To Encourage Your Heart

We are storytellers, and our favorite stories to tell are those that turn hearts toward God. And while everyone has their own unique story, it is through the telling of those stories that we are able to truly experience Him. In the midst of our joys and fears, hopes and challenges, we can see God there with us. Our hope is that as you read our stories, and the stories of others, that you will begin to see God in your story as well, and the role you play in Whispering GodÕs Grace to others.

The Crisis: People who are in rebellion are not the only ones with hard hearts. The dictionary defines hard when it applies to matters of the heart as being "cold; insensitive; callous; unfeeling; unyielding." This malady has stricken every Christian in some area of their life. This is what keeps us from hearing the voice of the Lord and being led by Him in our everyday lives. The Cause: The condition of our heart is determined by what we focus our attention on. It doesn't matter what we know, it's what we think on that controls whether our hearts is hard or soft (Proverbs 23:7). Once this is understood, this same law that will sensitize us towards God can be used to harden us towards the devil. The Cure: The Cure for a hardened heart is a total commitment to keep our minds stayed on the Lord. This teaching will give you one of the clearest understandings of the relationship between faith and unbelief that you have ever had.

All too often, simple acts of human kindness are often overlookedand under utilized by people in leadership roles. Advising mutualrespect and recognition of accomplishments, Encouraging the Heartshows us how true leaders encourage and motivate those they workwith by helping them find their voice and making them feel likeheroes. Recognized experts in the field of leadership, authorsJames Kouzes and Barry Posner show us that, through love, leaderscan encourage, and indeed allow those around them to be their verybest. Both practical and inspirational, Encouraging the Heart givesreaders a thoughtful approach to motivating individuals within anorganizational structure. Read Chapter 3 or Chapter 12, or see The Encouragement Index.

Does it sometimes feel as though painful events and circumstances have caused your heart to flatline? Have you been looking for a chance to change? If you know that something needs to be done, then hear God saying to you, "It's time." Give him permission to begin a work of healing within you. It's time to restart your heart. In this inspiring 21-day devotional, author and pastor Jentezen Franklin offers hope and encouragement to individuals seeking reconciliation, healing, and breakthrough. Pastor Jentezen shows you how to leave behind hurt and bitterness, and instead choose love and forgiveness, to release unfathomable freedom and joy in Christ. It is your season for healing. The Holy Spirit will help you in every single area of your life. Live in expectation!

In this uplifting book, Holley Gerth invites readers to sit down with her to be filled with the strength, peace, and joy that come from God's promises to us. Each of the 52 devotions based on the Psalms will help weary women remember that God is good and we're all in this together. Whether it's a bad hair day or a broken heart, Holley offers hope and encouragement to get us through whatever life brings. Women need that kind of encouragement because we all have hard days--days that make us want to give up, retreat inside ourselves, and drown our sorrows in a pint of ice cream. And while we may crave all sorts of things to ease the pain we feel in our hearts, what we really need is truth. We need to be confident in God's character and his promises. We need to remember--and celebrate--who he made us to be. And we need exactly the kind of encouragement Holley Gerth loves to offer.

Do Not Lose Heart is a legacy of encouragement for men and women struggling with the adversities of life. Whether the circumstance is divorce, the death of a loved one, the loss of a career, or a terminal illness, these brief, hope-filled devotions by Dave and Jan Dravecky and visionary paintings by Thomas Kinkade will minister comfort, understanding, and encouragement. Based on 2 Corinthians 4:6-18. Do Not Lose Heart affirms the deep peace that comes from trusting in a wise and loving God.

While we live in this challenging world, God reaches out to all whose hearts are full of fear, hurt, anger, discouragement, and hopelessness. It is Gods desire to take these hurtful emotions and replace them with His love, peace, joy hope, faith, and strength. Just as a full glass cannot contain one more drop of water without overflowing, so it is with our hearts. They are so full of the negative that there is no room for Gods positive. Follow me on the journey of heart healing as we learn to pour out our hearts to God and allow Him to refill them. Receive simple encouragement and instruction from His Word as we continue on the path of discovering the depths of His Love. It is possible to find peace while living in this world of care.