Cross My Heart Ministry

Come, let us bow down in worship,
let us kneel before the Lord our Maker
Psalm 95:6

We read in I Corinthians 10:31 that the reason for our existence is to glorify God. This month’s Write the WORD focuses on one of the ways we live out that purpose: worship.

As I scoured the Bible for verses including the word worship, I noted over and over how many times it was preceded by the phrase, bow down. A quick search on “bow down and worship” at BibleGateway.com yielded 29 hits!  

Perhaps the reason we so often see these two concepts coupled together is obvious: only a humble heart can truly and completely worship God. As we behold His glory, we are humbled by who He is (and simultaneously, often painfully, made aware of who we are not). WORSHIP is the only possible or appropriate reaction in that moment of raw, sobering self-awareness and overwhelming “God-awesomeness.”

Come write with us this month! Let’s look at examples scattered across the Old and New Testaments where worship was the response to a variety of circumstances and events. And as we write the words with our pens, I pray our hearts and minds immediately respond. May we be not just hearers of the Word, but doers of it as we give our great God the praise due His glorious name!  

Whether this is your first month to join us or writing the Word has become part of your daily rhythm, we welcome you and invite you to download our free printable Write the WORD bookmark and S.O.A.P. Bible study pages. As women of God, adding this one activity to your daily schedule is a very simple way to spend time in scripture and hide God’s Word in your heart.

We were created to glorify for God and WORSHIP is a big part of how we do that. In this week’s devotional video, Laura discusses how “writing the WORD” works. We hope you’ll take a few minutes to watch as she shares a bit on the importance of worship in our lives.

Visit our Downloads page today to find our Write the WORD bookmark, S.O.A.P. Bible study pages, and other free resources to help you balance your heart for God with the demands of a busy life and family.

As iron sharpens iron,
so one person sharpens another.
Proverbs 27:17

The expression “peer pressure” certainly carries a negative connotation. Secular and non-secular studies alike have confirmed the impact (particularly during adolescence) of peers. Teenagers, when influenced by their friends, are far more vulnerable to substance abuse, reckless behavior, bullying, and a host of other things that are potentially life-altering.  

As conscientious Christian parents and grandparents, we may try to postpone the timing of those influences … but please don’t ever assume you can avoid them altogether. And please don’t assume that another teen is godly, simply because he or she attends church or was raised in a godly family (to the best of your knowledge).  

When children are young, the adults in their lives control their relationships. We choose who they play with, what they do, and where they go. And to a certain extent—especially when the adults are very engaged with the kids—that can continue into adolescence.

But at some point, we need to hand them the reins. Only parents can decide when is the right time for that to happen. It will be a decision not only unique to each family, but perhaps to each child.  

If we are devoted to teaching and training their hearts, our focus will be to prepare them to make good choices for themselves and help them understand how they can do that. It’s easy to build high walls and keep them in place until a child turns 18 … but what happens then?  

As a mother of four adults, I’m a long-time advocate of communication early on. Ask your children and grandchildren what makes a good friend. Role play with questions like, “What would you do if ___?” Using “worst case scenario” tools, empower them for as many situations as you can imagine. Explain some of your own poor choices (or those you have witnessed in others) as a warning. Pray. Talk. Share.  

We must prepare the children in our sphere of influence to make wise choices in friends. We must also challenge them to be a positive influence upon others.

Here are a few questions that come to mind for discussion with the children you love: 

1. What qualities make for a good friend? 
2. Who is your best friend and why? 
3. What would you do if a friend wanted you to watch or do something that made you feel uncomfortable? 
4. What did Joseph do when he was in an uncomfortable situation? (See Genesis 39) 
5. Did I ever tell you about the time …? 

Each passing year is one less we have to be a daily, primary influence upon these young souls that God has placed in our lives. Ultimately, we hope and pray it is the voice of the Holy Spirit they choose to heed above all. But we know that peers will also influence their lives, attitudes, and behaviors.

If they choose well, peer pressure can be a profoundly positive influence in the life of a child.  

Lord, I pray for my children and grandchildren,
and for their friends.
I pray You would raise up a generation of Christ followers
who love You and love Your Word.
I pray the children in my life would choose their confidants well.
I pray You would hedge them in from the wrong friends
and steer them to those who will be a positive influence –
that they would mutually encourage each other to live for You,
always and in all ways.
May iron sharpen iron in all their relationships.
Amen.

At the end of Nehemiah chapter 1, Nehemiah concluded that he was the answer to the problem in Jerusalem. He was to go and rebuild! In this week’s ladies’ Bible study lesson, we move into chapter 2 and see God opening the door for Nehemiah to make the big ask to the King of Persia. We invite you to listen to this week’s teaching lecture, as Laura unpacks Nehemiah’s approach to the king and challenges us to follow his example by allowing our faith in God to be greater than our fear of the person or circumstances before us.

Have you subscribed to our the Cross My Heart Ministry channel? If not, would you take a moment today to visit YouTube and become a subscriber? It costs nothing, and is a great way to show your support for our ministry.

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul,
and with all your strength.
Deuteronomy 6:5

Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with
all your heart,
with all your soul, and
with all your mind.’
Matthew 22:37

 All means ALL!

When we pray that the children in our lives would love God wholeheartedly, it means ALL IN. Not half-way, not half-heartedly, and not Sundays only.

When a mama asks her teenager to take out the trash, she doesn’t expect to see the trash sitting by the front door. It must make it all the way to the curb.

When a wife wants a faithful husband, she doesn’t mean 364 days a year – she expects 365 (and some years 366)!

And when God commands us to love Him with ALL our heart, soul, mind, and strength, we need to apply the same high standard. ALL IN!

As we pray for the children in our sphere of influence to love God wholeheartedly, we can also ask God to reveal where we ourselves might be holding out.

Here are some questions we can ask as we pray for the children in our lives (and for ourselves):

• Do I have a divided heart? Is there anything I treasure more than God?
• Do I find myself praying without ceasing – having on ongoing conversation with God throughout my day?
• Does God enter my thought life on Tuesday morning or Friday afternoon?
• Do I ask God about what I buy, read, and watch?
• Has Sunday morning worship become an optional activity? Am I finding reasons (I don’t feel like braving the rain, there’s a mountain of dirty laundry, I’m in the middle of a great book and can’t wait to finish it) not to gather with other believers?
• Do I give God the first and best of each day?
• Do I speak up when others speak poorly of my God?
• Do my posts, tweets, and social media comments indict me as a woman of God?
• Do thoughts about God in my mind and heart make their way into my conversations with others?

I hope one or more of these questions convict you as they do me. Perhaps they could even prompt a conversation – with your child, grandchild, nephew or niece, a student in your class or church, or a young person in your neighborhood – about loving God wholeheartedly.

Lord God, I pray this child would put You on the throne of his/her life each day and every day. I pray this would be deliberate, conscious, daily choice.  I pray he/she would love You most and best and with a wholehearted devotion.

Our latest Friday devotional video features Laura’s teaching to the ladies’ Bible study, as we jump into the book of Nehemiah! The text opens with bad news concerning problems in Jerusalem. The walls are down. The gates are destroyed. The people are vulnerable and in great danger.

How do you and I respond to problems in our lives or in the lives of those we love? We invite you to read the first chapter of Nehemiah and then listen to this week’s teaching lecture to learn the best response when facing bad news.

Click here for the full video playlist of Laura’s Nehemiah study, if you missed last week’s introductory teaching.

Our Write the WORD bookmark, optional S.O.A.P. study pages, and other free resources can be found on our Downloads page.

If you would like to purchase a Nehemiah study guide and join in the ladies’ Bible study (whether in person or online), please send an email to cross.my.heart@cox.net for more information.

“…give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
I Thessalonians 5:18 [NIV]

When our oldest was only one year old, after prompting by our pastor, I began to pray for a thankful heart in my child. I continued this prayer as we added each additional child. Four kids – and three granddaughters – later, I’m still praying for thankful Macfarlan hearts.

“Why thankfulness?” you may ask.

The first (or most obvious) response might be the blessing released to others. That is true. And that is important. Others are blessed when we express gratitude.

But I’m also convinced that thankfulness is a blessing to the one releasing it. Thankfulness protects against entitlement, materialism, and selfishness … all dangerous to the character of children. The 21^st-century culture of our western world makes them vulnerable to “me-ism” – I’m convinced entitlement, materialism, and selfishness are the default, but our prayers can combat these society norms. We are up against entrenched attitudes, human nature, and even commercials and advertisements. The world will corrupt and entice all of us to make it all about us.

It’s natural (and easy) to make it all about self in this world. But never underestimate the power of a praying mom – or grandmother, or aunt, Sunday School teacher, youth leader, coach, godparent, or anyone else who has influence in a young life! We can best fight the culture on our knees. And we can train up the young people we love to live selfless in a “selfie” world.

As we consider praying for thankful children, consider these prayer prompts:

• Lord, give my child a thankful heart. (I Thessalonians 5:18)
• Jesus, let my child see that every good gift comes down from above. (James 1:17)
• God, I pray my child would intentionally release thankfulness to others.
• Holy Spirit, I pray our family would be thankful in “all circumstances” – by faith, believing that You can and will work all things out for our good and for Your glory. (Romans 8:28)

As we pray, we can also put feet to our prayers by taking these practical steps to teach thankfulness to our children, grandchildren, and the other young people in our lives:

1. Do not overindulge in “stuff” but show love in creative ways. Whenever possible, give experiences and time, instead of things.
2. Choose at least one night per week to pray “Thank you” prayers. Rather than asking God for something, take turns thanking Him for what He has already done for the blessings of the day. Teach them to pray thank-you prayers for big and small things:
   “God, thank you for the tulips popping through in the flower bed and reminding us that spring is coming.”
   “Jesus, thank you for the baby growing in Aunt Denise’s tummy.”
   “Holy Spirit, thank you for our fun afternoon in the park.”
3. Train a child to respond with thankfulness:
   1. Write thank you notes together with preschoolers—allowing them to add their names to the note with your help.
   2. For elementary-aged kids, encourage them to be conscientious about writing thank you notes to their teacher, coach, and/or sponsor for their soccer team.
   3. Train teenagers to write thank you notes before cashing the check from grandma and grandpa.
4. Model thankfulness. Most character traits are more “caught than taught,” as I’ve heard Dr. James Dobson say on many occasions.
   1. Sit down together to write thank you notes after Christmas.
   2. Let them hear you intentionally thank your pastor for his teaching on Sunday morning.
   3. Thank them for big and small things when you see and hear them get it right:
      “Thank you for helping your brother.”
      “Thank you for carrying in the groceries for your grandmother.”
      “Thank you for making your bed without being asked.”
5. When dining out, ask to speak to the manager and enjoy seeing his/her face transform from dread to delight when you say, “Our family had such a great meal this evening. Thank you for the good food and excellent service.” (On the way home, explain that people always complain when someone gets it wrong, but it’s important to express our thanks when they get it right!)

The importance of thankfulness was a thread woven through the teaching of Dr. Jonathan Burnham, my wise and godly pastor in the early nineties. Over and again, his preaching emphasized the theme of thankfulness. Even after moving out of state, that emphasis continued to resonate in my heart and be a priority in my prayers.

All these years later, I give glory to God as I see thankfulness demonstrated in the lives of my children. The thank you notes I have received from them are treasures to keep. They are tangible reminders that, while I did many things wrong, perhaps consistent training in gratitude was one thing I did right.

Whether you are praying thankfulness into your children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, students, or the kids who live across the street or sit in the pew behind you – I hope you will pray. And I hope that we can all see our society truly transformed by an “attitude of gratitude.”

Our September ‘Write the WORD’ bookmark and S.O.A.P. study pages
can be found on our Downloads page. Won’t you join us in reading, writing,
and studying God’s WORD this month?

Our latest devotional video is an introduction to Nehemiah, the topic of this year’s ladies’ Bible study. We have an amazing group of women who meet weekly Laura’s hometown of Siloam Springs, Arkansas. (Those who are interested but don’t live locally are welcome to order a book and follow along online through the weekly teaching videos we post here on YouTube.)

The book of Nehemiah picks up the history of God’s people returning to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls.

Where had they been? Why were they there? What happened to the walls?

All good questions and ones we attempt to answer in this week’s teaching lecture. We hope you will listen and then plan to join us as we study this rich Old Testament book.

You can download a copy of Lesson 1 here. If you would like to purchase a study guide so that you can study Nehemiah with us, please reach out via email to cross.my.heart@cox.net for more information.

“…and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures,
which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith
which is in Christ Jesus.”
II Timothy 3:15

Paul is writing to Timothy, his spiritual son. (He refers to him in I Timothy 1:2 as “my true son in the faith.”) Thanks to the faith of his mother and grandmother, Timothy knew about God and knew the Scriptures from an early age.

But, of course, God has no grandchildren. At some point, Timothy believed for himself (II Timothy 1:5). He accepted the gift of salvation that comes by grace through faith.

Like Lois and Eunice, Timothy’s mother and grandmother, we can ensure the young people around us know the Word. We can take them to church to hear the Word. We can play Christian music and buy them Christian books. But, of course, none of that will save them. They must come to sincere faith in Christ on their own.

We can do everything within our power to make sure the children in our lives know the truth—and then each must choose to bend their knee to Jesus.

Perhaps you are a woman who did not come to faith yourself until your adult years. Maybe you have adult children that have rejected your faith. Do not let the enemy rob you of peace and joy for today. Do not take on illegitimate guilt. The past is done … confess anything you need to confess, receive His forgiveness (I John 1:9) and then move on! Forgive yourself, sister friend!

Choose today to pray. Pray intentionally and unceasingly for the “children” in your sphere of influence, whether they are infants, young kids, adolescents, or adults. If there is life, there is hope. Pray and keep on praying!

Lord God Almighty, thank You for the gift of salvation! Jesus, thank You for the magnitude of Your great love demonstrated at the Cross and the unmatched strength of Your mighty power demonstrated by Your resurrection. O God, thank You for loving me enough to die for me. Let this young person in my life see that you love her and died for her, too. Convict her of sin. Draw her to yourself. Overwhelm her today with Your great love. Let today be her day of salvation!

Our Write the WORD bookmark for September is designed to coincide with the beginning of school. We hope you will download this free resource, write out each day’s verse, and then pray it over a child (or children) in your life. Please watch and listen to this week’s Friday devotional video, as Laura explains our Write the WORD study help and also demonstrates how the September bookmark is a wonderful tool to inspire prayer for the young ones in your life.

Visit our Downloads page today for your own copy of the Write the WORD bookmark, S.O.A.P. study pages, and other free resources to help you balance your heart for God with the demands of a busy life.

She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
Proverbs 31:26

The Proverbs Lady has simultaneously convicted and inspired women of God for centuries. We want to be her. We are sometimes shamed by her. Is she really that perfect? Does she offer a high, but unattainable standard?

Of course, she does … at least, when we try to do it on our own.

Like all of Scripture, Proverbs 31 is powerful to refine and transform us. But as we read it – especially this side of the Cross – we read with gratitude that it is the Holy Spirit working in us and through us that both convicts and empowers us to live lives differently and for the glory of God. We don’t have to earn God’s love, because we already are loved!

(Pause here for a deep, thankful breath.)

Verses 10-31 of Proverbs 31 highlight character traits of a woman who seems almost too good to be true, but she also offers an example of what we can aspire to be when the Holy Spirit indwells us. These character traits include:

• Strong work ethic
• Purposeful
• Compassionate
• Helpful
• Creative
• Strong
• Dignified
• Industrious
• Blessed
• Committed

And from our highlighted verse today, we add: WISE. Only a wise person can speak with wisdom. And the indicator of being wise is that we release instruction that is faithful.

What is instruction? And to whom is it given?

It might include training our children or giving advice to a friend. We may be a “Titus 2” woman who mentors younger women. Sometimes our counseling/training/mentoring may be conscious and formal. Other times we instruct others by our example. Those in our world are watching us. Perhaps taking their cues from us. Think about it: when you were younger, was there a woman in your life that you looked up to? Someone who inspired you? Was she a living example of “Jesus with skin on” in your life?

We become followers of Jesus when we place our faith in Him. We receive salvation by grace through faith. Because our works can never be good enough to atone for our sin, we rely solely on the completed work of Christ on Calvary’s Cross. His grace is free to us, but cost Jesus the most painful, horrific death ever conceived. That reality should prompt us to be grateful and to approach our Christian walk seriously, soberly, and faithfully.

I have no real, eternal wisdom on my own. But because His Spirit dwells in me and because I soak up His Word, I can become wise. And the indicator that I’m growing in wisdom on the inside is the words on my tongue that flow to the outside.

In light of the conviction and truth of verse 26 above, I’m asking myself these questions today:

• Do I speak with wisdom?
• Who has asked me for advice or counsel in the last month?
• Were my answers (whether in person, email, or text) consistent with biblical truth?
• Is the instruction I share based on human logic or Spirit-fueled faith?

I hope you will ask yourself these same questions and then pray with me:

Lord, thank you for saving me by grace through faith. Forgive me for the years I’ve wasted relying on my own strength rather than Your Spirit who dwells in me. I pray today that I would yield my heart, mind, and my TONGUE to the Holy Spirit. As He leads, I pray I would be transformed into a wise woman, a woman of God – a woman who speaks with faithful instruction. Oh, Lord, remind me to send up an arrow prayer for Your help before I open my mouth to respond. Let the words I speak be prompted by Your truth. Amen.

In this week’s devotional video, Laura and her friend, Marilae Latham, discuss Isaiah 50:4 and Marilae shares the personal journey of learning to bring her words – as well as the thoughts and emotions that prompt those words – under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We invite you to watch the video and be challenged by Marilae’s personal story of a godly older woman who gave her encouragement about speaking wisely.

Visit our Downloads page for this month’s Write the WORD bookmark and S.O.A.P. Bible study pages … and with the a new month approaching, watch for our September bookmark and ‘Do It!’ List coming soon!