Encouragement Archives - Heart of the Matter

Welcoming March As A Whirlwind

by Cynthia L Simmons | Mar 1, 2023 | Blog, Encouragement

It has been a whirlwind these past few weeks… from college students praying non-stop to last week’s release of Jesus Movement. The wind is blowing and I’m wondering, do you feel it?

Dear Father, thank you for giving us breath. If you had stopped there, we would have had cause to praise you as long as we lived. However, you also gave us the gift of eternal life. Oh, may the certain hope of eternity with you fill us with songs of joy. We covet revival for our nation and pray that hearts awakened to you in Kentucky would spread to every state. Bring us to our knees in true repentance and humility. Oh, empower us so we would live out our faith. In Jesus’ Name, we pray, Amen.

CLICK HERE for your monthly encouragement – download the March 2023 Others-Centered Calendar Challenge.

Grateful for Sliced Bread

by Cynthia L Simmons | Mar 1, 2023 | Encouragement

When a government official outlawed sliced bread in January of 1943, homemakers balked. The onset of World War II had introduced rationing as early as 1942, and they had learned to use coupons when purchasing paper, shoes, fabric, sugar, coffee, and metal. However, they had purchased pre-sliced bread for almost fifteen years and hated the inconvenience. Women attempted to comply. They yanked out ancient bread knives and butchered loaves for sandwiches and toast. However, lopsided bread annoyed everyone. Plus, irregularly shaped slices didn’t fit into the toaster. A saying went around the nation: “…the best thing since sliced bread.”

Adding to the frustration, government officials offered no clear-cut reason why sliced bread had created a problem. Machines for cutting bread already existed, so the ban wouldn’t save metal. Sliced bread required more wrapping to stay fresh, but the nation had no shortage of waxed paper. A lady wrote to the New York Times and grumbled that the ruling damaged national morale. Complaints erupted nationwide, and the officials withdrew the restriction about six weeks later. They claimed the prohibition ineffective.

In March 1943, Housewives purchased sliced bread gratefully. In the same way, I have a tendency not to be grateful for a dry basement until I have a leak. And I didn’t thank God for my freezer until all my food thawed. This year I’ve had to replace my freezer and repair a basement leak. The Lord is teaching me to be grateful. Look around your house today and find things to praise God for. I’m doing the same thing.
Psalm 140:13 Surely the righteous will give thanks to Thy name; The upright will dwell in Thy presence (Ps. 140:13 NAS)

Disgusted?

by Cynthia L Simmons | Feb 1, 2023 | Encouragement

Susannah’s friends, Mr. and Mrs. Olney, visited her one Sunday afternoon. That aroused her curiosity since they considered the day holy. Plus, she had never seen them so excited. A young preacher had spoken at the morning service, and they begged her to attend the evening service with them. She agreed and attended New Park City Chapel that night. However, when the young man appeared in the pulpit, Susannah was disgusted.

The minister was very young. He wore old clothes that fit poorly, and his hair looked terrible. Further, when he began sweating, he wiped his face with a spotted handkerchief. How distressing for a sophisticated young lady. However, she did hear his message. The church hired him, and she continued to visit with the Olneys. Over time, his words sank in, and she realized the Olneys wisdom. The young man was Charles Haddon Spurgeon. Later, Susannah married him, and he became a famous preacher.

Many times, I have judged someone unfairly because I looked at the outward appearance. Fortunately, God doesn’t do that. “…For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”

This month, February, let’s find ways to show God’s love, even to those less lovely.

Welcoming February with…

by Cynthia L Simmons | Feb 1, 2023 | Encouragement

Are you working on your “new” habits, on your “new” dreams… on looking forward instead of back? Reminder: I created a Habit Tracker to help organize your monthly goals. Here you can jot down your monthly goals and even include the Bible Verses that have inspired your goal. Each day, read those verses as you pray to our Everlasting Father and ask for strength and determination to get you close to His design, His will for you.

And as we do each month, let’s pray together: Dear Father, how can we express our deepest thanks for your chased, unfailing love? As a sinful people, we deserve death and hell, not your love. Yet we are grateful you found a way to demonstrate your love by giving your son as a sacrifice for us. What a debt we owe to your mercy and grace. May we come to know more deeply the breath, the depth and the height of your steadfast love that surrounds us every day of our lives. Bless your holy name! In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

For your monthly encouragement, download, the February 2023 Others Centered Calendar Challenge, click here.

Worry Much?

by Cynthia L Simmons | Jan 1, 2023 | Encouragement

Do you worry about 2023?
The world is getting crazier every day. There’s hope!

Josh watched his drunk father beat his mother. Fellow school children laughed about the antics of the town drunk, his father. One day Josh found his mother in bed crying. She told him his dad broke her heart and she wanted to die as soon as Josh graduated from high school.

After Josh graduated, his mother died. The tragedy made him despise his father, and he hated God. While he was in college, other students challenged him to prove God didn’t exist. He accepted and traveled to libraries all over the world, researching truth. Finally, one day, Josh realized his task was impossible. God was real.

He met a man who mentored him for six months through Scripture, and Josh’s mind and heart healed. He forgave his father. Josh devoted his life to writing and speaking about the facts he learned. Like Josh McDowell, we can “… overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. (Romans 8:37 NAS)”

Welcoming January 2023

by Cynthia L Simmons | Jan 1, 2023 | Encouragement

To kick us off with new habits that lead toward progress, and not perfection, my team and I have created a Habit Tracker to help organize your monthly goals. And yes, we want to aim toward monthly, versus yearly goals that we may forget. Studies show that monthly progress keep us in track. Here you can jot down your monthly goals and even include the Bible Verses that have inspired your goal. Each day, read those verses as you pray to our Everlasting Father and ask for strength and determination to get you close to His design, His will for you.

And as we do each month, let’s pray together: Oh Father, Creator, the One who holds our life breath, we humble ourselves before you as we step into this new year. Protect us from evil and give us your wisdom and guidance. May we speak the wonders of your mercy and grace every day of 2023. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

For your monthly encouragement, download, the January 2023 Others Centered Calendar Challenge, click here.

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