When Jesus talks to the Pharisees, He points out that their actions may look pure, but their hearts are not. They may be doing all the right things, but their hearts – their motivations, their reasons and their feelings – are in the wrong place. This is what angers Jesus so much about the Pharisees. And He warns them again and again to change this in their lives.

This week, God helped me to notice that I, too, have a life-long tendency to do the “right” things for the wrong reasons. I am a performer. I work hard and tend to get a lot of work done in the process. People seem very pleased with this part of my character. I seem dependable and capable. I like being seen that way.
 
But this week, I’ve started to notice the “heart” behind a lot of my work. When I get a task to do, almost immediately a feeling arises in me that involves fear and guilt. A voice starts playing in my head with words like “got to,” “should,” and “or else….” It’s a harsh and threatening voice that is there to push me into action. And,...

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I don’t have a lot of willpower. It’s not that I can’t resist the urge to wolf down all the cookies or anything, though I have been known to go through an entire package of crackers before I realize it. It’s more a matter of trying to break bad habits or faithfully keep others. I fully intend to spend that time praying each day or responding to those emails sooner or reading those books or maybe just not trying to find the next amusing tidbit on the web. Or at least, I fully intend at the time. It just doesn’t tend to last, and I find myself, even with reminders staring me in the face,...

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Here is a blog post by one of my friends in the Dallas area. I asked her if we could post it as I felt it was a great example of how the life of Jesus, biblical study, personal reflection and community input integrate in the journey and growth of a believer. Enjoy. Debbie Swindoll


I’ve always wanted to be a Clara Barton or a Florence Nightingale. I don’t like the blood part of it. But I like the picture of extreme service to the weak and around-the-clock ministering to the broken. Becoming a humanitarian sounds romantic to me.

Recently I wrestled with God to learn how He wants me to serve Him...

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