Heartstone Journey

Live courageously from your heart!

  • Channels +
    • Leadership
    • Dads Do Matter
    • Life
    • Faith
    • Community
    • Quotes
  • Resources +
    • Articles
    • Series
    • Podcast
    • Get The Book
    • Quote Cards
    • My Tools
  • Speaking
  • Shop
  • About
  • Contact

Merry Christmas 2014!

Merry Christmas 2014!

Can you imagine what it would have been like if Jesus had not come?

A number of years ago a remarkable Christmas card was published by the title, “If Christ Had Not Come.” It was based on these words, “If I had not come….” (John 15:22). The card pictured a minister falling asleep in his study on Christmas morning and then dreaming of a world into which Jesus had never come.

In his dream, he saw himself walking through his house, but as he looked, he saw no Christmas decorations, no Christmas tree, no wreaths, no lights, no crèche, no Christmas cards, and no Christ to comfort and gladden hearts or to save us. He then walked onto the street outside, but there was no church with its spire pointing toward heaven. And when he came back and sat down in his library, he realized that every book about our Savior had disappeared. There were no carols or Christian music on the radio and no choirs or Christmas concerts on television.

The minister dreamed that the doorbell rang and that a messenger asked him to visit a friend’s poor, dying mother. He reached her home, and as his friend sat and wept, he said, “I have something here that will comfort you.” He opened his Bible to look for a familiar promise, but it ended with Malachi. There was no Christmas story, no angelic chorus, no shepherds or Wise Men, no Sermon on the Mount, no parables, no miracles, no “Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” There was no gospel, no light of the world, no “God so loved the world”, no Lord’s Prayer, and no promise of hope and salvation, and all he could do was bow his head and weep with his friend and his mother in bitter despair.

Two days later he stood beside her coffin and conducted her funeral service, but there was no message of comfort, no words of a glorious resurrection, and no thought of a mansion awaiting her in heaven. There was only “dust to dust, and ashes to ashes,” and one long, eternal farewell. Finally he realized that Christ had not come, and burst into tears, weeping bitterly in his sorrowful dream. There would be no Easter, and no hope of the kingdom of heaven and an age to come.

Continue Reading

December 22, 2014 Filed Under: Community Tagged With: faith, family, featured, God, holiday, Jesus

Remember The Fallen

Remember The Fallen

For most of us, Memorial Day means the “unofficial kickoff” of summer when we go away or get together with loved ones to grill up some great food.

Not at all suggesting that there is anything wrong with this, but I challenge you to pause and think about what it means when a soldier dies fighting for your freedom. Think about the scene playing out in slow motion as the loved one of a fallen soldier hears that knock on the door.

Will you pause for a moment and remember the fallen brave as that familiar bugle sound plays in the background…”Taps”.

Here is a bit of history of Taps.

Continue Reading

May 25, 2014 Filed Under: Community Tagged With: broken, courage, family, holiday, leadership, life, love

Merry Christmas 2013!

Merry Christmas 2013!

Let’s pause and step back into the very first Christmas Eve.

Mary and Joseph were homeless, a day away from giving birth and far away from their family. It was in this moment that they had to choose to trust the God and to this day we all know the result of their choosing to trust Him.

I’ve learned through my own life journeys that if you want God’s best then you have to walk it out with Him, on His terms, from start to finish. This journey is not an easy one, but the longer you stay on the journey with Him the greater your reward will be.

The true meaning of Christmas is becoming more blurred with each passing year.

Continue Reading

December 23, 2013 Filed Under: Community Tagged With: family, holiday, Jesus, life, love

Why Do Bad Things Happen And Why Does God Allow It?

Why Do Bad Things Happen And Why Does God Allow It?

Once again this nation has come under attack. But for me and many others it’s right on our back doorstep, this time it happened in Boston. The Boston Marathon is a special day for celebrating everything that is good about Boston, its a day where the city opens up its arms and welcomes runners from around the world. It’s a day where they are part of our community for a day.

Sadly what started out to be a beautiful day with excitement and anticipation of who would win the marathon, tragedy struck.

Continue Reading

April 16, 2013 Filed Under: Life Tagged With: courage, crisis, faith, holiday, hope, Jesus, life

Merry Christmas 2012!

Merry Christmas 2012!

December 24, 2012 Filed Under: Community Tagged With: family, holiday, Jesus, life, love

  • ←
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • →

Favorite Quotes

Courage, perseverance, cunning—that’s how you kill lions. Live that and you will have a story worth telling. -John Eldredge

Cool Scripture

If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan? -Jeremiah 12:5 (NIV)

Never Out Of The Fight!

Get Heartstone

Get the book

Resources

  • FREE Heartstone poetry e-book
  • Heartstone Series
  • Heartstone Press Release
  • Book Recommendations
  • Podcast Archive
  • My Tools
  • Home
  • Archives
  • Media
  • Contact

Copyright © 2011–2025 | Heartstone Journey

Privacy Policy  ·  Permissions  ·  Terms of Service