The little, white church pleaded with me every time I drove by its quaint steeple, clad with a big, ‘ol bell, and its colorfilled, stained glass windows.

Something was missing.

Putting a finger on it – filling that void – seemed elusive.

Folks walk around all the time filling their own vats. They – we – have empty spaces, and we’ll toss all sorts of nonsense in there.

• Money
• Leisure activities
• Dating relationships
• Cars
• Botoxed bodies and more.

It wasn’t until I walked through the little, white church’s doors that the plead and need in my own life filled.

Amid its pews, I found Jesus.

I grew up a “good girl.” My perfectionist bent appeased teachers and parents alike. It filled the grade cards nicely, too.

Fast-forward to adulthood.

When my pastor’s wife challenged my salvation, I got a little toasty under the collar. Call me a card-carrying good girl member. How dare she challenge that?!

“Kristi, are you sure?”

“Of course I’m saved.”

I’d been raised in the pews of a Methodist church. I’d even participated in a musical trio that traveled to nearby churches, tickling the ivories with Christian songs. I followed life’s rules and fit the “good girl” category nicely. (Sounds a little like Paul, doesn’t it? Read his story here. )

But good gets no one to heaven.

Paul’s life pleads that cause fully.

“Good” stands on the trophy of our own works – not God’s.

Only Jesus saves. Believe in him.

So today, I challenge you.

If your activities, abilites, involvement – those things based on your strength – determine your salvation,

please think again.

Good is not biblical.

Paul, a religious of the religious, was headed straight toward hell without the intercession of Christ.

Make certain heaven is your eternal terrain.

Jesus – Savior for the world – is key.

Through Him alone, man is saved from our filthy sins.

There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 NLT

I’ll whoop out a big ‘ol yes – I am saved.

What about you?

Have you asked Jesus to forgive your sins, to wash you clean?

Is Jesus your Lord?

They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Acts 16:31 WEB Click To Tweet

Easter, the time we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection is upon us. Like Paul, let’s allow Him to resurrect our life here on earth.

Why delay?

Jesus saves.

 Here’s a prayer for salvation. If you’re not 100% certain that Jesus is your Lord, grab belief then this prayer. Feel free to use it for your own.

Dear Jesus,
I surrender my life to You. Thank You for welcoming me. Please fill the empty spot in my heart, Lord. I confess that You are Lord and ask You to forgive my sins. Wash me white as snow, Lord. I want to be clean. Thank You that I can count on spending eternity with You in heaven, and thank You for putting the “old” behind me. I love You, Lord.

In Jesus’ name,
Amen

More…

Interested in memorizing Scripture? We’d love to have you join us here! 

Have a desire to pray for your spouse, but starting seems to be the problem? Check out this piece I wrote for iBelieve.com called 10 Scriptures to Pray Right Now for Your Spouse. 

Happy Easter, friend! 

Do you feel loved?

Do you have a Valentine? Maybe not – or maybe you do after all.

This piece about Valentine’s Day history intrigued me. I found the history fascinating. What conviction Valentine held!

As Valentine’s Day approaches, our chance of similar persecution seems low. Love still sifts through the air, albeit more freely. But not everyone feels they have a Valentine.

But maybe Christians have a Valentine after all.

Our groom, Jesus watches and waits for His bride – you and I if we’re believers in Christ. He stands drenched and overflowing with love. Call it a Valentine, if you will, albeit a slightly different angle from St. Valentine.

Sometimes it’s easy to forget we are loved. The groom awaiting his bride seemingly turns blurry, and we feel anything BUT loved.

Maybe someone has tossed dating or marital rejection our way, splattering its juice on us. Perhaps a spouse has offered less than kind words, parents left us in the dust for some other Cinderella life, or a child simply can’t stand to be near. We soak in feelings of rejection. It happens.

But there’s ONE who hasn’t rejected us. Never will.

There’s One who stands ready for acceptance: our groom. Will you be His bride?

Today, tomorrow, the rest of this week consider living loved. Stand intentional, living in the everlasting love of Christ, the faithful arms of our Father. After all, our groom awaits.

Happy Valentine’s Day, friend.

For more “love” reading, check out these past posts:

• 15 Practical Ideas to Love Generously
• Why Love is Always in the Air – For Singles and Marrieds Alike on this Valentine’s Day
• 2 Questions for You as We Near Valentine’s Day

Are Widows on Our Radar?

We’re on a journey.

To grow.

To grow in God, deeper in our relationship Him.

Add service to the mix. Because faith without works is, well, dead. Where do widows fit in that mix?

Who’s visiting the widows? Are we?

Week 1:

Service – loving our neighbors like ourselves, taking good and using it to overcome evil – that’s what we’ve scribbled on October’s agenda. We’re focusing on love and service as a celebration. We’re combating evil – like Vegas and more. Find out more about our celebration here at week 1.

Week 2:

Sometimes I have trouble thinking of ways to outreach. Here’s a link with 15 ideas in case you have those times too. That was week 2.

Bonus:

And here’s yet another piece on iBelieve.com geared toward loving those struggling with divorce.

This is week 3, a week centered upon widows.

After Dad died, Mom suddenly found herself a widow. And I found myself heading back home, 800+ miles from Mom, questions in tow.

Who would be there to eat lunch with her?

Who would help with email questions?

How about simple company and conversations?

The whole scenario caused me to widen my view, look beyond the spanse of my own little world. Several other widows, many a part of life from my wee years, came into view. And I realized I was a piece in the puzzle of looking after those widows.

How?

Through phone calls and letters.

Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. James 1:27 WEB

Pure religion...visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction… James 1:27 WEB Click To Tweet

How are you and I loving those fatherless and widows in their affliction? Are we visiting them? Talking Jesus? Praying alongside? Taking food or spending time simply talking? Maybe it’s a coloring book or word search. Perhaps it’s a simple letter or phone call.

That’s a question answered between each of us and our Father. But Scripture paints a picture of keeping widows on our radar.

How about heaping  love on widows?

Here’s a free printable to help.

Call it love letter writing equipment for pouring love the neighborly way. Although small here, it’ll fill up a piece of paper nicely, offering stationery for that widow in mind. (Download by clicking on the graphic below.)

Linking with other Jesus lovers here: #chasingcommunity, #heartencouragementThursday, #faithonfire.