Heart Health

"A heart at peace gives life to the body."
-Proverbs 14:30a


I like to think our hearts are much like bookshelves.  We store a lot in them.  We pick and choose our emotions according to our moods.  We allow distractions like busyness to keep us from taking time to keep order in our hearts.  We become frustrated easily because we can't find what we are looking for when we need it, but when we do find the one, then we have revived hope.

When I moved to a new school, my new classroom lacked luster and order, much like my heart at times.  I took the blah metal shelves and added color to them by removing all the shelving and sticking on green patterned contact paper on the back of the shelves.  Then, I placed the shelves back in at different heights.  Next, I categorized all my books by genre so that my students would easily find books they might like based on the genre that they're most drawn to.  I put these books into colorful crates that I found at Big Lots and attached laminated genre labels to each crate.  Once I had these shelves complete, I felt more motivated to bring more color and order to the rest of my classroom.  I love how a little bit of organization can give us a whole lot of peace of mind.

Aren't are hearts similar?  Once we bring order back to our hearts and fill them with the luster of God's love, we are revitalized and more motivated to bring color and order to the rest of our lives.  The beauty is, though, that we don't have to do the organizing on our own.  God is there and willing to lend us a hand.  His grace sufficiently brings us to a place of peace.  He takes our messes and makes them into masterpieces.  He tenderly cares for each one of our hearts.  All we have to do is let Him.

Worship

"Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'"

Luke 4:8

The other day I had business in Dallas.  As I was being driven back to the airport, I noticed there were police in their cars stationed in every driveway and road for about a mile to the airport.  Then, once I checked-in, I discovered that my flight was delayed as well as every flight trying to leave within the hour.  I walked to my gate and sat down bewildered because many people were standing all along the windows.  After a few moments, excitement filled the gate area, and more people briskly walked toward the windows while reaching in their pockets and purses to pull out their phones.  My gaze followed them to the windows, and there landed the plane of the President of the United States with the President on board.  Ah!  Everything made sense.

What amazed me by all of the hubbub over the President was the thought of worship that entered my mind.  What an odd thought to have!  But I couldn't help noticing how people prepared the way for the president, so I thought about if I did that for God when it came to worship.  Do I block all the pathways that would give access to dangerous distractions?  Do I take time to stop all the traffic that may interfere with my worship?  Do I honor God with holy reverence?  Do I excitedly rush to see a glimpse of God?

I can't say yes to all of these questions, but I can say I have a whole new outlook on how I must honor my Lord when it comes to desiring His presence in my worship.  We have it in us to prepare a way to honor God.  May He continue to bring us ever in awe of His glory.

Detailed Depth

"'Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.'"

Matthew 10:29-32 

What I love most about God, which is among an endless list of things I love about Him, is that He takes care of every detail when I trust Him with my life.  Even the most infinitesimal detail is in the great hands of God.  Nothing gets by Him.  Nothing He can't handle.

I believe God desires for us to notice how He takes care of every detail of our lives.  I think it gives Him great pleasure when we do because praise immediately follows recognition of His part and presence in the workings of our lives.  I think He wants to show us more of who He is and what He can do and what He wants to do for us.  

When we begin to notice all the ways God cares for us, especially in the ways we don't even ask for Him to, then we will begin to understand the depth of God's love for us and the worth we are to Him.

The Flaw Fight

The flaws I know I have, I so easily recognize in others.  As a teacher, I passionately try to fix those flaws in my students because I know the struggle, the burden, and the beastly side of those flaws.  It's funny how so quickly we want to change someone else that has the same identical flaws that we battle within ourselves to change.  Like the oxygen masks on an airplane, if we don't first help ourselves, we won't be able to help anyone else.  So, how do we do it?

First, identify one flaw.  Notice I said one.  If you try to take on more than one at a time, you will be defeated before you can conquer any of them.  Begin with one.  Focus on one opponent a time.

Second, pray.  Pray daily for God's help to fight the flaw.  Pray for God's strength, for His army, for His guidance to overcome, and for Him to change your heart and your habits.

Third, go against every natural, easy behavior that feeds that flaw.  For instance, if your flaw is messiness, then go against throwing clothes on the floor or leaving dirty dishes on the counter.  Follow through where clothes go or follow through washing the dishes.  Fight that flaw.

Fourth, fill yourself with knowledge.  Read Scripture, self-help books, and do Bible studies that all relate to that one flaw.  The more you know and understand that flaw, the better equipped you'll be to fight it.

Fifth, find support.  Ask friends or family to hold you accountable.  People want to feel useful and helpful, and if you give them an opportunity to aid you in bettering yourself, they will take it.  We all want to feel like we're making a difference.  Don't let the fear of burdening someone to keep you from asking him/her to hold you accountable.  Satan does not want you to be better, and he will lie to get what he wants. 

We all have flaws we would like to fix.  It is possible.  You are not alone, and you do not have to fight alone.  The God of angels' armies is always on your side.

"The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds." 

2 Corinthians 10:4

Content with "No"

I believe true contentment is attainable.  True contentment is being able to accept if and when God says, "No."  True contentment is not changing your feelings about God no matter what the outcome.  True contentment is saying, "God, you are Master of the Universe.  I trust and accept whatever answer you give me to my prayer request and to my heart desire."  True contentment is praising God no matter the circumstance.  True contentment allows God to have full control and to know you are just along for the ride.  "But godliness with contentment is great gain." (1 Timothy 6:6)

Yes, true contentment is attainable.  Are you ready to let go?  Are you ready to let God?  Are you ready to accept in full faith whatever the outcome?  If you said, "Yes!", then get your praise on!  God is going to do mighty wonders in your life.  How sweet is the taste of satisfaction!

 

"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content
whatever the circumstances."

Philippians 4:11

Genuine Love is Godly Love

"Don't just pretend to love others.  Really love them.  Hate what is wrong.  Hold tightly to what is good.  Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other."

Romans 12:9-10 (NLT)

Genuine love--real love--honest love--Godly love is a love we all seek and desire.  It is also love we are instructed in Romans 12 to give.  It is a love that is the same for an enemy as it is for a best friend.  It is a love that doesn't change because of a circumstance that does change.  It is a love that is constant even if it isn't returned.  It is a love that remains even if a relationship doesn't.  

When we really love  someone, we love out of God's heart.  He has lavished His love upon us so that we can love one another.  Really, genuinely loving someone means we put them before our own needs and wants.  Really, genuinely loving someone is giving without expecting anything in return.  In fact, if we genuinely love someone, then it wouldn't change based on the condition of whether or not that person loves us in the same way back.  This doesn't mean that if we are being abused or taken advantage of by another person that we should continue to allow that kind of behavior to continue; rather, it means that we continue to love that person with the same genuine affection even in spite of the abuse or the advantage taking.  Those kind of relationships may fall apart or change because of that behavior, but our love for that person should not fall apart or change.

Really love someone today.  Take delight in honoring another person, not yourself, today.  Respond to the love God has so richly given you by honestly, authentically loving others.  Not only will you have love overflowing in your heart, you will also have joy.

"We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them."

1 John 4:16 (NLT)

Glorious Gift

 Who doesn't love a gift?  About two years ago, I put together some welcome gifts for the guests attending my sister's wedding.  My sister arranged a destination wedding at this quaint, antiquated inn on Lake Michigan.  The whole weekend was exquisite, and it was my job to put together welcome/thank you gifts for all the guests.  Well, I couldn't just throw together some treats in a gift bag, could I?  Not a chance! 

I ended up driving all over two cities to find and buyout these beautiful white cupcake holder boxes.  The outcome was worth it.  I enjoyed sorting and arranging the treats inside the boxes and tying pretty ribbon and tags around each one.  I enjoyed seeing my sister's delight at what I had put together for her special guests, and I enjoyed the smiles of surprise and awe that each guest had when he/she arrived and was handed one of my welcome/thank you boxes.  Such joy comes from thoughtful, intentional, hard work!

What joy it was for Jesus to leave us His thoughtful gift...the Holy Spirit!  "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,  even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you." (John 14:16-17)  What joy it must be to Him we open this gift!  What joy it must bring Him when we use His gift!

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." (Galatians 5:22-23)

A gift given is a joy, and a gift opened is a joy.  What good is Jesus' gift to us if we don't open it?  If we don't allow the Holy Spirit to powerfully work in our lives, to produce fruit; then, we lose out on receiving a glorious gift and we lose out on bringing glory to God.  May our prayers today and every day be of gratitude for such a glorious gift.  May we live with joy of receiving such a gift, and may use this gift to bring joy to others.