My dear husband, Troy, used to stand at the pulpit and teach the Word of God weekly. I’d marvel at his weekly study routine: the books, the note-taking, the quietly looking out the window with earphones on. I remember asking him one time: “Is it hard to prepare a sermon?” He paused, and replied with this: “I have to prepare a heart before I can prepare a sermon. That’s where the true challenge lies.” I will never forget that. I admire and respect Troy so much, and through the decade of full-time pastoral ministry, always saw him approach ministry with authenticity over professionalism. But that is not why his response that day continues to stir my mind today. Instead, it is the deeply applicable truth it has upon all areas of my life, that keeps me coming back to it. I have to prepare my heart before I can serve […]