Blog - CJ and Shelley Hitz - Body and Soul Publishing

YouVersion Plans

December 12, 2018 By cjhitz 2 Comments

Our publishing company has been approved to be content providers for the YouVersion app which has over 348 million users. And as a result, we have some free devotionals to share with you. Yay!

You can read the following devotionals on the YouVersion app.

Broken Crayons Still Color: https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/11370-broken-crayons-still-color

Many times what we see as our biggest regrets, failures and mistakes become what God uses the most in our lives. God transforms our brokenness into something more beautiful than we can even imagine. He takes our mess and creates a masterpiece. God is the artist and our lives are His canvas. What will you allow Him to create from the broken pieces in your life? In this 5-day plan, you will read scripture and better understand how broken crayons still color. Start reading here.

5 Prayers of Gratitude: https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/13353-5-prayers-of-gratitude

Prayer changes things. When I pray consistently to God something changes within me. And it can change you too. This 5-day devotional plan can help you form a habit of coming to God in prayer every day. I have taken scripture and reworded them into prayers of gratitude. I pray these prayers help you overcome negativity through applying the power of prayer and God’s Word to your life. Start reading here.

Your Story for God’s Glory: https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/13529-your-story-for-gods-glory

We all have a story to share. YOUR story could help change another person’s life. YOUR unique story could encourage others in powerful ways. Whether it’s in a book or a blog post, YOUR story truly matters. Someone is yearning to hear it. Are you willing to share it? In this 5-day plan, you’ll read scripture and be encouraged in practical ways to share YOUR story for God’s glory! Start reading here.

Following Jesus Even When It Doesn’t Add Up: https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/13592-following-jesus-even-when-it-doesnt-add-up

Sometimes life doesn’t make sense or “add up” in our math. We have life circumstances that make us question whether we can have a full life. Divorce. Death. Sickness. Financial losses. Family conflicts. Life doesn’t seem fair. Maybe you’ve been searching for that “formula” that will help make sense of life. Come explore the life-giving teachings of Jesus and why they truly add up to a full life when practiced. Start reading here.

The Art of Prayer: https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/13636-the-art-of-prayer

Prayer is our lifeline to God and how we access the power of God in our lives. However, it is easy to get distracted in our culture saturated with technology. In this devotional plan, you will learn about the benefits of adding creativity to your prayer life to help you stay focused during your prayer time and cultivate deeper intimacy with God as you meditate on His Word. Start reading here.

5 Prayers for Christian Writers: https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/16373-5-prayers-for-christian-writers

As a Christian writer, you face numerous obstacles along your writing journey. In this 5-day plan, we’re going to pray through five of these obstacles in order to see breakthrough. These include self-doubt/unworthiness, comparison, fear, perfectionism, and writer’s block. As Christian writers ourselves, we hope to see God set you free in order to write words that will outlive you and impact people for eternity. Start reading here.

A Heart for Prayer: https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/17308-heart-prayer-5-days-of-drawing-close-to-father-god

Do you desire to have a heart for prayer? Psalms 27:8 says, “My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” Having a heart for prayer is having a heart for relationship. My hope is that each of these days whet your appetite to enjoy a lifetime of sweet prayer with Father God. Start reading here.

Let Hope Rise: https: https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/19412-let-hope-rise

Where do we turn during uncertain times? In this plan, we’ll allow Jesus to renew our hope in order to rise above any circumstance we encounter and see from God’s perspective. Start reading here.

You Are Safe: https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/20341-you-are-safe

Imagine the Holy Spirit being like a blanket that wraps around you. His wrap around Presence comforts you. He is your Comforter. He is your safe place. God is our Source of true safety in a world of uncertainty. You are safe and secure in His presence. Start reading here.

Bridge to Life: https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/21494-bridge-to-life

Jesus is the bridge to eternal life. Without Him, it’s as if we’re standing on one side of the Grand Canyon. Death is coming for us and we need to get to the other side to safety. We see that It’s too far to jump and there’s no way we can cross on our own. However, imagine a bridge suddenly appearing that spans the Grand Canyon. A bridge to life! Start reading here.

Encounters with Jesus: https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/22187-encounters-with-jesus

Do you desire to encounter Jesus? When we “encounter” something, we are coming face-to-face with it. It’s our hope that over these next five days, we’ll notice our hearts burning within us like the Emmaus Road travelers (Luke 24:32) as we also walk with Jesus. Perhaps we’ll find ourselves having a deeper desire to draw closer to the Son as we encounter Him in unexpected ways. Start reading here.

Yes God Can!: https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/22348-yes-god-can

We serve the God of Yes! Even when everything around us screams, ‘No you can’t’, God’s answer is the final word. All of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” We hope this plan deepens your trust and faith over these 6 days. With God, we can overcome every spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical obstacle that stands between us and our full potential in Christ. Start reading here.

Celebrate Jesus!: https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/23011-celebrate-jesus

We certainly have reason to celebrate when we think of Jesus. In these four days, we’ll celebrate Jesus as the Light, Living Water, Hope of the world, and Eternal Life. From all around the world, let’s all join in on the celebration this Christmas season! At the end, you’ll get access to four 15-minute workouts based on this same Celebrate Jesus! theme. Start reading here.

Momentum: https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/24029-momentum

One of the definitions of momentum is “force or speed of movement.” Our hope is that these three days will be a jump start to seeing more spiritual and physical momentum in your life. As Hebrews 4:12 says, the word of God is “alive and active”. At the end of these three days, we hope you’ll join our 21 day Momentum Challenge! Start reading here.

Procrastination to Publication: https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/26530-procrastination-to-publication

Are you ready to see your God-given dream of writing and publishing a book become a reality? Your story matters to God and will impact and encourage others as you take this courageous step of faith. Write words that will outlive you as you publish books that fulfill your calling. Go from procrastination to publication! Start reading here.

Manna from Heaven: https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/29806-manna-from-heaven-5-days-of-nourishment

The Hebrew word for manna literally means, “What is it?” God would provide this heavenly food for the Israelites day in and day out for forty years! Over the course of these next 5 days, it’s our hope that God would supply spiritual manna from heaven for our souls. Each day is meant to provide nourishment from the endless feast that is God’s Word. Start reading here.

Kingdom Writers: Move Forward in God’s Call to Write: https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/30419-kingdom-writers-move-forward-in-gods-call-to-write

Kingdom writers, let the words flow as you allow God to write through you. You are priestly pens in the hands of the Author of life. Writing a book is not for everyone. For you, writing is your calling. You feel compelled by God to write. God wants to use your words to impact lives for eternity. It’s time to write words that outlive you. Will you say yes? Start reading here.

Priestly Pens: Encouragement for Christian Writers: https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/32641-priestly-pens-encouragement-for-christian-writers

If you’re reading this, you’re probably a Christian writer in some capacity. Perhaps you maintain a consistent blog or regularly post on social media. Some might contribute articles for Christian magazines or websites. Others have written and published books – traditionally or independently. Whether you write fiction or nonfiction, you desire to honor Jesus in your writing. We want to encourage you as fellow Christian writers along the journey! Start reading here.

Kingdom Marketing Mindset for Authors: https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/34207

In this plan, we help Christian writers and authors think about partnering with God to share their message. You will be encouraged to seek God’s strategy for you and your book. Start reading here

Please share these devotional plans with someone you think might benefit from these topics. We pray that God uses them powerfully in your life!

The Trade of a Lifetime

October 17, 2018 By cjhitz Leave a Comment

Babe Ruth — George Herman “Babe” Ruth Jr.

If you’re a sports fan, you’ve no doubt seen some outrageous trades among various professional teams through the years. At times, fans are left scratching their heads over seemingly ridiculous transactions between owners or general managers.

One such “head scratcher” and perhaps the most notorious trade in sports history occurred in 1919 when the Boston Red Sox traded their star player, Babe “The Bambino” Ruth, to the Yankees in exchange for $100,000 cash and a $300,000 loan to help Red Sox owner Harry Frazee make payment on Fenway Park. For the finance folks out there, that $100,000 in 1919 would be the equivalent to $1,457,491 today. Still seems pretty modest in light of all Babe Ruth would go on to achieve.

To give you a little perspective, the Red Sox had won five of the first fifteen World Series titles. Babe Ruth was a key player in the 1916 and 1918 championship years. After the trade, the Yankees would go on to win four World Series titles and seven American League Pennants with the Babe.

And the Red Sox? They would win nothing for Beantown during that same stretch. In fact, the Red Sox would go 86 years before winning their next title in 2004. This long championship drought was referred to as “The Curse of the Bambino.”

Before the trade, the Yankees didn’t win a single championship. After the trade, they won an astounding 26 World Series titles in that same 86 year stretch. Talk about a change of direction!

Another “Notable” Trade

The year was 1980 and Star Wars was alive and well in the minds of kids everywhere. As a second grader in Ms. Tiltche’s class, I was constantly daydreaming about things like action figures and space ships. My buddy Chris and I would count down the seconds to the next recess where we could pull out Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader in order to conquer the Myrtle Creek Elementary playground. But we weren’t the only kids in our class who owned these legendary action figures.

Michael was a classmate who was known to be a spoiled brat. If there was a toy every kid longed for, Michael most-likely owned it. Since I sat next to him, I was constantly in a state of envy as he described or showed off his latest gadget. One particular day, I noticed Michael open his desk and pull out a glorious sight…a Han Solo. But not just any Han Solo action figure. This was the coveted Han Solo in Hoth snow jacket!

Han Solo in Hoth Snow Jacket — The object of my second grade desire

At that moment, time stood still. Jealousy filled my seven year-old mind as I gazed at the beauty of this piece of rubberized plastic. I’m positive Smeagol from Lord of the Rings would have been proud as I practically uttered the words, “my precious.”

Smeagol — What have you considered “precious” in your life?

That evening, I hatched a plan to have Han Solo in my possession the next day (insert evil laugh here). It would come in the form of a trade. Remember those bulky envelopes families across America received in the mail from Publisher’s Clearing House? Those envelopes contained several sheets of stamps with magazine images on them. These worthless stamps would be the “currency” I would use in order to get the ‘object’ of my desire.

Here’s how the dirty deal went down that next day…

Me: “Hey Michael, wanna make a trade?”
Michael: “What kinda trade?”
Me: (Pulling out my stack of stamps) “I’m willing to give you ALL these cool stamps for your Han Solo.”
Michael: “Hmm…I guess that sounds like a pretty good trade.”
Me: “Sure it’s a good trade. You’ll get hundreds of these stamps.”
Michael: “Ok, it’s a trade!”

And that, my friends, is how I snookered “Mr. Spoiled Brat.”

Michael proceeded to lick every last one of those stamps and stick them all over his desk for decoration. By the time he finished, his desk was one big Publisher’s Clearing House stamp. All was well…until the next day.

One by one, each stamp began to slowly peel and eventually fall to the floor like a solitary snowflake. Poor Michael could only watch in horror. As each stamp fell, the realization hit him like a ton of bricks. Looking over at me, he yelled, “You cheated me!” Michael then proceeded to call Ms. Tiltche to the scene. “We traded fair & square”, I replied.

After analyzing all of the evidence and hearing from several witnesses, our beloved old-school teacher yielded a verdict…

“The trade must stand!”

I’m not sure I can describe the feelings I had in that moment. On one hand, I had just pulled off the trade of a lifetime. On the other hand, my second grade conscience knew full well how shady this deal was. Perhaps I reaped what I had sown when less than two weeks later I somehow lost my ‘precious.’

Trading Our Birthright

Tucked away in Genesis 25:27-34 is the story of one of the most outrageous trades in history. Jacob and Esau were brothers with Esau being the firstborn son of Isaac. As Esau returned from one of his routine hunting trips, he was absolutely famished with hunger. As he entered the house, he could smell the rich aroma of Jacob’s homemade red bean soup. “Give me some of that soup bro!”

At that moment, the wheels (and deals) began to turn in Jacob’s head. “Sure”, Jacob replied. “But I’m gonna need that birthright of yours…sound like a fair trade?”

The only way to explain what happened next is shear insanity. The fact that Esau agreed to Jacob’s trade should give us a glimpse of how loudly his stomach was crying out in that moment. If only poor Esau knew of the acronym HALT which stands for hungry, angry, lonely, and tired. We’re told it’s not wise to make big decisions while experiencing those symptoms. Jacob took full advantage of Esau’s vulnerability and thus completed one of the most lopsided trades in history.

But before we make fun of Esau, we need to look at all the moments we’ve been on the losing end of a lopsided trade. How many times have we been enticed by the sweet aroma of sin only to realize we’ve been snookered? We trade our Han Solo birthright for the cheap Publishers Clearing House stamps of the world. We want the instant gratification of that tasty bowl of stew over the endless delicacies that await us in the House of the Lord.

I’ve certainly made some poor trades through the years. How about you?

There’s yet another trade in history that actually deserves the title of “most lopsided.” It occurred nearly two thousand years ago when the Son of God traded his righteousness for our sin…

“For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” – 2 Corinthians 5:21

We’d be fools to turn down that trade offer. Jesus signed the contract with his own blood in order to purchase rights to our lives.

Red Sox to the Yankees overnight. And the rest, they say, is history.

That Day I Was Stabbed

October 11, 2018 By cjhitz Leave a Comment

“The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” – Proverbs 12:18 (NIV)

I remember it like it was yesterday. Pain has a way of engraving itself into our memories…both short term and long term.

It was first grade in Ms. Honnold’s class and we were running back to the yellow door to line up after the bell rang to end recess.

In the frantic rush of trying to get the best place in line, someone stabbed me. And though Charlie didn’t intend to hurt anyone, he had broken one of the cardinal rules in elementary education…

Thou shalt not bring thy freshly sharpened pencil onto the playground.

I got the “point” loud and clear. My scream was loud after the pencil tip shot clear into the palm of my left hand!

Warm crocodile tears flowed down my cheeks as pain emanated from the spot where the sharp lead tip broke off into my 6 year-old hand.

Poor little Charlie felt terrible. Thankfully, he was shown some grace since he and his family had moved into town a few days earlier.

It’s been 39 years since that traumatic experience and yet I still carry the faint scar as a reminder.

CJ's left hand — A (very) faint reminder of the pencil “stabbing.” Talk about lead poisoning! Don’t be hatin’

Words are like sharp pencils

Our words can also pierce like freshly sharpened pencils wielded by reckless first graders. Though we don’t always intend to hurt others, our words can easily be misunderstood, especially in the age of social media.

Whether we’re texting, tweeting, talking or tagging, it might be wise to slowly count to sixty before hitting send or letting our words fly. We should ask ourselves a few simple questions…

Will this help or hurt someone?
Is this going to be constructive or destructive?
Will these words be encouraging or discouraging?

Some of us carry the scars of word wounds inflicted long ago. The old saying, “sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me” couldn’t be further from the truth. On the contrary, our words can often inflict more long term damage than the physical injuries we may have endured.

In light of the grace and forgiveness God has shown us time and time again, let’s consider the wisdom of Solomon…

“Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.” – Ecclesiastes 5:2 (NIV)

1 Hour’s Work = 1 Day of Work?

September 28, 2018 By cjhitz Leave a Comment

Read Matthew 20:1-16

No fair! Not in our eyes anyway. Jesus tells this story about an owner of an estate who hires some people to work in his vineyard. Some of these workers show up at the crack of dawn, some show mid-morning, some at lunch time, another group mid-afternoon and then one more batch show up one hour before quittin’ time. At the end of the day when paychecks are being handed out, folks start noticing each check is exactly the same, regardless of how many hours each person worked. Before long the grumbling begins and one worker approaches the owner:

Worker: Uh, boss?
Owner: Yes?
Worker: The boys and I have been talking and it seems you
made a mistake with the paychecks.
Owner: Oh?
Worker: Yeah, those slackers who showed up an hour before
quittin’ time got the same amount as those of us who broke
our backs the whole day in that scorching heat!
Owner: So?
Worker: So…it ain’t fair!!
Owner: What do you mean it ain’t fair? Didn’t I pay you the
wage you agreed to?
Worker: Well…yeah but…
Owner: No but about it! I’ve got every right in the universe to
pay my workers what I want, regardless of the time they clock
in.

*Note: I sometimes imagine the “worker” having a thick New York accent like Paulie in the movie Rocky.

And so it is, Jesus said, that many who are first now will be last then; and those who are last now will be first then. (v. 16)

This is no doubt some crazy calculating huh? What are we to conclude after reading a story like this? Some may call this communism though I don’t think any communistic country in the world would allow the “one hour slackers” to be paid what they were. Some may say this kind of system would create a practice of folks showing up one hour before quittin’ time regularly, thinking they’ll get the same wage. Do you really think an owner like this could possibly be taken advantage of regularly? Don’t think so. There’s a theme in this story that I think can be summed up in a word: Grace.

A good definition for grace would be getting something good that we don’t deserve. Imagine an atmosphere where folks showed up for work knowing the boss just might bless them with something unexpected…or even undeserved. Now translate that same formula in life.

Imagine serving a God who just loves blessing the socks off of folks who don’t always deserve it. A God who gives the same reward (eternal life) to someone putting their trust in Him at eight years old as he does to the person who’s eighty-four before making the same decision. A God who treats the high school drop out the same as the Doctor. A God who extends the same love to both the disabled person and the most talented athlete. Some might call this a “waste” of good resources and they would be correct. Divine grace does have a wastefulness about it. That’s the nature of this Jesus and his Father. They just love to waste their vast resources on those of us who’ve spit in their faces at various times in our lives.

This kind of arithmetic will never seem to add up in our human minds. If we would begin leaving the calculations to God rather than playing the “That’s not fair” game, we would find ourselves being grateful for what we’ve each been given.

*This was an excerpt from our book Forgiveness Formula: Finding Lasting Freedom in Christ