Learning the “E” Together: Why Context Helps Take Us Out of It
If you are new to the H.E.A.R. Journal, you are in good company. We just started this together last week, and like anything new, there is a learning curve. Some days it will feel natural. Other days, it may feel slow or unfamiliar. That does not mean you are doing it...
Rooted in the Word: How the H.E.A.R. Method Helps You Engage Scripture Daily
Many of us want to read the Bible consistently, but good intentions can quickly turn into rushed reading or checking off a box on a plan. Scripture invites us into something deeper—not just reading God’s Word, but allowing it to shape our hearts and lives. Being...
A Christmas Awakening: When Prophecy Moves Us to Action
There is a difference between knowing a story and being awakened by it. Most of us know the Christmas story. We can picture the manger, the angels, shepherds in the fields, and a star hanging over Bethlehem. But this year, as I sat with Matthew 2 and the story of the...
Your Invite Matters
It just takes one moment. One conversation. One connection point. Back in 2018, our family still hadn’t found a church home. We had been trying another local church for a while, but it just didn’t feel right. With a toddler and a newborn—and no family nearby—it became...
Beauty in Brokenness
Have you ever dropped something valuable and then felt sick to your stomach when it shattered? Our natural instinct is to sweep up the pieces and toss them. Broken things feel useless, don’t they? Many times, we can’t bring ourselves to throw it away, but we’ll set it...
Worship at Midnight: Finding Freedom in Acts 16
Have you ever had a plan that didn’t go the way you expected? A door that shut, an opportunity that slipped away, a redirection you never saw coming? That’s exactly what happened to the apostle Paul in Acts 16. He tried to head into Asia twice to preach the gospel,...
Solitude for the ADHD Brain: How I Found Space to Be Still with God
Chris recently shared in his blog that setting aside distractions is important, as well as creating space to meet with God. For those with ADHD, just sitting still can feel like an Olympic task. Mind-wandering isn't a bug in your brain—it's part of how God wired it....
Clear the Noise: How to Create Space to Focus on God
Have you ever tried to spend quiet time with God only to be distracted before you even begin? It can be hard to focus on God when everything else is pulling our attention. The moment you sit down to pray or read Scripture, your phone buzzes. A notification lights up...
What Stewardship Really Means
When people hear the word "stewardship," many assume it's a financial term—something church leaders use when discussing giving. But biblical stewardship is much deeper and far more personal. Jesus didn't talk about money to make us uncomfortable. He talked about it...
Hiding from God: When Fear Makes Us Hide
In Genesis 3, after Adam and Eve ate the fruit, they hid. And God asked a question that has stuck with me ever since Pastor Chris preached it: “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9) God is all-knowing—He wasn’t confused about their location. He wasn’t trying to play...