by Gab Hershman
Beloved Hebron sister,
The year is NEW! God made a way for us through 2020 and into 2021. These first couple of weeks in, maybe you have found yourself asking the following or similar questions:
Why do I still feel a heaviness of heart?
Why am I already burnt out?
When? How? Why?
Sister, it is imperative that we fix our eyes upon Christ, and first hear of HIS heart for us, which helps us respond to these questions with His peace. Jesus says:
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29
Yes, we have a fresh, clean slate in the form of a new calendar or fancy planner. However, the world (with all pain, suffering, and heartbreak in it) is still just as fallen, and the people of it are still just as broken. Work exhausts us. Burdens tire us. Trouble worries us.
Jesus tells us clearly in a single verse that HIS heart is gentle, lowly, and for us. Our Savior is meek. Humble. Tender. Accessible. Welcoming. Understanding. Willing. He gives us rest from the toils and labor of the worldly life we face with each new year. His mercies are new every morning. Every hour we need Him. Let us give thanks for the grace upon grace he doses us to the minute. Only He knows our hearts and what we need going into this new year.
“One thing to get straight right from the start is that when the Bible speaks of the heart, whether Old Testament or New, it is not speaking of our emotional life only but of the central animating center of all we do. It is what gets us out of bed in the morning and what we daydream about as we drift off to sleep. It is our motivation headquarters. The heart, in biblical terms, is not part of who we are but the center of who we are. Our heart is what defines and directs us. That is why Solomon tells us to “keep the heart with all vigilance for from it flows the springs of life” (Proverbs 4:23). The heart is a matter of life. It is what makes us the human being each of us is. The heart drives all we do. It is who we are.” (Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers, by Dane Ortlund)
Let us lean into our Redeemer’s gentle and lowly heart as we prepare for our time together this February. In humility, we lay down our own preferences and desires and comforts and traditions as we orient our minds, desires, and wills toward Christ. We ask the Lord for His glory to be shown in, through, and to Hebron’s women, family, friends, and neighbors during our virtual time together in February.
Spend time with Hebron women during the upcoming live virtual gathering the morning of February 13th! Hear the Biblical encouragement God has for our hearts from speaker Cindy Guthrie, reflect in small groups, prepare a Bible to give away, and creatively follow an interactive cookie decorating lesson.
Our prayer is that after our time together we will be encouraged and equipped to share the Gospel with our neighbors and friends who may not have a relationship with the Lord; through our love (intentionality, prayer, and homemade cookies) and His Word (a Biblical message of hope, and even a Bible if they don’t have one).
We can hardly wait to see, hear, and be with our Hebron sisters while sharing in the presence of our Heavenly Father! We will be praying for your presence and praising the Lord for all His provision while making a way for us to gather together.
With love and hearts for Him,
Hebron Women’s Ministry Leadership Team
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Please register by Wed, Feb 3rd , online (via Sign-Up Genius link on Hebron Website) or by calling the church office (412-371-2307).
Any questions or concerns please call Jen Balkey @ 412.551.4688 or email JLBalkey@gmail.com
