Because He Lives . . .
As we celebrate the Resurrection of Christ, it is heartening to recall why this monumental historical event gives us a sure hope. Here are a few reasons I’ve been thinking about:
- Through the death of Jesus—God in the flesh—sinners can be reconciled to God (Rom. 5:10).
- Salvation is a free gift from God, available to all who will call on Jesus’ name (Eph. 2:8–9, Acts 2:21).
- Because Jesus lives, death no longer has a hold on those who know Him through salvation. To live is Christ; to die is gain (Phil. 1:21).
- When we are absent from the body, we will be instantly present with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:6–8).
- I lost my youngest sister a few weeks ago after a long battle with cancer. Because Jesus lives and we both know Him personally as Lord and Savior, I will see her again.
- There is no greater joy than knowing Jesus and living for Him (from my experience and that of so many others).
I wrote a song called “So Many Goodbyes” that talks about the hope we have in Jesus, even when we have to say goodbye to loved ones. For the next week, you can listen to the song in its entirety at my FaceBook music store here: https://www.facebook.com/JeanneGDennis/app_155326481208883.
May the Lord God of heaven grant you His hope, peace, love, and joy during this most joyous of seasons.
Beauty that’s Heart Deep
As we enter into spring and summer, we start shedding our warm clothing for styles that keep us cool. This is an especially important time for us to remember the true meaning of beauty, which according to the Bible, comes from within (1 Pet. 3:4). Now is also the time to teach our children about modesty. My latest guest, international model, speaker, author, and Bible teacher Rachel Lee Carter, addresses this topic in our interview here and in her book Fashioned by Faith: an International Model Uncovers the Truth about Modesty and Style.
Scripture speaks of the Lord’s beauty (Ps. 27:4; Ps. 90:17), and as believers, we reflect His glory and beauty as He makes us grow more and more into the image of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 3:18; Rom. 8:29). As Rachel Carter reminds us, our outside appearance should reflect what we are inside.
No matter what your age or your children’s ages, now is the time to model and teach modesty. Everything we do—including the way we dress—should reflect who we are in Jesus. When we wear clothing or allow our children to wear clothing that could cause temptation to others, we are not honoring God. We are also not honoring our bodies as the temple of the Holy Spirit by showing more skin than necessary.
As you shop for spring and summer clothing for your family, keep in mind that you represent Jesus Christ to the world. People do judge by appearances, so do everything you can to protect Christ’s witness in your life—and your wardrobe.
Happy Valentine’s Day – to All
Here at Heritage of Truth, we believe in marriage for life, and we know that when we allow Jesus to be Lord, both our lives and our marriages will be richer and more fulfilling.
Even if you have no one to celebrate with today, may your day be filled with the Love of Jesus, the One who gave His all for you . . . because God SO loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). His is the love that truly lasts forever.
Jeanne Dennis
My guest blogger for Valentine’s Day is Poppy Smith.
Five FREE Valentine Gifts He’ll Love
Does your marriage need some loving, tender care at Valentine’s? Thinking about some special gift just for him? Forget the new jeans, T-shirts, sweaters and even the latest smart phone. Here are five FREE gifts your husband will appreciate above everything else.
1. Acceptance: Recognize that you didn’t marry your best girlfriend, someone ready and willing to listen as you pour out deep feelings—over and over again. Accept that he has no desire to be a substitute girl friend. He doesn’t know what to do, or what you want from him. Show you love him for who he is: a human being who is not your mirror image.
2. Understanding: He doesn’t understand your emotional intensity because he’s not a woman. Hurling hurtful words when he doesn’t say what you want to hear, or do what any reasonable person should do on seeing your distress, only sends him back into his cave. Believe he loves you, and let him express it in a way that fits who he is.
3. Support: He might not always make the best decisions or ones you agree with, but you can still be supportive. When he messes up, tell him you care about him and focus on the things he does well rather than his failings. Speak gently, using words that soothe the situation rather than inflame it. Then work together on a solution.
4. Forgiveness: Release those hurts and offenses that happen in a relationship. Stewing over what he said, how he said it, when he said it, and what he really meant by it only sours your system. He’s human—just like you. Make a decision to move beyond what caused your negative feelings. Give him a free pass and a big snuggly hug.
5. Availability: Drop your to-do list. Put aside your plans. Tell him you’re available to do whatever he wants on Valentine’s Day (and beyond, if you’re feeling especially loving). Instead of forcing him into your pre-determined schedule, free yourself up to have fun together.
Marriage is a growing place. If yours has challenges, you’re not alone. Almost every marriage has struggles. But you get to choose how to respond to them. Valentine’s Day is an opportunity for both of you to strengthen your relationship. What better gifts can you give than acceptance, understanding, support, forgiveness, and availability? Wrap them in love and watch the joy flow.
About Poppy Smith
With her fun personality and passion for communicating life-changing truths, British-born Poppy Smith inspires audiences around the world to thrive spiritually, personally and relationally. She is a former Bible Study Fellowship Teacher, has a Masters in Spiritual Formation, and is the author of several books and Bible studies that help readers live successful and fulfilling lives. To contact Poppy, write to poppy@poppysmith.com, or visit her website: www.poppysmith.com
