Author Archives: expressyourself4him

Passage of the Day:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. ⁵ For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. ⁶ If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. ⁷ And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort, 2 Corinthians 1:3-7.

Reflection:

One of my new responsibilities at work is approaching individuals who have recently made a big mistake or are simply struggling to perform in their department. As I interact with these associates, I try to share my own past failures and shortcomings. When I approach people with a heart of compassion, knowing that human nature has a way getting the best of us, these uncomfortable conversations tend to go better than I expect. This is the goal of the apostle Paul in today’s passage, reminding the Church at Corinth of God, the Father of Compassion.

Prayerful Action:

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. ³² Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you, Ephesians 4:31-32.

Restoring Your Heart:

In the days of my youth, I possessed a bad temper, weekly freaking out on someone or going off about something that I despise. Despite becoming a Christian in the middle of my sophomore year of high school, I didn’t know how to be compassionate. Since my church over-emphasized the wrath of God in the Old Testament, compassion wasn’t something that I was introduced to until college. The apostle Paul is clear about how to develop a heart of compassion: forgiving others just as Jesus forgave you and all of your sins, 1 John 1:9.

Song of the Day:

Back in 2012, I got fired from my teaching job of ten years on New Year’s Day. The attached song ministered to me and helped got me through this difficult time in life. Whether today’s post finds you enjoying the thrill of victory or the agony of defeat, may God give you the strength to move on, striving for a heart of compassion.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. ⁸ But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us, Romans 5:6-8.

Reflection:

The concept of service was one of those things hard to grasp as a teenager. Growing up I was taught that you should strive to become rich and powerful so that you may one day be able to afford servants. It wasn’t until I went on my first service project in college that I began to see the power of giving. Whatever human desires and efforts that you may possess, Jesus was the ultimate servant to emulate. While we are all imperfect sinners, Jesus demonstrated a servant’s heart by laying down His own life to seek and to save that which was lost, Luke 19:10.

Prayerful Action:

Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. ¹⁰ Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms, 1 Peter 4:9-10.

Restoring Your Heart:

However gifted and talented you are, there will always be someone else more blessed than you. Perhaps, this is a way of humbling yourself, so you don’t become full of pride. One of Jesus’ disciples calls first century Christians to serve others by using your special personality and or traits. The more you fan these into flame, 2 Timothy 1:6, apply your gifts in life, a servant’s heart will be conceived within you. As Reliant K once sang about in “Give Until There’s Nothing Left,” is a great motto for developing a servant’s heart.

Song of the Day:

Jesus sets the tone for giving in John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” This is a servant’s heart in action, Jesus’ secret ambition while on earth.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. ³ And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. ⁴ Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. ⁵ Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. ⁶ Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone, Colossians 4:2-6.

Reflection:

For some strange reason, when I’m at my current job, I tend to dwell on all the negative aspects. Meanwhile, when I reflect upon previous positions which I despised at the time, things were much better than I thought. Rather than pursue a heart of thanksgiving, I found myself thinking the grass was greener at other companies. The apostle Paul reminds the Church at Colosse of what’s really important, celebrating the mystery of Christ. Those believers who boldly proclaim the good news about Jesus Christ develop hearts full of thanksgiving.

Prayerful Action:

 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus, Philippians 4:6-7.

Restoring Your Heart:

Thankfulness is a byproduct of experiencing the peace of God. Rather than become overwhelmed by stressful events that crash into your life like relentless ocean waves, the peace of God transcends your perspective about life. Subsequently, those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, Matthew 6:33, will reach a point where you believe without a doubt that God will take care of your needs. May the peace of God guard your heart and mind this month and throughout 2024.

Song of the Day:

According to the apostle Paul, a heart of thanksgiving is like a special seasoning to add flavor and spice to the lives of people that you come in contact with in 2024. May the Holy Spirit use your heart of thanksgiving to impact your friends, family and peers.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

If I speak in the tongues^[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,^[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing. ⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. ⁸ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears, 1 Corinthians 13:1-9.

Reflection:

Saint Valentine was a priest in the 3rd century who defied the restrictive marriage laws of Rome. Saint Valentine blessed couples who were forbidden to marry, suffering a martyr’s death by standing up for his personal and spiritual convictions. This is the real story of Valentine’s Day, a man of God who possessed a heart of love. While this national holiday emphasizes the eros, sensual form of love, don’t miss the opportunity to develop your own heart of love.

Prayerful Action:

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. ¹² For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. ¹³ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love, 1 Corinthians 13:11-13.

Restoring Your Heart:

The apostle Paul begins this chapter on love with a subtle riddle. You may be the greatest athlete, possess the most impressive gift or were born with an amazing talent. Despite how earth shattering your abilities may be, without love, you’re nothing. This is built upon Jesus’ strategy at the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 7:24-27. Unless your beliefs are demonstrated daily via acts of faith, everything you stand for is meaningless. Love naturally flows out of Christians, Galatians 5:22-23, who develop and possess a heart of love.

Song of the Day:

If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. ¹¹ I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. ¹² My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. ¹³ Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends, John 15:10-13. Those who love are moved by the Holy Spirit to place others above themselves. This is a sign of a heart of love.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever. ² Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever. ³ Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever. ⁴ to him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever. ⁵ who by his understanding made the heavens, His love endures forever. ⁶ who spread out the earth upon the waters, His love endures forever. ⁷ who made the great lights—His love endures forever. ⁸ the sun to govern the day, His love endures forever ⁹ the moon and stars to govern the night; His love endures forever, Psalm 136:1-9.

Reflection:

There is a growing movement for Christians to keep a gratitude journal. Similar to keeping a diary, gratitude journals are designed to reflect upon the positive aspects and things God is doing in your life. Thanks to recent Christian films, developing a heart of gratitude has been brought to the forefront. The apostle Paul writes about God’s invisible qualities in Romans 1:20. This is what the Psalmist illuminates in the passage above, verbalizing specific things that God has created for all to see.

Prayerful Action:

Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray continually, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.

Restoring Your Heart:

The textbook definition for gratitude is the quality of being thankful; a readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. This explanation hints to the Golden Rule: doing unto others, treating others, as you want to be treated. Anyone who strives toward achieving a heart of gratitude develops a readiness for appreciation and a desire to return God’s kindness to others.

Song of the Day:

The apostle Paul points to a blueprint for developing a heart of gratitude in Philippians 4:8-9. “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. ⁴ Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. ⁵ But if anyone obeys his word, love for God^[a] is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: ⁶ Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. ⁷ Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. ⁸ Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. ⁹ Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister^[b] is still in the darkness. ¹⁰ Anyone who loves their brother and sister^[c] lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. ¹¹ But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them, 1 John 2:3-11.

Reflection:

Speaking from experience of allowing darkness to enter my heart, God has used a series of dreams over the past forty years to alert me to dangers of the current path that I am on. While dreams can be bizarre, and others may not make any sense at all, there have been a few that woke me up in the middle of the night leaving me to ponder, “what the hell was that about?” Whether its thoughts of compromise, rebellion or temptation, my heart and mind race to find some sort of meaning. As human beings, tired and worn down, you may make poor decisions like deciding not to go to church, open the Bible or pray. This one step choice to take a break from God may lead to weeks, months and even years of living in darkness. Like trying to eat healthy and exercise daily, once you stop, it’s hard to make this part of your regular routine again.

Prayerful Action:

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly^[a] with your God, Micah 6:8.

Restoring Your Heart:

Just prior to his farewell address as the spiritual leader of Israel, Moses simplifies want it means to humbly walk with God in the light in Deuteronomy 28:1-2. “If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. ² All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God.” From a New Testament perspective, habitually walking with God isn’t about checking off a box on a to do list. John is talking about having a personal relationship with Jesus. The closer you become to Jesus, the greater this spiritual light will become.

Song of the Day:

Final Thoughts:

The attached song was played at my wedding with Leanne. As our mothers were lighting the unity candle, my good friend Phil sang All the Darkness. May the lyrics of this Steve Wiggins song inspire you today to walk in the light with Jesus.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. ² He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes^[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. ³ You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ⁴ Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. ⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ⁷ If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. ⁹ “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. ¹⁰ If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love, John 15:1-10.

Reflection:

If you try to ascertain your faith based upon how you feel day to day, you’ll probably be all over the place. Whether you know it or not, sometimes human beings are simply more focused and locked in to what they are doing. Unfortunately, distractions, emotions and the unexpected may cause you to lose your spiritual momentum. Subsequently, this may influence your heart to wander away from the Lord, void of the hunger and passion you once possessed. A sign that Christian hearts aren’t in the right place is when you stray off on your own, away from God’s love as priorities change.

Prayerful Action:

 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. ¹⁶ And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. ¹⁷ This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus, 1 John 4:15-17.

Restoring Your Heart:

People who struggle to love others tend to have a hard time forgiving themselves. In the minds of these individuals, God’s unconditional love is hard to fathom. Yet, the analogy of the Vine and Branches involves a relationship which takes time. When Christians begin to grasp God’s love, human hearts start to draw near God. The more Christians learn to rely on and remain attached to the vine, Jesus, hearts will come back to where they belong, Matthew 6:33.

Song of the Day:

Final Thoughts:

The lyrics of House of Their Dreams highlight what happens when Christians decide to remove themselves from the Vine, Jesus. Rather than being united under one family, everyone gradually separates due to various priorities in life. If you want your heart to drift back in the right direction, draw near Jesus and trust God to provide all that you need, Matthew 6:33-34.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father^[d] is not in them. ¹⁶ For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. ¹⁷ The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever, 1 John 2:15-17.

Reflection:

The words above were likely inspired by something the apostle Paul wrote to the Church in Galatia several decades before John penned one of his three epistles. Galatians 5:16-17 introduced first century Christians to the spiritual battle taking place inside your own body. Like a spiritual tug of war, the sinful nature tends to have an upper hand on the Holy Spirit. Like the old Veggie Tales classic, the Rumor Weed, the more you feed these desires, the harder it becomes to stop yourself from loving the wrong things in life.

Prayerful Actions:

I will sing of your love and justice; to you, Lord, I will sing praise. ² I will be careful to lead a blameless life—when will you come to me? I will conduct the affairs of my house with a blameless heart. ³ I will not look with approval on anything that is vile; I hate what faithless people do; I will have no part in it. ⁴ The perverse of heart shall be far from me; I will have nothing to do with what is evil, Psalm 101:3.

Restoring Your Heart:

The words above are a prayer written by King David. Perhaps, David is reflecting upon his first glance of Bathsheba taking a bath outside. It’s one thing to notice beauty, but taking a second glance often conceives enticement with a lust for more, James 1:14-15. One of my spiritual mentors in college talked about sin keeping you longer than you expected to stay. Once evil thoughts become full blown, even Christians are capable of doing the unexpected act. May you flee from evil so that fleshly desires don’t give birth to sexual addictions.

Song of the Day:

Final Thoughts:

Job’s defense to accusations made against him is compelling, Job 10:1-7. If you ever find yourself unable to control your eyes, pray the prayers of David and Job to start your heart from loving the wrong things in life.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

In the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and fortified Ramah to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the territory of Asa king of Judah. ² Asa then took the silver and gold out of the treasuries of the Lord’s temple and of his own palace and sent it to Ben-Hadad king of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus. ³ “Let there be a treaty between me and you,” he said, “as there was between my father and your father. See, I am sending you silver and gold. Now break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel so he will withdraw from me.” ⁴ Ben-Hadad agreed with King Asa and sent the commanders of his forces against the towns of Israel. They conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel Maim^[a] and all the store cities of Naphtali. ⁵ When Baasha heard this, he stopped building Ramah and abandoned his work. ⁶ Then King Asa brought all the men of Judah, and they carried away from Ramah the stones and timber Baasha had been using. With them he built up Geba and Mizpah.⁷ At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him: “Because you relied on the king of Aram and not on the Lord your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand. ⁸ Were not the Cushites^[b] and Libyans a mighty army with great numbers of chariots and horsemen^[c]? Yet when you relied on the Lord, he delivered them into your hand. ⁹ For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war.” ¹⁰ Asa was angry with the seer because of this; he was so enraged that he put him in prison. At the same time Asa brutally oppressed some of the people, 2 Chronicles 16:1-10.

Reflection:

As the life expectancy increases with scientific advances, it’s hard for a man or woman to finish strong late in life. Whether its Alzheimer’s, Dementia or Parkinson disease, the final years of those battling these conditions can be downright cruel. However, in the case of King Asa, a godly leader for the first 36 years of his reign as king, he developed a cold spiritual heart. Perhaps, apathy and complacency opened the door for evil to enter his life, Ephesians 4:26-27. Whatever the reason, today’s passage serves as a warning against mailing it in during the home stretch of your life.

Prayerful Action:

In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;  let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. ² Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me, Psalm 31:1-2.

Restoring Your Heart:

In the early years of life, pride and arrogance will lead to destruction. Meanwhile, near the end, a failing body and mind is hard to overcome. Yet, for King Asa, sometime prior to his 36th year as ruler, subtle compromises became a way of life. This didn’t come suddenly but was a byproduct of trusting in his own abilities rather than looking up to God for answers. When your heart catches a spiritual cold, the obedience that you once followed without a doubt is brought into question. Maybe King Asa forgot the word of one of Israel’s forefathers in Joshua 1:8. When Christians stop opening the Bible and prayer becomes a distant memory, this is when a cold heart starts to influence what you say, how you act and the path that you eventually follow, Matthew 7:13-14.

Song of the Day:

Final Thoughts:

The good news about stumbling across the finish line of faith, Hebrews 10:26-27 suggests death bed confessions are possible. Those who keep their eyes on eternity will be able to fight through the spiritual illness of a cold heart.

by Jay Mankus