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Heart of the Matter…

This is the post excerpt.

Choosing to live and love….all stem from the heart. We are to guard our hearts and minds by protecting what goes in and being intentional on what comes out. Scripture tells us… Above all else, guard your heart for everything you do flows from it. (Proverbs 4:23)

We make decisions and/or purpose in the way we live, in the way we love, and in the things that will make a difference in the lives of others.  Living lives that have eternal values in mind, not based on emotions, but on the truth of God’s Word.  Choosing to encourage others to stay the course, to stand firm and to pray without ceasing.  To seek the Lord in all things, to count the cost, and to consider the consequences when choosing to disobey.   To pray for and with those who are in need, teaching them to cling to God’s Word for their daily sustenance, and to look for ways, they too can make a difference, in the lives of others.  Putting Jesus first, Others second and then Yourself = JOY in your life.  Choose to live life, even when it seems mundane and to love with abandon…all from the heart.

 

The Love of a Father….

As Father’s day approaches…my heart has been reflecting on my Heavenly Father! Have you met my Father?  The God of the Universe, Creator of all…loves THIS girl, HIS girl, with an everlasting love.  He cares for me, teaches me, guides me, corrects me, and disciplines me (when necessary)!  That is what a loving father is supposed to do.
Some of us, maybe many of us, did not have those type of earthly fathers.  BUT when I met Jesus…I realized that MY Heavenly Father was all I could ever want or hope for in a daddy.  My ABBA!
I am so thankful for His unconditional love!  His precious love, that I did not have to “be good” to gain nor do I have to be anyone other than who I am…has been poured over me!  That same love…we can experience every day!  Be showered upon, be comforted by and surrounded with for all of our days.  My Jesus, My Father…loves me this I know!  For the Bible tells me so!  I know His love by experience…in a changed heart and new life….real life!  Daily reminded of this love!
Do you know the love of a father?  I’ll share my Father with you!  He has enough love for us all.  My Father only wants what is best for me and gives me exactly what I need…at the precise moment I need it.  He loves me enough to not give me everything I ask for too.  My Father truly DOES know what is best for me and for you!  I trust him with my whole heart and with my life.  He protects me and even carries me when I can’t stand on my own.  We all have those moments, days or even weeks when we just need to be held. My Father…do you know Him?  Let Him be YOUR Abba, YOUR daddy,  YOUR Heavenly Father!  Ask Him to show you this same love He has given me…and He will! Forever a Daddy’s girl! 💜
1 John 3:1 NLT…
See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!  But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.

Hidden in your Heart…

God’s Word…how much do you know of it?  How much of it have you hidden in your heart?  How much of it do you pray back to Him or run to in time of need for strength or comfort?  Where do you turn when needing guidance or direction?  Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. (Psalm 119:105)  To whom or what do you go to in times of trouble or distress?  God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1)  When your faith is wavering or you just need to be reminded that He is in control,  can you  pull verses from the reservoirs of your heart?  Those verses that you have hidden in your heart that you might not sin against Him and the verses that we cling to on a regular basis.  What are they?

Which verses come to mind when you are faced with those difficult situations or issues that come up…even in the day to day?  What truths do you stand on when temptation comes your way?  Do they automatically come to mind because they are in the storage lockers of your heart and mind?  Or do you have to search them out from the pages?  Turning to His Word is always, always, always the best thing to do either way.  But here and how…what have you hidden in your heart?

We may not always have with us a written hard copy of the Bible in our pocket or access to it.  That is WHY it is so important to have it in our hearts, that can be resourced at a moments notice.  Verses for all situations…times of fear, loneliness, anger or doubt.  Verses that remind us WHO Jesus is, WHAT God has done, WHERE our home is and WHY we do what we do…in the power of the Holy Spirit.  Verses that we are able to encourage others with, as well as ourselves.  It is those verses that we cling to, trust in and rely upon to get us through any and all situations.

His Word is ALIVE and POWERFUL!  Meant to be used in and dependent upon in the battle we are in.  Just as Jesus used God’s Word in response to Satan when He was being tempted in the wilderness…so should we!  It is NOT going to be stories from a preacher, philosophy from a guru or positive affirmations from a friend that are going to help you in times of trouble, testing, or trials…it is God’s WORD!  That should be our weapon of choice when facing each new day in the spiritual war we entered into when we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. (Ephesians 6:10-18)  When we crossed over from the dark side and now reside in His glorious light!

God’s Word…hidden in our heats and minds will be treasures we can glean from forever.   No one can take that away from you.  God forbid you become stranded, isolated or even imprisoned…but if you did…what resources could you pull from the depths of your soul to get you through that situation?  We do know the Holy Spirit can and will bring to our remembrance those verses, right for the moment in our time of need.  Whether that be our own need or sharing with a sister or brother, loved one or a friend in their time of distress.  God’s Word is to be treasured, hidden in our hearts and minds and used to get through this thing we call LIFE!  Time in the Word is NEVER a waste, nor is the effort it takes to memorize those verses…both are time and energy well spent!  Those verses that are the practical necessities to live life…trusting, dependent upon and clinging to God for the day to day.

The Book of Philippians is just one of the books that has many verses that I call “rubber meet the road verses”.  These are truths that if Christians would truly believe and live by…the church would be undeniable and flourishing!  I’d like to share a few of my favorites with you.   These are a few from my reserves that I go to, pray back and use regularly to remind myself…that He is in control of my life.

Philippians 1:6  – being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:21 – For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Philippian 2:3,4 – Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than himself.  Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interest of others.

Philippians 2:13 – for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

Philippians 3:10 – that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death…

Philippians 3: 13,14 – Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one this I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6,7 – Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:8 – Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of a good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.

Philippians 4:11 – Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:

Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:19 – And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

These few verses…cover many things we need to remember, stand upon and live out.  Christ in us and working through us…is what these verses remind us of.  He is our source of strength, He is our supplier, He is our courage, He is our resource, He is confidence and He is our contentment.  Apart from Him…we can do nothing…but with the power of His Holy Spirit, these few verses can mean the difference of victory or defeat in many situations.  Take time to hide these in your heart, pull them from the depths of your reserves when needed through out your day. Use them for yourself or pray them for those you know have need.  Let God’s Word replace those things that stumble and tear you down, bad things that have been allowed to fill your heart and mind.  Let God’s Word be YOUR go to Book when needing advice, encouragement, courage or when you are discontent.  God’s Word…hide it in YOUR heart today.

Selah.

 

 

 

Church…where are you?

Church….
Where are you?  Where have you gone?  Where is your heart?  Where is your love for one another? Do you know your flock? Do you know your brothers and sisters? Do you know their hearts? Do you know their struggles?  Do you know their needs? Do you pray for each other? Are you a safe place where people can share their hearts, their failures and trials they are going through?  Do you love each other enough to encourage, exhort and rebuke when needed?  Is love spoken, is compassion shown, is grace and forgiveness extended?
Where are you, Church?

Have you become distant, uncaring, unloving and superficial?  Who can you go to when you need prayer? Who can you go to when you have a need, whether spiritual, emotional or physical, in the body that you attend?  We know that our Heavenly Father is there for us always.  But He wants His church/His people to be a place of love, refuge, security and strength.  Not only for the lost…but for believers as well.  A place to be refreshed, encouraged, renewed and even restored!  When was the last time you felt genuinely loved, safe and unjudged?  When was the last time someone came up to you with a word of encouragement? When did you last give a word of encouragement to someone?  Do we love enough to see, do we love enough to pray, do we love enough to even care what’s going on in each others lives. Church, where are you?

If we truly love Him, we should also love one another….”deeply, from the heart”, as Paul states it.  Love is an action, not just a feeling, not just a word.  Love that comes from the Lord, true agape love, cares, encourages, builds up, it does not tear down, or belittle, or degrade.  You will know them by their love, Jesus said (John 13:35).  NLT says it this way…
Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.
Are we proving that to each other?  That our love for the Lord is genuine, and our love for each other is real?  Do we love without strings?  Do we love without judgement and being critical?  Apart from Him we can do nothing….we can’t truly love. Do our fellow believers feel more valued, accepted, cared for and love from the world than by their brothers and sisters in Christ?   Shame on us if they can not come to us in times of  need.  Shame on us if we don’t lift those that are struggling up in prayer and fight for them, when they cannot.  Shame on us when we don’t care enough to ask, “How are you really doing”?   Where are you, Church?

Many are falling, many are dying daily, many aren’t able to stand, let alone…fight the good fight!  Let us be willing to help them, our brothers and sisters, the young and the old.  Lord, help us, those who are called Your church, to just be willing to step up and step out. We know we can’t be there for everyone…so Father, show each of us those that we can minister to in our body.  The tired, the sick, the lonely. Help us to love, to care,  help us to be a safe place for each other.  Help us be forgiving, help us to build up, encourage, rebuke and seek to restore those in our church families.  Help us to invest in each others lives, to be real, to be transparent, to be genuine with one another.  Lord, let us have a heart for those that struggle.  Help each of us who are called the church, to be your hands and feet not only to the lost world, but to the weary, to the downtrodden, and to the prodicals among us.  Give us Your words, Your heart, Your eyes to see and most of all…the desire to be used by You to meet needs.  Where are you, Church?

Jesus, we know that You alone are our hope, You alone are our strength, and You alone are our help in times of trouble!  So let us direct those that need a touch…to reach out to You!  To cling to Your promises, to hold on to Your Word, and to seek Your face.  Let us always be directing them to You and encouraging them to stand on Your truth!  Use us Father, to be a blessing to others, to serve one another, to open our lives up to one another.  Show us those, whom we can share Your word with and pray for or with.  We are the church! Fill us afresh with Your Spirit!  Let us not grow weary, let us not grow complacent, let us not become blind, and self centered!  Let “Here I am Lord, use me” be our cry, to the body and to the world.  We need You Lord, more than ever, as the enemy seeks to kill, destroy and to devour our brothers and sisters! Trying to destroy lives, families, testimonies, and our church bodies.  We know that in the last days the love of many will wax cold. Let that not be me….let that not be you.  Church, where are you?

Selah. 💜

Grandchildren…

I love my grandchildren….or “grandchillin’s” as I like to call them!  What a joy and a blessing they are and have been in our lives!  When I think about the times we have enjoyed together, I am reflective on my impact on each of them.  I think of the choices I have made and how they have affected them growing up.  I must also consider the choices I make in the future and how I can make a lasting impact on their lives.  What will they remember about me?  We will all be remembered one way or the other…fondly or not so much.

Growing up…my grandparents were a safe haven for my sister, brothers and I.  That is what I remember feeling about them and being at their house…safe…especially when things got crazy at home.  We spent a lot of time at their house growing up.  They always had goodies that we all loved and would enjoy every time we were there…like sweet pickles and peanut clusters.  Yummy!   Grandma worked at the bakery and would always bring raisin bread or sweet rolls home, and she made a lemon meringue pie like no other!  Grandpa loved putting puzzles together and I liked helping him. One of the wacky things that I fondly remember grandpa doing when we would eat lunch (usually consisting of hot dogs, cottage cheese, and pickles) he would always slap whoever was sitting closest to him, on the cheek with a hotdog!  We would always forget and whoever got the dog smack, was totally surprised every time.  We would all laugh so hard as though it was something we had never seen before.  Something so silly, still makes me smile.  And YES…I may be guilty of doing that same thing a time or two.

As my own children were growing up, their grandparents were in their lives, but not necessarily hands on or intentionally present.  One thing I know they remember though, are the calls at 6am on the day of their birthdays, from grandma Lucy.  That was her trademark and I loved that about her.  I’m sure they also remember her love of mariachi music and the way she would sing along, as well.  Times with all the other grandparents and having special memories were few and/or far between. I always found that to be a sad choice they made and felt it was totally their loss, to not know my children and see the beautiful adults they have become.  Choices….they made.

So even long before my daughter and her husband began having children…I had decided that I wanted to have a “presence” in the lives of my grandchildren.  I wanted to be fun, a little wacky and do things that they would remember.  Making choices in their lives that will have a positive impact, and create fond, lasting memories in their hearts and minds.  Choices that we hopefully all look forward to making, in the lives of our children’s children…be they near or far away.   Choices…

Let’s consider how the choices we make can and will have an impact our grandchildren’s lives.  How do we make choices that are best for them and not for us?  Especially when we feel it is our “right” to spoil them, and to give them everything we weren’t able to give our own children.  The choices we make for them can either be good or can be bad, and these choices can be sending them many mixed messages. When we choose to interfere with the rules dad and mom have set up…in their household.  We are choosing to teach them that rules don’t matter and are made to be broken. When we don’t respect mom and dads wishes when it comes to gifts and treats…we are choosing to undermine their authority.  When we choose to do things “our way” with the chillins, instead of the ways their parents have laid out…are we choosing to cause confusion in their hearts and minds?

What are we teaching them?  Are we choosing to teach them lessons for life or how to live in the moment?  Teaching them to see the needs in others, to share, to give,  or teaching them to be self centered, always wanting more?  Are we choosing to teach them to seek the Lord when they are afraid and anxious?  Or by our example, are we teaching them to run to other things or to self medicate?  Little eyes and ears are watching, listening to the choices we make in our own lives, how we as parents and grandparents cope with life.  Those choices can and will influence the choices they will make in their own lives one day.  Choices…that will direct them to the Lord, or make them question His very existence.   Choices that will help them trust and grow in their relationship with God, or…cause them to doubt and waver in their faith.

We can also choose to teach them to enjoy the simple things in life, like going on a bug hunt or going to a pet store to be amazed at all the glorious colors, shapes and sizes of the tropical fish!  Or watching a meteor showering, on the back yard swing, at midnight (we got permission to stay up)!  Choose to teach them how to notice and see the beauty, glory and majesty of God’s glorious creation that is all around us…especially as the world around us grows uglier.  Those things don’t cost money…only time.  As for some of those times when we may give them money, making them spend half on someone they don’t know (not one of their friends), teaching them how to be a blessing to others.

As grandparents, (or Grammy and Grampy, as we like to be called) we can choose to be old and frumpy (no matter what our age), or we can choose to be wacky and fun!  Choosing to be vulnerable, to show them your heart, even your silly side rather than being uptight and stuffy!  Choosing to invest in the lives of our grandchildren only takes a moment…to share a word of encouragement, a Bible verse, crazy pictures…even if it is on Snap Chat or sending them a text.  Whether it is life lessons, wacky moments, memories of Sponge Bob monopoly, making shaved icees on a hot summer day, painting Christmas houses, having spa day at the Senior home, or taking cookies to the Firemen on 9/11…these have all been choices.  For me, choosing these things…has been blessing and a joy.  For all you grannas, nannas, pawpas, memaws and papas…cherish the moments (they fly by so fast) and I pray you too will…choose to be “present” and actively pursue making a difference in their lives of your grandchillin’s…you will never regret it!

Choices…

The choices we ourselves make, have a huge impact not only in our lives, but in the lives of others.  Just as the people we surround ourselves with, can also have an impact on us, by the choices they make in their lives.  When we trust the Lord Jesus with our lives, nothing is happenstance.  Things are orchestrated by His hand, things He allows in our lives.  The way we react to those things, be they difficult, joyous, extremely hard situations or circumstances….can determine many things.  Choosing to live and love comes from those observances of choices I have made, and choices that I have seen others make.  Some choices made with strong, faith filled conviction, and prayer which have had a positive impact.  While other choices have had not so good outcomes, some with life long implications and consequences that follow.  Choosing wisely, knowing that we will reap what we sow.  Let that be our guide…what consequences may follow our choices.

Each day we make we have opportunity to makes choices, to either be a blessing in some ones life or to ignore those who have need around us.  Someone who needs a smile, a hug, a kind word, a prayer or a treat. Choosing to stand up for those who can not stand up for themselves, or cave in, to just look away.  Choosing to love others the way He loves us, sacrificially, is just that…a choice.  Or have we chosen to become indifferent, even hardening our hearts, to a lost and dying world?  These are a just a few of the day to day choices we make that can have an impact on many.  I want to live a life that makes a difference in the lives of others.  I want my love to be in my actions, not just in word….even when it is hard.  Each day, sometimes moment by moment, we will make a choice on what that will or does look like  These choices we make…all come from with in and are all an attitude of the heart.  What choices will you make today?