February 18, 2025

Are You Whole-Hearted or Hole-Hearted?

It has happened to me and I am guessing you have or you are experiencing it. I had said yes and over-committed myself with too many activities, too many volunteer opportunities—Boards, church groups, community committees, etc.  They all seem worthwhile. None of them were bad. Isn’t it my best yes, though, to have more margin in my life?

Why do we do it? Why do we say yes with our heart and mouth when our mind is trying to clearly say no?

It seems like everywhere I turn in the Bible I find more and more verses on being wholehearted versus half-hearted. Ouch.

Do we fulfill some kind of hole in our heart with these activities? Are we hole-hearted?

Here are only a few:

  • “Moreover the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live.” –Deuteronomy 30:6
  • “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.”—1 Chronicles 28:9
  • “I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deed.” –Psalm 9:1
  • “Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart.” –Psalm 119:2
  • “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” –Jeremiah 29:13
  • “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” –Mark 12:30

So how do we know when we are not giving it our all, when we are half-hearted or hole-hearted?

Here are signs that you might be half-hearted or hole-hearted::

  1. Dreading the next meeting with a particular group.
  2. Being snippy or kurt with your loved ones.
  3. Neglecting quiet time and prayer because you’re too busy
  4. Neglecting to eat properly and exercise—taking care of mind, body, soul, spirit well—because you’re “too busy”
  5. Preparing for the activity/meeting at the last minute and/or minimally
  6. Working solely out of our flesh and not feeling the need to rely on God
  7. Taking credit for all the success and blaming others for any losses or setbacks

Now ask yourself these questions:

  • Why do I participate if I am responding in these ways?
  • Is it value, acceptance, need for belonging I am seeking?
  • What are my pure motives for saying yes?

Spend some quiet time to reflect on your “why.” As we evaluate how we spend our 168 hours in a week, may we be careful not to let our feelings guide our faith. Some days are not stellar, which is no reason to quit or give up.

“Do the things that interest you and do them all your heart. Don’t be concerned about whether people are watching you or criticizing you. The chances are that they aren’t paying attention to you.” –Eleanor Roosevelt

So how we are all in with our whole heart?

  1. It makes our eyes sparkle
  2. We get nervous because we know some of it is outside our comfort zone, our gifts and talents
  3. We are relying on God’s help.
  4. We can’t wait to tell our family and others about the people we are experiencing and what we are learning.
  5. We are learning healthy life lessons
  6. We are empowering others to continue the legacy
  7. We are resting well and taking care of our mind, body, soul and spirit with healthy margin.

“While you are proclaiming peace with your lips, be careful to have it even more fully in your heart.” –Francis of Assisi

One of my favorite life passages is this:

“Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” –Proverbs 3:5-6

In the last few years I have been circling the word “ALL” anytime I see it in my Bible. In every translation “All” means “All.” This is one of those life verses. Trust with ALL your heart…in ALL your ways acknowledge Him…

May we be authentic as we seek to live life with ALL our heart, our whole heart.

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February 12, 2025

Single Girl Confessions on Valentine’s Day

It’s tough being single on Valentine’s Day. As soon as Christmas is over, the stores are full of red hearts, love balloons, and Valentine’s Day merchandise. Hallmark Channel even plays non-stop Love movies! Yes, I get sucked into watching each one. Yes, I am a hopeful romantic.

Yes, I love reading the sweet greeting cards in the store aisles offered to the man of our life. It’s embarrassing to tell you, but years ago, I bought several beautifully-written Valentine’s Cards, perfect for my future husband. Perhaps it was like a a self-fulfilling prophecy to buy those cards expressing such deep, unconditional love for the man I know God has for me.

A few Valentine’s Days ago my perspective shifted. It was a cold night. I built a cozy fire. I was excited. I was ready. It was time to write my Love Letter to Jesus.  Opening my journal, the following is the Love Letter penned on those pages:

Dearest Lover of My Soul,

Happy Valentine’s Day! Thank you for being my First Love, today and always.

Thank you, Lord,  for pointing out and healing the idolatry sin I have suffered for my future husband for years without even realizing it. My heart is changed. Please forgive me. 

Holy Spirit, I want to be content in my singleness. Help me. Tonight I look forward to building a fire,  taking my old store-bought Valentine’s cards bought for my future husband, and burning them as an offering to You. I am Yours. You are mine.  I am at peace.

My Rock and My Redeemer, Gentle Healer, it is an honor to convey a portion of my immense love for You. No journal, no library can record all my love, dear Jesus.  Thank you for loving me. Every breath is for You, precious Lord.

How may I serve You more? On this Valentine’s Day, I recommit my life to You. It is You and You alone who I need. (Not the only man I want, I admit).  Right now, make me more of a vessel for You and Your Gospel. I want to be your humble ambassador, Your spokesman who only utters worthy, not worthless words. (Jeremiah 15:19). May it be so. 

 “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”  (1 Samuel 3:10)

I Love You With My Whole Heart,

Danya, Your Daughter of  the King

Since the Bible is God’s Love Letter, I had finally written my Love Letter to Jesus. That night transformed Valentine’s Day for me. Contentment came.

I’m looking so forward to Valentine’s Day this week.  Bring it.

Now read 1 Corinthians 13 and replace the word “Love” with your name. “Danya is patient, Danya is kind. Danya does not envy…” Ouch. Since God is love, may we be love AND Love like Jesus. Happy Valentine’s Day in Jesus’ Name, our First Love.

Reflect:

–Are you content in your circumstances? Please comment.

–How can you express your love for God more?

Renew:

“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.” –Psalm 63: 3-4 NIV

“‘My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.'” –John 15:12-13 NIV

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation. ” –Philippians 4:12 NIV

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” –1 Timothy 4:12 NIV.

Recharge:

–Write your Love Letter to Jesus.

–The Bible is God’s Love Letter to us. Please read it daily.

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January 28, 2025

God’s Timing is Perfect: Revival is Here

The Lord’s been working on me from the inside out. Being under deadline for goals, especially at year-end, I needed to be reminded to be totally dependent on the Lord. I confess I had moments of working out of my flesh as if it totally depended on me to raise funds and awareness for different ministry clients and even for Blessings Brokers.

This reflection and growth with the Lord has been too sacred for me even to write about. Now is the time. It’s hard to believe it’s been two years.

Some of you may know that I’m blessed to be part of the FOR Charlotte (CLT) Prayer Leader’s Network. We meet monthly and have Regional Prayer Gatherings every other month to pray for our city, churches, pastors, country, world. We pray for revival. We have been praying for revival for years, even when I lived in Charleston and well before I moved to Charlotte in 2015.

In 2022 Wayne Atcheson, a leader at the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, published a book called “Asbury Revival.” This book beautifully chronicles the power and influence of the February 1970 Asbury Revival at Asbury University in Wilmore, KY.  When I read that book in November and December, I dog-eared so many pages of practical ways that the students brought revival and characteristics to replicate the revival. One student received a list of the university students and made 3×5 index cards with each name to pray for each of them as the Holy Spirit led. Her act of prayer was about three months before the 24-hour, 8-day revival broke out in February 1970.

At our January 14, 2023, For CLT Regional Prayer Gathering, we prayed Bible scripture. I talked about this book and brought a list of Charlotte churches for us to pray for intentionally. The Holy Spirit was strong as we humbly prayed for our pastors and revival.

On February 8th, 2023, states away at the same Asbury University in Wilmore, KY, the weekly Chapel Service in Hughes Auditorium occurred at 10am like normal. It was the morning after the US Presidential State of the Union. It was two days after the earthquake that shook Turkey and Syria. At 11am the Chapel Service ended, and 15 students stayed to pray. They stayed for hours and texted some of their friends to come back, that the Holy Spirit was working. Those 15 students led to thousands of people experiencing the 2023 Asbury Revival, for two weeks, 24 hours a day/seven days a week.

My friend Emily Adams with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, drove to Kentucky that Friday to experience the Asbury Revival. She came back to Charlotte and spoke a week later.

What I am  communicating is from Emily’s eyewitness experience of His majesty at the Asbury Revival.

There was only one hotel at Wilmore, KY. Emily and her friend arrived at 11:40pm to check in. Then they drove over to Asbury University and arrived at Hughes Auditorium at 1am.

This was powerful. The first thing she noticed was the smell. Emily said the smell in the Hughes Auditorium was that of….. salty tears.

Yes, salty tears. She said there was no tissue left. They had run out from all the crying and repentance. There were rolls of toilet paper at the front altar. The carpet was dark from the wet tear falling.

She said the presence of the Lord was palpable. She witnessed miracles of healing. The singing and testimonies lasted all night. It didn’t stop.

Lord Jesus, I pray for that revival now. Thank You, Lord, for being our King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Thank You for stirring us up with your Holy Spirit to repent and come back to You. Thank You for our country and our freedom to worship You.

May revival start with me. In the name of Jesus, By the Power of the Holy Spirit.

Reflection:

How have you experienced revival?

What are your prayers for our country? For you? For your family?

 

 

 

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