Devotional
March 2026
By Heather Henson
Then Jesus said,
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
— Matthew 11: 28-29 (NLT)
The Message describes part of what Jesus said in this way;
“Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.”
It seems to me that Jesus says to you and me: “When you walk with Me through this journey of life, you will learn flowing, beautiful, relaxed, joyful rhythms of grace infused by My peace! What’s more, your lifestyle becomes a magnet to those wearied and burdened ones who are lost, even buried under piles of cares and worries that they are carrying.”
That speaks to me of the glorious, wonderful Hope of our salvation!
Hope speaks to the heart, beckoning us to look up to see Jesus in all of His glory!
Recently my husband, Ross, and I briefly visited England to attend Hellenic Ministries meetings to promote the work of HM in Greece and beyond. I witnessed Marcus Letts, Johnathan Macris and Sarah Wheway as they moved in unforced rhythms of grace—partnering by faith with the Spirit of Jesus through God-given gifts! It was beautiful to behold!
I felt inspired and built up in the goodness of God. I felt like I was dwelling—lingering—in a rich oasis where I was being filled up with indescribable joy and peace and confidence in the Lord!
It was a joy to celebrate the glory given to Jesus in the dance of heaven’s grace! I sensed that through the beauty of submission to the Holy Spirit’s leading, hope was rekindled in souls hungry to hope once more.
Hope has a colour!
Hope… that together in Christ, we make a difference in a broken and messed up world.
Hope that was once deferred making the heart sick, could actually now be the dream transformed and fulfilled! (Proverbs 13:12 paraphrased.)
Hope… bringing abundant, rich, and satisfying new life ushered in by the power of God through faith in Jesus is a tree of life planted by the endless Stream of Living Water!
This hope in Christ and His redemptive power at work in the world to bring salvation to the lost and eternal hope to the brokenhearted is a precious and most wonderful invitation, a Love-gift that the Lord imparts to us to extend to the nations!
October 2025
By Heather Henson
Why Worry?
It was 2018 and our first Spring living in Greece. My husband, Ross, and I had returned that day from Melbourne and precious time with our family, as well as Hellenic Ministries Australia and other meetings. We were sub-letting our home for a year from other missionaries—truly a love-gift from God, for them and us. But today, travel-weariness and other worries competed with my excitement to be back in Greece.
Ross’s suggestion to enjoy time in the afternoon sun seemed like wisdom to me and so we walked through the semi-rural streets of Anthousa. The path turned a corner and there, laid out before us, was a most wonderful sight my thirsty soul drank in! It seemed like Jesus had been waiting for me to join him in celebration…
Scattered throughout the field of wildflowers were red poppies!
In Australia, I saw red poppies sewn out of cloth sold annually in Australia to mark Remembrance Day, and to support injured Armed Services personnel, or families of those deceased. In Greece, I saw real, living red poppies sown by God, the Creator! My attitude instantly changed and I could not help but turn to Jesus in awe and thankfulness!
"If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?"
Matthew 6:30-33 — The Message
Ross writes, “Worry doesn’t add anything to help us. We often worry about things we don’t know about, nor have control over. All worry does is to debilitate our capacity to operate— to live and love well!”
Are you feeling worried or troubled?
Anthousa means ‘in blossom’. Remembering the love of the Lord expressed through His grace-gift that day in Anthousa, I recognise He planted Ross and myself there to blossom and thrive! His life-giving plans—always all about Jesus—are good ones. And this I know: His love-gift, planted in my heart, is one that just keeps giving…
"Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. "
Philippians 4:6-7 — The Message
I am convinced that to dwell in the light of the life of Jesus and rest in the wonder of Christ in me—the hope of glory, He who is the Alpha and Omega—is the antidote to worry.