Winter 2024 Newsletter

by  Dr. Jeff Schreve

It’s 1904 and a 10-year-old Italian boy named Angelo arrives in Brooklyn with his family. He’s a skinny child and as he adjusts to life in this new city, he’s often picked on by the bigger kids. 

Fast-forward to 1922 and this same guy is on the podium at Madison Square Garden having been named “America’s Most Perfectly Developed Man.” By then, this 97-pound weakling had not only grown a stronger body, he’d also changed his name ... 

Charles Atlas, formerly Angelo Siciliano, had discovered the secret to growing physically strong—and he’s still famous for it, even today. 

But here’s the question: How do you do that spiritually? What’s the formula for gaining spiritual muscle? 

Actually, it’s no secret. In fact, God’s Word makes it plain: 

Putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow. (1 Peter 2:1–2) 

When a babies come into this world, there’s only one thing they really want to do—and that’s eat. They do so about every four hours. And if their desire for milk is not met at the exact time they need it, then they will scream! 

Without question, if a baby doesn’t have a desire to eat, it’s a sign that there’s something wrong. 

The same is true for you and me. If, as born-again Christians, we don’t have a desire for the pure milk of God’s Word, then it’s a sign we’re spiritually sick. 
Note that Peter says growing spiritually is not solely about feeding on the Word, it’s also about steering clear of appetite killers! We must put aside “all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander” (1 Peter 2:1). 

It’s a command to turn away from sin and pursue holiness. And it’s a calling to be completely honest before God. David prayed, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way” (Psalm 139:23-24). How critical it is for us to do the same! 

My prayer is that From His Heart Ministries will equip and empower you to step into spiritual strength in the coming days as you walk in God’s will and feed on the real truth of His Word! 

Q: How can I have meaningful time with the Lord when life’s so busy? 

A: Start by making a conscious decision before the Lord that you want your quiet time with Him to be your first priority each day. If you don’t, then it’ll always be pushed to the bottom of your list. You’ll spend all your time at work or school, on social media or watching TV, and before you know it, another day is over. 

Make sure you begin your devotional time each day by remembering that you’re meeting with the Sovereign King over the whole universe. He’s the One who invites you to draw near to Him in faith! And He promises to meet with you as you seek Him (Psalm 59:10). 

Q: Pastor Jeff, what is your number one tip for cultivating a daily habit of quiet time with God? 

A: Here’s a really practical way to make your quiet time a daily habit: Just as Moses had a special place he would go to meet with God, I encourage you to have a special place set aside for your quiet time. It might be your back porch or your bedroom. If you’re a stay-at-home parent with little kids, then your special place might be the bathroom because it’s the only place where there’s a bit of peace! Debbie and I go to the den and that’s where we have our quiet time and seek the Lord. 

Unlike Moses, though, you don’t need stone tablets and a chisel. Just bring your Bible, and maybe a pen and journal. And be sure to always bring your open heart to the Lord—and He’ll draw near to you! 

Growth is essential in the Christian life. If you’re not moving forward with the Lord, you’ll become complacent and stagnant. 

I want to help you make progress in your Christian walk with my 7-message series The Next Step? 

Whether your next step on your spiritual journey is baptism, spending more time in the Word, strengthening your prayer life, or seeking a spiritual mentor to guide you in your growth, this series will help you move forward in faith. 

The Next Step? series comes as my thanks for your gift this month to share the real truth and real hope of the gospel with others through From His Heart Ministries. So be sure to request your copy of this new series.

Thank you for your partnership! 

by  Debbie Schreve

Our youngest daughter, Sarah, was a runner in school. She was fast, and her coaches always had her in dashes and relay races. If you’ve ever run in a relay race yourself, you know that the most important element of the race is a successful passing of the baton to the next person in the limited yards you have to pass it. 

The same is true in the Christian life. We walk this earth for a short time and it is our responsibility to “pass on the baton” of our faith to the next generation. Psalm 145:4 says, “One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts.” 

When we think of this “passing the baton,” we often think of our family: devoting time, love, energy, and prayer, and 
passing our faith on to our children and grandchildren. But... we need to think bigger! It needs to go further than that. 

Wherever you are in your race of faith, I want to encourage you to find someone you can mentor and pass the truths of God on to. Someone you can invest your time in to teach them the Word of God and His ways. From His Heart Ministries has tons of resources that can help you do that. 

We are all leaving a legacy. The question is...what will your legacy be? If you are reading this letter, it’s not too late for you. You CAN leave a godly legacy that will impact many generations after you. It takes intentionality, perseverance, and commitment. But fueled by the Holy Spirit, you can make your life count for all eternity! 

Dear Friend,

We often talk about feeding on God’s Word—but have you ever noticed how many different kinds of nourishment it offers? 

• Peter refers to the “pure milk” of God’s Word—our source of rich spiritual nourishment that feeds our new life in Christ (1 Peter 2:2). 
• Hebrews chapter 5 refers to the “solid food” or meat that grows us to spiritual maturity. 
• Jesus Himself quotes Deuteronomy in saying that “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).
• And King David says, “How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psalm 119:103). 

This year, From His Heart celebrates 20 years of ministry—and I can think of no better way to celebrate than by feasting on God’s Word! 

As I look back with awe and gratitude over all that God has done these last two decades, I’m profoundly aware that it’s only been possible because of the faithful prayers and generous support of friends like you. Countless lives have been changed for eternity as you’ve helped others grow closer to Jesus through His life-giving Word! 

And looking forward, I can’t wait to see all that the Holy Spirit will do through your partnership in the days ahead! 

God bless you as you keep on feasting on His Word and growing in Christ—and thank you for making that possible for others too! 

In the Great Commission, Jesus calls us to make disciples of all nations. Through your partnership with From His Heart Ministries, you’re playing your part in fulfilling this call! As Thomas and Kezia from Jakarta, Indonesia, share ... 

“Our faith is refreshed and strengthened by the truth of God’s Word. We know that God uses [you] to bring repentance and the good news to people around the world. Glory be to Him who always loves us and shapes our character to be like Him.” 

Thank you for advancing God’s Kingdom around the world by helping From His Heart proclaim the real truth, real love, and real hope of the gospel! 

Do you invest in the stock market? Do you have shares that have appreciated over time?

If so, did you also know that giving shares to From His Heart is a tax-efficient way help proclaim real truth to more people all over the world?

For more information on how you can make a real impact for the Kingdom by donating from your stocks, shares, or IRA, please reach out to toni@fromhisheart.org today.

Thank you for your generous partnership!