In Search of My Heart: Recent Episodes
Bill Harper
In the early days as I was trying to find my heart, as I look back now, it was a puzzle. When the real Gospel and the person of Jesus appeared in 2005, I was given a picture from which to assemble the puzzle. Or, a map through the maze. As Trinity now reveals more of the picture to me, as the pieces of The Larger Story appear as an ever increasing mural, now I can see what I could not see before. And the horizontal line represents the division between “above the line” (the place where I find God’s love and truth and peace and nourishment) and below the line (this broken world in which we must operate). Above the line reveals the picture so the puzzle pieces can fall into place. I once was blind, but now I see. I once was lost in a maze, but now I am finding my way. Not my compass, but His.
A special celebration for Mother's Day! In the experience of watching my daughter become a mother, I am beginning to understand the special, beautiful, and critical role of motherhood in God's kingdom. Let us acknowledge and celebrate that final crowning creation of God: Woman, and her role as a mother in nurturing our souls.
A special celebration for Mother's Day! In the experience of watching my daughter become a mother, I am beginning to understand the special, beautiful, and critical role of motherhood in God's kingdom. Let us acknowledge and celebrate that final crowning creation of God: Woman, and her role as a mother in nurturing our souls.
This song by Marc Cohn touched me for its storytelling and its lovely musical melody. It captures the essence of this river of life for us, with a bit of sadness... but with that I am awakened to the contrast of the need for joy. I have been hearing again and again how we need to tap into the presence of God for our daily nourishment. When I hear a message I bring it here to share for you. If you feel weary sometimes, if your life today is burdened, take a moment to ponder that one day, there will be rest for the weary. Not just the promise of what awaits us in the coming kingdom, but remember we can tap into the Presence of God today, by walking in the son. Never forget the promise of what awaits us, but pay attention today to The Present - The gift of the Son, the Spirit and his presence... and take a walk in the sun.
These topics and more are presented at the Return To Glory Boot Camp in Marianna Florida, 7-10 April 2022. Information and registration at RTGMinistries.org
These topics and more are presented at the Return To Glory Boot Camp in Marianna Florida, 7-10 April 2022. Information and registration at RTGMinistries.org
Psangh Survey#2 Stand in Faith by Danny Gokey with Free to Live: The Utter Relief of Holiness by John Eldredge. This beautiful melodic and lyrical combination seems to be the saints all singing, or singing to us with its uplifting chorus. While I was noticing this song, along comes the book Free to Live: The Utter Relief of Holiness by John Eldredge. They connected dots for me regarding Romans 14:23: "Everything that does not come from faith is sin" Defensiveness has surfaced lately in me, because I fail to let Jesus be my advocate, and look at the wind and the waves instead... as in not living by faith. Remember PSANGHS stands for People SANG His Story, which is also history
Notice the new name for the previous Worship Walk series. People SANG His Story, and His Story is history, actually. This is a rocking beat psangh from the former leader of Third Day and it moves me like a sweet earthquake. The River of Life is described in Revelation 22 and Mac wrote "there is a fountain flowing from the heart of the Saviour". I have been hearing, seeing, perceiving and experiencing this "River of Life" concept for years now. The water is up these days, thats for sure. I love exploring rivers, with all its adventure, beauty, risk, and discovery. The christian life seems analogous. In this river of my life I am seeking restoration and healing and understanding and serenity. Finding those and beauty and adventure in the process. May this episode bring you some of that. I close with a quote from T.S. Eliot:
We shall not cease from our exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.
I have found the Psalms being sung in these present day worship songs. This one, "The Fathers House" by Cory Asbury, is a beautiful moving profound anthem... I am calling these present day creations "Psanghs" which combines the elements of the tear filled hope giving pages of the Psalms with the uplifting, restoring songs of today that wipe away those tears. God has sung to my heart with this one. A riddle for my listeners: "What is the name of God's best gift to us?" The answer: The Present. Maya Angelou wrote: "If you must look back, do so forgivingly. If you must look forward, do so prayerfully. However the wisest thing you can do is be present in the present... gratefully" Keeping that in mind and making it a habit is like turning up the oxygen level in my heart.
Jaworski Vance and Bill Harper team up to explore what it looks like to break down the racial barriers and develop relationships across dividing lines of race and socio-economic divisions. "I see you" is a term from the warrior codes of the Masaii tribe in Africa, and Jaworski and Bill are exploring that connection as neighbors, brothers, and warriors for the Kingdom of God.
John Eldredge published a blog letter regarding our plan to nourish and not overwhelm ourselves - our hearts - with our summer plans. It is full of gracious wisdom. You may read or download it here:
https://wildatheart.org/blogs/john/what-your-recovery-plan
https://wildatheart.org/sites/default/files/u23341/wah_april_2021_newsletter.pdf
This worship walk is not so much about this song [I Will Sing of the Goodness of God by Bethel Music and Jenn Johnson] but more about my Worship Walks in general. Why do I do this? What moves me and others in the worship? This song has moved me over and over again in my walk toward the Heart of God... I hope it moves you in that direction as well.
A profound word in season appeared in a letter from John Eldredge where he unpacked scripture from Luke which gives us wise counsel and caution for the dangers of this season. It is about finding strength in a world gone mad that saps it out of us.
Update on next month's Return to Glory Bootcamp!
Find more information on Return to Glory Ministries here:
https://returntoglory.regfox.com/return-to-glory
Here is what I've been telling people, even strangers in public lately. I've even been passing out little cards with this message on it!
"The story of your life is the story of the long and brutal assault upon your heart by the one who knows who you could be and fears it" - John Eldredge. In this last episode we talk about recognizing and dismantling agreements. Also I offer some of my nourishing practices to care for my heart.
Recommended reading: Wild at Heart Waking the Dead and The Sacred Romance by Eldredge, et. al. all available on amazon
Proverbs 4:23 is my life verse: "Guard your heart, above all else, for from it flows the wellsprings of life" God says take care of your heart; it matters to Him. Have you heard God wooing you, haunting you? Have the wounds you received become arrowheads lodged in your heart? Hear more of my story as we continue this journey.
Recommended books and videos Book: Wild at Heart by John Eldredge Book: Waking the Dead by John Eldredge Book: The Sacred Romance by Eldredge and Curtis Website: WildAtHeart.org “The Wild at Heart experience” “The Captivating Experience” https://wildatheart.org/wildatheart https://wildatheart.org/captivating
If I am a man in search of my heart, what does that look like? Lets take a journey to cover the landscape of what living from a heart looks like. The bible teaches the heart is central, and WildatHeart.com has three excellent books on the subject (my sources for much of the research) What role does pain play? Is the heart whole? Or does it have a hole that needs to be filled? Is my heart wicked or good?
Recommended books and videos Book: Wild at Heart by John Eldredge Book: Waking the Dead by John Eldredge Book: The Sacred Romance by Eldredge and Curtis Website: WildAtHeart.org “The Wild at Heart experience” “The Captivating Experience” https://wildatheart.org/wildatheart https://wildatheart.org/captivating
Don't miss my special interview with Dwight Bell about his amazing ministry, Wings of Grace. It involves young people and outreach and learning to fly aircraft and play a musical instrument, yes, all of that and more!
Find more information on his website here: https://wingsofgraceministries.org/dwight-bell/
A profound word in season appeared in a letter from John Eldredge where he unpacked scripture from Luke which gives us wise counsel and caution for the dangers of this season. It is about finding strength in a world gone mad that saps it out of us.
I believe all men have a basic question that drives them: “Do I have what it takes?” That question can only be truly answered by God, but we so regularly take our question to other things in our life, seeking validation. And all too often, we receive invalidation instead. Let’s examine what that looks like. And keep this in mind: The LORD is a warrior; Yahweh is his name! Exodus 15:3
On this week’s episode Ashley and Alphonso sit down with Bill Harper a retired Air Force Pilot who is hosting a "Return to Glory" retreat for men April 7-10 based on John Eldridge's work and host of books on men. Bill does a great job with breaking down the retreat without revealing too many surprises the retreat has in store. They also discuss the state some men are in now and the need for men to fellowship amongst men. For more information on the retreat go to to https://returntoglory.regfox.com/return-to-glory
Find more information on Return to Glory Ministries here:
https://returntoglory.regfox.com/return-to-glory
Find more information about Live the Life here:
https://www.livethelife.org/
Under the subject heading "love thy neighbor," let's take an in-depth look at the lyrics in this hit song by Tim McGraw.