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Cindy Colley

Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

Love Lifted Me

Today I got to sing “Love Lifted Me” just after hearing my husband preach about being born again. As we sang, both my husband and my son were standing in front of the full auditorium at the North Jackson church. watching for someone who might want to be born again, regenerated by the Holy Spirit in the waters of baptism.  I knew that my little grand-daughter and a group of Christians from that church had passed out invitations to the community yesterday. I met some who were there who needed to know the Lord. I am prayerful that this week might impact lives for eternity. 

As we sang, I looked down and my four-year-old grandson, Ellis, reached up to me and I  took him in my arms. He sang with gusto in my left ear  “…when nothing else could help, love lifted me.” I know he has no sin, but I trust one day the love will lift him, too. 

In my heart, I thought, “I love that, in front of me are the two favorite preachers in my world, standing right there together, one singing bass and one, tenor.  I love that I am flanked by my three grandchildren and my sweet daughter-in-law. But, most of all, I am thankful for the love that lifted me when nothing else could help; the love that completely saves.” 

Sometimes, life is hard. There are encounters that I endure rather than enjoy; mornings when the darkness lifts out my window, but not in my heart. I’m sure it’s that way for most of us in the testing ground through which we walk on our way home. But if we have been cleansed from the deep stain within and if we are no longer sinking to rise no more, the reasons to rejoice far outweigh the despair. 

I am currently editing the last chapters of our next Digging Deep study. I am praying hard that some soul(s) may come to know the love that lifts—that completely saves—as a result of the study that we will begin next September. Maybe there is someone who is studying along right now, as we enter the last trimester of our Conversations study, who, when being honest with self, knows that she has not been lifted by the Savior, cleansed from the deep stain of sin. I would so love to help you.  I’m just an email or facebook message away. This month we will study the women who anointed the Savior. One of them, having been forgiven, broke her expensive alabaster box and wiped the feet of Jesus with her tears (Luke 7: 36ff). Do you have tears today because of sin? Do you have an alabaster box—something precious to you—that you could offer Him? He is waiting with a love that will lift!

Let’s talk about this together! 

cindycolley@gmail.com.

 

Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

That Ultimate Sermon Again!

The Sermon on the Mount— the timeless, divine truth of Matthew 5-7— is the ultimate practical sermon. It’s the ultimate visionary lesson. It’s the ultimate logical presentation. It’s the extreme best of its kind because it is directly from the lips of the infallible Son of God. 

When I read it, I’m amazed at the way there’s a whole well of knowledge for my life in an infinite variety of areas. If I search it to affect my thoughts and make a list of the presented ways it does this, I’m in awe. If I search it for my treatment of my family, there it is. If I search it for parenting ideas, it’s chock-full. If I’m looking for goal-setting, I am not disappointed (more, overwhelmed).

This month in Digging Deep, we searched for priorities in Matthew 5-7. Specifically, we are filling in the following blanks: “From the sermon, “___________________________  is more important than ___________________________.”

Here’s my list. It’s a healthy exercise to look for these things as you read it through. Several of you have said something like this recently to me: “Digging Deep is too much for our ladies crew. Can you tailor something for ladies who might have or want to expend less time in a month?”  Exercises like this are priceless for our lives. Start here and discuss your findings. Here’s my list, but it’s neither the best one or the exhaustive one; 

See if you can find these things in Matthew 5-7: 

  1. Righteousness is more important than being comfortable. 
  2. Heaven’s reward is more important than earthly acceptance.
  3. Keeping God’s commandments is more important than pleasing religious leaders.
  4. A right relationship with my brother is more important than the time worship begins. 
  5. Purity of heart in my marriage is more important than my personal allure. 
  6. My vision for heaven is more important than my physical optical health.
  7. Having my hands busy for heaven is more important than even having my right hand.
  8. Living for God is more important than being married. 
  9. Being honest in my heart is more important than a sworn signature. 
  10. Pleasing God is more important than repaying evil.
  11. Second mile service is more important than clothing.
  12. Loving my enemy is more important than the feeling of “getting back”. 
  13. Being “seen” by God is more important than being “seen” by men. 
  14. God’s reward is more important than any personal glory. 
  15. Secret prayer is more important than being seen in prayer. 
  16. Praying like Jesus is more important than eloquence. 
  17. True humble fasting is more important than the sad countenance.
  18. Treasures in heaven are more important than treasures on earth. 
  19. God is more important than mammon or money. 
  20. Faith is more important than physical stature. 
  21. Faith is more important than clothing. 
  22. Seeking first the kingdom and righteousness is more important than seeking necessities. 
  23. Today is more important than tomorrow. 
  24. The beam in my eye is more important than the mote in my brother’s eye. 
  25. Life eternal is more important than the easy way out. 
  26. Examining fruits is more important than friendship with professed Christians. 
  27. Obeying is more important than saying “Lord, Lord.” 
  28. The foundation is more important than the house, itself. 
Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

Intersections of Lads to Leaders


I’m pretty sure I heard 30-plus speeches this weekend about Joseph and how his brothers meant the pit, the slavery and the bloody coat, for evil, but God meant it all for good. I heard a lot about Job and even more about the intended and massive eternal good that God meant through the abuse that happened at the cross.  

And I never needed to hear any message more. It was THE powerful balm for my weary soul. His timing is always perfect! He meant this weekend for my good and, yes, of course, I can claim the promise of Romans 8:28 (that I heard quoted several times) in all the things that occur in my life. Events, occurrences, schedules and mishaps are not all about me; but of course they ARE all about Him IN me and in you and in every faithful child. How can He take every single one of His called children this weekend across multiple convention sites and make the paths of our lives converge into one good thing? It’s because we are called according to His purpose and we claim that promise from an infinitely resourceful God. As one of my grandchildren said in her speech, “Like I said, I can’t even imagine it. But it’s no wonder I can’t even imagine it. God said He can do exceedingly, abundantly more than I can even ask or imagine.” 

It strikes me on reflection that we are blessed in His family with so many intersections at a big event like Lads to Leaders. This (Nashville convention, this year) was the biggest convention in the history of Lads and it was full of wonderful cross-over reunions for most of us. 

Lads is a physical family reunion for many of us. I got to be with all of my grandchildren except 3 week-old Lily. I got to hear them all speak. I got to hear them all lead a song. I got to see two of them teach with puppets and I got to see two of them achieve high scores in Bible Bowl. One of them got the Keepers award and a couple of them achieved the Good Samaritan Award.  I got to hug and talk with cousins and sisters and brothers-in law and nieces and nephews. I’m so thankful for family.

Lads intersects with Polishing the Pulpit. Hundreds of PTP friends reunited in corridors and ballrooms. It made us remember good times and it made us say “I’ll see you this summer!” I’m so thankful for PTP.

Lads is an intersection of people from every congregation I’ve ever attended. There were people  with whom I grew up and people from Henderson and  Pulaski and Collierville and Jasper.  Great memories of rich blessings of friendship in Him just overwhelmed me. I’m so thankful for His providence. 

Lads is an intersection of prayer groups. Sisters pray with sisters. We become extremely close as we beg God together. But getting to hug sisters who are pleading for various sicknesses and trials is a gift. I thank God for the praying sisters. 

Lads is an intersection of the sixties-something me and the six-year-old me. People I’ve known from the Adamsville church for all my life walked up and said “I’m ____________.” Then there were big embraces and fond memories just came pouring back. I’m so thankful for a childhood among His faithful people. 

Lads is an intersection of Christian camps. Teen girls, over and over, shouted “Mrs. Cindy!” We took pictures and we said lots of “Are you coming this summer?” And there were lots of “OHHH yes! I can’t wait.”s. I’m thankful for youth events that bind them (and us) together.

Lads is an intersection of Diggers. Digging Deep is a bond of Bible study and fellowship that I do not take for granted! And seeing one or more of you Diggers at an event is a priceless collision!  This weekend, I saw hundreds.

Most importantly, Lads is a great intersection with the future of the kingdom. Of course, I know that it’s not likely that every single young person who participated this year will be in heaven. (That’s the way the devil works!) But every single one of them has the individual power from heaven to get there! I’m still going to pray for every one to be there, because He is the God of more than I can imagine!  I’m also praying that they all take the skills they are learning and just keep on using them year ‘round, year after year, to bring other souls to the cross. I’m so thankful for the display of a bright future for the kingdom. 

Praise God for the children. Praise god for the Kingdom. Of such IS the kingdom. 

Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

He’s Good on the Road…and Everywhere!

Shout-outs today to a few of the folks who for various reasons, made my heart happy in Oklahoma. 

  1. My husband! I don’t get to travel with him to lots of events. We are mostly crossing paths on the weekends. But this time, this great church invited him to come, since I was there anyway, for a ladies’ day. He did a men’s day and a preacher’s meeting and preached all day on Sunday. He, as usual, worked harder than I did. It was a bonus blessing to have him there!
  2. The Whinerys! We got to stay in the renowned Whinery B and B and it lives up to every ounce of renown. We love these people and what is not to love?! We’ve been twice around the world with them and we’d love to get to do it again one day!
  3. This troop from Tipton Children’s home. This sweet, sweet house parent, Sarah, has been my friend since she was about 14 and I got to be in her house and do a ladies day in her congregation in Sabetha, Kansas. I was beyond excited to see her standing there beside me with all of her little brood. What a great blessing! I love her. The youngest two are her own and how blessed are all these girls! They listened and learned and I hope I see them one day leading the women in their congregations. I’m going to start praying for that!
  4. Carissa! I love her from a way-down-deep place and I am so thankful we got bonus time with her. We go way back to early PTPs and a trip to Israel and sharing a suite in her parents’ Hot Springs house before she married. I thank Him for a couple of hours of catching up. She blessed us!
  5. The sweet Carters. Rose was about three last time I got to visit with her and look at her now! She decorated the tables for the ladies day! And they were exquisitely done.
  6. The girls I got to teach in the teen class this morning. When ever does a teen girl come up and actually request a lesson on modesty? What a sweet blessing! 

I loved every thing about it. People graciously offered to stay in prayer for my family. People bought lunches and suppers. People…God’s people are generous and good and I love His family!

Oklahoma…where the wind comes sweeping down the plain.  I did think we were going to blow away, but  the pink moon rose on Saturday night over those beautiful cow pastures and the sunsets were signature by my Father! He is so good!

Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

One More Snippet from Digging Deep 2025-26…Come on!


I really hope you are coming along for the Dig that starts in September. There are lots of great ways to grow in Him, but Digging Deep is surely one. I wish you could be as encouraged as I am. I routinely see groups spawning more groups and I hear words like “life-changing” often. None of this is me, though. The Word is just that: life-changing!  We are transformed by it in the renewing of our minds. I read that in a Book, somewhere! Make up your renewing mind and come on along!

 

On Jeremiah 20:

At this point, it becomes difficult for us to see the blessing. Frankly, if one reads the whole  20th chapter, and even beyond, it’s difficult to see how Jeremiah was praising.  One minute, he is saying “Sing to the Lord” and the next minute, he is saying “Why did I come up out of the womb to see sorrow and lamenting and shame?” Both of these sentiments are in this very same chapter. 

I’m not finding this in a commentary, but I am commenting from the standpoint of a tried (and sometimes, tired) mother and grandmother. I love that Jeremiah showed me this up-and-down emotion. One minute He is looking at the big picture—that He is righteous and on the side of the God of the universe—and he is rejoicing and extolling. The next minute, he hears the critics mocking. He understands that, while he is working his head off to try and rescue his fellows, that they are jeering at him. He says, “God, I am discouraged.” 

Now, I’ll admit (and praise) that I have never been persecuted like Jeremiah. But while I know that God is blessing and controlling and keeping me in the covenant, there are days, in times of very mild persecution (compared to Jeremiah’s) that I weep and lament and say “God, why are you letting this person or these people be so cruel to me and why are you letting other people mock me?”  I am being very raw, here, because, in light of what He is doing for me, it seems very small and petty that I would ever question Him or feel that He is, as Jeremiah put it, allowing any of my days to be “consumed with shame.”

Sisters, I’m just telling you that we should all flip over to chapter 30 and find that the our Father sometimes allows us a little more time in the pit than we think is appropriate, before He bends over to get us out. Chapters 30-33 describe the end of the wait. 

Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

Looking up!

Writing this early morning about David, particularly about the darkest months of His life, I decided to go open the window of my room. In some years on writing week, I’ve been able to look out the window at a huge American flag, a lush green meadow or a serene, but beautiful, cemetery. This week, I’m up high, and when I pull up the shade, I am looking down at the back of a gas station. No great writing vibes are making their way up here from Fuel City, Shell, or Chevron…all within view when I draw up that shade. SO I have been looking lots in the Word and not much out the window.

This morning, as I thought about the hurt in the life of the man of God who immersed himself, for a time in guilt and pain, I went to the window and, this time, I looked up. Just let me tell, you…it’s a whole different world out there when you are looking up. At first the sky was dark and foreboding. But I waited for a second and then this:

I had to go ahead and talk to Him. I said, “Oh my God. You are wonderful and worthy and you do amazing things in the darkest of times. Help me to love you more!” He not only made that big ball of fire that just moved out of the darkness and illuminated my world,  but He IS the light that comes out of life’s darkest clouds of sorrow for His people. As the Psalm that I’m studying this morning says, “Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!”

Looking up makes all the difference!