Heart Undivided
Where is Hope?
Ruth Caye Jones, pastor’s wife and mother of five, was burdened by the chaos in her world. One day she was reading in the book of 2 Timothy and came upon these words in chapter 3: This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
Moved by the Holy Spirit, Ruth took paper and pencil from her apron pocket and wrote these words: Continue reading
America–Sweet Land of Liberty
My country tis of thee,
Sweet land of liberty,
Of thee I sing.
Land where my fathers died!
Land of the Pilgrim’s pride!
From every mountain side,
Let freedom ring!
My native country, thee,
Land of the noble free,
Thy name I love.
I love thy rocks and rills,
Thy woods and templed hills;
My heart with rapture fills
Like that above.
Let music swell the breeze,
And ring from all the trees
Sweet freedom’s song.
Let mortal tongues awake;
Let all that breathe partake;
Let rocks their silence break,
The sound prolong.
Our father’s God to, Thee,
Author of liberty,
To Thee we sing.
Long may our land be bright
With freedom’s holy light;
Protect us by Thy might,
Great God, our King!
by Samuel Francis Smith
Father God, thank you for the amazing gift of freedom. Thank you for those who have served, sacrificed, and died that we may have life. And Father, we praise You for the gift of Your Son, who gave the ultimate sacrifice for the ultimate gift—freedom from a life without You. Thank you, Jesus. We love and praise You.
Joy in Unexpected Places
Today, I have the privilege of guest-posting on Jean Wilund’s website, Join the Journey. Jean has a beautiful passion for the Lord and a gift for sharing His Word.
“If you’re looking to fall in love with God 
and His Word and see it make a difference in your life, you’re in the perfect place. That’s my goal, too. Let’s do it together.” —Jean Wilund
Jean is also a fellow football fan 🙂 (Although I’m a tad concerned about the NC State VS. Clemson game coming up…yes, she’s a Tiger’s fan)
So, when you get a chance, hop on over to Join the Journey! Check out Football, Fireworks, and a Big Green Piano, then hang around with Jean and soak up come GREAT Bible teaching.
Have a blessed day and GO PANTHERS! (and WOLFPACK!)
Sweet Autumn
Ah, autumn in the South. Is there anything more wonderful?
Cool mornings, warm afternoons.
Cotton fields.
Bright yellow mums.
Pumpkins.
Sugar maples and red maples displaying their glory.
Football (Oops, sorry. Don’t know how that slipped into the list…).
I am loving these beautiful days. But in the midst of this autumn-joy, there is a sense of heaviness. This old world is just not quite…right.
Do you feel it?
Is the surrounding beauty diminished because of worry, anxiety, or hardship?
May I share the verses that comfort me when stress threatens to steal my joy?
Psalm 19:1-6
The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.
They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is deprived of its warmth.
Thank you, Father, for the beauty of Your creation. Thank you for drawing us into worship—not of what You have made—but of You. You are beautiful, glorious, and almighty. We praise Your Holy Name!
Do You Qualify?
I am thankful to be a part of a church family who is serious about the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20. Over the coming weeks we have teams serving in New York, Baltimore, Senegal, and Guatemala. Still others will serve our local community through ministry in nursing homes and homeless shelters. Many will be involved in prayer-walking and in leading block parties.
Whatever gifts and abilities a person has—there is a unique place to plug in and be a part of reaching the nations with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Some, however, still doubt they have anything to offer. They feel intimidated about signing on the dotted line and committing to serve. I can’t speak or preach or travel 2000 miles…
So…just for fun, I’d like to share a simple poem that outlines important qualifications required for involvement in ministry.
As long as someone can check at least one thing on this list, they are good to go…
See You in September
It’s that time of year for our family—a time to step away from regular responsibilities and to seek rest and renewal.
Heart Undivided will take a brief hiatus as well. I already look forward to returning in a few weeks with (hopefully) new perspective and fresh creativity!
Thank you for traveling with me these past months—what an adventure! Let’s continue to pray for each other in the coming weeks—for strength and courage to keep a Jesus heart each day. 🙂
You are loved,
Leigh Ann
…He said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6:31b
Time to Suit Up!
Once upon a time, I let my armor get dusty.
It was a familiar scene—a busy morning on the verge of chaos as our family prepared for a day of work and school. In the midst of dashing out the door it was discovered that someone forgot something. Our fast-forward lives came to a screeching halt with a muttered, what did we forget this time? And as we scrambled back into the house for books, a lunch box, keys or sunglasses, I too often missed what was leaning right by the door: my suit of armor.
Without fail, when faced with a stressful situation without my “suit”, my self would jump in and react before the mind and heart of my Lord could respond.
Never a good thing.
A Quieted Soul
How awesome to worship an Unseen God.
How beautiful You are!
Who am I, that You would allow me
To even think of You?
Much less, become filled with You?
How utterly satisfying are Your words…
They minister to the very depths of who I am.
They calm these inner storms
That threaten the peace and joy of my life.
So long, Lord, I was silent. Too long, Father, I stilled my pen.
My sighs were deep with unfulfilled longing.
But You, my Lord, patiently waited…
You quieted my soul
With Your beauty,
Your words,
Your voice.
You gave me, infused me
With new hope, life, and joy.
I love You, Jesus.
I love You, my Lord and my Savior.
O God, You are my God, earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You, my body longs for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen You in the sanctuary and beheld Your power and Your glory. Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You. I will praise You as long as I live, and in Your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise You. Psalm 63: 1-5
Leigh Ann Thomas 