Hi Love,
My sister gave me a sweatshirt on our family reunion trip. It’s simple and soft, with two little hearts stitched on the front. I absolutely love it. It’s so cute, cozy, and fits just right. The other night I was wearing it while getting ready for bed, and as I was looking at it in the mirror, I started thinking more about those hearts. At first I saw them as just part of a nice design. But the more I reflected, the more meaning I began to draw from them.
I started thinking about how in this life, we’re all faced with a choice. A truly profound one. Will we serve the world, or will we serve God?
It might feel like we’re fully in control and writing our own story. And in many ways we are, because we have free will. But if we’re honest, our choices are always being shaped by something. We’re either being pulled by the influences of this world (its desires, distractions, and lies) or we’re being led by the voice of God, His truth, and His righteousness.
There’s a fork in the road. And we all have to choose a path.
The way of the world often looks more appealing at first. It seems easier, enticing, and more “free”. But it always leads to brokenness, emptiness, and pain. The path that leads to God is often harder at the start. It requires repentance and full surrender. It requires a turning away from sin and a willingness to let Him reshape us. But it’s the only path that leads to true life, healing, and freedom.
One path breaks hearts. The other restores them.
And the most amazing and beautiful part? No matter how far we’ve wandered, no matter how shattered our heart may be, Jesus made a way back. Through the cross, He opened the door for us to turn around, come home, and be made new. In Him, every broken piece can be restored.
Thank you, Jesus! At the mention of Your name, everything changes. Chains fall, our hearts awaken, and a turnaround begins. We can say goodbye yesterday and step into the new life You’ve prepared.
One night on our trip, my family went to a dinner where a magician performed. He was hilarious and had some really impressive tricks. He also said some interesting things that got me thinking.
I was reminded of the story of Moses and Pharaoh’s magicians. How the magicians were able to mimic some of the signs Moses performed, and it reminded me how good the enemy can be at faking the power of God. But their power had limits. It was all imitation (smoke and mirrors). Because deception is the enemy’s specialty. He twists truth, performs counterfeits, and distracts us just enough to keep us from seeing clearly.
That’s what magic is, really. It’s all about controlling attention. And that’s what the enemy tries to do. If he can shift our focus (even just slightly) we can miss what God is truly doing. He knows how to make things look good, even spiritual. But it’s all a performance and illusion. It’s a carefully staged act, like the Wizard of Oz behind the curtain.
And if the enemy is good at anything, it’s this — he’s the ultimate hacker of the human mind.
He doesn’t need to read your mind, because he’s studied you so well that he can predict your patterns, your responses, and your weaknesses with chilling accuracy. He knows your vulnerabilities, your wounds, your desires. He knows exactly what to dangle in front of you to get your attention, hook your heart, distract your mind, and pull you off course.
He’ll disguise himself as a friend, and even make his lies feel comforting or exciting. But make no mistake, his intentions are always evil. His only goal is to destroy, devour, and disconnect you from the God who loves you.
He twists reality, distorts truth, and manipulates perception until you can’t even see another way. He wears you down, breaks you apart, and waits until you’re tired or lonely or afraid, and then offers you something that looks like relief but is really a trap.
That’s the danger of following the world. It doesn’t always look dark at first, but over time the cost becomes clear. A broken heart, lost faith, and a slow drift from the presence of God, which becomes replaced by counterfeit comfort that leads only to destruction.
While I was at my parents’ house, I came across the book “Little Witch” by Anna Elizabeth Bennett. It’s a story of a young girl, who is the daughter of an evil witch. She was raised in darkness (surrounded by spells and cruelty), but she secretly longs for something else. She longs for goodness, kindness, and truth. And eventually, she rebels against her mother’s ways and chooses a better path.
We don’t always get to choose the circumstances we’re born into or the battles we face. Some of us find ourselves surrounded by brokenness, deception, or spiritual darkness. But just like the young girl in the story, we still have the power to choose which path we take next. We’re not bound to repeat the patterns we’ve seen or stay stuck in what’s familiar simply because it’s all we’ve known. We can walk away and choose a better way.
And praise God! Jesus already won the victory. The cross exposes every lie, breaks every chain, and shines light on every illusion. We don’t have to fall for the act. We can walk in truth and can be free.
So the question is: which heart do you want?
I know mine. I want a heart that’s whole, honest, and free. I choose truth. I choose freedom. I choose Jesus.
“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” — John 8:32
I've seen the goodness of God show up in the most unexpected places, and I know He’s not done with you either. Be kind to yourself in this season. You don’t have to have it all figured out. I’m here for you. I’m always here. But also know I will fight for me, too. I’m learning to stand my ground and stand in the fire if that’s what it takes. I believe in us. And one day, we will set fire to the sky. I know it’s not easy, but if we choose to be brave, we’ll come alive again — together.
I love you.
Jeanie
P.S. I came across this while sitting in the waiting room at the doctor’s office, and it really spoke to me. It made me think of the Little Witch. Even if life has shown us more pain than compassion, we can still choose to break the cycle. Because once we receive the love of God, it reshapes everything we become.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” — Proverbs 3:5-6