Cross My Heart Ministry

“So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph,
and the baby …
When they had seen him, they spread the word …
The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God
for all the things they had heard and seen…”
Luke 2:16, 17, 20

When the night sky lights up with the glory of heaven and a celestial choir belts out a glorious singing telegram, you don’t just roll over, reposition your head on your pillow/rock, and go back to sleep. These guys got an adrenaline jolt that no 21st-century espresso could rival.  

Good news prompted action for the shepherds. Heart racing, pulse beating, feet moving, they hurried off to find the babe! No sauntering, meandering, or lollygagging for this crew. They wanted to see for themselves what the host of heaven had proclaimed.  

Their search was rewarded—they got to behold the newborn King. And I don’t think they ever got over it.  

Hearing the news prompted action by the shepherds. And seeing the baby brought change. 

These men were never the same again. They were transformed into news-bearing worshipers … all in! Sold out! Relentless, committed, and devoted. We find them sharing and singing, praising and proclaiming, and fulfilling the call on the life of every human ever created: to bring glory to God.  

Have we been fundamentally changed by the birth of Jesus? Are we seeking Him? Do we pursue Him in God’s Word and in prayer? Do we hurry off to meet Him each morning? Do we long for everyone to know this One who has changed everything? Does the birth of Jesus—and the death and resurrection of Jesus—prompt praise and worship from us?  

Our King came to us and for us. Immanuel … God with us. God for us. God loves us! Let’s ask Him to fill our hearts with fresh wonder, glorious amazement, peace, and great joy because of that truth.

As you wrap the last packages, bake a final batch of cookies, and mail your remaining Christmas cards, let each Christmas task be done with joy in your heart and a song of praise on your tongue. Join with me—and the angels and the shepherds—in adding our voices to worship and adore Him: 

Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new-born King!
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled.”

That’s something worth singing about! That’s something worth telling about!  

We have peace with God, we’ve been reconciled with God, because of our King Jesus!

Hallelujah! 

This post from Laura was previously published on
AReasonForHomeschool.com

We invite you to enjoy the latest devotional video from Laura:

“I bring you good news of great joy…
Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
Luke 2:10, 14
(emphasis added) 

It was a night probably like every other night for the shepherds: quiet, lonely, dark, and cold. They were bottom rung on the social ladder. Sheep were their companions and life’s work, the sky their roof, and perhaps a rock sufficed as a pillow. It was a lonely, rugged, and right down hard way to live.  

Then Gabriel crashed in with a melody of JOY: 

“I bring you good news of great joy…” (Luke 2:10)

The rest of the heavenly choir added a chorus of PEACE: 

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men…”
(Luke 2:14)

Two thousand years later, and we humans (regardless of which rung of society we live on) are still longing for peace and joy.  

It’s an eternal truth and timeless desire:  we crave peace and we desire joy.  

Deep inside, we know it’s more than we deserve. We strive for it, reach for it, and pedal hard to attain it. But it’s elusive, fleeting, difficult to get, and almost impossible to keep. That is, when we try to do it on our own.  

And that’s really the point.

The whole message of Christmas and the reason Christ came: We can’t do it on our own! God never intended for us to achieve the peace and joy we desire through our own efforts or merit.  

In coming to earth … coming to us … coming to love us and forgive us, God did for us what we can never ever do for ourselves: He brought us peace and joy. God did it all! He brought glory to Himself as He simultaneously brought peace to us.  

Does Christmas find you feeling like you are not enough – feeling empty, joyless, and anything but peaceful, no matter how hard you try, how early you get up, how many cookies you bake or gifts you wrap? If so, then welcome to the human race. And congratulations on having a heart that is ready to receive the peace and joy that can only come from above. It can’t be conjured, manufactured, or produced from inside yourself (or from the monumental efforts you make at Christmas … or any other time of the year).  

This Christmas, let it all go. Let Him have it. In total abandon, acknowledge your “inner shepherd” – lowly, needy, living a hard life and longing for more. Perhaps lonely, lacking, and having little. Definitely craving peace and joy. And finally, in desperation, crying out to Him as the source for what you need.

It truly can only come from Him.  

Every one of us falls into one of two camps: you are God’s child, or you are not His child. Which is it?  

You may be His child. You may have given your life to Him long ago, but behaved as if your salvation was just for that day – the day He comes back for us. But peace and joy is for this day, too! Receive it! Grab hold of it! Remind yourself to embrace what you already believe:

Jesus, I know the truth! I know you set me free from all this performing and doing! Today I’m coming back to renew my relationship with You. I’m here today to acknowledge that what saved me for that day is what brings peace and joy for this day. It’s YOU. Not what I do or bring, but what You have done and what You provide. Fill me with peace and joy – again! I love you! I rejoice that I am your child! 

You may be masquerading as His child. You may be the good girl. The church lady. The one who grew up in church, has served on every committee, delivered countless casseroles, visited the sick, did the VBS crafts, and even went on the youth mission trip. You know you are a good girl, but is your good, good enough? Is it time to finally, once and for all, declare: 

Lord Jesus, I know about You. But I’m ready to know You. If you want my life, then you can have it. I’m finally ready to give it all to you. Nothing held back. I’m weary of working and striving and pretending. I am a sinner. I want to change, but I just can’t do it on my own. I need you. Here’s my life. I am yours.  

Today’s post from Laura was previously published on
AReasonForHomeschool.com

This week, we celebrated the end of the I Kings study with a special event in Siloam Springs, AR. We hope you’ll enjoy this inspiring Christmas message from Gina Franzke, Director of Women’s Ministry at Cross Church in Springdale, AR (sponsor of Laura’s weekly Bible study).

“And I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will crush your head,
and you will strike his heel.”
Genesis 3:15

Have you ever paused to consider how many Christmas carols and songs refer to bells?

• Carol of the Bells
• Silver Bells
• Jingle Bells

We sing about bells. We decorate with bells. And we love to ring those bells!

Bell ringing has long been used to make an announcement or signal something is about to happen. The country church bell rings to signal the beginning of the service. A bell rings to call children to the classroom. And cancer patients ring a bell to celebrate the end of chemotherapy.

The sound of bells is an announcement, a celebration, and perhaps a new beginning.

God’s prophetic words to the evil one in Genesis 3:15 may seem an odd choice for the celebration of Christmas. But make no mistake—these are, in a sense, the ringing of a bell. God announces His plan to redeem the world. Satan may have thought he won out in the Garden, but God rings the bell for the gospel: the offspring of a woman would eventually crush the evil one’s head.

Genesis 3:15—often referred to by theologians as the “proto-evangelism” or first gospel—was fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ. Fully God and fully human, Jesus is the fulfillment of Genesis 3:15.

Matthew 1:21 is another bell echoing the Genesis 3:15 announcement:

She will give birth to a son,
and you are to give him the name Jesus,
for He will save His people from their sins.

Matthew 1:21 is God making good on His Genesis 3:15 promise. The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus brings victory over sin and death.

The coming of Jesus Christ is a spiritual bell-ringer for all humankind.

Is His coming a bell-ringer for you? Have you received the gift of spiritual victory that comes through the person of Jesus Christ? If so, ring your bell this holiday season so that others will hear and be drawn into Your worship of Jesus!

In this week’s devotional video, Laura discusses how the birth of Jesus fulfilled God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:

“I will make you into a great nation,
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.
 I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.”

She will give birth to a son,
and you are to give him the name Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins.
Matthew 1:21

Welcome to Christmas!

This is the season of contrasts and clashes:

• They say, “Happy Holidays,” and we respond, “Merry Christmas!”
• They belt out, “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” while we sing, “Silent Night.”
• They put out a huge inflatable Frosty, as we are setting up the nativity set.

Is Christmas a secular holiday? Yes.

Is it a spiritual holiday? Absolutely YES!

As followers of Christ living for Christ, we should feel that tension in everyday life — as we watch the news, see today’s movie and TV viewing choices, and note the language, attire, and behaviors that have become accepted as normal in our culture.

Choosing to live as devoted women of God means we are living counter-culture.

It’s uncomfortable. It’s stressful. It’s disconcerting.

Sometimes we feel judged and mocked — not just by the media or people in far-away places, but even by those who live next door. The wall that separates “us” from “them” feels like it’s growing taller and harder with every passing day.

But then comes Christmas.  

The twinkling lights, the cheerful red-and-green décor, the familiar music, the fresh scent of pine, the warm and comforting taste of gingerbread … our senses are assaulted with the sights, smells, tastes, and sounds of the season. And in an almost magical (make that miraculous) way, it seems to bring about an invisible truce.

Hard hearts become softer. Normally deaf ears might be willing to listen. Deep inside those who might be most resistant to the truth is a seed of desire — perhaps unacknowledged and unidentified, but still there. The longing for it all to be true. A yearning for something this world cannot offer. Hope for more. And that, dear friends, is our window of opportunity!

Christmas is our time to join with the angels in proclaiming the “good news of great joy!” Let’s not squander this once-a-year chance to share Christ’s love while defenses are down and hope is up.

All around us, hearts are primed and ready. Let’s be prepared to walk through the doors that may be open (or to at least wedge our toes into the crack)!

How can we be ready? How can we prepare? We abide in Him! We keep on growing our own relationship with Jesus, so we are ready to introduce others to Him. I’ve found that immersion in the Word is the best way to get to know the Living Word — Jesus!

Are you abiding in His Word every day? Yes — we are entering the too-much-to-do-and-not-enough-time-to-do-it-all season, but that means it is even more important that we’re filled up with Him FIRST!

Please, do not neglect the Word in December! Read it, write it, reflect on it, and then sing it, share it, and live it!  

The verses we’ve selected for this Christmas season come from the Old and the New Testament. Some are clearly familiar and connected to Christmas; they may even be displayed on the Christmas cards you send and receive. Others may seem odd in connection with Christmas, but a closer reading will reveal the connection.

Christmas was not Plan B.  As we look back, we see the breadcrumbs God left for us sprinkled throughout the Old Testament — all pointing forward to the Bread of Life.

How extraordinary that God would become man. How amazing that love would propel Him to leave heaven’s glorious light to descend to the earth’s darkness. Reflecting upon God’s eternal plan, we realize there was no other way. A perfect sacrifice was required, and only God could provide it. But man sinned, so man must pay the price. Jesus, God-Man, exclusively satisfied the requirements.

Christianity is exclusive in that regard. God came to us. Immanuel means, “God with us.” At Christmas, we celebrate the good news that He came. Our confident hope for eternity rests in His completed work. As we hurl ourselves into the frenzy of shopping and wrapping, baking and cooking, decorating and hosting, we can simultaneously rest in the knowledge all that of our work and activity is not to earn His favor, but to celebrate that we already have it!

Our monthly Write The WORD and ‘Do It’ List downloads
are now available from our Downloads page.
We pray these free resources will help you keep a Mary heart
and check off all those Martha lists during December!

“And God is able to bless you abundantly,
so that
in all things at all times, having all that you need,
you will abound in every good work.”
II Corinthians 9:8

What a great verse! God is able to bless you and bless me—and to do it abundantly.

Blessing is defined differently in God’s economy than in the world. Our culture measures blessing in dollars, square footage, or social media views and likes.

But when God blesses us, it’s about what we get to be part of, not what we get.

Blessing from God is “catch and release.” He blesses us so that we can bless others. And when you get that—and when that becomes the desire of your heart—everything changes. You receive a new perspective on who you are, the purpose for your life, and why you were created.

• Not just blessing, but abundant blessing.
• Not just some times, but all times.
• Not just a little, but all that you need.
• And not a few of our works, but every good work.

Because of God’s provision, we are blessed with everything we need: the presence of His Spirit, the gift if of His Word, and the daily gift of time and people to love on.

Because of God’s presence and provision, we can abound at ALL times and in EVERY good work. Does that truth stir your heart, friend? Does it light your fire? Does it spur you on, as it does me?

The word abound means to be over and above, to exceed the ordinary, to overflow, and to have a surplus.

What a promise! What a God! How good He is to us! He is the God of unlimited resources—the creator and sustainer of our universe and the lover of our souls.

I read this verse on my birthday this past week, and chose to receive it as a great gift from our very good God. It’s a gift for you, too! But like any other gift, we must open and use it before we can truly own and appreciate it.

Are you ready for some abounding—some “catching and releasing”? I know I am! Thank you, Lord!

This week marked the last session of the I Kings Bible study. We invite you to watch the latest teaching video, as Laura unpacks lessons from chapter 22 and the story of King Ahab begrudgingly seeking advice from God’s prophet, Micaiah.