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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" xmlns:creativeCommons="http://backend.userland.com/creativeCommonsRssModule"><channel><title>Latest Articles from Heartlight</title><description>The latest articles from Heartlight.org. Ⓒ 1996-2025 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent.</description><link>https://www.heartlight.org/articles/</link><lastBuildDate>Thu, 18 Sep 2025 02:00:00 -0500</lastBuildDate><language>en</language> <copyright> Ⓒ 1996-2025 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent.</copyright><atom:link href="https://www.heartlight.org/rss/articles/all/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /><item><author>phil@heartlight.org (Phil Ware)</author><title>No Longer Any Sea</title><link>https://www.heartlight.org/articles/201511/20151102_nolongeranysea.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.heartlight.org/articles/201511/20151102_nolongeranysea.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en</guid><pubDate>Thu, 04 Sep 2025 02:00:00 -0500</pubDate><comments>https://www.heartlight.org/articles/201511/20151102_nolongeranysea.html#author</comments><source url="https://www.heartlight.org/articles/two_minute/">Two Minute Meditations from Heartlight</source> <description><img src="https://img.heartlight.org/articles/3350-large.jpg"><HR><em>The glorious future when the sea is no more!</em><HR><div> <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/spacer.gif" /> </div> The images in today's post are tough to see.<sup>* [<a href="#one">See Note</a>]</sup> Viewing them is tough because they are too true to our world right now. They are bitter reminders of the religious hatred, political instability, and the personal viciousness that lie in the hearts of fallen humanity. We live in the world with "the hurt" and it is a force we cannot manage. Our world is in bondage to decay, and it cries out for liberation <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Romans8.18-25?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Romans 8.18-25" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Romans 8:18-25</a>)</small>. In the worst of times, the problems of our world's brokenness overwhelm us. They not only overwhelm us individually, but they can overwhelm us as nations and as a world-wide community. Our impotence in dealing with this current hurt is a reminder that we can be overwhelmed at every human level with "the hurt" at almost any time! <div> <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/nomoresea/Slide3.jpg" width="570" /> </div> We don't need theology to tell us something's broken with our world. We see the results of this brokenness all around us. The picture of tiny Aidan, an innocent child, caught up in the rip tides of politics, economics, religion, hatred, ethnicity, and race, reminds us powerfully of the brokenness of our world. His lifeless body pushes us to see "the hurt" in human terms We know that "the hurt" is real. I know it personally. I was not allowed the immunity of childhood to protect me from "the hurt." Daddy Gordon, my grandfather on my mother's side, died without warning when I was 5. We had been fishing in the Gulf of Mexico the day before. The next night he was gone. I had to face "the hurt" with no tools through the emotional mist of a kid's confusion. Gary, a friend with whom I had tried to share Jesus in ninth grade, was killed riding on a motorcycle going to buy drugs. The guy driving the motorcycle was supposed to be a Christian. I had to face "the hurt" again when I was 15, still in the angst of being a teenager. My father, Daddy Al, died when I was 25 after a lengthy illness. Once again, now in the earliest stages of marriage and fatherhood, I had to face "the hurt." Only this time, I was more fully aware of the finality and all that is lost to "the hurt" even when that loss is framed by faith. The first three decades of my life were marked by life-shattering losses to "the hurt." However, compared to what many in our world face, I lived a blessed life! <div> <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/nomoresea/Slide7.jpg" width="570" /> </div> The brokenness of our world - dealing with the overwhelming nature of "the hurt" - is our inescapable reality as mere mortals. We must have an answer for life's biggest inescapable, "the hurt," or all of our other answers pale in significance. When the surging waves of our mortality overwhelm us, we have to have an answer for "the hurt" or the surging seas will swallow us in death and the winds of hell will rip apart all that we hold dear. <i>But thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!</i> I love that phrase from the apostle Paul <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Romans7.25?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Romans 7.25" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Romans 7:25</a>)</small>. Only now it is my exclamation of anticipated joy as I look at our passage today from Jesus' Revelation to John <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Revelation22.1?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Revelation 22.1" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Revelation 22:1</a>)</small>. Notice what is said at the end of the first verse: <i>...and there was no longer any sea!</i> How is that good news? Why is this reason to rejoice? I love the sea. There is some primal connection with me to waters of our creation. Why is this good? In the book of Revelation and much of the Bible, the sea is the source of the monsters of hell <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Revelation13.1?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Revelation 13.1" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Revelation 13:1</a>)</small>. In the Old Testament, the sea was symbolic of the monsters of chaos we cannot control: our primal fear of weather, oceans, fire, winds, and all the disasters of our fallen world <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Isaiah27.1-5?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Isaiah 27.1-5" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Isaiah 27:1-5</a>)</small>. The time is coming when all the chaos and monsters from hell and all that sea symbolize are gone! <div> <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/nomoresea/Slide5.jpg" width="570" /> </div> But what does that mean for you and me? Jesus' promise to us through John means that "the hurt" will be ended! John describes it in these ways. There will be <i>a new heaven and a new earth</i> <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Revelation22.1?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Revelation 22.1" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Revelation 22:1</a>)</small>. We will have connection with the best of God's original creative intention, but we will now be able to enjoy it in perfection, forever. The apostle Paul illustrated this contrast by telling us that in this life we see the seed of God's life for us, but then we will enjoy it in full bloom <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/1Corinthians15.35-49?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="1 Corinthians 15.35-49" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">1 Corinthians 15:35-49</a>)</small>. Jesus' promise to us through John means that God's people will become the Son's bride-the Church in all its imperfections, now perfected and beautified in the presence of her Savior <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Revelation22.2?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Revelation 22.2" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Revelation 22:2</a>)</small>. All that is good and joyous and eternal about heaven's hope will become present with God's people as they participate in the greatest wedding celebration of all time. Jesus' promise to us through John means that there will be no longer any separation between us and the Father <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Revelation21.3?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Revelation 21.3" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Revelation 21:3</a>)</small>. The Father will be present with us face to face. We will be like and will be able to see him as he is <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/1John3.1-3?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="1 John 3.1-3" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">1 John 3:1-3</a>)</small>. Jesus' promise to us through John means God <i>will wipe away every tear</i> from our eyes. One of God's first acts is to acknowledge our pain and then remove it forever <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Revelation21.4?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Revelation 21.4" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Revelation 21:4</a>)</small>:<ul> <li>Death is gone - so no mourning</li><li>Pain is gone - so no more crying and hurting.</li><li>Evil is gone. So what we can't control, the impact of evil people and a broken world - Gone.</li></ul>These are gone... but not just gone, banished... not just banished, but completely removed with even the residue and reminders of them taken from us and absorbed in the grace, glory, and holiness of God's presence with us. All things will be made new by their Creator <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Revelation1.5?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Revelation 1.5" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Revelation 1:5</a>)</small>. <div> <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/nomoresea/Slide6.jpg" width="570" /> </div> This is what being "saved at sea" ultimately means! All of our <a href="http://www.heartlight.org/articles/2015-savedatsea.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" Target="_blank"> other messages about being "Saved at Sea"</a> are anticipatory to this one, great, and final deliverance when <i>there is no longer any sea</i>! Now, all victories at sea are temporary. They are real, but they are only temporary. On this promised day, we won't just be saved at sea, but Jesus will permanently save us from the sea and all it symbolizes. The sea will be no more. Nothing that separates us from God and his goodness will be allowed to exist in his presence. We will be perfected, a beautiful bride for the King of Glory. And the world as we know it, both spiritual and physical, will be ours to enjoy. Only from this moment on, it will be re-created unspoiled, untainted, uncorrupted, and undefiled for us to share in the presence of God forever. The only adequate words left for us are those at the close of John's Revelation of Jesus Christ: <blockquote><i>Then he told me, "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll, because the time is near. Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy." "Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. "Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star." The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let the one who hears say, "Come!" Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.</i> <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Revelation22.10-17?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Revelation 22.10-17" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Revelation 22:10-17</a>)</small>.</blockquote> Yes, come Lord Jesus and bring an end to "the hurt"! <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/revelation21_1_5-2015-article.jpg" width="570" /> <a name="one" id="one"></a> <hr /> <sup>*</sup> Special Note:<blockquote>The images in today's post come from the agony and suffering of Syrian refugees trying to escape civil war, culture tumult, and the assault of ISIS. The final image is part of a collection of images in 1920 x 1080 format that can be seen here: <a href="..." target="_blank">I Make All Things New!</a> and can be downloaded for personal use, for teaching, and also for worship and preaching. <div> <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/spacer.gif" /> </div><hr><em>About the author: Phil Ware has authored 11 years of daily devotionals, including <a herf="http://www.verseoftheday.com" target="_blank">VerseoftheDay.com</a>, read by 500,000 people a day. He works with churches in transition with <a href="http://www.interimministrypartners.com" target="_blank">Interim Ministry Partners</a> and for the past 21+ years, he has been editor and president of HEARTLIGHT Magazine, author of <a href="http://www.verseoftheday.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" target="_blank">VerseoftheDay.com</a>, <a href="http://img.heartlight.org/in_articles/godsholyfire.com" target="_blank">God's Holy Fire</a> (on the Holy Spirit), and <a href="http://www.ayearwithJesus.com" target="_blank">aYearwithJesus.com</a>. Phil has also authored <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Phil+Ware+gospel" target="_blank">four books, daily devotionals on each of the four gospels</a>.</em></description> </item><item><author>phil@heartlight.org (Phil Ware)</author><title>Unhinderedly!</title><link>https://www.heartlight.org/articles/201509/20150907_unhinderedly.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.heartlight.org/articles/201509/20150907_unhinderedly.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en</guid><pubDate>Thu, 28 Aug 2025 02:00:00 -0500</pubDate><comments>https://www.heartlight.org/articles/201509/20150907_unhinderedly.html#author</comments><source url="https://www.heartlight.org/articles/two_minute/">Two Minute Meditations from Heartlight</source> <description><img src="https://img.heartlight.org/articles/3326-large.jpg"><HR><em>God will get us where we need to be when we need to be there!</em><HR> <a name="top" id="top"></a> <blockquote><i>I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ</i> <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Philippians1.6?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Philippians 1.6" data-version="esv" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Philippians 1:6 ESV</a>)</small>.</blockquote> While these may be easy words to say, they are much harder words to live. Yet the people who first heard these words knew that Paul shared them with conviction and passion. He wrote from prison.<small><sup><a href="#note">*note</a></sup></small> He was under house arrest awaiting trial before Caesar and was chained to a Roman soldier <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Acts28.20?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Acts 28.20" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Acts 28:20</a>; <a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Philippians1.7?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Philippians 1.7" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Philippians 1:7</a>; <a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Ephesians6.20?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Ephesians 6.20" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Ephesians 6:20</a>; <a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Colossians4.12?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Colossians 4.12" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Colossians 4:12</a>)</small>. When Paul had first set foot on the shores of Italy, he had been welcomed by believers from Rome. Even though he was a prisoner of Rome, they were not ashamed to be identified with him and accompanied him on his journey to Rome <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Acts28.11-16?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Acts 28.11-16" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Acts 28:11-16</a>)</small>. While under house arrest, Paul had spoken to Jews and non-Jews about Jesus. Some had listened and became followers of the Lord <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Acts28.17-31?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Acts 28.17-31" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Acts 28:17-31</a>)</small>. In fact, some who guarded Paul became his brothers in Christ <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Philippians1.17?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Philippians 1.17" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Philippians 1:17</a>)</small>. Paul knew he could be executed because of his current imprisonment. Yet he was confident that he would be released. Through the prayers of believers and the power of the Holy Spirit, he was confident that he would again serve his brothers and sisters in Macedonia <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Philippians1.18-26?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Philippians 1.18-26" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Philippians 1:18-26</a>)</small>. <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/sas9/Slide4.JPG" width="570" /> Paul was under a God-ordained calling to go to Rome. He had written to the believers in Rome that God was leading him to come to Rome <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Romans1.15?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Romans 1.15" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Romans 1:15</a>)</small>. Even while enjoying a great victory over demons, sorcery, and witchcraft in Ephesus, he didn't hesitate to move forward. Paul told the Ephesians that he had to move on to Rome <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Acts19.21?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Acts 19.21" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Acts 19:21</a>)</small>. After Paul's arrest, assassination plots were planned by his enemies. When everything and everyone seemed to be against him, God revealed that he would go to Rome <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Acts23.11?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Acts 23.11" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Acts 23:11</a>)</small>. This was important to him, because Paul was compelled by the love of Christ. His call was to share the message of Jesus to those who had never heard it <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Acts20.24?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Acts 20.24" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Acts 20:24</a>; <a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Romans15.20-29?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Romans 15.20-29" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Romans 15:20-29</a>)</small>. He was also committed to encouraging the believers in Rome <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Romans1.11-13?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Romans 1.11-13" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Romans 1:11-13</a>)</small>. Getting to Rome, however, was quite a challenge. Yet God was faithful and Paul could say: <blockquote><i>I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ</i> <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Philippians1.6?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Philippians 1.6" data-version="esv" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Philippians 1:6 ESV</a>)</small>.</blockquote> Paul passionate lived convinced that these words were true. His journey to Rome was filled with all sorts of twists and turns. Luke's account of Paul's journey by sea to Rome in chapters 27 and 28 of Acts are as exciting as any young adult adventure novel. Plots to assassinate him were followed by trials and intrigue - read Acts chapters 21-26. Then Paul boarded a ship under arrest headed to Rome where he would appeal to Caesar for his deliverance. Slow sailing in the early part of the trip meant that the owner of the ship and the captain had to decide whether to try to make it to Rome in the dangerous late October weather. Paul warned them to wait, but they set sail. Things went from boring in the early part of the trip, to bad winds, to worse winds, to terror filled storms, to plots to kill the prisoners including Paul to keep them from escaping, to schemes by some sailors to steal a lifeboat and get away, to tossing out all the tackle, to throwing overboard all the supplies, to holding the ship together with ropes, and finally to running aground in a storm. When the ship broke up in the crashing waves driven by the storm, all prisoners escaped to the island of Malta. On shore, this mixed group of sailors, prisoners, and soldiers was warmly greeted. As the nearly 300 men tried to warm themselves by fire, a viper came out of the burning wood and fastened itself to the hand of Paul. Paul shook it off and was unharmed by the venom. This incident opened the door for Paul to minister to the people there. When winter passed, the group sailed to Italy, and Paul was accompanied by believers as they walked him from the coast to the imperial city of Rome. <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/sas9/Slide5.JPG" width="570" /> <blockquote><i>I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ</i> <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Philippians1.6?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Philippians 1.6" data-version="esv" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Philippians 1:6 ESV</a>)</small>.</blockquote> Luke ends Paul's story in the book of Acts a triumphant, yet ungrammatical ending. In the original language, Luke's last word is an adverb often translated <i>"without hindrance."</i> Literally, the word could be translated in its adverbial form as <i>"unhinderedly"</i>! Led by the Spirit, Luke wanted this last word of the book of Acts to ring in the ears of disciples of every generation until Jesus returned: <i>"Unhinderedly"</i>! Despite hardship, opposition, and near death experiences, God brought Paul to Rome as he had promised. Paul shared the message of Jesus to both Jews and non-Jews while under house arrest. He wrote several of his most powerful letters to churches - Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon, and Philippians. <small><sup><a href="#note">*note</a></sup></small> Paul's story was the living example of the assurance he offered to his beloved brothers and sisters in Philippi. <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/sas9/Slide3.JPG" width="570" /> Today, in a world growing more hostile toward those who believe Scripture and who follow Jesus, we must remember these powerful words of Paul to the Philippians. Our struggles are not forgotten. Our cause is not going to fail. Our impact on the world will not pass into non-existence even under the assault of time and culture. The Holy Spirit will empower us to bring grace to the lost and encouragement to the fainting. The Lord Jesus will continue as head of his body, the church. The question is whether we - whether you and whether I - will be faithful to the Lord Jesus who has called us. Because... I want to finish with a final word for those who might be struggling with your faith or who are toiling for the Lord and in a life situation under great discouragement. Satan will do everything in his power to make you feel like you have wasted your life by following Jesus. He wants you to feel like your work for the Lord have been in vain. He wants you to believe that you have wasted our efforts and didn't accomplish what God called you to do. Dear friend in Jesus, please remember that the Lord will not let your life be wasted. The Lord sent the apostles to collect twelve baskets of leftovers after feeding the 5,000. He will not allow your efforts and your life to be wasted. Even if you mismanaged your life, the Lord can use your last hours, days, months, and years to impact others. Paul's promise for the Philippians is your promise as well. So don't give up. Don't give in to discouragement. Remember... <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/sas9/Slide2.JPG" width="570" /> <a name="note" id="note"></a> <hr /> <small><sup>*note</sup></small> <small>This accounting of Paul's story assumes that Philippians was written during Paul's house arrest in Rome. While there are other suggestions for the time of Paul's writing the Philippians, that date does not alter the point of what is shared here and seems the less likely background for Paul's letter to me. [<a href="#top">Return to Top</a>]</small><hr><em>About the author: Phil Ware has authored 11 years of daily devotionals, including <a herf="http://www.verseoftheday.com" target="_blank">VerseoftheDay.com</a>, read by 500,000 people a day. He works with churches in transition with <a href="http://www.interimministrypartners.com" target="_blank">Interim Ministry Partners</a> and for the past 21+ years, he has been editor and president of HEARTLIGHT Magazine, author of <a href="http://www.verseoftheday.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" target="_blank">VerseoftheDay.com</a>, <a href="http://img.heartlight.org/in_articles/godsholyfire.com" target="_blank">God's Holy Fire</a> (on the Holy Spirit), and <a href="http://www.ayearwithJesus.com" target="_blank">aYearwithJesus.com</a>. Phil has also authored <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Phil+Ware+gospel" target="_blank">four books, daily devotionals on each of the four gospels</a>.</em></description> </item><item><author>phil@heartlight.org (Phil Ware)</author><title>A Charcoal Fire & the Smell of Redemption</title><link>https://www.heartlight.org/articles/201508/20150817_charcoalfire.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.heartlight.org/articles/201508/20150817_charcoalfire.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en</guid><pubDate>Thu, 21 Aug 2025 02:00:00 -0500</pubDate><comments>https://www.heartlight.org/articles/201508/20150817_charcoalfire.html#author</comments><source url="https://www.heartlight.org/articles/two_minute/">Two Minute Meditations from Heartlight</source> <description><img src="https://img.heartlight.org/articles/3316-large.jpg"><HR><em>Why make someone relive his or her sin, why not just ignore it?</em><HR><hr /> <div> <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/spacer.gif" /> </div> I've just got to have some steak!" I surprised myself when I said this out loud while sweeping my back porch. But my stomach was growling, and I couldn't think of anything else but a charcoal-grilled steak to fix that growing ache in my belly. So I went inside and told my wife, "I've got to have some steak!" After a pause, I continued, "I don't care if we go to Outback, Beehive, or even if I grill it myself, but I've got to have some steak." Donna laughed and said, "And you know why you're wanting steak?" "Not really," I replied. "You're smelling our neighbors grilling outside, and now you want what they're cooking!" BINGO! She was right. I opened the back door, and our yard was filled with the aroma and smoke of someone nearby grilling steak. That aroma had awakened something deep inside me that triggered my "I've got to have some steak!" response. Two significant events in Jesus' preparation of the apostles occurred around the smell of a charcoal fire. The term "charcoal fire" (in Greek, <i>anthrakia</i>) occurs in the New Testament in two places, both in the gospel of John. The first involves Peter's three denials of the Lord <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/John18.15-27?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="John 18.15-27" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">John 18:15-27</a>; esp. <a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/John18.18?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="John 18.18" data-version="esv" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">John 18:18 ESV</a>)</small>. The second involves Jesus' restoration of Peter to ministry after a miraculous catch of fish <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/John21.1-22?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="John 21.1-22" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">John 21:1-22</a>; esp. <a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/John21.9?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="John 21.9" data-version="esv" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">John 21:9 ESV</a>)</small>. <div> <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/sas10/Slide3.JPG" width="570" /> </div> This little detail of personal memory is rooted in the sensory experience of the distinct aroma of a charcoal fire. It links these two events both in terms of a visceral response for both John and Peter as well as functions as a key connection between the two events in John's gospel. In cornbread English, John is telling us that the smell of a charcoal fire evoked the memory of Peter's three denials until it was supplanted by the memory of Peter's restoration by the Lord in front of a charcoal fire. The bottom line:<blockquote>At a charcoal fire, Peter had betrayed the Lord!<br><br>At a charcoal fire, the Lord restored Peter!</blockquote> At the post-resurrection appearance of Jesus by the Sea of Galilee, Jesus does the important work of calling Peter back to ministry and then restoring Peter to his leadership position among the apostles <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/John21.1-22?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="John 21.1-22" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">John 21:1-22</a>)</small>. Jesus does this in a situation that echoes Peter's original call to follow the Lord <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Luke5.1-11?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Luke 5.1-11" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Luke 5:1-11</a>)</small>. Interestingly and importantly, Jesus does not let Peter off the hook. Jesus didn't look the other way and simply ignore Peter's sinful failures. Peter hadn't just denied the Lord that night, but he did so after claiming superiority to his fellow apostles. Peter had shown a desire to be first before he failed miserably at being faithful. Both sins would have sabotaged his leadership in the early church and among the apostles. <div> <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/sas10/Slide7.JPG" width="570" /> </div> When Jesus had originally warned Peter of his impending denials, it was in the context of Jesus washing his disciples' feet. At first, Peter did not want the Lord to wash his feet, even though the Lord washed the feet of the other disciples. Then after the Lord's rebuke, in typical Peter fashion, Peter wanted to be washed all over <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/John13.1-11?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="John 13.1-11" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">John 13:1-11</a>)</small>. Jesus then warned his apostles that one would betray him, and all the rest would abandon him. The Lord specifically warned Peter that he would deny him three times that very night. Still not recognizing his own vulnerability, Peter claimed that no matter what others did, he would remain faithful even if it meant dying for the Lord <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/John13.21-38?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="John 13.21-38" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">John 13:21-38</a>)</small>. Peter failed despite his brash promises. Peter failed despite claiming to love the Lord more than the others and being more faithful to the Lord than his fellow disciples. Peter's denial of the Lord was the complete failure of Peter to live up to his word and his brash promises. Peter's denial of the Lord was the complete failure of Peter to be loyal to the Lord he claimed to love. <div> <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/sas10/Slide8.JPG" width="570" /> </div> After the Lord's resurrection, Peter still had influence as a natural leader. <i>"I'm going out to fish"</i>, Peter said to some of his apostle buddies. Despite Peter's failures and arrogance, the other apostles followed Peter into the boat and went fishing <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/John21.1-3?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="John 21.1-3" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">John 21:1-3</a>)</small>. Peter may still have been a brash natural leader, but Jesus didn't want a natural leader. The Lord wanted a restored spiritual leader. Jesus wanted Peter to be a leader with integrity and who knew his own vulnerabilities. Failure wasn't the issue. Every human leader will fail at some point. The issue for Jesus was that Peter had to own his failures. Peter needed to humble himself before the Lord and before those he let down with his arrogance and denials. Only then could the Lord raise Peter back from failure and restore him to leadership. Only after Peter could acknowledge his failure - an admission that had to come from his heart - would he be ready for leadership. <div> <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/sas10/Slide4.JPG" width="570" /> </div> In our experience with leaders who sin today, we often toss them into one ditch of destruction or the other. We either gloat over, gossip about or pour shame out on leaders who sin publicly. We're used to doing this because of the popularity of gossip magazines and TV shows about entertainers. So we jump in and do the same thing to those among us who fail in our Christian family. We perpetuate and spread the gangrenous poison of one sin through our own sin. Or on the other hand, we try to be nice and say we don't want to judge them too harshly; so we end up ignoring their sin. Sometimes this means allowing a leader to continue without ever repenting. Other times we quietly ostracize that person by simply ignoring them and putting them on the back shelf of irrelevance and disassociation. Either way, the leader - our Christian brother or sister - is not restored to life and ministry in the Lord. So let's look at a few principles Jesus demonstrated with Peter and see if we can learn to focus on being redemptive when those we love and those who lead are caught in sinful failure. So what does Jesus do with Peter to restore him? <ul> <li>First, he challenged Peter's claims of superior strength and faithfulness in front of the very apostles that he made the brash statements:<blockquote><i>When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?"</i> <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/John21.15?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="John 21.15" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">John 21:15</a>)</small>.</blockquote></li> <li>Next, Jesus challenged Peter on his failure to love and his faithfulness. He kept asking Peter if he loved him until Peter "got it." It took three times - just like Peter denied the Lord three times - before Peter heard the rooster crow again:<blockquote><i>The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?"</i> <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/John21.16-17?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="John 21.16-17" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">John 21:16-17</a>)</small></blockquote></li> <li>Next, notice that Jesus restored him to ministry three times:<blockquote><i>Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." ... Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep." ... Jesus said, "Feed my sheep"</i> <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/John21.15-17?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="John 21.15-17" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">John 21:15-17</a>)</small>.</blockquote></li> <li>Even after all the grace that Jesus had shown Peter and even after Peter was cut to the heart about his denial of the Lord three times, the Lord still needed to deal with Peter's sinful heart that lay behind the failure. Peter had one more go at the sin of being most important, not wanting any of Jesus' apostles to be more important than he was <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/John21.18-22?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="John 21.18-22" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">John 21:18-22</a>)</small>. Jesus, however, didn't back away from Peter and let this arrogance issue go. Instead, Jesus told Peter to quit comparing importance, and then told him:<blockquote><i>"If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you? You must follow Me!"</i> <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/John21.22?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="John 21.22" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">John 21:22</a>)</small></blockquote></li> </ul> <div> <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/sas10/Slide5.JPG" width="570" /> </div> For me, there are two crucial elements I need to notice and then put into practice as one who claims to follow Jesus. Here's the first: People can fail miserably and be restored. The goal is not just to get them forgiven. The goal in dealing with those who have sinfully failed is not just to get them cleansed. The goal is to get the sinful brother or sister restored - restored to place, restored to acceptance, and restored to ministry. Restored means they are put back into the place they were before as someone healed. An example might be a great women's gymnast who broke her ankle. That ankle needed surgery to set and repair the damaged connective tissue and bones. It needed to be cleaned of debris and scar tissue caused by the damage. That ankle needed some form of casting to stabilize the damage. Then the ankle and surrounding muscles, tendons, and bones needed to be rehabbed to regain range of motion and strength. Then the gymnast needed to go through training to regain form. But the goal is to restore her to the team and return her to competition! This progression was the work Jesus demonstrated to us with Peter. In Peter's case, Jesus had to help Peter reach the point where he was genuinely convicted of his sin. Peter had to admit he was broken, and that he needed to be re-set, cleansed, stabilized, rehabbed, and restored. Those he had let down, those to whom he had claimed to be superior had to be part of the process so he could be restored to the team and restored to leadership and ministry. <div> <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/sas10/Slide6.JPG" width="570" /> </div> Here's the second crucial element: We can move past our own sinful failure and be restored to ministry. If you are like me, you find it easy not to face past failures. We don't smell redemption when we face our next "charcoal fire": we smell failure. Jesus worked to re-route the smell of charcoal in Peter from failure to restoration, from sin to grace, and from unfaithfulness to called back to ministry. Who is the primary one who declared that Jesus is both Lord and Christ at Pentecost? It is Peter. Peter takes the lead in Jerusalem and the early church because the Lord changed the smell of his "charcoal fire" from denial to restoration. While we all need help to overcome our sinful failures, thankfully the Lord is faithful to us even when we have not been faithful to him. That is why we must band together and be the people of Jesus and move those who have sinfully failed to those who have been restored to faithful ministry. Anything less and we are not the people of the Lord! <div> <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/sas10/Slide9.JPG" width="570" /> </div> <hr /> For your own admission of sinful failure, David's psalm of contrition, confession, and forgiveness is waiting for you to put your heart behind his words and receive the Father's grace. Click the link and read <a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Psalm51.1-17?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Psalm 51.1-17" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Psalm 51:1-17</a> and then share your struggle with a trusted brother or sister in Christ. The Lord Jesus longs to restore and heal us from our past and return us to life, health, and ministry! <div> <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/sas10/Slide10.JPG" width="570" /> </div> <p class="article-credit">Special thanks to <a href="http://freebibleimages.org" target="_blank">Free Bible Images</a> and the <a href="http://lumoproject.com" target="_blank">Lumo Project</a> for their graphics related to the ministry of Jesus!</p> <div> <img source="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/spacer.gif" /> </div> <hr /><hr><em>About the author: Phil Ware has authored 11 years of daily devotionals, including <a herf="http://www.verseoftheday.com" target="_blank">VerseoftheDay.com</a>, read by 500,000 people a day. He works with churches in transition with <a href="http://www.interimministrypartners.com" target="_blank">Interim Ministry Partners</a> and for the past 21+ years, he has been editor and president of HEARTLIGHT Magazine, author of <a href="http://www.verseoftheday.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" target="_blank">VerseoftheDay.com</a>, <a href="http://img.heartlight.org/in_articles/godsholyfire.com" target="_blank">God's Holy Fire</a> (on the Holy Spirit), and <a href="http://www.ayearwithJesus.com" target="_blank">aYearwithJesus.com</a>. Phil has also authored <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Phil+Ware+gospel" target="_blank">four books, daily devotionals on each of the four gospels</a>.</em></description> </item><item><author>phil@heartlight.org (Phil Ware)</author><title>Courage! I AM! Quit Fearing!</title><link>https://www.heartlight.org/articles/201508/20150803_sas07_IAM.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.heartlight.org/articles/201508/20150803_sas07_IAM.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en</guid><pubDate>Thu, 14 Aug 2025 02:00:00 -0500</pubDate><comments>https://www.heartlight.org/articles/201508/20150803_sas07_IAM.html#author</comments><source url="https://www.heartlight.org/articles/two_minute/">Two Minute Meditations from Heartlight</source> <description><img src="https://img.heartlight.org/articles/3309-large.jpg"><HR><em>Can we see the LORD in middle of our storms?</em><HR><div> <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/spacer.gif" border="0" /> </div> Sometimes the most powerful things come in small packages. Last week, we looked at the book of Jonah with four chapters. Today, we look at only twelve verses in the gospel of Matthew and will focus on five specific words: "Courage. I AM. Quit Fearing!" <blockquote><i>Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." </i>[The five words in Greek here could be literally translated: "Courage! I AM! Quit Fearing!"]<i> "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." "Come," Jesus said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down</i> <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Matthew14.22-32?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Matthew 14.22-32" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Matthew 14:22-32</a>)</small></blockquote> <div align="left"> <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/sas7/Slide8.JPG" width="570" border="0" /> </div> This little stick of dynamite made up of these five simple words - "Courage! I AM! Quit fearing!" - lets Jesus speak to us on two different levels as his disciples. In this short event, Matthew gives us a message as individual disciples. This message is given to help us in those times when we are caught in our own personal LIFE-STORMS. Matthew also gives us another message for leaders. Through the lens of the apostle Peter, Jesus reminds us how to lead others as we try to serve others through our shared LIFE-STORMS. Let's look at each of these in a little more detail. As we do, let's ask, "What can I do and what should I know as we face our LIFE-STORMS?" We're all going to have LIFE-STORMS. We live in a broken world where bad things happen to good people. We are regularly confronted with all sorts of unfair challenges that can be caused by health problems, unfairness, world economic issues, unscrupulous people, betrayal by those close to us, natural disasters, and a host of other things. So we need to be prepared for these unwanted storms. We will focus first on Jesus' message to us as individuals. What is Jesus saying to each of us personally in our own individual LIFE-STORMS? What do Jesus' five words - <i>"Courage. I AM. Quit fearing!"</i> - really mean for us? <div align="left"> <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/sas7/Slide15.JPG" width="570" border="0" /> </div> Jesus' words powerfully echo God's words to Moses at the burning bush <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Exodus3.1-15?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Exodus 3.1-15" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Exodus 3:1-15</a>)</small>. God revealed himself to Moses and called him to redeem the children of Israel from the bondage of Egypt. The LORD revealed himself through the name <i>"I AM,"</i> the God who is and was and always will be. He also identifies himself as the <i>God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob</i>. Then, God reveals himself as the LORD (YHWH) and tells Moses that he is about to act powerfully for his people:<blockquote><i>"I have indeed seen the misery of my people... I have heard them crying out... I am concerned about their suffering... So I have come down to rescue them..."</i> <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Exodus3.7-8?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Exodus 3.7-8" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Exodus 3:7-8</a>)</small>.</blockquote> Jesus is reminding us that he is "I AM." HE is our God. He is our LORD, who worked through the history of Israel to bring deliverance, redemption, and salvation. This God preserved his people through all sorts of "impossible" challenges over the course of centuries and generation-upon-generation. He will never leave us or forsake us <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Hebrews13.5?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Hebrews 13.5" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Hebrews 13:5</a>)</small>. He will allow nothing to separate us from his love for us <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Romans8.38-39?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Romans 8.38-39" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Romans 8:38-39</a>)</small>. So in the storm, let's look for our LORD. Let's ask him to reveal his presence to us and guide us to where he wants us to be. Let's trust that Jesus is with us and that Jesus is the great <i>"I AM"</i>! No matter what our circumstances are at the moment, no matter our doubts, no matter what Satan is trying to do to make us ashamed or afraid, we can choose to believe the promises of Jesus as the great "I AM"! He will not abandon us or leave us. He is working in our LIFE-STORM to bring us deliverance. He is there with us in the roiling waves and the fearsome winds and the driving rain. We can choose to believe he is there, but it is hard to do on our own. So we must choose to stay connected to the Lord's people and not be too proud to admit our fears and our doubts. <div align="left"> <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/sas7/Slide18.JPG" width="570" border="0" /> </div> Sometimes, however, we need help remembering that the LORD is tangibly with us. Rather than seeing ourselves as fellow disciples of Jesus caught in a LIFE-STORM with other disciples in the same boat, we often feel alone and vulnerable as we face our LIFE-STORMS. I am reminded of the often-told story about the little boy in a new house who is scared of the lightning and thunder. He repeatedly ran into his mom and dad's room seeking comfort and reassurance during the storm. Each time the boy hopped in bed with them, they let him stay for a few minutes. Then, his daddy would tuck him back into bed. Finally, as the dad could hear the storm moving off in the other direction, he tucked his son in bed and said, "You know God will take care of you. You don't need to be afraid." The little boy looked up at his daddy and said, "Yes daddy, God will take care of me. But sometimes, daddy, I just need God with skin on. Can you please stay with me until I go to sleep?" Satan wants to keep us isolated. He wants us to feel alone in our LIFE-STORMS. Sooner or later, each of us will need "God with skin on Him" - we need the reassurance of our brothers and sisters in Christ who can be the physical touch, concern, and support of God. Jesus reminds us in this story that he often comes and ministers to us personally, even individually, when we recognize we are in the boat together facing our LIFE-STORMS. We are not alone. Even when no one has the answer to our problems, there is something about being together and seeking the presence of the Lord that restores us and empowers us to keep going! But what is this event on the Sea of Galilee saying to us as leaders? And what if we don't consider ourselves a leader, does this message speak anything to us? <div align="left"> <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/sas7/Slide19.JPG" width="570" border="0" /> </div> Peter becomes the window for all of us find additional ways to welcome Jesus into our LIFE-STORMs. His actions make him an especially good window for leaders to see how Jesus can help them. What the Lord does for Peter and with Peter are equally applicable for all of us. Yet before you rule yourself out as a leader, please remember the truth about leadership: influence is leadership. Many of us are leaders who don't really recognize our leadership. If we are in any position of influence, then we lead. We might be a leader in our family, at our work, in our school or our children's school, among those in our community, through the media or social media, in our congregations, life groups, and missional communities. So let's look at Jesus' response to Peter in this event on the Sea of Galilee recognizing that Jesus is preparing Peter to be a great leader. Jesus is with us as leaders just as he is with us in our personal lives. As leaders, we are reminded by Peter's words and actions in this event. Peter reminds us that we need to ask for the LORD's presence, help, and guidance. Like Peter, we need to say, <i>"Lord if it's you... tell me to come to you...!"</i> <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Matthew14.28?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Matthew 14.28" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Matthew 14:28</a>)</small>. In today's circles of church leadership, many can talk the language of leadership. Some can speak the language of the latest church gurus. However, the real question is whether or not we, as leaders, are really looking to Jesus to direct us and help us as we lead? Are we seeking to lead our people only into the places, the opportunities, and the missions where Jesus has called us to go? In the middle of our storms, do we panic and resort to our own insight rather than the leading of the Lord? Peter reminds us that our first response in LIFE-STORMS, whether personal or shared, must be to look for Jesus! <div align="left" hspace="15" > <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/sas7/Slide21.JPG" width="570" border="0" /> </div> Leaders, often at no fault of their own, can get into storms too big for them to handle. When they do, even the most spiritual can sometimes take their eyes off of Christ and be overwhelmed by the raging storm around them. When we find ourselves in such situations, we need to openly and unashamedly cry out, "Lord, we need your help. We need you! Save us!" Thankfully Jesus still reaches down and saves his leaders when we call out to him. He reminds us that we need to have faith, but in a loving way like he did with Peter: <i>"You of little faith... why did you doubt?"</i> <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Matthew14.31?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Matthew 14.31" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Matthew 14:31</a>)</small>. Even the Lord's gentle reprimand is a reminder of his gracious presence in our storms to help us and save us if we will look for him and call out to him for help. When we are willing to take Jesus into our boat, when we are willing to put him into the control room of our lives, he still calms LIFE-STORMS. He joins us in our fear and struggle. He gets us where we NEED to be to most effectively serve Him. He uses our LIFE-STORMS to prepare us for bigger challenges and greater opportunities. But most importantly, the LORD wants us to look for him in our most challenging situations. He wants us to call on him in our most trying and fearful moments. Through all circumstances of life, Jesus comes to us and says, <i>"Courage. I AM. Quit fearing!"</i> The real question is whether or not we will look to him in our storms! <hr> <small>Special thanks to the incredible work of the team who produced <i><a href="http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/easy_find?Ntt=The+Bible+Mini-series&N=0&Ntk=keywords&action=Search&Ne=0&event=ESRCG&nav_search=1&cms=1" target="_blank">The Bible Epic Miniseries</a></i> for the images. This visual quality series is worth your investment.</small><hr><em>About the author: Phil Ware has authored 11 years of daily devotionals, including <a herf="http://www.verseoftheday.com" target="_blank">VerseoftheDay.com</a>, read by 500,000 people a day. He works with churches in transition with <a href="http://www.interimministrypartners.com" target="_blank">Interim Ministry Partners</a> and for the past 21+ years, he has been editor and president of HEARTLIGHT Magazine, author of <a href="http://www.verseoftheday.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" target="_blank">VerseoftheDay.com</a>, <a href="http://img.heartlight.org/in_articles/godsholyfire.com" target="_blank">God's Holy Fire</a> (on the Holy Spirit), and <a href="http://www.ayearwithJesus.com" target="_blank">aYearwithJesus.com</a>. Phil has also authored <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Phil+Ware+gospel" target="_blank">four books, daily devotionals on each of the four gospels</a>.</em></description> </item><item><author>phil@heartlight.org (Phil Ware)</author><title>Saved From... Saved For!</title><link>https://www.heartlight.org/articles/201507/20150727_savedfor.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.heartlight.org/articles/201507/20150727_savedfor.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en</guid><pubDate>Thu, 07 Aug 2025 02:00:00 -0500</pubDate><comments>https://www.heartlight.org/articles/201507/20150727_savedfor.html#author</comments><source url="https://www.heartlight.org/articles/two_minute/">Two Minute Meditations from Heartlight</source> <description><img src="https://img.heartlight.org/articles/3307-large.jpg"><HR><em>We don't want to be swimming with Jonah on the shoreline!</em><HR><div> <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/spacer.gif" /> </div> Jonah may be the most classic "Saved at Sea" story in the Bible! You have a storm, a boat, sailors in panic mode, a man thrown overboard, the lives of tens of thousands of people at stake, and you have a runaway prophet with a suspect pedigree. You don't get a much better story line anywhere. Only this "Saved at Sea" story has an important point that often gets lost - lost in the Jonah story and lost in modern evangelicalism. God saves us <b>FROM</b> sin, death, and hell <b>FOR</b> his purpose of redeeming a lost world. This was true when God called Abraham and gave him the great promises <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Genesis12.1-3?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Genesis 12.1-3" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Genesis 12:1-3</a>)</small>. It is true for us today. We aren't saved to go to church, to be nice, or to control politics. We're saved for the same reason Jonah was: God graciously loves us and wants to give us the privilege of living out his divine purpose for us:<blockquote><i>For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them</i> <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Ephesians2.8-10?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Ephesians 2.8-10" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Ephesians 2:8-10</a>)</small>.</blockquote>So there's today's message tucked into one nice long paragraph with a Bible verse. But if you quit reading now, you will miss a whale of a story! A little over a week ago, I was on a bus traveling through the slums of northern Lima, Peru. I was praying and trying not to hold my breath because I was so excited. Nelvis wanted to be baptized. Nelvis is an incredible young man I have known for several years from <a href=http://peru-orphans.com target="_blank">la Communidad de los Niños - Sagrada Familia</a>. Nearly always in such situations, the devil throws a curveball or two. He did that morning as well, but Jesus helped us hit those curveballs out of the park! I was privileged to baptize Nelvis in the Pacific before our church service. Later, Donna and I sat by Nelvis as he took Communion for the first time with a small congregation that has been planted at this special place for 950+ kids ranging in age from 9 months to 19 years. (You see Nelvis and I arm in arm headed to a cave in that rock formation under the yellow sign in the picture below. The cave was our changing room after the baptism.) <div align="left" border="0"> <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/sas6/Slide2.JPG" width="570" border="0" /> </div> Every night for weeks to come, Donna and I will think of Nelvis going out to live alone in the shantytown near Sagrada Familia. He will go into a 10 ft. x 10 ft. one-room, thin-walled wood structure with a tin roof. His mother is dead. His dad works far away. His older siblings are at the university paying their own way. And Nelvis is my son in the faith thousands of miles away in a dangerous place alone. <div align="left" border="0"> <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/sas6/Slide3.JPG" width="570" border="0" /> </div> He is part of a community of children that Donna and I have served over six years. You can see over 1000 of us crammed into a space the size of the gym getting ready to rock the place with songs of praise. God has called us to be part of the team that brings Jesus to these kids. Of course, my dream was to help plant a church among the children and families nearby. When we first came to Peru, we began working with 3 to 6-year-olds who are now older. While we spend about 90 minutes among the little ones in the morning, most of the day is with teenagers who are serious about Jesus and about studying the Bible in English. <div align="left" border="0"> <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/sas6/Slide4.JPG" width="570" border="0" /> </div> The community of children and the surrounding poor neighborhoods are part of metropolitan Lima - approximately 10 million people. What you see here is the beautiful area of Miraflores near where we stay. Like several other cities in South America, I feel a special love and responsibility for Lima. But Lima is extra-special. Our 24-year-old Spanish translator for <a href=http://votd.me target="_blank">VerseoftheDay.com</a> also lives here, and he is like a son to us. I'm coaching several on the team there who are not yet Christians, but who help us in our week on the ground. I love that God called me to Lima to be a part of this special week and stay in contact throughout the year! <div align="left" border="0"> <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/sas6/Slide5.JPG" width="570" border="0" /> </div> Jonah was called to go speak for God to one of the great ancient cities of the world. This great city had a large population with incredible buildings and structures. That city was Nineveh. You are looking at a painting of the Assyrian palaces of ancient Nineveh. This is where God called Jonah to go preach. There was, however, one problem... a huge problem... a major problem... Nineveh was the most dangerous enemy of the Israelites in Jonah's day. They were terrifying warriors known for their brutality and the obliteration of people groups and their identities. <div align="left" border="0"> <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/sas6/Slide7.JPG" width="570" border="0" /> </div> Assyria's domination and destruction of Israel may be one of the reasons why ISIS targeted Mosul, Iraq, as their first major city to capture. Mosul is the modern city built upon the ancient city of Nineveh. Jonah was called by God to preach to Israel's most feared, most hated, most violent, and most threatening enemy. <b>Is anybody volunteering to do the modern going to Nineveh equivalent today? Yeah, now you get a glimpse of how Jonah felt.</b> This why the story of Jonah should resonate so powerfully for us today. This isn't just a story from long ago and far away, but it's from yesterday's newspaper and this morning's CNN report. <div align="left" border="0"> <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/sas6/Slide8.JPG" width="570" border="0" /> </div> So let's do a 30,000-foot flyover of the story of Jonah:<ul><li>God called Jonah to go to Nineveh. Instead, Jonah went in the <u>opposite</u> direction on a ship for Tarshish <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Jonah1.3?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Jonah 1.3" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Jonah 1:3</a>)</small>.</li><li>God tried to get Jonah's attention through a great storm on the sea. But Jonah slept as the men he put in danger did everything they could to save him <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Jonah1.4-5?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Jonah 1.4-5" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Jonah 1:4-5</a>)</small>.</li><li>When they had done everything, they finally relented to throw him overboard to appease the LORD God, asking for his forgiveness <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Jonah1.11-16?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Jonah 1.11-16" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Jonah 1:11-16</a>)</small>.</li><li>God sent a big fish to save Jonah from drowning <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Jonah1.17?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Jonah 1.17" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Jonah 1:17</a>)</small>.</li> <li>The fish spit - vomited - Jonah back up on the shore and God once again reminded Jonah of his call to preach to Nineveh <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Jonah2.10?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Jonah 2.10" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Jonah 2:10</a>)</small>.</li><li>And just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale for 3 days, he preached to Nineveh for 3 days <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Jonah3.1-6?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Jonah 3.1-6" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Jonah 3:1-6</a>)</small>.</li><li>The people responded to Jonah's message and repented of their sinful and violent ways and God spared them from destruction. <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Jonah3.10?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Jonah 3.10" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Jonah 3:10</a>)</small>.</li><li>Jonah had a pity party and told God that he didn't want to preach to Nineveh because he knew God was gracious and compassionate and would not destroy Nineveh if the people repented <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Jonah4.1-3?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Jonah 4.1-3" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Jonah 4:1-3</a>)</small>.</li><li>Jonah went out east of the city and God grew this plant to shade him from the scorching heat and blazing sun. Then he sent a worm to destroy the plant <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Jonah4.5-8?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Jonah 4.5-8" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Jonah 4:5-8</a>)</small>.</li><li>Jonah went into pity party # 2, and God confronted him about being upset about a stupid plant withering he had done nothing to make grow. Yet here he was mad at God because he had concern for this great city full of people <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Jonah4.10-11?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Jonah 4.10-11" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Jonah 4:10-11</a>)</small>.</li></ul> While God wanted Nineveh saved, we need to realize that the person God worked hardest to save in this story is Jonah himself! The LORD worked to save Jonah from...<ol><li>His rebellion against God.</li><li>His hatred of his enemies.</li><li>His rejection of his calling by God.</li><li>His drowning at sea.</li><li>His pouting over the wrong things.</li></ol>The bottom line is that Jonah was like the bratty pouty kid you always hoped would get what was coming to him, except you realize that feeling this way about Jonah makes you as petty and lowlife as he was! <div align="left" border="0"> <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/sas6/title.jpg" width="570" border="0" /> </div> But God did more than save Jonah from something bad, he saved Jonah for something great! He saved Jonah for...<ol><li>Obedience to God.</li><li>Courage as a prophet.</li><li>Strength to preach repentance and grace to preach deliverance.</li></ol>God was truly gracious with Jonah and gave him multiple opportunities to get his life back on track! Christianity in our culture, ESPECIALLY our church culture, has forgotten that God didn't just save us <b>FROM</b> our sin, but that he also saved us <b>FOR</b> His purposes. God saved us <b>FROM</b> the corruption of the world <b>FOR</b> us to be salt and light to a world of darkness and decay. He saved us <b>FROM</b> a world headed to hell in a hand basket to bring the Kingdom of God to life in the world and <b>FOR</b> us to give folks a glimpse of what God's life of righteous character and gracious compassion looks like. <div align="left" border="0"> <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/sas6/onshore.jpg" width="570" border="0" /> </div> Unfortunately, we've turned grace and faith into elevator music. Basically, we say we get saved. Then it's like we've been stuck in the lobby waiting for the big elevator from heaven to come down and take us back to our reward. Church becomes our weekly pep rally trying to keep people interested until Jesus comes down to take us up to heaven. Let's be honest: church can be a little boring at times even in the light, laser, and special effects show we've made it today! Somewhere along the way, we forgot that the goal of being saved from sin and death and hell isn't to sit on our backside on Sunday, but that Sunday's the pep rally to go out to worship and display the Kingdom of God to the world around us. It's where we're reminded that we are called to change our little section of the world to be enough like heaven that we quit worrying about when Jesus is coming down the elevator to take us up. Instead, we focus on how to get more people around us to experience Jesus' joy, love, life, and salvation now. So yes, we have been saved <b>FROM</b> sin and death and hell. The story of Jonah should also reminded us to shake the sea water out of our clothes, the sand off our feet, and get the dirty smell of dead fish out of our noses. We've been saved <b>FOR</b> something good, maybe even something great. Each of us can influence others to move toward Jesus. Rather than run away from this call from God, we need to make a commitment to do it... then go out and do it with God's help. Part of the reason we love ministry involvement and mission trips is because we get out of the lobby for the elevator. We begin to be Jesus to those around us. To help remember and do it, here's a simple prayer for each day: <blockquote>Lord Jesus, help me to see people today the way you see them. And, dear Lord, help me find that thing you've saved for and then do it. Amen.</blockquote> Many ministries need your help. If you don't know of one right for you, then start trying different ministries till you find one that fits. If you're interested in going on a mission trip, start saving money and start planning your vacation around it. And if you think you're too old to do anything like that, then pray. Being in prayer daily for missionaries, missions, ministries, and ministers is powerful. Prayer shakes God's people awake <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Acts4.31?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Acts 4.31" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Acts 4:31</a>)</small>. Prayer releases the power of the Holy Spirit to do even more than we can imagine <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Ephesians3.14-21?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Ephesians 3.14-21" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Ephesians 3:14-21</a>)</small>. No matter where or what your area of involvement and influence, pray our simple prayer. Sooner or later you're going to see more opportunities to do Jesus' ministry at your work or with your family or at your school or on your team or with your friends than you ever imagined. <u>God made you for this</u>! He has plans for you. Don't believe it? Read it again: <blockquote><i>For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them</i> <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Ephesians2.8-10?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Ephesians 2.8-10" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Ephesians 2:8-10</a>)</small>.</blockquote> So isn't it time to quit spending your life waiting for Jesus to come down the elevator to take you back to the top? Yeah, I thought so. Don't wait until you smell like dead fish to answer the call of God. Nobody wants to swim in what Jonah did when the fish vomited him up on the beach. Jonah finally did what God called him to do and we can, too! <div align="left" hspace="15" border="0"> <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/sas6/Slide13.JPG" width="570" border="0" /> </div> <hr /> <small>Special thanks to <a href="http://jamesnidea.deviantart.com/" target="_blank">Deah Senapi</a> for the primary image of <a href="http://jamesnidea.deviantart.com/art/Jonah-and-the-Fish-350890356" target="blank">Jonah and the Fish</a>.</small> <div> <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/spacer.gif" /> </div><hr><em>About the author: Phil Ware has authored 11 years of daily devotionals, including <a herf="http://www.verseoftheday.com" target="_blank">VerseoftheDay.com</a>, read by 500,000 people a day. He works with churches in transition with <a href="http://www.interimministrypartners.com" target="_blank">Interim Ministry Partners</a> and for the past 21+ years, he has been editor and president of HEARTLIGHT Magazine, author of <a href="http://www.verseoftheday.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" target="_blank">VerseoftheDay.com</a>, <a href="http://img.heartlight.org/in_articles/godsholyfire.com" target="_blank">God's Holy Fire</a> (on the Holy Spirit), and <a href="http://www.ayearwithJesus.com" target="_blank">aYearwithJesus.com</a>. Phil has also authored <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Phil+Ware+gospel" target="_blank">four books, daily devotionals on each of the four gospels</a>.</em></description> </item><item><author>phil@heartlight.org (Phil Ware)</author><title>Out Fishing the Fisherman</title><link>https://www.heartlight.org/articles/201507/20150713_outfishing.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.heartlight.org/articles/201507/20150713_outfishing.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en</guid><pubDate>Thu, 31 Jul 2025 02:00:00 -0500</pubDate><comments>https://www.heartlight.org/articles/201507/20150713_outfishing.html#author</comments><source url="https://www.heartlight.org/articles/two_minute/">Two Minute Meditations from Heartlight</source> <description><img src="https://img.heartlight.org/articles/3299-large.jpg"><HR><em>What happens when Jesus confronts us in our area of strength?</em><HR><div> <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/spacer.gif" /> </div> Many of us who claim to be Jesus' disciples today treat our personal life like a roll top desk. Far more than dividing things into secular and sacred, each of us subdivides much of our life to help us cope with all our responsibilities, interests, and personas. We keep our different areas of interest and involvement separate from each other in separate cubbyholes. If we are honest, we even keep a few of our areas of interest <i>very</i> separate from our "God stuff." We simply don't want our spiritual interests interfering with these other areas of self-interest! So we have a cubbyhole for recreation. We have another for vacation. We keep a special drawer full of stuff for work responsibilities, relationships, and politics. We also have a cubby for parenting, hobbies, and investing. We even have a "God stuff" cubby for our Christian "Facebooking" as well as our church friends and church life. If we're completely honest, some of us also have an "opposite of God stuff" internet cubby. This place is where we keep all sorts of things we really don't want God to interfere or influence what we do. When things get really messy, we pull down the roll top desk and everything looks "fine" on the outside to others. We punch our "I'm fine!" button and head to church, pray for help, read Ann Voskamp, check out Max Lucado books, or seek a counselor. The problem is everything on our inside is a scrambled and mixed up mess. Under the roll top, there is no ordering Lord to bring coherence and purpose to our multi-personalised jumbled up mess. Which brings us to this week's "Saved at Sea" segment with Jesus. <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/sas5/Slide2.jpg" width="575" border="0" /> Jesus' entourage followed him to the seashore on the northwest side of the Sea of Galilee. This part of the sea of Galilee was called Lake Gennesaret. Peter and his homie-fishing buddies were washing their nets after a long night of work. Suddenly they were overrun by the God-squad of people wanting to hear Jesus and see one of his miracles. <blockquote><i>One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat</i> <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Luke5.1-3?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Luke 5.1-3" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Luke 5:1-3</a>)</small>.</blockquote> <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/sas5/Slide3.jpg" width="575" border="0" /> Why did Jesus come to the seashore? He knew the crowd would follow him there. Sure, the acoustics were good in this place. Yes, a boat makes a great pulpit, and this location on the lake makes a great amphitheater. Is there possibly something more to this moment than just a good place for a sermon for the masses? Let's ask another question and see if we can't find out what's going on in this important moment. Why did Jesus really interrupt Peter and his buddies? Did he need Peter's boat or was he trying to win the heart of the boat owner? A quick reading of the story <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Luke5.1-11?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Luke 5.1-11" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Luke 5:1-11</a>)</small> sure seems to suggest that Jesus was on a "fishing expedition" of his own! <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/sas5/Slide4.jpg" width="575" border="0" /> Jesus commandeered a boat. He used this boat, the water, and the shape of the shoreline as his amphitheater. But, notice who owned the boat! Simon Peter, the guy who would one day be the leader of Jesus' apostles. So as we pay close attention to what's happening, we realize the audience that came to hear Jesus wasn't Jesus' target audience for this moment. Jesus was after bigger fish than a herd of fickle people who made up the crowds that often followed him! He was looking for dedicated disciples who would become world-changing disciple-makers. Jesus was looking for people who would do anything and give up everything to follow him... obey him... and carry on his mission. So instead of offering an invitation song or an altar call with 10 verses of "Just as I AM" to get the crowd to respond, Jesus surprisingly told Simon Peter, "Hey buddy, let's go fishing!" <blockquote><i>When he [Jesus] had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch"</i> <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Luke5.4?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Luke 5.4" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Luke 5:4</a>)</small>.</blockquote> However, there was a huge problem with what Jesus said. Everybody who knew anything about fishing in Jesus' day knew you didn't go fishing with Peter's kind of nets in daylight. Fish could see and avoid them. Also, everybody who knew anything about fishing in the Sea of Galilee knew you didn't catch fish with these kinds of nets in deep water. They were most effective for fish near the surface. On top of that, everybody who knew anything about fishing in those days knew you needed to be fishing at night or in the dusk of dawn and sunset. You weren't going to catch anything at the time of day Jesus was speaking to the crowds! <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/sas5/Slide5.jpg" width="575" border="0" /> What makes Jesus' command all the more interesting, Simon Peter knew fishing better than "everybody who knew anything about fishing in Jesus' day." Fishing was Peter's life. Fishing was Peter's livelihood. He fished every day. He knew how to catch fish. He earned his living catching fish. He took care of his wife and family catching fish. He had partners with whom he fished regularly. So Peter knew what Jesus was asking was crazy, yet... <blockquote><i>Simon [Peter] answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets"</i> <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Luke5.5?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Luke 5.5" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Luke 5:5</a>)</small>.</blockquote> In cornbread English, Peter is saying, "The fish aren't biting, or I would have caught them last night. But if I am going to call you Lord over spiritual stuff, then I'd better let you be Lord of all my stuff... even the stuff I know best, my boat and my fishing!" Peter's actions rattle my roll top desk approach to life. They make me ask myself, "Is there a place in my life - one of those little cubbyholes - where I need to say, "<i>But because you say so,</i> Jesus, I will let you have control of my life even here. I want you to be Lord over all of my stuff, all of my places, and all of my cubbyholes!" When Peter obeyed, look what happened! <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/sas5/Slide6.jpg" width="575" border="0" /> They caught fish! They caught a lot of fish. They caught a boat-sinking amount of fish. Bottom line, it was the wrong time, wrong place, and wrong nets to catch fish. But... Peter obeyed because even though everything else was wrong, he had the right Lord! Peter obeyed, and nets started breaking. Buddies begin helping. Boats begin sinking. Every fisherman's dream catch is happening! <blockquote><i>When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink</i> <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Luke5.6-7?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Luke 5.6-7" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Luke 5:6-7</a>)</small>.</blockquote> And Jesus' best catch of the day was not a catch of fish, but a catch of fishermen! We could rightly alter the old saying to read this way: <blockquote>Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. Teach a man to teach others to fish, and you change the world forever because you've transformed his friends and him from fishermen into a disciple-makers.</blockquote> Notice what happens next! <blockquote><i>When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will fish for people." So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.</i> <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Luke5.8-11?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Luke 5.8-11" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Luke 5:8-11</a>)</small>.</blockquote> <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/sas5/Slide7.jpg" width="575" border="0" /> Peter recognized he was in the presence of the great I AM, the living LORD, God Almighty, God who is holy, holy, holy <small>(Isiah 6:1-9)</small>. Jesus was no longer just a preacher or a prophet. Jesus out fished the fisherman. He was Lord of the seas and all that is in them! Jesus gets Peter to the place where he needs to be - humble and repentant. Jesus had this special group's attention; he told them, "Guys, we've got something a lot more important to fish for than fish. I need you to join me and let's fish for people!" He called them to a higher calling and a higher form of fishing. So they pulled their boats up on the shore and left everything - the boats, the crowds, the lifestyle, and their prized biggest catch of fish ever and followed Jesus into a world-changing future! <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/sas5/Slide12.jpg" width="575" border="0" /> On that special day on the seashore, Peter and his buddies had a collision of their roll top desk way of doing life and Jesus who wanted to be Lord of everything, even their boat and their fishing. In much the same way, Jesus is confronting you and me. He is challenging us to identify our "boat." What's the area of our lives that we haven't yielded control to his lordship? Where's the area of my life that I keep cubbyholed away from my "God stuff" because I think I know how to do life better in that area than the Lord? What have I reserved to my "boat" because I don't want to have it changed by Jesus? Ouch! These are hard questions. These are questions we don't want to ask. We don't even won't want to acknowledge these questions are legitimate. But the Holy Spirit keeps nudging us with these questions. Then suddenly this episode in the life of Peter is a lot more than a simple fishing story from long ago and far, far away. Suddenly Jesus wants this to be my story, my boat, my catch, and my following him. Notice that at first, Jesus used Peter's boat for a place to speak to the hearts of people. But before he could use Peter's boat in this way, Peter had to yield control over his boat to Jesus! I wonder what Jesus is calling me to use my "boat" to do? Peter was a fisherman. His boat was his life. His boat was the place he could cuss like a sailor, be a real man doing a real man's job, and feel free to do whatever he wanted because it was his boat. Suddenly, Jesus being Lord infiltrated and permeated every cubbyhole and drawer in Peter's roll top desk. Suddenly, the boat was no longer his boat, but the Lord's boat! The next things you know, Jesus is calling Peter to a whole new way of fishing! Which leaves some pinch points for you and me. That's because what Jesus did with Peter's boat, the Lord is longing to do with your "boat" and my "boat"! The truth is, most of us today spend a lot more time in our "boat" than in our pews or even our beds. Work and recreation take up a much larger chunk of our time than sleep and church and "God-stuff." So the nature of our discipleship is not determined so much by our "God-stuff" time as it is our work and recreation time - our "boat" time. Peter's great fishing trip reminds us that Jesus is Lord when we are in our "boat", or he is not Lord at all! Some of us are called to leave our boat and be used by the Lord in special ways. Many more of us are called to stay in our "boat" and let Jesus use our "boat" to bring grace to those around us. Either way, we've got to be brave enough to let Jesus be Lord of our "boat"! We've got to open up every cubbyhole in our roll top desk and let Jesus mess with our mess until it's redeemed. We've got to admit that if Jesus can out fish Peter as a fisherman, he can out redeem me in my messes and use my "boat" to bring that blessing to others. So here's the big question for you and me to ask ourselves today: "What is my boat?" And here's the second one: When am I going to fall on my knees before Jesus and ask him to be Lord - not just of my "God-stuff," but also of my "boat"? <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/sas5/Slide7.jpg" width="575" border="0" /> <font size="2">Thanks for <a href="http://lumoproject.com" target="_blank">The Lumo Project</a> and <a href="http://www.freebibleimages.org" target="_blank">Free Bible Images</a> for the use of the images used in this article.</font><hr><em>About the author: Phil Ware has authored 11 years of daily devotionals, including <a herf="http://www.verseoftheday.com" target="_blank">VerseoftheDay.com</a>, read by 500,000 people a day. He works with churches in transition with <a href="http://www.interimministrypartners.com" target="_blank">Interim Ministry Partners</a> and for the past 21+ years, he has been editor and president of HEARTLIGHT Magazine, author of <a href="http://www.verseoftheday.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" target="_blank">VerseoftheDay.com</a>, <a href="http://img.heartlight.org/in_articles/godsholyfire.com" target="_blank">God's Holy Fire</a> (on the Holy Spirit), and <a href="http://www.ayearwithJesus.com" target="_blank">aYearwithJesus.com</a>. Phil has also authored <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Phil+Ware+gospel" target="_blank">four books, daily devotionals on each of the four gospels</a>.</em></description> </item><item><author>phil@heartlight.org (Phil Ware)</author><title>'What Sort of Man Is This?'</title><link>https://www.heartlight.org/articles/201506/20150630_sas04.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.heartlight.org/articles/201506/20150630_sas04.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en</guid><pubDate>Thu, 24 Jul 2025 02:00:00 -0500</pubDate><comments>https://www.heartlight.org/articles/201506/20150630_sas04.html#author</comments><source url="https://www.heartlight.org/articles/two_minute/">Two Minute Meditations from Heartlight</source> <description><img src="https://img.heartlight.org/articles/3292-large.jpg"><HR><em>Who in the world is this man?</em><HR><div> <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/spacer.gif" border="0" /> </div> What's the most important question you've ever asked someone? <blockquote>"Will you marry me?" "How are we going to live through this?" "Did I lose the baby?" "Should we move?" "Why should I try to go on living if my life is going to be like this forever?" "Where should I go to college and what should I major in?" "Will you still love me if I say, 'No'?" "What are we going to do now?" "Is it a boy or a girl?" "Should I take this job?" "Is there any money left?" "Will our marriage survive this?" "Do you think we should adopt?" "Was the surgery successful?" "Should I be baptized?" "Is it cancer?"</blockquote> My guess is that none of these questions grabbed at your heart unless it was a question you asked at some point in your life. Our questions become a lot more urgent when we're the ones in the boat, the seas around us are raging, and we don't know what to do. That was certainly true for Jesus' early disciples. <blockquote><i>And when he [Jesus] got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, "Save us, Lord; we are perishing." And he said to them, "Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?" Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, "What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?"</i> <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Matthew8.23-27?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Matthew 8.23-27" data-version="esv" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Matthew 8:23-27 ESV</a>)</small></blockquote> <div> <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/sas4/Slide2.JPG" width="580" border="0" /> </div> This may well be the most important question any of us asks: <i>"What sort of man is this...?"</i> And this is not a question we ask just once. Each of us needs to keep asking it in all of our own life's unique circumstances. Because life is, after all is said and done, about navigating storms. These storms come and they go. They rain and they blow. Their waves rock and they roll. And through it all, we need to keep asking, <i>"What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?"</i> <div> <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/sas4/Slide3.JPG" width="580" border="0" /> </div> Sometimes we find ourselves caught in a building Storm. We see the storm clouds collecting on the horizon. We've seen the warning signs. We've felt the dread of knowing difficult times are coming. As the storm intensifies, we need to know that we are not alone. We need to know that Jesus and his people will walk with us. Because life is, after all is said and done, about navigating storms. These storms come and they go. They rain and they blow. Their waves rock and they roll. And through it all, we need to keep asking, <i>"What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?"</i> <div> <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/sas4/Slide4.JPG" width="580" border="0" /> </div> Sometimes we find ourselves in the middle of a storm in life, and we are frozen with fear. At that moment, we need someone to act for us. We need to know that when we don't know what to pray or how to pray, the Holy Spirit prays for us <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Romans8.26?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Romans 8.26" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Romans 8:26</a>)</small> and that the prayers of Jesus' disciples surround us. Because life is, after all is said and done, about navigating storms. These storms come and they go. They rain and they blow. Their waves rock and they roll. And through it all, we need to keep asking, <i>"What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?"</i> <div> <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/sas4/Slide5.JPG" width="580" border="0" /> </div> Sometimes we find ourselves feeling like Jesus isn't even listening to us. We're tired of the shallow answers and throw away clichés that don't fit into the frustration playing out in our lives. We're angry. Yet more than angry, we're hurt. We don't understand why our prayers aren't answered, and other prayers seemed to be answered. We can't fathom why the Lord of heaven and earth can't just blink away our challenges and bring us to a new day. We need help. We need to know that the Lord isn't sleeping while we're praying. We need to know he is not ignoring us while we plead with tear-stained cheeks. Because life is, after all is said and done, about navigating storms. These storms come and they go. They rain and they blow. Their waves rock and they roll. And through it all, we need to keep asking, <i>"What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?"</i> <div> <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/sas4/Slide6.JPG" width="580" border="0" /> </div> Sometimes we find ourselves trusting that Jesus is in control. We have this strangely wonderful calm in the face of our storm. We can't say why, exactly, but we do. We feel as if Jesus has been here before and can handle our mess and guide us to a safe harbor. So we wait while the storm rages knowing that the storm will pass, or the Lord will still the seas and order the winds to cease. Because life is, after all is said and done, about navigating storms. These storms come and they go. They rain and they blow. Their waves rock and they roll. And through it all, we need to keep asking, <i>"What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?"</i> <div> <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/sas4/Slide7.JPG" width="580" border="0" /> </div> Sometimes we find ourselves enjoying the calm after the storm. We love the peace and good times. We bask in the sun of God's goodness and obvious grace. We share in the gentle presence of those we love. Life seems easy. Our world feels comfortable. Our future looks bright. Yet we know that sooner or later, storms will come. For life is, after all is said and done, still about navigating storms. These storms come and they go. They rain and they blow. Their waves rock and they roll. And through it all, we need to keep asking, <i>"What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?"</i> As we reflect back on this event in the life of Jesus' disciples, let's take with us four concepts to go with our key life question. First, we need to notice that the disciples were in this <i>together</i>! They weren't trying cross the Sea of Galilee - or do life - alone. We can't do life alone on our own. We need each other. We need to have others who share the journey and remind us that they, too, have similar struggles. That storms come and go, yet God's people endure. Second, we can cry out to the Lord for help together. Notice how they said it, <i>"Save us, Lord; we are perishing."</I> The Lord welcomes our cries, even when they are cries of panic and fear. He doesn't discard our request when a strong faith is hard for us to muster: a little faith, with the Lord, goes a long way <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Matthew17.20?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Matthew 17.20" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Matthew 17:20</a>)</small>. Third, the Lord doesn't rebuke the disciples, but the wind and the seas. This distinction is important for us to notice. Rather than berating the disciples for their lack of faith, Jesus uses a term that looks like a term of endearment to address the disciples. He calls his disciples "little-faith-ones" - <i>oligoipistoi</i> a single word which literally means, "ones with little faith." Our Lord transforms the least into the greatest, the last into the first, and the lost into the found. The Lord of heaven and earth moves mountains and stills raging seas when all his disciples can muster is just a little faith <small>(cf. <a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Matthew6.30?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Matthew 6.30" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Matthew 6:30</a>; <a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Matthew17.20?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Matthew 17.20" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Matthew 17:20</a>)</small>! Fourth, what seems like troubled seas and dangerous storms to us are no threat to the Lord of heaven and earth. Jesus is God for the disciples in this moment of desperation and fear:<blockquote><i>Who is like you, LORD God Almighty? You, LORD, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you. You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, you still them</i> <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Psalm89.8-9?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Psalm 89.8-9" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Psalm 89:8-9</a>)</small>.</blockquote>He longs to be God for us in our moments of desperation and fear. Despite sometimes appearing to be silent, we are reminded that the Lord's apparent lack of attention doesn't mean his lack of care or his lack of presence. Even in the Lord's silence we are known even when it appears we are alone. No matter the season and no matter the seas, let's keep asking: <i>"What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?"</I> Jesus has promised to be with us and show himself to us and make his home with us <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/John14.15-23?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="John 14.15-23" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">John 14:15-23</a>)</small>. So let's approach each new day, each new experience, and every fresh storm as an opportunity to learn something new about our Savior who will never abandon us or forsake us <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Romans8.35-39?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Romans 8.35-39" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Romans 8:35-39</a>)</small>. And in those persistent times of struggle, fear, and loneliness, let's remember an old promise from our ever-present and always near Lord: <i>"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you"</i> <small>(<a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Hebrews13.5?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Hebrews 13.5" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Hebrews 13:5</a>; <a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Joshua1.5?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Joshua 1.5" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Joshua 1:5</a>; <a class="rtBibleRef" href="https://www.heartlight.org/bible/Deuteronomy31.6-8?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" data-reference="Deuteronomy 31.6-8" data-version="bsb" data-purpose="bible-reference" rel="nofollow">Deuteronomy 31:6-8</a>)</small>. <div> <img src="//img.heartlight.org/in_articles/sas4/Slide8.JPG" width="580" border="0" /> </div> <hr /> <small>Images courtesy of <a href="http://freebibleimages.org" target="_blank">Free Bible Images</a> and <a href="http://www.lumoproject.com/" target="_blank">Lumo Project</a>. Used by permission.</small> See links below for the first three articles in this series.<hr><em>About the author: Phil Ware has authored 11 years of daily devotionals, including <a herf="http://www.verseoftheday.com" target="_blank">VerseoftheDay.com</a>, read by 500,000 people a day. He works with churches in transition with <a href="http://www.interimministrypartners.com" target="_blank">Interim Ministry Partners</a> and for the past 21+ years, he has been editor and president of HEARTLIGHT Magazine, author of <a href="http://www.verseoftheday.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=articles&utm_content=all&utm_term=en" target="_blank">VerseoftheDay.com</a>, <a href="http://img.heartlight.org/in_articles/godsholyfire.com" target="_blank">God's Holy Fire</a> (on the Holy Spirit), and <a href="http://www.ayearwithJesus.com" target="_blank">aYearwithJesus.com</a>. Phil has also authored <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Phil+Ware+gospel" target="_blank">four books, daily devotionals on each of the four gospels</a>.</em></description> </item> </channel></rss>If you would like to create a banner that links to this page (i.e. this validation result), do the following:
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