July 2025 Revealing Light Newsletter

It seems like this past month, the constant theme everywhere was “the heart”. Whether we were having side conversations during camp about looking at the heart rather than outward appearance, or going through Dallas Willard’s book on “The Renovation of the Heart”, or the warning from the book of Hebrews “If today you hear His Voice, do not harden your heart”, at a wedding talking about how we can do all of these amazing things but without love [without your heart] those things are meaningless, or preparing the VBS lesson on the different soils of our heart, or even at the nursing home when the nurse unexpectantly said “it really isn’t about all the material things in this world, it’s about the heart.”

The message has been clear throughout the month, “the heart matters.” This month, that has been my personal challenge to myself, and hopefully to you too, let your heart be exposed to God, to let Him continue to shape you from the inside out. Jesus was telling the religious leaders [Matthew 23:25-27], don’t clean the outside appearances of the cup while leaving the inside all dirty; first clean the inside of the cup and then the outside will be clean too.

The other challenge that has been shaping me throughout the past few months is “to seek FIRST the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness, and then all of these other things will be added to you” [Matthew 6:33]. I almost always want to ask, “well, what are these other things? I would like to have those things!” But then I am immediately reminded, “Am I seeking God or those things? Seek FIRST God… those other things will be the fruit of a life with God.” Does it matter what those other things are? If I’m too focused on what those things are, then I might only be seeking God to get those other things, and that’s an issue. As some have said concerning worship, “Are we worshipping God or are we worshipping the experiences?” Let God do His Work in our lives, in our hearts, let that be the natural fruit that comes from His Active Word; but for us, seek God and let our hearts be exposed to Him, His Words, and His Works in and through us.

- Daryl Struemph

Those were the words that caused me to turn around and see a man hollering “I need your help”. He had hooked a shark while fishing and wanted me to help unhook it. I said I'm not the man for the job. I suggested he cut the line and leave it in the ocean.

The story got me to thinking about how we address people. Sometimes in a frantic cry we call out, even to God "I need your help." Paul, the writer of Ephesians, in chapter three mentions another way to address God when he says in verse 14 "I kneel before the Father." Another translation puts it this way "I bow my knees before the Father." In many countries bowing is a symbol of honor and respect for dignitaries, family members, elders, etc. When we say to God "I bow before you" we are really indicating a willingness on our part to submit to His rule and authority in our lives. When we do this we are saying “I want you to be in charge of every aspect of my life”. This is a gigantic step for most of us because we have been used to controlling what we do, when we do it, and now we have given someone else permission to make decisions for us. It's like when you set up a power of attorney for someone to make decisions about your affairs. You first choose someone you trust. That's the thing about God - You Can Trust Him To Do What Is Best For Your Life! So I hope you "bow before the Father" and I hope you don't hook a shark!

- Alan McNeely