Guarding Your Heart

Guarding Your Heart While I was checking my email this morning I read a wonderful devotion by Gail Rodgers who writes for Retirement With A Purpose. Some of these thoughts are hers...some are mine. I loved her thought provoking little sermon. Are you overwhelmed with too many responsibilities? Most of us have too much to do and not enough time to pay attention to what's going on within our spirits. Poverbs 4:23 "Above all else, guard your heart for it is the well spring of life." How in the world do we do that? Most of us have things coming at us from every direction but God's Word does actually spell out some specific steps. 1. Pay attention to what is causing you to feel anxious in your thoughts. What has made your shoulders tense up? 2. Talk to God about it just as you would talk to your best friend. Make an actual request to Him for His help, strength, wisdom or insight. 3. Don't stop there. Find something to thank Him for. You will start to experience His peace and calm. He promises this... "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petittion, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6&7 -Heavenly Father, Thank you for Your understanding care of me. I know that sometime today anxiety will steal its way into my heart and mind but will you remind me to pay attention and talk You about it. Guard my heart and mind with Your peace. Help me to be ever thankful....in Jesus' name, amen.

Psalm 19:14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. I memorized this verse years ago because I needed to do so. Anyone who says they always say the right thing is a liar. I fail, you fail, and we all fail in this area of watching our words. Words are invisible to the eye yet they are the most powerful things we can use to encourage or disparage someone. Don't you love to have someone tell you how nice you look? Well, all of sudden our day is a little brighter and we feel pretty good about ourselves. Yet if someone says truthful or untruthful things that reveals a flaw we "feel" like dying. Someone's words should not have this kind of power over us but they do! I heard a preacher say that our words should pass through the gates of: is it true? is it needful? is it hurtful?. That sure lessens all my talking...how about you? The book of James in the New Testament also talks about the tongue being so powerful. He says it can set the world on fire or change the course of a ship. The tongue is a small part of our bodies yet it can destroy...or remember it can build! Sometimes women are encouraged to do little talking because they're of the female gender. Yet I would dare say if women took that to heart our churches, businesses, hospitals, schools and government would be in dire need for the work to get done. Men can rattle of the book of Timothy when they're afraid a woman might be right. If I as a woman use the words of my mouth to please God I don't have to worry about the hurt or destruction they cause to those around me. The last part of the Psalm says, "my Rock (strength) and my Redeemer." Forgiveness is always found but look close...my Strength wants to help me say the right things...good things, helpful things, loving things and blessings. If you've said hurtful words go make it right with man and God. Forgiveness is just a few words away!

What Did You Say?

Photo of Katie, me and Sara. I was sitting in the Detroit airport last night around 8:00 trying to read my Bible. My hubby has had another yearly Bible reading for our church so I feel compelled to read that and usually get a great blessing inspite of my reservations. Judges 12,13&14 were on the list to read...I'm a little ahead...and landed (no pun intended) on some truths that made me laugh out loud. In chapter 12 the Gileadites and Ephraimites were battling over land. When any of the Ephraimites wanted to cross certain land they had to prounounce the word 'Shibboleth' properly. Their accent would give their true identity. Chapter 13 brings Sampson onto the scene. His dad Manoah asked the Lord to come to him and share the words He had shared with his wife Zorah. It happened. They both were told of Sampson's birth and how he should be cared for as a future Nazarite serving his people. Then in chapter 14 Sampson is grown and his words bring him trouble. He is trying to impress the Philistines to whom he was trying to marry into. He winds up losing the lady and killing 30 men. You might want to read this chapter in particular, but Sampson was clearly trying to marry and impress people he had no business associating with. Now I said, "Jerral, how many times have your words reveal where your heart truly resides? How many times have you asked the Lord to reveal His plans for your future? How many times have you let your words lead you to people and place God does not want you to visit?" Isn't it quite easy to judge these characters without looking closely at our own lives?

Watch and Learn

Next Tuesday, April 2, my friend, Rebecca faces the third anniversary of her beautiful daughter's life here with us. Yes, Bethany is with our Lord but I know she is dearly missed.
I was thinking of Rebecca and how couragously she faced this tragedy and how I took strength in watching her faith. She and I walked, talked, cried and prayed through the weeks and months that followed and I was inspired to write the following song which I wholly dedicate to Rebecca.

VERSE Today my friend lost her child
She couldn't find her for awhile
But then she knew the Lord had called her home.
Today I watched this pain and loss
My words were few I felt so tossed;
But my friend shard her heart… she's not alone.

CHORUS: Watch and learn the pain will grow
Into a thing of beauty
Watch and learn and you will know
You'll never be the same
For God will use this life to change your world
Watch and learn.

VERSE On the cross God lost Son
He couldn't see Him for awhile
But God knew that His Son would soon be home.
Many watched this pain and loss
Their words were few they felt so tossed.
But my Friend shared His heart
And gave His life…I'm not alone.

Bridge: Life is hard but there is beauty in the ashes
Life is hard but winter turns to spring
Life is hard but darkness turns to light someday
If you watch and learn…If you…( repeat chorus)

Worship in Times of Trouble

Just as I'm beginning to write this the phone rang here at church. One of our families called for prayer because they have no heat. The pipes are frozen so the basement is flooded because the pipes burst. The husband lost one of his jobs, their phone won't ring in and their house is infested with lice!

I've had two other people in touch with me yesterday and today with family problems. One of them is struggling so painfully she cannot even talk about specifics.

Maybe it's the time of year but it seems there are many struggles right now.

This next Sunday I plan to gather our worship team together for prayer, fellowship and some study of what we do "worship." I bought a little book called Worship Celebration to trigger some interaction with our group and the first thing I read was about longing for God in times of trouble.

Psalm 63 finds David in the Desert of Judah separated from his beloved Jerusalem and the sanctuary of worship. It was his own son that betrayed him and set him on of course of hiding to save his life. David could have raised his fist to the Lord and distanced himself from His presence. David did not but notice what he did...

1. sought the Lord vs. 1

2. longed for God vs. 1

3. knew God loved him vs. 3

4. praised the Lord vs. 4 -5

5. found satisfaction in God vs. 5

6. thought about God during sleeplessness vs. 6

7. found protection in God vs. 7

8. found strength to go on in God. vs. 8

9. found confidence in God vs. 9-10

10. saw future joy in God vs. 11

We can know of God's presence when life is at its worst!!! Let me encourage you to invite the Lord into your difficult situation. Pray and seek the one who knows your struggle. Think on Him and you will not be disappointed.

You may ask what about you Jerral? Where have you struggled? What's your burden right now? Oh...I have them! We have family struggles too. Some health problems that may require future surgery as well. I've lost loved ones to death's bed and we are dealing with aging parents as I write. Life is a STRUGGLE...but along with Job we can say as he fell to the ground in worship, "Naked I came from my mother's womb and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away, may the name of the Lord be praised."

Shame on You!

Shame...I'm trying to get a handle on the meaning and what's good and bad about it. One definition I read says that shame is an intense feeling of anguish the make you wish you could evaporate. Sometimes we use words like guilt or condemnation but they are not the same meaning at all. Guilt comes from realizing you have done something wrong. Condemnation is being convicted for doing wrong.
Society doesn't have much shame anymore. Everything is acceptable and God help you if you say anything against a life-style or practice. The Apostle Paul wrote in I Corinthians 6:5 "I say this to shame you." The Corinthian church was taking other believers to court and they had tremendous moral laxity.
We should never feel shame because of something that has been done to us. Abuse and rape are examples of the something done to us that causes undue shame. To the abuser and rapist we must say "shame on you!"
God help me to be ashamed when I 1) put others before God 2) put anthing before God 3) misuse God's precious Name 4) do no prioritize His day 5) do not honor my parents 6) murder someone 7) commit adulty 8) steal 9) give a false testimony 10) want my neighbor's house, husband, work or anything that belongs to them. These Ten Commandments were given to us for good reason. They show us all Christ died to forgive and there is no room for shame when we deal with it before the cross of Christ.
Jesus took all our shame on Calvary's cross. Hebrews 12:2 say; "...For He Himself endured a cross and thought nothing of its shame because of the joy He know would follow his suffering..." Every time I fail/sin I can go back to that wonderful cross and find Jesus bearing my shame. He always forgives for He want to say "Joy on you."
If you have a shame burden, please do not carry it long...it is too heavy for you but not for Jesus. The way free up the load of sin is to leave it at the cross. As Jesus said, "Go and sin no more!"

Love Notes

As I was walking past our church library today I noticed a book called Love Notes. One of the quotes in it comes from Saint Augustine, "God loves each one of us, as if there was only one of us." That kind of love is what each and every one of us have looked for.
A couple of weeks ago I was teaching a ladies class at church and gave them one on my quotes. "Most women do everything possible to make themselves perfect for the love of an imperfect man when the one who loves us most, just the way we are, is perfect."
I love the thought that Jesus loves me just as I am. He nevers knocks on my door and ask me how I'm feeling about Him or if I've done anything that displeases Him in order to rate His love for me.
Sheila Walsh says in her book God Has A Dream For Your Life that a friend of hers asked her how she would feel if there were a movie made of her life for everyone to view? Not just the good stuff but every thought and every action she has ever had would be recorded for all to see. Her friend stated that God has seen her movie and loves her anyway.
God is love...

What are you afraid of?...

We all have fears to face. Some are just short temporary fears and some are over the long haul of life that debilitates and take the joy of living God wants us to have.

What are your fears? While looking over the internet for a list I found a list 13 1/2 pages long. I never new there were so many!!!

I used to be terribly afraid of heights. Just getting up on a ladder frightened me. So I did something drastic about it and climbed Mt. Katadin. Quite a few years ago I went with a college group and with God's help and friends encouragement I was with made it to the top. Now I can handle a ladder.

Throughout the Bible we can read about fear. We are to fear (respect) God only as believers. Abraham recognized in his travels that some cities had no fear of God. Moses wanted Israel to have a healthy respect for God. Since he had seen the lack of it in Egypt, Moses knew God's people needed to understand where sin would take them if they turned back. Job feared God and David said, "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."

In the New Testament Paul addresses Timothy who is a young pastor about fear. II Tim. 1:7 says, "God has not given us a spirit of fear but of peace, love and a sound mind." That made me think a little...about the love thing in this verse...what's going on with that?

I Cor. 13 says love is the greatest thing. How in the world can love help my fears? Well, I John 4:18 says, "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." God has given us the ability to have a perfect love...His love...and with that love we understand His care for us. Fear keeps us from living and reaching out...love drives us to do and be all God wants us to be. If we get closer to the Lord we embrace and understand all the more just how much He loves us and will take care of us. Fear of people, places and things are NOT necessary for the believer! Go live your life for Him!

Me? Emotional?

This coming Sunday I start a class for the Senior High young ladies and all other ladies interested. Most every year our church takes a few weeks to strengthen the families of our church and this year is proving to be no exception.
This year I was led to look at the emotions we women face. The eight week class is not going to begin to cover this vast topic but we'll look at some basics. What are good and bad emotions? How do we weed out the bad ones and embrace the good ones? We are also going to take a couple of weeks to look at the emotional abuse that is prevalent in many homes...sad to say Christian homes.
I experienced the emotion of sadness this last Wednesday as I said goodbye to my daughter Katie. We visited her over Christmas and I won't get to give her a hug until May when she comes home. God gives me His incredible grace to have her so far away.
Are you emotionally down after the Christmas holiday? I was...just something about the build up to Christmas and in one day...it's all over. Maybe you went on impulse and spent to much? There is always something to learn from our emotions...good or bad! God once again can give you His grace to deal with the after Christmas mess.
Stay tuned over the next few weeks and I'll give you my ideas (some I've learned the hard way) on how to deal with emotions.
The picture attached is of Katie and me on Christmas day!