Galatians 5:22-23 New International Version But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
A Prayer:
Lord, our eyes are on you
To accept the love of your grace
Fully embracing joy and its healing power
Seeking your peace amidst today’s chaos
Showing others patience even when we are wronged
Treating others with the kindness we wish to receive
Being an example of goodness in the face of evil
Living out integrity as you exemplify integrity in your faithfulness to us
Granting others gentleness instead of judgment
Walking hand-in-hand with the Spirit of self-control
(Verse 1) In the quiet of the morning, Lord, we seek Your face, Through the shadows and the stillness, we receive Your grace. Guide our hearts with patience, let Your mercy flow, In the beauty of Your presence, may our spirits grow.
(Chorus) Oh Lord, You are our refuge, shelter from the storm, In Your arms of mercy, keep us safe and warm. With Your Spirit guiding, we will trust and sing, In Your love unending, we find everything.
(Verse 2) Teach us kindness, teach us the grace, show us how to be, A reflection of Your goodness for the world to see. When the path is heavy, and road is long, Let Your truth sustain us, and Your joy be our song.
(Chorus) Oh Lord, You are our refuge, shelter from the storm, In Your arms of mercy, keep us safe and warm. With Your Spirit guiding, we will trust and sing, In Your love unending, we find everything.
(Bridge) Grant us hearts of gentleness, hands that freely give, May our lives be offerings, in the way we live. Through the trials and the triumphs, faithful we will stay, Walking in Your footsteps, on the narrow way.
(Chorus) Oh Lord, You are our refuge, shelter from the storm, In Your arms of mercy, keep us safe and warm. With Your Spirit guiding, we will trust and sing, In Your love unending, we find everything.
Genuine Fenton art glass, blown by Chuck Boux of Sigma Glass, St. Petersburg, FL
Mold My Heart – Female Vocal
Mold My Heart – Male Vocal
Devotional: “The Heart of Glass”
Scripture “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” — Ezekiel 36:26
Reflection This poem beautifully captures the human desire to protect and perfect our hearts. We search for strength and resilience in many forms—like glass, clay, and granite—seeking a heart that can endure life’s trials without breaking. Yet, time and experience teach us an important truth: it’s not the hardness or durability of our hearts that matters most but their openness to love, vulnerability, and God’s shaping hand.
A heart of glass, though fragile, reflects beauty and light in a way that no stone can. When we attempt to make our hearts impenetrable, like granite, we may succeed in avoiding hurt, but we also close ourselves off from love and connection. A cold, hard heart isolates us, leaving us lonely and distant from others. On the other hand, a heart too brittle—like one made of clay—may crumble under pressure, leaving us feeling useless or defeated.
The lesson here is not about finding the perfect material for our hearts but about trusting the right Artist. The Master Craftsman, our Creator, forms each of us with love, care, and purpose. He knows the balance between beauty and strength, between fragility and endurance. He shapes our hearts not to be invulnerable but to reflect His character—tender, compassionate, and full of grace.
A glass heart, though it may seem fragile, carries a unique kind of strength. It requires humility to handle it carefully, acknowledging that we cannot protect it alone. When we entrust our hearts to God, we don’t have to fear breaking. Even if our hearts do shatter under life’s pressures, God, in His mercy, gathers the pieces and creates something even more beautiful. His closeness to the brokenhearted ensures that no wound is beyond His ability to heal.
This devotional reminds us that our hearts are best shared with humility, not pride. They are not meant to be displayed as trophies for all the world to see but to be vessels of love and light, handled with care and offered to God and others. When we allow God to shape and guide our hearts, we find the balance between vulnerability and resilience, discovering a beauty that comes only from Him.
Prayer Heavenly Father, Thank You for being the Master Craftsman of my heart. You know its every detail, its strengths, its weaknesses, and its capacity for love. Forgive me when I try to harden my heart to protect myself or when I let my pride display it carelessly, leaving it vulnerable to harm.
Teach me to trust You fully with my heart, knowing that even in its fragility, Your strength is sufficient. Help me to handle my heart with humility, recognizing that it is a reflection of Your love and grace. May I share it with others in ways that glorify You, shining Your light through its transparency. And when life’s pressures cause my heart to break, remind me that You are near, ready to restore and renew me with Your loving hands.
Shape me into the person You’ve called me to be, Lord. May my heart always reflect Your beauty, compassion, and purpose. Amen.
Writing
The glassblower formed the molten glow His skill refined and keen With the care of an artist creating perfection It was the prettiest heart I’d ever seen
I took my heart and showed it with pride For all the world to see But it was too fragile, this heart of glass And a broken heart’s of no use to me
I searched far and wide for the best potter To make a heart that was stronger It wasn’t as pretty, this heart of clay But I knew it would last longer
I took my heart and showed it with pride For all the world to see It too was fragile and it crumbled And a broken heart’s of no use to me
To the best sculptor money could buy I found my heart of granite It was heavy and hard, not very pretty This strongest heart on the planet
I took my heart and showed it with pride For all the world to see It didn’t break, but it was too cold And all those around left me
The glassblower formed the molten glow His skill refined and keen With the care of an artist creating perfection It was the prettiest heart I’d ever seen
I took my heart, handling it with care For some of the world to see This heart of glass, fragile in its beauty Is best shared with humility
Verse 1 Open my heart, Lord, shape it anew, Fill it with love that flows from You. Teach me to see through others’ pain, And show me how to love again.
Verse 2 Break down my pride, Lord, soften my soul, Help me to see where love makes whole. Guide me to serve, to give, to share, And show Your kindness everywhere.
Chorus Mold my heart, O Lord, to follow Your way, Shape me with love, teach me how to obey. Help me to love, forgive, and believe, To offer Your hope to those in need. Strengthen my steps, make my purpose clear, Let me reflect that You are near.
Verse 3 Fill me with grace, Lord, let it shine, A heart that beats with love divine. Lead me to those who need Your care, And teach me compassion everywhere.
Bridge Tear down my walls, Lord, set me free, Make me the person You want me to be. Fill me with grace, Your Spirit within, Transform my heart, let Your work begin. Restore the hurting, lift up the weak, Through every moment, Your will I seek.
Verse 4 Plant seeds of love within my heart, Help me to live and do my part. Let every act and every word, Reflect Your truth, let it be heard.
Chorus Mold my heart, O Lord, to follow Your way, Shape me with love, teach me how to obey. Help me to love, forgive, and believe, To offer Your hope to those in need. Strengthen my steps, make my purpose clear, Let me reflect that You are near.
Outro Mold my heart, Lord, refine it still, Align my life with Your perfect will. Let love flow out in all that I do, A living reflection of only You. In every word, in every song, Let my heart declare where I belong.
“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.” – Psalm 23:1 (NIV)
In a world that constantly tells us we need more—more success, more stuff, more strength—Psalm 23 begins with a profound counter-message: “I lack nothing.” Why? Because the Lord is our Shepherd. He isn’t distant or disinterested. He is personal, present, and deeply invested in our well-being.
When life feels overwhelming, God offers rest: green pastures for our weary souls and quiet waters to calm our anxious minds. He doesn’t just patch us up—He restores us. He leads us, not with pressure or panic, but with purpose, guiding us on the right path for His glory, not ours.
But even in the darkest valleys—the hospital rooms, the heartbreaks, the battles we never chose—He walks with us. His presence is our protection. His rod and staff, symbols of both discipline and defense, bring us comfort, not fear.
And then, something beautiful happens. God doesn’t just lead us through trouble—He prepares a feast for us in the presence of it. Right there, in front of enemies and fears, He honors and blesses us. Our cup isn’t just filled—it overflows.
Psalm 23 ends with a promise: goodness and love will pursue us every day, and our forever home is secure in His presence.
Today, pause and let that truth wash over you. You are not alone. You are not forgotten. You are not lacking.
You are shepherded.
Prayer:
Lord, Thank You for being my Shepherd. In every moment—whether peaceful or painful—You are near. Lead me beside still waters when life feels rushed. Restore my soul when I am weary. Even in dark valleys, help me trust that You walk with me. Let Your goodness and love surround me today, and remind me that I am always safe in Your care. Amen.
Psalm 23 (NIV)
1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Song;
Verse 1 The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not fear, He leads me to pastures where waters are clear. He gives me new strength when my spirit is low, And shows me the pathway where his mercy flows.
Chorus You are with me, I’m never alone, In the darkest valley, Your light is shown. Your rod and staff bring peace to my soul, You spread out a table and feed me full Surely Your goodness will follow my days, And I will abide in your warmth always
Verse 2 Though shadows may gather and trials descend, I trust in Your protection that will not end. My cup overflows with blessings untold, You crown me with favor, my heart made bold.
Chorus You are with me, I’m never alone, In the darkest valley, Your light is shown. Your rod and staff bring peace to my soul, You spread out a table and feed me full Surely Your goodness will follow my days, And I will abide in your warmth always
Bridge In Your dwelling I’ll sing evermore, Safe in the arms I was made for. Peace like a river flows through my pain, Love everlasting, in You I remain.
Final Chorus You are with me, I’m never alone, In the darkest valley, Your light is shown. Your rod and staff bring peace to my soul, You spread out a table and feed me full Surely Your goodness will follow my days, And I will abide in your warmth always
Forever I’ll dwell in the house of the Lord— Shepherd of my soul, I am Yours.
“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.” — 1 Corinthians 13:12
Reflection:
Many of us grapple with the fear that if others truly knew us—the depths of our thoughts, our past mistakes, our hidden struggles—they might withdraw their love. This apprehension can lead to feelings of isolation and unworthiness, causing us to hide our true selves behind masks of perfection or indifference.
However, the Bible offers a transformative truth: God knows us completely and loves us unconditionally. As 1 Corinthians 13:12 reminds us, our current understanding is limited, like seeing a dim reflection in a mirror. Yet, even in our partial understanding, we are fully known by God. This means that our capacity to love and be loved originates from God’s perfect love for us—a love that is not based on our merits but on His very nature.
Consider the story of the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11). She was exposed and condemned by others, yet Jesus saw beyond her sin and offered her grace and a new beginning. This encounter illustrates that even when we feel most unlovable, Jesus meets us with compassion and redemption.
Embracing this truth requires us to confront our fears and vulnerabilities, bringing them before God in honesty. When we do so, we open ourselves to experiencing the fullness of His love—a love that liberates us from the need to hide and empowers us to live authentically.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
I come before You with my fears and insecurities, knowing that You see me fully and love me unconditionally. Help me to embrace Your love, allowing it to dispel the lies that I am unlovable. Teach me to live authentically, rooted in the assurance that I am known and cherished by You. Empower me to extend this love to others, reflecting Your grace in all my relationships.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Writing:
We don’t see things clearly yet. We’re seeing things in a fog, peering through the reflection of a looking glass. But eventually we’ll see it all, as clearly as God sees us, and seeing Him face-to-face as he knows us…without our mask…as we are.
When you look at me, who do you see? Do you see what you want to see? Or do you see the real ME?
I’m not…
…plastic and fake …living in the confines of a storefront window box you make …saying what you want me to say …thinking what you want me to think …without flaw …a model doll …hair of silk all in place …living in your window box space
I’m ME…
I’m the one walking free, on my sidewalk of life…
…as I was made …with my imperfections …with my strengths …giving …full of emotion …real…without pretension …getting the most out of life …taking advantage of every moment …weak, sometimes …strong, sometimes …constantly seeking adventure …feeling pain, and learning from it …being alone, but being okay with it …finding companionship…and risking the adventure of it …full…of…everything…life…has…to…offer …with eyes wide open…
I want you to see the real ME…the real who I am…as I see ME
Verse 1: In this life, we see through mirrors dim, True selves hidden, light within grows slim. Fearing if they knew the flaws inside, They’d turn away, and love would be denied.
Chorus: But You, O Lord, You see me face to face, Fully known, embraced by endless grace. In Your light, my heart is truly free, To be the one You always meant for me.
Verse 2: No longer bound by chains of false pretense, I step beyond the walls of their defense. With all my scars and strengths in full display, I walk in freedom, guided by Your way.
Chorus: For You, O Lord, You see me face to face, Fully known, embraced by endless grace. In Your light, my heart is truly free, To be the one You always meant for me.
Bridge: Now I embrace the journey, come what may, With open eyes, I seek You every day. Until that time I see You face to face, I’ll walk in faith, upheld by Your embrace.
Chorus: For You, O Lord, You see me face to face, Fully known, embraced by endless grace. In Your light, my heart is truly free, To be the one You always meant for me.
Outro: For now, we see as in a mirror’s gaze, But then, with You, we’ll stand in glory’s blaze. Fully known and knowing, we will be, In perfect love for all eternity.
