 Make Your Heart God’s Hearth When I was growing up, there was often a wood fire in the stone fireplace in our house on a winter’s night. I remember the warmth and light that emanated from the crackling blaze. I found it deeply enthralling to watch the flames dance on the logs, and then, after the fire had been going a while, to observe the glowing embers on the hearth, seemingly alive with the movement of color and power within. There was real heat in those embers. We have a beautiful invitation from God, available today: Make your heart his hearth. Hearth as Home The hearth is a symbol of home. So in one sense, the invitation is to make our hearts his home. But it’s also more than that. Tending the Fire The word itself—hearth—refers to heat, burning, and fire. And the truth is, Jesus wants a specific temperature in our lives: hot. (See Revelation 3:15.) In 2 Timothy 1:6, Paul reminded Timothy about fanning into flame what God had given him. Every choice we make is an opportunity to tend the fire—to keep it hot, or not. (See 1 Thessalonians 5:19.) But we don’t tend this fire alone. Matthew 3:11 and Luke 3:16 say that Jesus is the one who “will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” He is the giver of power, purity, passion, and so much more. A Blessing May your heart be God’s hearth today and every day. May your love for him—and his for you—burn brightly there. |
| ~ Prayer ~ God, I give you my heart to be your home. Help my love for you burn hot. Please make my heart your hearth in every way you desire. |
| Christian Books for Giving and Keeping All of these nonfiction and fiction books are good tools for deepening intimacy with God. |
 How to Journal with God My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” – Psalm 27:8 God has provided an open-door invitation to come and talk with him. This book is designed to walk you through it, with pen in hand. * Great Gift * Available in Paperback & Ebook Order How to Journal with God on Amazon |
 Jesus as Healer: Miracles and Meditations in Luke Look into the face of the one who can heal anything. Come away on a life-changing meditation journey through the incredible work of Jesus as healer in the Bible book of Luke. * Devotional * Great Gift * Available in Paperback & Ebook Order Jesus as Healer on Amazon |
 Fiction that Builds Faith For gentle stories with deep faith, friendships and family relationships that span generations, and creative people who are always growing, come visit the Valley of Artisans. Get the series for your own wintertime reading & some for gifting! Available in paperback and ebook. Order Valley of Artisans Series Books on Amazon |
 Open for Miracles It’s WinterFest time in the Valley of Artisans, and River Carter’s new life may be about to snowball. Her latest business venture is taking off, but could it also take her down? Meanwhile, Uncle Jim and Sara announce a winter wedding—but will their trip down the aisle end before it begins? Who will help Della run the café? And when one of Vera’s big prayers for River is answered, will life be the same for any of them again? Available in paperback and ebook. * Gift Tip: Open for Miracles can be read as a standalone, or group books 1&2. Order Open for Miracles on Amazon |
 A Winter Wedding in the Valley of Artisans After you’ve read books 1 & 2 in the series, you won’t want to miss this beautiful—and mysterious—wintertime story! In the Valley of Artisans, the charming wedding chapel is finally ready for its grand opening. But when an ice storm brings an unexpected wedding guest with questions for River Carter, where will his inquiries lead? It’s a winter wedding in Indiana—what could possibly go wrong? Available in paperback and ebook. * Gift Tip: Group books 1-3. Order A Winter Wedding on Amazon |
 What Readers are Saying About the Valley of Artisans Books Readers have shared in reviews on Goodreads, BookBub, and Amazon how the Valley of Artisans books have inspired them. I’m so grateful to see how readers are being encouraged! I hope you’ll also enjoy reading—and giving—these uplifting Christian fiction reads in paperback and ebook. |
 Celebrating the Light One came and he was the light. I’ve been thinking a lot about what John wrote about Jesus and light. I recently put some of those thoughts into words in this blog post, The Light of the World—and You. It seems to just scratch the surface. You know how sometimes you’ve gotten just a glimpse of something—but enough to know there is so much more? That’s how this feels. So, as I celebrate the light who came—and who is, and was, and who is to come—I celebrate with wonder. Let’s tend those hearths. No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has in store for those who love him! Celebrating the Light who gives freedom, health, and wholeness, AmyLu P.S. You’re welcome to share this email with anyone you think might enjoy the content. All are welcome to subscribe at amylu-riley.com/subscribe. |
| All text content copyright (c) 2023 by AmyLu Riley. Author photo copyright © 2023 by AmyLu Riley. Fireplace photo: Stephane Juban on Unsplash. |