The Undivided Heart

"'Give me an undivided heart.' Something in my soul has always been snagged by that phrase in Psalm 86. Something in it speaks to me of my own heart division, my own disarray. It captures a deeper longing, beyond the surface chatter of my mind. I find, amid the muddle that is me, that there is something--someone--calling me on, gathering together my disparate, fraying threads and weaving them into a story greater than I could ever perceive." Why do we do what we do? What makes us who we are? And what could make us more? In Undivided Heart, Lucy Mills digs deep in search of an understanding of human identity, purpose, and living by faith, asking what the influences are that shape us and define us. She explores what it might mean to have an undivided heart--to live a life compelled by Christ's love, undistracted by all other motives. This is not a book of easy answers. It is a book of deep questioning, of relationship, honesty, and encounter, counter-cultural in our age of social media, soundbite news, and mass communication. But God can meet us in our confusion and distraction as much as in our certainty. Join Lucy on her exploration of this demanding, fragmented life, and the quest for a faith that is deeper, stronger, and undivided.

West explains how the devil takes what is most sacred and good and makes it profane through creating a distorted picture and offering it to the culture. This is why Satan particulary attacks womanbecause in her bearing of new life she reveals the very mystery of God.

From the perspective of developmental psychology, this book examines human sexuality and celibate chastity over the course of a lifetime. Issues such as identity, intimacy, relationships, genital, gender, and sex role identity, and sexual orientation are explored as well as the spiritual foundation upon which celibate chastity must rest. The author aims to help men and women who have embraced a life of celibate chastity to understand better this way of being a sexual person. The book, though, has a much wider audience than Catholic priests and men and women religious. People of all faiths, living the single life, may feel called to just such a lifestyle. The ideas presented in this book will enrich their reflection about this important dimension of their life and add a significant new contribution to today's ongoing conversation about the topic.

As we walk through the shadow of life's trials, we will gain much comfort and spiritual good, for our happiness is not of this world, but is of the Kingdom of God and our assurance is fully realized in Him. One must give attention to their hearts, watch over it with all diligence, for from it flows the springs of life. Watch then, the path of your feet and let your eyes be fixed upon God's word. Keep His percepts in the midst of your heart, so that your ways and actions will be fruitful. Every mercy is from God, every trial that tempts us on the road of faith has an illustration behind its experience. All the sharp trials of life are but the golden threads of providence, under the control of God the Father. Our roses, our thorns, our mountains, our valleys and temptations are plainly wrought by Him. Take hold of His instruction and your heart will not be divided. As a young boy, Kevin was placed into an orphanage. The preciousness of Kevin's love for his mother, who was now gone due to cancer, left him overwhelmed with fear. Crushed and lonely by her death, he would carry this burden through life, like a ball and chain. Therefore, clouding his heart to God's way for his life. But in time, through providential circumstances, God took away this burden and restored him to Christ's everlasting love and established his feet upon the Rock of Ages. Kevin, wife Karen and daughter Megan, reside in Texas. Kevin has a previously published book, "It Is Written." By Xulon Press, December 2007

Beloved author Sally Clarkson shares her heart and wisdom for mothers—and offers hope for each day. A mother living well in her God-ordained role is of great beauty and inestimable value to the future history of any generation. Her impact is irreplaceable and necessary to the spiritual formation of children who will be the adults of the next generation. Fun, comfort, humor, graciousness, spiritual passion, compassion for the lost, hospitality, chores, meals, training, life-giving words, hours and hours of listening and playing and praying and reading—all are parts of the mosaic of soul development. Spend the year with Mom Heart Moments, the first devotional by beloved author Sally Clarkson, and discover how as a mother you can draw closer to the heart of God. In a world constantly vying for our attention, it can be easy to get caught up in the chaos. Each day of this beautiful devotional offers encouragement and direction to become the mother God has called you to be.

The Journey into the Divided Heart is a challenging guide that will push you spiritually to a new level of taking responsibility and defining your personal role in the process of healing your hurting heart. Though highly practical and spiritually directive, this book zooms out to give you a convicting overview of the human heart. In its state of being divided, our heart tends toward God as its healer but also toward itself as provider and protector simultaneously. You will learn your defense mechanisms, be led in decision-making journaling and prayers, and you will be given an overview of nine powerful, biblical, and clinical interventions that will lead you to living life to its fullest (John 10:10). This book is a must read for anyone looking for true lasting change, as well as a role-defining text for counselors and pastors who are looking to integrate cutting-edge clinical counseling with an unwavering faith-based, non-religious approach to working with the brokenhearted.

Vicky Beeching, called “arguably the most influential Christian of her generation” in The Guardian, began writing songs for the church in her teens. By the time she reached her early thirties, Vicky was a household name in churches on both sides of the pond. Recording multiple albums and singing in America’s largest megachurches, her music was used weekly around the globe and translated into numerous languages. But this poster girl for evangelical Christianity lived with a debilitating inner battle: she was gay. The tens of thousands of traditional Christians she sang in front of were unanimous in their view – they staunchly opposed same-sex relationships and saw homosexuality as a grievous sin. Vicky knew if she ever spoke up about her identity it would cost her everything. Faced with a major health crisis, at the age of thirty-five she decided to tell the world that she was gay. As a result, all hell broke loose. She lost her music career and livelihood, faced threats and vitriol from traditionalists, developed further health issues from the immense stress, and had to rebuild her life almost from scratch. But despite losing so much she gained far more: she was finally able to live from a place of wholeness, vulnerability, and authenticity. She finally found peace. What’s more, Vicky became a champion for others, fighting for LGBT equality in the church and in the corporate sector. Her courageous work is creating change in the US and the UK, as she urges people to celebrate diversity, live authentically, and become undivided.

The longest distance in the universe is between the head and heart. For Christ-followers, it is the chasm between what we say we believe in our minds and what we truly believe in our hearts: a split between our statements about God and our experience of Him. This divide is everywhere around us, causing untold devastation. It is found in the double lives of believers and in the hypocrisy of church leaders, but mainly we see it in ourselves. It is the default position of every human heart. In Divided: When the Head and Heart DonÆt Agree, Bill Delvaux exposes this divide and offers strategies to tackle it. The actual journey to cross the divide is sketched out, an epic journey that will take us into our deepest fear and shame and on into the wonder of GodÆs presence. For becoming undivided is not just another task. ItÆs the pathway into the very heart of the Father. Features include: Strategies for closing the divide between head and heart Specific prayers for each stage of the spiritual journey Thought-provoking questions for spiritual conversation or reflection