“For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’” — Matthew 3:3 John the Baptist was sent ahead of Jesus with one clear mission — to prepare the way for the King. The Son of God was about to step into a broken world, moving through the wild, rebellious territory of human hearts to proclaim a message of repentance and freedom. But before Jesus ever spoke a word, God sent John to break up the hard soil — to cut a path through hearts that had grown calloused and cold. John’s job wasn’t to complete the work — it was simply to begin it. And maybe that’s something we all need to remember. So often, God’s work in the human heart takes time — layer after layer, truth ... Read More about Walking with Jesus: Faithfulness, Not Success
Walking with Jesus: Is Repentance Really That Important?
“Now in those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” — Matthew 3:1–2 That one short sentence—“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”—wasn’t just John the Baptist’s message. It was Jesus’ message too. And when Jesus sent His disciples out to preach, it was their message as well. Clearly, God wanted this to be front and center. Obviously, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,’ was an incredibly important message to us from God, BUT it’s been relegated to insignificance by us today. So, why was repentance such a big deal to Jesus? Let’s think about it. If the people who heard John and Jesus really believed that the kingdom—the rule and reign of God—had come near to them, the only right ... Read More about Walking with Jesus: Is Repentance Really That Important?
Walking With Jesus: Why the Kingdom?
As John the Baptist stood in the wilderness and his voice broke through centuries of silence, what was the message God sent him to proclaim? “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 3:2) Then Jesus came to declare what God had given Him. What was the gist of His sermons? “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17) And when Jesus sent His disciples into the world, their message was no different: “As you go, proclaim this message: The kingdom of heaven is near.” (Matthew 10:7) Three voices. One message. The kingdom. So why, after my seventy-two years of church life—sermons, songs, and Sunday schools—does it seem that so few sermons I've heard truly center on the kingdom of heaven? How could something so central to Jesus’ teaching be so ... Read More about Walking With Jesus: Why the Kingdom?
Walking with Jesus: A Journey of Letting Go and Drawing Near
There comes a point in every believer’s life when the noise of religion starts to fade, and the simple, powerful call of Jesus—“Follow Me”—rings louder than ever. That’s where I find myself right now. This isn’t about rules or rituals; it’s about relationship. It’s about learning to walk with Jesus with an open heart, an honest faith, and a willingness to let Him reshape everything. I’m a follower of Jesus Christ, and by the grace of God, that’s who I am—and who I want to be, more than anything else. Over the years, I’ve been blessed to spend a lot of time in God’s Word, the Bible. But I’ve also come to see that I carry some religious baggage—old ways of thinking and doing things that sometimes get in the way of simply walking with Jesus. Lately, God’s been stirring in my heart a desire ... Read More about Walking with Jesus: A Journey of Letting Go and Drawing Near
The First Book in a New Series
I HAVE EXCITING NEWS!!! I have just published the first book in a brand new series which is called "The Martyr's Friends series". The first book is entitled, Thomas Westcott, God's Shadow Agent It's an exciting Christian fiction story about courageous believers dealing with the challenges and hardships of persecution. You can read about it here: https://storieschangehearts.com/books/thomas-westcott-gods-shadow-agent/ The way the world is now, I believe this is an exciting and challenging story that all followers of the King need to read. Because I believe that, I want to encourage all of you who support my work to consider sharing this post with as many friends as possible. God's blessings to all of you, Alan W. Harris P.S. The audio version is coming soon! ... Read More about The First Book in a New Series
Ever Wondered What Heaven or Hell Would Be Like?
Greetings to all my friends, fans and supporters! I am excited to post that the audio version of my newest book, The Other Side of the Veil: a Fictional Journey of the Afterlife is now available on Audible. This is a Christian fiction story written primarily for adults. It is an exciting story that explores the beauty of Paradise, the horrors of Ghenna, and the amazing love that God has for both the saved and the lost. And now you can listen to this fascinating story in this new audio format. If I’ve stirred your interest then the next step is to go check it out here: "God has given us good writers to bring us His stories! Let's let them change our hearts May God cover each of you with His richest blessings today, Alan W. Harris ... Read More about Ever Wondered What Heaven or Hell Would Be Like?