lombardi held up the pigskin and said, “Gentlemen, this is a football.”

He chose to begin at the beginning – to cover the basics and take nothing for granted. These were seasoned athletes, but he chose to focus on fundamentals.

As the end of summer creeps up on us and we approach the busy days of fall, let’s take a leaf from Coach Lombardi’s playbook. Let’s get back to the basics with the Word of God.

This month’s Write the Word is titled, “ABCs of Scripture.” We encourage you to:

• Read it
• Write it
• Speak it
• Share it
• Think it
• Hide it
• Display it
• Live it

When the king of Israel took the throne, God had some wise counsel for the new king:

When he takes the throne of his kingdom,
he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law,
taken from that of the Levitical priests.
Deuteronomy 17:18

Having every available scribe at this disposal, the king could have requested a scroll be prepared for every day of the week or every room in the palace. This is a task that could have been done for him. But God, in His wisdom, knew the value to the king in writing it out for himself. When we write the Word (rather than only reading the Word), it slows us down. We savor phrases and words that might otherwise be overlooked.

You and I may not be queens (or kings), but we are certainly serving the King of all kings. What better way to prepare our hearts for that high and holy privilege than by writing the Word of God?

The ABC verses chosen this month not only follow the letters of the alphabet, but they offer key truth for life and learning.

As you hold up your Bible — leather-bound or not — perhaps you can borrow a phrase from Coach Lombardi:

Ladies and gentlemen, young and old …
this is the Word of God.

In honor of the end of summer and beginning of the school year, we’ve launched a new topic for our August Write the Word bookmark: the ABC’s of Scripture. We invite you to listen as Laura introduces it … and shares a challenge idea for your kids or grand kids!

 “A man’s wisdom gives him patience,
it is to his glory to overlook an offense.”
Proverbs 19:11

While the TSA may admonish air travelers, “If you see something, say something,” perhaps God’s advice would more often be, “If you see something, pray something.”

The most Christ-like, holy action we take today might be to close our mouths: to choose prayer over retaliation, petition instead of offense. To lean into intercession, not criticism.

Perhaps the best way to hone this spiritual life skill is to practice the habit of “prayer walking”— allowing what you see to prompt you to pray. Resist the urge to condemn as you walk, drive, and shop, and instead transform the criticism into prayer and bounce it up to God.

It is easy to walk through life with a critical spirit. But it requires the power of the Holy Spirit to overlook what we find offensive or distasteful, and choose the way of prayer.

As is often the case, our obedience rolls blessing back upon us. When God releases me from my addiction to self-righteousness and my preoccupation with my rights or my offense, I am ready for transformation. This is when the Holy Spirit permits me to see people and situations as God sees them.

Consider these scenarios where condemnation (or inward or outward eye-rolling) might be our first response, and how we might instead offer up intentional intercession:

The reckless driver (who might not remain wreck-less for long!)
As a mom with children in the car, a driver endangering the lives of my darlings prompted righteous indignation from this mama bear. Rather than yelling “Idiot!” inside my car or even using my horn to communicate my offense, what if instead my children heard me pray aloud:

Lord, I pray the young man driving that car would see not only his own life, but the lives of others, as a gift from You. He is created in your image. Please prompt Him to treasure and value life as You do, and to steward his life and his days well so that he might live to bring You glory.

The immodest teen
I can remember sitting in church many years ago, behind a young lady dressed in a way that I considered quite inappropriate for the occasion. With my young boys sitting next to me, I was distracted by her attire and couldn’t help wondering if my sons were, too. I found myself wondering why she’d deliberately draw this type of attention to herself … and my criticism was not limited to her, as my next thought came: “Why on earth would her mother allow her to leave home dressed that way?!?” Bouncing my focus might lead me to intercede:

Lord, I pray blessing over this young woman. May her identity be found in You alone. I pray she would come to understand that she is a precious daughter of the King, whose value transcends her outward appearance (and let me acknowledge that, also, Father). And Lord, I pray that both my daughters AND my sons will learn to speak, dress, and behave in ways that honor and draw attention to You above everything else, always and in all ways.

The screaming mother
You have probably been behind her in the checkout line. She’s the one yelling at her kids, “If you don’t…I’m gonna…!” But they know she’s not gonna. I know she’s not gonna. The cashier, everyone in our lane, and the people in the three lanes on either side of ours all know she’s not gonna. Instead of silently sighing, mentally rolling my eyes, and tapping my foot in irritation, I am convicted to pray:

Lord, bless this frazzled young mom. Give her peace and patience in the midst of a very challenging season in life. Bring alongside a mentor to encourage, support, and equip her for this difficult task of child raising. I pray she would look to You for everything she needs.

While Matthew 18 does call us to “go and show” when a brother or sister sins against us, my guess is that we are more often offended (or simply irritated) than actually sinned against. Before jumping quickly to “go and show” (Matthew 18:15-17), perhaps we should try to “let it go” (Proverbs 19:11) first.

How is God calling you to close your mouth — and perhaps fall to your knees in prayer — today?

This week Laura is joined by her friend, Casey Van Asche to discuss James 1:5. In this passage, James talks about the hard times or the trials we will face, and encourages believers to ask God for wisdom because we serve a loving and generous God who will provide it.

It’s not too late to join us in writing WISDOM verses this month. Find your own copy of our July bookmark on our Download page, along with other free Cross My Heart resources designed to help you balance your heart for God with the demands of a busy home and family.

“The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways,
but the folly of fools is deception.”
Proverbs 14:8

Deception can be a quick, easy way to get out of an awkward situation or a tight jam. Just a little white lie to a four-year-old (“we don’t have any ice cream”), to the sales clerk (“it was a gift”), or to your husband (“it was on sale”) may seem harmless at the time, but that shortcut comes at a high price.

Easy, quick solutions to immediate dilemmas often bring significant long-term consequences. Consider how much sin is like that. We do not want to wait, we do not want to be thought less of, and we do want to avoid conflict … and so we resort to deception.

We lie. And if we lie, that makes us a liar—and according to Proverbs 14:8, that also makes us a fool.

Those who are wise, however, refuse the “deception solution.” They think before speaking. They are not seduced by the quick, easy way out.

When tempted to lie, the wise woman remembers:

• This lie could bring significant consequences.
• This lie brings the challenge of remembering not just the truth, but keeping up with the lie so as not to give myself away later.
• This lie will damage my character.
• Even if no one else finds out (unlikely), I will know and God will know.
• I belong to Christ. By calling myself a Christian, I have identified myself with Him … and this lie will malign His great name.

For those who are teachers, parents, or leaders, the stakes are even higher. Because we are in a position to influence others, our deceptive ways can prompt others to take the easy way out, too.

If I lie—even one time—it makes me a liar. That is an ugly-but-true reality. When we cultivate the habit of refusing to lie in small things, we will be well prepared to resist the temptation to lie in bigger things. For the woman who follows Christ, this is non-negotiable.

Lord, help me to choose Your way, the way of truth. When tempted to lie, show me the wisdom of speaking honest words instead. Convict me when I have lied … give me strength and courage to confess, make amends, and seek forgiveness. May I never be found maligning Your name.

In our Friday devotional video this week, Laura is joined by her friend, Amelia Nizynski to discuss Colossians 3:16. God’s Word in you forms wisdom and reshapes our thinking. The Word between you expresses wisdom — believers speak truth helpfully to each other to teach & instruct. Worship deepens wisdom. Worship aligns your heart with His. We invite you to watch as Laura and Amelia share their thoughts on this passage:

You can find your copy of our July bookmark on our Downloads page, and start writing all of these WISDOM verses along with us.

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God,
who gives generously to all without finding fault,
and it will be given to him.
James 1:5

One short verse, but so much truth here! Let’s unpack it together:

Humility
The verse begins, If any of you lacks wisdom. In order to receive, we must first acknowledge we lack it! A prideful heart resists asking for help. Self-sufficiency is a chief stumbling block to attaining wisdom.

Ask God
God is the source of wisdom. When we go looking elsewhere, true wisdom will elude us. At best, we will get a band-aid rather than a cure … at worse, we’ll be led astray to something that is not wisdom at all. If you need to know how often to change your oil, the best source of information is the manufacturer. We were created by God – He knows us best and loves us most.

God Gives Generously
I love finding “-ly” words in Scripture. Adverbs are powerful communicators; they provide deeper shades of meaning for us to glean understanding. Our great God does not just give, He gives generously. He is not stingy. He does not hoard. He never runs out. He delights when we come to Him.

God Gives to All
As a mom of four kids, I know the challenges of simultaneously meeting everyone’s needs.  When my children were young, we instituted “Kid of the Week” to give everyone an opportunity to have special privileges like sitting in the front seat of the car or going out to breakfast with Daddy.  In God’s Kingdom, we are all the “Kid of the Week” — every single day. Our God is powerful enough to hear the mother in China who calls out to Him to heal her sick child, but also listen to my prayer for wise words when my now-adult child is struggling.

God Does Not Find Fault
There is no condemnation from God for asking. Have you (like me) ever shuddered as you heard words like these come out of your mouth:

• “How many times do I have to repeat myself?”
• “Why did you wait until the last minute to tell me about your project?”
• “We’ve talked about this!”

Probably good examples of condemnation. And we get none of that from our perfect heavenly Father.

God Delivers
We ask. He answers. Then comes the hard part: doing what He says!

In what decision, relationship, or challenge do you and I need to ask God for wisdom today … and then follow through by heeding the guidance He provides?

For this week’s teaching video, Laura is joined by her friend, Jeanette Hudgeons. We invite you to listen as they discuss I Corinthians 2:12-13, and their observation that it is crucial to seek spiritual wisdom, which comes from the Holy Spirit, daily and consistently. Our human wisdom is so often based on feelings and selfish desires … but God’s thoughts and ways are so much higher than ours. We can trust that God is for us and that we can trust Him! 

Don’t forget to download your copy of our July bookmark here, and join us this month in writing all these WISDOM verses!

So teach us to number our days that we may get
a heart of wisdom.
Psalm 90:12

What if each new day brought a new nugget of wisdom? In just the past year, 365 treasures would be ours. And counting the accumulation over 5, 10, 20 years … we would be wealthy in wisdom!

As women of God, wisdom is available to us if we are looking for it and asking for it, but we must be looking and asking at the right source. Scripture makes it clear: God is the source of wisdom!

If we could grab hold – and hold on – to the wisdom God reveals to us in His Word, how rich we would be!

Several years ago, my husband and I attended the wedding of a dear friend’s daughter. We were seated at a large round table with three other couples. My friend, the mother of the bride, referred to our group as the “fun table,” while the bride called ours the “table of wisdom.” One of the men quipped, “It just means it’s the table with the old people!”

And indeed, that statement carried some truth! If we have a teachable spirit – a willingness to listen and learn – God can use all events and circumstances of our lives to allow us to see and apply the wisdom He offers.

Are you ready to connect the dots from God’s Word to YOUR life?

Our Write the Word bookmark this month features verses containing the word wisdom. Come join us, as we read and write – and also pray, memorize, and live out – the truth we uncover in each verse. Find your free scripture bookmark and S.O.A.P. study pages on our Downloads page.

Praying we are all 31 nuggets wealthier when August comes around!

In this week’s Friday video, Laura’s friend Lesa Rissler was welcomed onto our channel to share insight from Proverbs 31:26. After listening to Lesa, you will see that having wisdom on our tongues must begin by having it in our hearts! We think you will particularly love a couple of sweet stories she shares about conversations with her daughter, Aubrey. Listen and be blessed! 

You can download your copy of our July bookmark and start writing all these WISDOM verses here.

“In the same way, count yourselves
dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.”
Romans 6:11

While all of us are fully aware that we are not dead to sin, we can celebrate the joyous news that in Christ, God declares us as dead to sin. If our identity is in Jesus, our name is on the page titled, “dead to sin.” We are counted sinless — deemed, treated, labeled, seen as alive! No longer dead spiritually, we are alive to God.

Does that sound too good to be true? Sometimes good news is like that!

Perhaps there’s a part of all of us that will always suffer from the “imposter syndrome” … simultaneously aware of our sin but believing in God’s grace. We are incredulous that we could truly be forgiven, that Jesus would take the rap we deserve. But He did!

Our alive-to-God status, of course, has nothing to do with us at all. We did not earn it by our behavior. We do not deserve it. In fact, the only way we could get it is as a gift — our good could never be good enough to be transformed from death to life on our own.

Maybe you feel like the younger brother in the Parable of the Prodigal Son. You come to God ready to grovel because the light bulb finally went on — you finally see your own spiritual depravity, the depth of your sin. But instead of lecturing, admonishing, chastising, or doling out punishment, He runs to greet you! He celebrates your coming to Him, and throws a party that has the angels in heaven dancing with delight.

If we are counted dead to sin, then let’s be determined to live like the alive-to-God women that we are!

In this week’s Friday devotional video, Laura introduces our upcoming topic for July: WISDOM. We invite you to listen as she unpacks Deuteronomy 4:5-6 — sharing thoughts on why living out the law makes a much greater impact than demanding it be posted on a wall. We invite you to Write the WORD with us this month!

Have you got wisdom? Do you want wisdom? Our July Write the WORD bookmark highlights 31 verses that all include the word WISDOM. Ultimately, all wisdom comes from God. We search and look for it by googling, asking others, seeking out a self-help book, or taking a survey on social media. But God’s Word reminds us that if we lack wisdom, we should ask God. (James 1:5).

You can download your copy of our July bookmark here and prepare to write these WISDOM verses along with us.

“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities —
his eternal power and divine nature —
have been clearly seen, being understood from
what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”
Romans 1:20

All of creation bears witness to God’s character and creativity. His invisible qualities are made visible in creation, when we behold:

• A majestic, snow-capped mountain
• A vast ocean with the tide rolling in
• A newborn babe
• A seed burst forth from soil
• A honeybee in its hive
• A human eye
• A hummingbird
• A rose, a daisy, a lily
• An ear of corn, an apple, an orange

We look up, look down, and look all around — and it prompts wonder and worship. Even those who do not know His name are compelled to acknowledge His existence. We can declare with the Psalmist, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” (Psalm 19:1)

We intuitively know there is intelligent design. Order and beauty do not flow from chaos. (If so, why does my desk need perpetual attention?!) All this: the beauty and bounty, the variety, the taste and texture. God’s glory is on display, if we will but pause to look.

Take some time — make some time — to take a Sunday walk. Worship. Wonder. Acknowledge Him. Thank Him. It’s there.  He’s there. Clearly seen. You just have to look!

He is the genius who thought it all up and then had the power to speak it into existence!

Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Psalm 8:1

Laura is joined by her friend, Lydia Collins, for this week’s devotional video. We invite you to watch and listen as they discuss Romans 8:26 and 28, and how sometimes it is hard to express our prayers. We just have to trust in God’s plan and timing. He knows what’s in our hearts when we reach out to him, even if we do not have all the words.

For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed,
a righteousness that is by faith from first to last,
just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
Romans 1:17

The theme for the book of Romans is righteousness. It is a topic with sobering significance. Our destiny for eternity hinges on being declared right before God. Does that stir up a little (or a lot) of fear? Does the thought of standing before Almighty God bring on concern, trepidation, confidence, anxiety, or peace?

Many of us seldom think about the end of our life – we are too busy pedaling hard to stay
ahead for today! But we are concerned with the future: we buy insurance, lock our doors,
invest in a 401(k), and keep a flashlight in the nightstand.

If we have a plan for future contingencies here on earth, shouldn’t we also plan for eternity?

Are you counting on checking enough “good girl boxes” to get in? Are you determined to earn the proverbial Boy Scout merit badges (volunteer hours, paying it forward, supporting worthy causes, donating your time and money) to impress God?

Here’s the reality: your good will never be good enough. And neither will mine. Even Billy Graham and Mother Theresa would be left out, because even the best of humanity’s good deeds can never satisfy divine righteous requirements.

Our righteousness can ONLY come from God. We receive it as a gift. It is not a reward for good deeds, a “salary” for services rendered. It comes by faith.

Romans has often been referred to as “Christianity 101” because in it, we find foundational truths of Christianity. In a very clear and systematic way, Paul (inspired by the Holy Spirit) illuminates what we are to believe … and then challenges us to the “obedience that
comes from faith.” (Romans 1:5).

In this week’s devotional video, Laura is joined by her friend, Val Garland, to discuss Romans 2:4 and how God uses His kindness to lead us into repentance instead of punishment. After listening, you can print your copy of this month’s bookmark (as well as other free resources) from our Downloads page.