“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Gal. 2:20).
This was the first and only Easter I would sit with my parents in church. The whole family had gathered to celebrate. As the service began, I glanced over at my Dad.
He was singing with a hymnal in his hand and tears streaming down his face. When I looked over at Mom, her tears equaled his. They were brand new Christians, just a few weeks old, and my heart exploded with joy. But then something strange happened. Conviction washed over me. How long had it been since I worshipped with the same humble heart? Wasn’t God deserving of my full focus? Where was my passion for the Lord?
This was a fleeting moment, but one I have often thought about. As I sat there, my mind wandered back to their remarkable story of mercy.
Go with me as I journey back.
Jesus became my Savior when I was sixteen, but even though my parents were good people, they were not believers. The burden I felt for them was more than I could stand. As a young mother and wife, I traveled from my home in Georgia to their home in Florida. I went to share the gospel and God’s love for them.
I do not remember what I said, but my words sent Dad storming from the room and Mom crying. I felt like a total failure. But that night in my old bedroom God gave me a song. “When We All Get to Heaven.” I held on to that moment for years. Every chance I had, I asked others to pray for my parents’ salvation.
I had dear friends who shared my concerns by making a stop in Florida to take my parents to lunch. During lunch they shared how much I loved them and how Jesus loved and had a plan for them. They were gospel seed planters.
Their visit did not appear to have any results.
Every visit to Florida filled me with pressure and fear. The responsibility for their salvation drained me. This burden was too heavy to bear.
Dad and I had always been close, but now he was distant and aggravated at me. This grieved my heart. He had a tough time being in the same room with me. My family noticed the change, and they were frustrated with him.
However, God, in His mercy, showed me that Dad was in the middle of a spiritual battle. This helped me to understand and release my hurt.
After my parents had both retired, they took a trip with friends and Dad did something that made my Mom angry. She is not a person you wanted to make mad or in this case furious. She was done with him, but he must have groveled enough for her to give him a chance to make things right.
These were her demands: One, they would start going to church together, and two, he would learn to play bridge. He said, “Okay, fine.” He would do that if she learned to watch football with him. They both agreed to the demands. Thank goodness!
They started attending Lakeshore Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida. My husband and I had history with this church. I was baptized and married there. A friend in my church in Georgia was from Jacksonville, and her parents were members of the church my parents were attending.
The world is small in the Hands of the Lord.
When I heard that they were attending church, I didn’t want them to be overlooked. I called the church office to make sure the pastor knew my parents were not Christians. I must have sounded a bit bossy, but we sometimes forget that older people are not all saved. It was important for the church to know.
Months went by, and from a conversation I had with my Dad, I began to give up hope. I was questioning that God had given me a song of promise years ago in my old bedroom. My faith and hope were disappearing.
Mom was seventy-four, and Dad was seventy-six. Time was running out. What more could I do? All my Christian friends were praying. If someone knew me in the church, they were praying.
I was selling tickets for Wednesday night supper at church when my friend, Nancy came bouncing full of joy. She told me the most wonderful news.
My parents had made a profession of faith on Sunday.
I am not much of a crier, but the floodgates opened, and I was sure I was about to flood the Christian Family Life Center.
My church family didn’t know what had happened, but their concern turned to joy when they heard the news. Many of them had wrestled in prayer for the salvation of my parents.
There is more to the story, but for now, as we are getting close to Easter, I hope and pray that we will celebrate the wonderful gift of Jesus. He has made a way for us to be righteous before Him. I pray that tears of joy run down our faces as we come together in awe of the goodness of our God.
“When we all get to heaven,
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus
We’ll sing and shout the victory.”
“When We All Get to Heaven,” by Eliza E. Hewitt (1898).
Pray with me:
Dear Lord,
Thank You for Your provision of Jesus. A provision that gives us a new identity and a new eternal home. We need Your grace and mercy to fill our hearts as we prepare for Easter. May the praise and honor of that celebration be sweet music to Your ears. Oh, Father, we bow before You, our great merciful God. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Every heart carries scars. Some are from loss, others from disappointment, and others from seasons of silence when prayers seemed unanswered. A broken heart can leave people feeling fragile, uncertain, or even forgotten. But faith offers a way forward, not by erasing the pain, but by helping us walk through it with hope and strength.
In her devotional Center of the Heart, Marilyn Collier draws on her stories of hardship and healing to show how God meets us in the middle of our brokenness. She writes honestly about grief, loneliness, and emotional wounds, and then pairs those stories with scripture and prayer. The result is a reminder that faith is not simply about believing in God during the good times but leaning into His love when life feels heavy.
One of the most memorable examples in the book comes from her reflection on open-heart surgery. She explains that while doctors can heal the body, only God can heal the deep wounds of the soul. Many people carry hidden pain from loss or broken relationships, and no medical procedure can fix that. But faith, practiced daily through prayer and reflection, becomes the process through which God brings restoration.
This book, Center of the Heart, is one reason it resonates with readers. Each daily entry includes a short story, a scripture passage, and a prayer. Together they create a steady rhythm of reflection and conversation with God. This rhythm offers stability in a world that often feels unsteady for someone grieving or struggling. These reflections gently guide the reader toward peace when read over weeks and months.
For example, imagine a grandmother who has lost her spouse and feels her days are now marked by silence. Through Collier’s devotional, she might read a story about loneliness and find comfort in the truth that God never leaves His children. Or think of a young mother carrying the weight of discouragement. In the “Ponders of the Heart” section, she may discover an invitation to journal her prayers, turning her fears into words that connect her more deeply with God. These small practices accumulate, offering comfort for a day and a foundation for healing over time.
Collier’s approach is meaningful because she does not dismiss the reality of brokenness. Instead, she acknowledges it while pointing readers to God’s steady presence. Faith does not eliminate sorrow, but it transforms it. When placed in God’s hands, a broken heart becomes a heart renewed by His love. Faith can be the path to healing if you are walking through a season of grief or carrying emotional scars.
If you are looking for a devotional that gently leads you through that process. Center of the Heart by Marilyn Collier is a thoughtful companion. Its daily reflections and prayers offer not just words on a page, but a steady reminder that God’s love is strong enough to heal every heart.
Love is often best understood not in definitions, but in the moments it is shown to us. For Marilyn Collier, one of those defining moments came through her stepfather’s decision to adopt her. What could have been a simple legal act became a lifelong reminder of belonging, choice, and unconditional love. That personal story, shared in her devotional Center of the Heart, is a powerful picture of how God welcomes His children into His family.
Adoption carries a deep message of intentional love. Unlike the bond that comes automatically through birth, adoption is a choice. A stepfather choosing to legally adopt a child says, “I see you, I want you, and I will make you mine.” In Collier’s story, that earthly decision became a window into the greater truth of spiritual adoption. Just as her stepdad chose her, God chooses His children through His grace, calling them His own.
This lesson reaches far beyond her individual experience. Many readers know the weight of feeling unwanted, abandoned, or overlooked. Some carry wounds from absent parents, while others struggle with their sense of worth. Collier’s reflection points to a God who heals those wounds by declaring, “You are mine.” Her stepdad’s choice to give her his name is a simple, so far thoughtful, picture of the identity and security God offers.
Another strength of her story lies in its everyday simplicity. There was no dramatic event, no sudden transformation, only the steady reality of love shown through family. That is exactly how many people understand God’s care, not always through grand miracles, but through consistent acts of kindness, forgiveness, and presence. A stepfather stepping into a role, a mother offering prayers, or a grandmother leaving a legacy of faith reflect the Father’s heart.
Center of the Heart builds on this truth by offering daily devotionals that connect scripture with real stories. Readers are reminded of biblical promises and invited to see those promises lived out in ordinary lives. For those struggling with identity, the adoption story becomes a gentle reassurance that they, too, are chosen. For those facing loneliness, it is a reminder that God’s love is never absent.
Collier also weaves prayer into each reflection, giving readers language to express their gratitude and hope. Just as her adoption story invites reflection, the “Ponders of the Heart” sections encourage journaling and personal connection, making the lesson more than a story on a page. Over time, these daily entries form a year-long journey of healing and renewed faith.
What her stepdad taught her about love is not limited to her family. It is a truth that every reader can hold onto: God’s love is intentional, personal, and secure. This reminder is more than comforting in a world where many feel overlooked. It is life-changing.
If you want to explore how stories like this can guide you closer to God’s heart, Center of the Heartby Marilyn Collier offers a devotional journey that will encourage you every day of the year.
In a world where so many hearts silently ache for belonging, Center of the Heartby Marilyn Collier offers something rare—a sanctuary of stories, scripture, and spiritual truths that speak directly to the soul. One of the most profound entries in this devotional is titled simply “Adoption,” yet its message runs deep, offering insight not only into God’s love but also into the human need to be chosen, seen, and secure.
Marilyn Collier begins by sharing a heartfelt memory: her stepfather—whom she tenderly refers to as “Daddy”—loved her before he even married her mother. That love wasn’t born of obligation or genetics. It was a choice. A beautiful, intentional decision to embrace her as his own. That one choice changed the course of her emotional life, forming a bond that made loving him in return feel effortless.
“He chose to love me as his daughter, which made loving him quite easy.”
This reflection isn’t merely nostalgic—it’s sacred. Collier connects her earthly experience of being chosen by her stepfather to a divine truth rooted in Ephesians 1:4–7. There, Scripture reminds us that God chose us before the foundation of the world to be adopted as His sons and daughters. He predestined us for love, for belonging, for redemption—not by accident, but by divine design.
This truth is overwhelming, and Marilyn admits as much. “Are those truths more than you can understand?” she asks. “They are more than I can grasp, but the grace of God toward me makes loving Him easy.”
Here lies the power of her writing: vulnerability meets theology. She doesn’t hide behind doctrine; she brings it to life through her own story. In doing so, she unlocks a deeper understanding of what it means to be chosen—not only by people but by God Himself.
Yet, Collier doesn’t sugarcoat the impact of early abandonment. Her biological father left when she was just three years old—a critical age in the formation of a child’s bond with their father. That absence created a wound of insecurity, a lingering belief that she needed to earn love, to work for acceptance, and to fear rejection.
“He left me unconnected and insecure... I take this mentality into the relationships of my life.”
How many of us, if we’re honest, do the same? We carry childhood hurts like invisible luggage into our adult lives. We push harder in relationships, fearing we’re not enough. We create walls, hoping to avoid the pain of abandonment again. And, tragically, we project these fears onto our relationship with God—imagining He, too, might leave when we fail to be perfect.
But Center of the Heart gently reminds us that God’s love doesn’t work that way. His adoption isn’t conditional. His love isn’t earned. And His grace isn’t withdrawn at our weakest moments. Like Marilyn’s stepfather, who chose to love her long before any vows were spoken, God has already chosen us—even before we knew how to choose Him.
What makes this devotion (and the entire book) so powerful is its honesty. Marilyn speaks as someone who has lived through both heartache and healing, and she invites readers to do the same. She doesn’t rush the process—she walks alongside the reader with compassion, pointing again and again to the Father’s heart.
“But what about you?’ he asked. “Who do you say I am?” (Mark 8:29).
If Jesus was to ask you this question, what would you say?
Paul Tripp, one of my favorite writers ask this question in his book, Everyday Gospel, “If you were to “paint” a verbal picture of Jesus, what words would you use to capture who he is, what he came to do, and what he continues to do in and for those who put their trust in him?” I have pondered this question for days, and even though Jesus is beyond explaining this is where my mind has taken me.
He is light. We live in a world of darkness; Christ is the light of the world. John 1:5 says, “The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” Another translation says, did not overcome it. I love that imagery.
When you were a little child, were you afraid of the dark? Most of us have some fear or at least uncomfortableness in the dark. When you go to bed at night do you have night lights on in your home and flood lights outside to protect you and your property? We have lights in our toilets that light up when you walk in the bathrooms. I will admit that my reasons for these lights were not so much about being afraid, but that is another story altogether.
Light changes everything.
In a world of darkness, we need light. Jesus gives us a promise in John 8:12 when He said: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”
As I pondered what my verbal picture of Jesus would be, these are the thoughts in my mind:
Jesus, you are like the dawn. You come to me and light all the darkness in my soul, defeating the fear that is in my heart, and you draw me close. You become brighter, warming my heart and giving hope to my soul.
Lord, You light up Your Word as I read it, and I find comfort from Your touch. Jesus, you heal me with your warmth, and again and again you draw me close. Even in the shade you can be seen. You minister health all around me. In life’s trouble you shine. I have felt you in the midst of my troubles. Lord, You come close and pour your light into circumstances that are dark, lonely and fearful. Jesus, You are my light and there is no darkness in You!
Jesus is the light of the world and yet not all will welcome Him.
“This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God” (John 3:19-21).
This is a warning to us. Jesus is our light, and He wants to come to us and bring His truth, mercy, love and wisdom so we can see. He gives us Himself so we can see deception. Through Him we can walk in truth with confidence that the darkness will not overcome us. We are safe in the light He gives. He is the light of the world.
If you were asked to paint a word picture of Jesus, what would your words be?
Pray with me
Dear Lord, Jesus,
There is no darkness in You, only light. You give us sight, hope, and forgiveness. How we honor and praise You. There is no one like You, no one Lord! We come to You to see, walk, live, and treasure Your light, and bask in the wonder of Your love. Jesus, give us eyes to see You and a heart to believe You. We love You, Lord. In Your name we pray, amen.
Walking through my neighborhood I saw a Real Estate sign. The large part of the sign had the company’s information, a smaller sign on top which said, Contract pending and then at the very bottom of the sign was a picture, name and phone number of the Real Estate agent. My mind drifted back to when my husband was the managing broker of a Real Estate office.
He can tell you from experience there is a lot of waiting that takes place between listing a piece of property and closing a Real Estate sale. There are anxious people waiting for that sale to be final.
The seller is anxious, and the agent is anxious, and the buyer can also wonder if the closing will ever take place. They all lose a little sleep wondering and worrying. Waiting is not natural for us. Waiting is hard.
What are you waiting for today? Have you called out to God, and you feel like He is not coming through? Are you asking Him for a husband or a better marriage? Do you desperately need a promotion, a better boss, or maybe a better job? Does God even see the direction your child is going. Doesn’t He hear your prayers? Do you wrestle in prayer for healing, emotionally, physically or maybe just for hope? Waiting is hard.
Then there is daily waiting that makes us angry or frustrated. Things like waiting on a red light to change, a train to end, dinner to be ready, or the dog to go ahead and poop so you can go inside. Waiting is hard.
But waiting is part of life. God says: “Be still and know that I am God;” Psalm 46:10.
Today, this blog is here after a long wait. This webpage was created to promote my book, Center of the Heart. It has been a long time coming. Some of the devotionals in the book began 20 years ago. Many times, I gave up hope, but God had a plan, and this plan was for me to write this book. But His timing was not my timing. Waiting is hard.
I am an ordinary person, with limited talent, but God has been with me. He has provided help for me. He has placed people in my life to help me along the way. God has sent others to encourage me, like my loving husband. I have friends who inspired me with their lives. God’s Word and the Holy Spirit has opened my eyes to truth and awe. And He has even placed friends around me whose talents and wisdom have taught me many writing skills.
God’s hand was on me when He lead me to a group of people who has helped me in publishing my book and create the web page that you are viewing, Books Publishing Company. And I am grateful for them and to them.
God never intended for us to walk alone. He has given us His Word, His Spirit and other people to walk and wait together. Yes, waiting is not natural, and it is hard, but our God is good, faithful and willing to wait with us.
“Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
Psalm 103:2-5
Whatever it is that we are waiting for, let’s wait to see how God, our Heavenly Father will bring good things to past, because our God is good. As if not being with Him is not enough!
My hope and prayer is that you will purchase Center of the Heart and it will strengthen you, bless you, and glorify our Lord.
