16 Apr 2026
I am sure we have been faced with tough situations, where we felt helpless and overwhelmed. We had no clue what to do. May the Lord reach out and help us. May He reassure us and bring hope. May we experience His presence and may He minister to us. Psalm 16:1-11.
Sorry Rocks
What has repentance led you to change? “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” (Luke 3:8) Most weekdays, rocks arrive at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in Uluru, Australia. Some are nothing more than bits of gravel. Some weigh as much as 75 lbs. But rarely does a day go by without at least one. All of the rocks come from tourists to the park’s most famous attraction, the huge red sandstone formation called Uluru – better known as Ayers Rock. The stone, which in shifting light can seem to change color from reddish-orange to deep red, is considered sacred by the Anangu, the Aboriginal tribe that owns it. But over the years, tourists from all over the world have taken to chiseling out chunks of the holy site to keep as souvenirs of their visit. Recently, however, hearts have begun to change. Some return the rocks for superstitious reasons: one man included a note with his that said, “Please return to Uluru – six years’ bad luck is enough.” Others return rocks after gaining a new respect for aboriginal culture. One man, referring to the Australian government’s unwillingness to apologize to the Aborigines for the mistreatment they’ve suffered at the hands of whites, wrote, “Please return these rocks home as a symbol of one white man’s attempt to make amends for my people’s past.” His note went on, “Even if our leader is not sorry for what we have taken from you, I am.” Some simply write that they are motivated to send back their pieces of Uluru out of sadness and guilt. Whatever the reasons, dozens of boxes of “sorry rocks” now clutter the park office. Officials aren’t yet sure what they’ll do with them all, but they say they welcome them as evidence of a growing sensitivity to Aboriginal culture and a growing conviction that white people have been wrong in their treatment of Australia’s first inhabitants. Repentance is a tricky thing; a very personal act that often results in very public acts of contrition. Without the personal conviction of guilt and decision to make a change, any public acts of repentance are at best legalism and at worst hypocrisy. But, if personal conviction is not accompanied by observable action, then how real is it? “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance,” John the Baptist warned the crowds that came to hear him preach. “Don’t come here expecting a free pass from God’s imminent wrath, and don’t come waving your religiosity under God’s nose.” He demanded that greedy people begin to share, not just regret being greedy. He ordered tax collectors to stop collecting more than they should instead of just feeling guilty about their extravagant lifestyles. He told soldiers not to use their power to extort money – to be content with their pay. Repentance should motivate a change in behavior even if that change is inconvenient or uncomfortable. Anything less is not repentance at all. My fear is that repentance is such a religious, even liturgical word, that it no longer has any meaning outside the walls of a church building. We go to church, and at the appropriate time in the worship service, we feel sorry for our sins. Then we’re reassured of God’s grace and the efficacy of Christ’s work to forgive us. We rejoice and praise God, and then we go out unchanged to lives that look the same on Monday morning as they did the previous Saturday night. We celebrate God’s grace to the penitent, but perhaps we aren’t that penitent. Perhaps we’re just grateful to be able to pull a thin cloak of religion over secular lives for another week. The prodigal son came around because he was tired of being hungry and dirty and longed for his father’s house. Zaccheus was moved by Christ’s undeserved loved and acceptance. The thief on the cross saw his sinfulness in stark contrast with Christ’s innocence. Sometimes people are brought to repentance when their behavior hurts someone they love or when their lives are gutted by their sin. But however someone comes to repentance, there are always a few elements in common. There is stunning, crushing guilt and sorrow as the light of God’s holiness and love exposes our sins for what they are. There is a longing to have those sins removed, to be clean and pure and righteous again. And there is a resolve to put aside the sins that have caused us such regret and pain and to live differently. For such people God always has open arms. The Cross both calls us to repentance and sends us away forgiven. But, it’s never easy or neat or painless. Repentance is hard work. It is a discipline; basic training of the spirit that deconstructs our egos, tears us down and builds us up again. It forces us to take responsibility for our actions. It makes us confront our sins and decide between them and God. It makes it impossible for us to serve two masters; to turn and follow Christ is to leave our old lives behind. It is no coincidence that baptism is all at the same time the symbol for the death of the old life, the washing away of our sins, and the beginning of the new life. All of those moments converge at the point of repentance. If repentance has borne little fruit in your life, it might be time to ask yourself, “Why?” Why is your temper still just as unrestrained? Why do dishonesty and half-truth still characterize your speech? Why do you still hoard your possessions? Why do you still hold grudges against those who hurt you? Why do you still harbor prejudice? It is certainly true that the most penitent of us still sin, and that the hold of some sins on our lives is not easily or quickly broken. However, you should be able to point to some fruit that repentance has borne in your life, some way that repentance has made you different. New
Today’s Verse – Romans 13:6-7
This is why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him. If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. —Romans 13:6-7 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Ouch! Tax day. Not my favorite day, how about you? But where would we be without government, order, and laws? Anarchy! Rebellion! Lawlessness! Dog-eat-dog days where all people are “in it” only for themselves! While we may not always like how the system functions, we need to know from God how he wants us to live with flawed people in community. Paul is not naive. He knows he is likely going to be imprisoned and martyred by the Roman government. So, we can follow Paul’s example as we seek to be redemptive in our living, obedient in our citizenship, and ask God to bless our countries and bring revival to them. Jesus left us this principle: “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” (Matthew 22:21) The apostle Paul explained and expanded Jesus’ principle in our verse today: Give everyone what you owe him. If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. Now it is up to us, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to live up to that principle even in challenging times! My Prayer… Holy God, I thank you that I am free in you and belong to no one and no power other than you. To you, O God, I offer my full and undivided allegiance. Because I want your name and your people to be respected, I will obey the laws of my land as long as they align with your will. I know it is good for the spread of the gospel of Jesus and for the blessing of all people that we be at peace in our world (Romans 12:18), so, dear LORD, I pray for peace. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
10 Apr 2026
The greatness of Jehovah is not determined by the amazing testimonies we have witnessed or heard about. He is greater than all that. Ours is to believe that and to trust Him. May our circumstances not determine the level of our faith. May our understanding of His greatness keep increasing as we grow in our faith. May we then shift our perspective from our circumstances to the understanding of who God is and what His will for us is. Matthew 27:50-54.
15 Apr 2026
The Lord is pleased when we choose to obey Him. Zerubabbel would have chosen to disobey the Lord. May we not be afraid, when the Lord instructs us to do something. May we hear clearly and obey. May the Lord be pleased with us and work through us for His glory. And may He relent when we seek clarification. Zachariah 4:10-14.
A Tradition Like No Other
Do we have a Master’s tradition? The person who loves golf, particularly The Masters Golf Championship, will recognize those words as the Jim Nantz’ description of the CBS coverage of the tournament. For several years, the ads begin running in late February leading up to the first week in April when the greatest golfers in the world assemble in Augusta, Georgia, to compete in the greatest golf tournament in the world. The Masters Championship is not only a tradition in itself, but the tournament is full of traditions. The tournament traditions include the ceremonial legends of the game serving as honorary starters by teeing off early on the first day of the tournament. This year Arnold Palmer hit the first drive. Of course the green jacket is a tradition like no other. The fact that the tournament is often decided on the back nine on Sunday afternoon has become a tradition. Amen Corner is a tradition. The beauty of the azaleas and dogwoods is a tradition. Skipping the ball across the water on the 16th hole during practice rounds has become tradition that results in boos from the crowd if a golfer chooses not to participate. For many patrons, planting themselves by the 16th green or the 18th green is a tradition. Hearing Pat Summerall say, “CBS Sports proudly presents the Masters!” to introduce the broadcast is a tradition. Traditions are important in most areas of our lives. Our schools use traditions to build school spirit. There are winning traditions and losing traditions with sports teams. Families have food traditions, vacation traditions, holiday traditions, wedding traditions, anniversary traditions, and birthday traditions. Churches have traditions. Even those who vow to be non-traditional develop their own set of traditions. As best we can, we try to preserve our traditions. The Masters: a tradition like no other. You don’t mess with the traditions of the Masters. Those who run the tournament do all within their power to preserve the traditions of the Masters Tournament. Some traditions are easily accepted as traditions and can be changed or rejected or ignored with no risk of penalty. Then, there are those traditions worth fighting to preserve. When it comes to your life, what is the tradition that is like no other? Allow me to offer a suggestion based on what Jesus said: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and soul, and mind, and strength. Love your neighbor as yourself. When Jesus was asked what He considered as most important, this was His response (Matthew 22:34-40). These are often called “The Greatest Commands.” To adopt something like this as our “tradition like no other” will revolutionize our lives. Most of the traditions we hold onto will determine some of our direction and many of our actions. But to adopt “The Greatest Commands” as our greatest tradition, will alter the course of our futures. Nothing will be the same. These commands change how we treat people. They change how we think. They change how we worship. They change how we live. Now that’s a tradition like no other. Lord willing, I can look forward to the first weekend in April for years to come. I’ll look forward to watching the Masters and enjoy hearing Jim Nantz say, “The Masters, a tradition like no other.” Of greater importance, however, are the words of the Master that I hope to drive the course of my life, all the days of my life. A life of love lived for the Master. Now that’s truly “a tradition like no other!” About the author: Tom Norvell is the author of “A Norvell Note” — Thoughts and reflections on God, life, people, and living as a follower of Jesus. He has ministered with followers of Jesus for four decades and loves Jesus, his family, and those seeking Jesus, passionately.
Today’s Verse – 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you… that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. —1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… The story of the Gospel is simple. The grace of the Gospel is glorious. The sacrifice of the Gospel is incomprehensible. The victory of the Gospel is eternal. The core of the Gospel is Christ, and him crucified and raised on the third day. We live in light of God’s third-day solution accomplished for us in Jesus’ resurrection from the dead! My Prayer… Almighty LORD, thank you for the empty tomb and Jesus’ victory over the grave. Just as Jesus’ death pardoned my sin, his resurrection assures my future. Thank you for grace and glory. May my life be lived each day by the power of the resurrection. In Jesus name I pray. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
14 Apr 2026
The task of rebuilding the temple was a huge responsibility. If I were Ezra and Zerubbabel, I would have been intimidated. Let us therefore pray for others, especially for anyone God has given a special task. Stand in the gap for them so that they may succeed. This may benefit you and others. 1 Timothy 2:1-4.
Tuna Salad and the Rest of the Story
Most of them are wonderful human beings because someone gave them a leg up somewhere along the line, and they remember that. At least the good ones do. Over our 25 years, HEARTLIGHT.org has passed along the creative blessings of many famous authors who graciously shared their writing with our readers. This year as we celebrate “Shining the Light” for a quarter-century, we will highlight these special authors. Today, please enjoy one of Philip Gulley’s witty, folksy, and insightful stories. Paul Jr. wrote the introduction of one of my books. One day I was in Chicago on business with my friend, Stan. I remembered Paul Jr.’s address and decided to stop in to say hello and thank him for his help. It was lunchtime, so Paul Jr. invited us to stay and eat. “We’re having tuna salad sandwiches,” he said. “Is that okay?” My parents had taught me to eat what was put before me, so I said tuna salad was fine. Truthfully, tuna salad is not my favorite food, but since we hadn’t told him we were stopping by, I didn’t feel I should be picky. Stan said, “I really don’t care for tuna salad. Do you have anything else?” I wanted to slap him. Then Paul Jr. said, “We eat lunch with my mother and father, so we need to go next door.” I’ve listened to Paul Harvey on the radio all my life. (Few media people have been as well known and beloved for four decades as Paul Harvey. Listen below to a couple of classic and moving radio excerpts from November 1963, broadcasts concerning the assignation of President John F. Kennedy.) My father has listened to him for the past forty years. Now Stan and I were walking across his yard to have lunch with him! We went to the living room to wait for Mr. Harvey. There was a Bose Wave radio on the table. Mr. Harvey’s been telling us for years how wonderful they sound. Paul Jr. turned it on for me. We listened to a guy named Monty Vonny, or something like that. He’s not from these parts, so I’d never heard of him. The only Monty I knew was Monty Chadwick, who owned the Jiffy Carwash back in my hometown of Danville. But it was pretty music. I may save up and buy one of his CDs. Then Mr. Harvey walked into the room. He looked at me and said, “Well, I’ll be; Phil Gulley is standing in my living room. I can’t believe it!” I couldn’t believe it, either. I shook his hand and introduced him to Stan. “Is this the guy who doesn’t like tuna salad?” he asked, pointing to Stan. “The same,” I answered. Mr. Harvey asked me if I liked that Monty Vonny fellow. I told him I didn’t know; I’d never met him. Then I told him all about Monty Chadwick and the Jiffy Carwash. If Mr. Harvey ever comes to Danville, we’re going to take our cars there and get them washed. My treat, I told him. They’ve added a foaming brush that really gets the dirt off. Mr. Harvey said he’s looking forward to it. We ate in the breakfast nook just off their kitchen. Stan ate chicken salad and toasted cheese. I ate my tuna salad. They put three of those little tomatoes on my plate, but I didn’t eat them. Tomatoes make me burp, and I didn’t want to do that in front of Mr. Harvey. He told me how he got his start in radio. He is one of the kindest men I’ve ever met. After lunch, we sat around the table and visited awhile. Then it was time to go. They walked us out to our car. As we drove away, Stan turned to me and said, “I can’t believe we just ate lunch in Paul Harvey’s kitchen.” I said, “I can’t believe you told them you didn’t like tuna salad.” He said, “I can’t help it. I tell the truth without even thinking about it.” I told him it was obvious he wasn’t thinking. As famous as Mr. Harvey is, I wasn’t too nervous about meeting him. I’ve been around famous people before. I met Michael Landon back when he was Little Joe on Bonanza and came to Danville to give a speech on the courthouse lawn. I was six years old and remembered being mad he didn’t bring his horse. My cousin, Matt Griffith, once dated a beauty queen from Florida. She was Miss Navel Orange of 1972. He brought her to our house for a visit. She was wearing a sash and a crown topped with a gold-orange. She signed a Sunkist for me, but the next day my brother Glenn ate it for breakfast. Here’s what I learned about famous people. Most of them are wonderful human beings because someone gave them a leg up somewhere along the line, and they remember that. At least the good ones do. When Paul Harvey was fourteen years old, his teacher took him in hand and introduced him to the folks at the local radio station. Over half a century later, he remembers it still. None of us ever got anywhere except through the kindness of others. Sometimes we boast about being self-made, but that’s just a lie we tell ourselves to feel important. We’re all indebted to someone. Next time you’re driving by the house of someone who has done you a good turn, knock on his door and thank him. He’ll appreciate it. Who knows, you might even be offered a tuna salad sandwich. If you are, sit down and eat it. And be sure to put the napkin on your lap instead of tucking it into your shirt collar like my friend Stan did. Boy, I can’t take that guy anywhere. And, as Mr. Harvey so famously said, “Now you know the rest of the story!” Most of us who were alive on this fateful day
13 Apr 2026
The temple of the Lord was destroyed when His children were taken captive. God later commissioned Ezra and Zerubbabel to lead the efforts to rebuild it. These Israelites were surrounded by people who discouraged them. Zachariah 4:6-10.