His Heart’s Desire News – October 2021 - His Heart's Desire Ministries

Has it really been three months since our last newsletter?

People talk about time flying when you are having fun, but it also flies when you are super busy.

And it’s an added bonus when you’re having fun while you are super busy.

I have to admit, though, that there are some things that have happened in the last three super-busy months that haven’t been fun for me.

This past quarter has held a whirlwind of change for me.

I started a part-time job teaching a math lab at our local community college after being out of public education for fifteen years.

I knew it was going to take time to brush up on my College Algebra, but had no idea how much.

In addition to refreshing my mind with what I knew (it’s been 34 years) and learning things I don’t remember seeing before, I’m also learning how to explain it.

But I’ve really enjoyed this un-messy part.

The messy part that I haven’t enjoyed so much is the classroom management—the unmet expectations, some students (even though they are college age) not being responsible and/or disrespectful, and not really knowing the ins and outs of what I’m doing since everything’s brand new.

The last six years, I’ve been living a pretty sheltered life holed up in my little library, writing and sharing the gospel on social media.

In our July newsletter, I wrote that this opportunity to teach had “God’s fingerprints all over it.”

And even though parts of it have been super hard, I believe I’m doing exactly what He wants me to.

In this transition, My Beloved is reminding me of many valuable things.

Number one is greater dependency on His ability in and through me to do all that He has called me to and wants to walk me through.

During a particularly tough day when it felt like anxiety was going to choke the life out of me, the thought came to me, There’s a lion in you.

That changed everything!

I knew it was Christ reminding me that I had “everything I need for life and godliness,” namely, His Spirit in me (2 Pet. 1:3; Col. 1:27).

Through this tough season, He has also reminded me how much He loves every single person He has put in my life.

Yes, even the ones who aren’t all that enjoyable to do life with.

Right before one class meeting, I remember saying, “Lord, more than anything, I love them and want them to know it.”

Isn’t that what all of life really comes down to?

Love.

Savoring Christ’s special love for us and in us and partnering with Him in expressing that love to others (John 13:34–35; 1 John 4:19).

If you have someone in your life for whom it is not easy to feel love, you can acknowledge the truth that Christ made you “a lover at heart” when you were born again in Him and then trust Him to power its expression (Ezek. 36:26; Rom. 5:5; 2 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 6:24).

Love, in the highest sense, is a verb; sometimes with accompanying feelings and sometimes not.

I am learning more and more to be thankful for the hard times because they are a reminder that “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13).

Another great reminder of where the power to love comes from is found in the dialogue between Jesus and Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9:

Jesus: “My power shows up best in weak people.”

Paul: “Now I am glad to boast about how weak I am; I am glad to be a living demonstration of Christ’s power, instead of showing off my own power and abilities.”
The Living Bible

Our part is to believe that Christ made us “lovers at heart” at salvation and to trust His power in and through us to express our joint love for others.

I am going to get to practice this trusting reliance even more next semester since I will be teaching a 3-hour Intermediate Algebra class, along with the College Algebra lab.

Lots of new things with new challenges, but I’m looking forward to the new experiences and relationships and depending on my Beloved through it all.

Writing Update:

In my last newsletter, I shared that I was on Day 2 of Week 6 (the last week) of my newest book, His Banner over Me Is Sustaining Love (over Song of Songs, Chapters 3–5).

I thought I would be finished with Week 6 by the time I wrote this newsletter, but because I spent much longer on Day 3 than I could have imagined, I have just started Day 4.

Since the overriding theme of this Volume (2) in my study series is “experiencing our Beloved’s sustaining love in the midst of suffering,” I sensed that God wanted me to revisit my blog post series on The Shack book and movie and integrate some of that material in my discussion on Song 5:13 (speaks of our Bridegroom’s affections for His bride, the church).

If you haven’t heard of The Shack, it is a story about a man named Mack Phillips who is stuck in great sadness because his daughter Missy was abducted and brutally murdered.

Almost four years after this tragic heartbreak, he receives a note from Papa (the name his wife, Nan, calls God) asking Mack to meet Him at the shack—the place where evidence of Missy’s murder was found.

Both the book and movie depict a God who is “especially fond of us” and who goes to great lengths to heal our hurts with His love.

Even though I published the original post series in March 2017, I’ve done more research, read the book again, and revised and renamed all three posts:

If you are on a journey of learning to live from God’s unconditional affection for you rather than trying to earn His love based on how well you follow the rules, I think you might enjoy this series on The Shack.

And when my newest book comes out in early 2022, you will get to see how I integrated parts of the series with my discussion on the first half of Song 5:13:

His cheeks (affections) are like a bed of balsam, banks of sweet-scented herbs.
(parenthesis added)

***

Before closing this newsletter, I invite you to check out my Living Loved archives and my books to read more about your new heart union with Christ.

You can also follow me on social media.

If His Heart’s Desire Ministries has blessed you in any way, would you prayerfully consider giving a one-time donation or becoming a regular donor?

We are trusting in His provision to keep this writing ministry going!

Regardless of whether or not you are able to give financially, we would appreciate your prayers for the ministry.

We would also love to pray for your needs, so please contact us.

Together, we can reach many with the Good News of the gospel of God’s amazing grace and help others live loved in Christ through understanding their flawless identity in Him!

Living Loved in Christ,