My Heart to Yours

(I got this from a friend.)

A basketball in my hands is worth about $19.
A basketball in Michael Jordan’s hands is worth about $33 million.
It depends whose hands it’s in.

A baseball in my hands is worth about $6.
A baseball in Mark McGuire’s hands is worth $19 million.
It depends on whose hands it’s in.

A tennis racket is useless in my hands.
A tennis racket in Venus Williams’ hands is a championship winning racket.
It depends whose hands it’s in.

A rod in my hands will keep away a wild animal.
A rod in Moses’ hands will part the mighty sea.
It depends whose hands it’s in.

A sling shot in my hands is a kid’s toy
A sling shot in David’s hand is a mighty weapon.
It depends whose hands it’s in.

Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in my hands is a couple of fish sandwiches
Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in God’s hands will feed thousands.
It depends whose hands it’s in.

Nails in my hands might produce a birdhouse.
Nails in Jesus Christ’s hands will
produce salvation for the entire world.
It depends whose hands it’s in.

As you see now it depends whose hands it’s in.
So put your concerns, your worries, your fears, your hopes, your dreams,
your families and your relationships in God’s hands because…
It depends whose hands it’s in.

As part of my “Healthy Living Plan” for 2005, I have decided to read the Bible in it’s entirity. I found a really cool blog that posts daily bible readings, commentary to study more in depth and a place to discuss what you read that day. Go here if you would like to check it out.

Fairweather Mountain is one of the most spectacular mountains North America. Located off the southeast coast of Alaska, the mountain reaches 15,000 feet above sea level. Massive granite walls with deep ravines cut by cascading glaciers create an inspiring view. This view, however, can only be seen about twenty days a year when the weather is fair. The mountain is called Fairweather because you can only see the full glory and beauty of the mountain when the fog clears.

Author, John Eldredge, uses Fairweather Mountain as an illustration to describe how most people live their lives. “Twenty days a year-that sounds like my life. I think I see what‘s really going on about that often. The rest of the time, it feels like fog…I’d love to wake up each morning knowing exactly who I am and where God is taking me. Zeroed in on all my relationships, undaunted in my calling. It’s awesome when I do see. But for most of us, life is more like driving with a dirty windshield. I can make out the shapes ahead, and I think the light is green…The description of the Christian life shouted in the New Testament compared with the actual experience is embarrassing…we look a little foolish, like little children who’ve been held back a grade (John Eldredge, Waking the Dead,).

Much of our confusion results from a failure to understand the truth proclaimed in Proverbs 4:23 and other Scriptures that describe the significance of the heart.

Jesus declared that we should love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30). When describing the kingdom of God, Jesus revealed the things that come out of the heart defile a man (Matt. 15:16-20). He also taught, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Luke 12:34). The apostle Paul prayed for the saints that “the eyes of your heart may be enlightened” (Eph. 1:18). We find similar instruction in the Old Testament where we are commanded to trust the LORD with all our heart (Pvbs. 3:5) and to hide God’s word in our heart (Psalm 119:11). The prophet Samuel revealed that God does not evaluate people by outward appearance, but He looks at the heart (1Sam. 16:7). Perhaps, the most significant verse describing the treasure of the heart is found in Romans 10:9 which says a person may be saved by “believing in your heart” that God raised Jesus from the dead.

The heart is a mysterious spiritual reality that allows us to experience the fullness of life. It includes emotion, but the heart is not limited to emotion. According to Scripture, the heart can be grieved, troubled, broken, pierced, divided, and joyful. The heart is “the very core of life.” Our heart is the truest expression of who we really are.

Bottom Line: We must recognize that our heart is a treasure!

I just finished my Crunch Fat Burning Yoga video. All I can say is WOW! It was a great workout and I was pouring sweat. Yoga is all low impact and it is like a marathon and not a sprint. It is slow and safe. It is designed to improve muscle strength, balance, endurance and flexibility. You spend a lot of time focusing on your breathing. I think I will try to do it a couple of times per week to add some flavor to my exercise routine.

My baby turned three yesterday. It is amazing that three years have gone by. She is so much fun and keeps me on my toes continually. She is very spirited and full of life. I pray that I won’t do anything to break her spirit but just channel it appropriately. Being spirited and strong willed definitly has it challeges but it also has it benefits. She is already a leader and already wants to be in charge. (Right now I know a couple of friends who would be laughing and saying, “Well, Laura, the apple doesn’t fall to far from the tree”.) Ya Ya I know!
My only challenge is channelling that leadership in her for good! It is a process, I know but I pray for wisdom here daily. I ask God to parent her in spite of me. He will, I know!

2005. Wow an new year! I have evaluated my life and put some things into persepctive or some would say “refocused”. I have developed a “Healthy Living Plan”. I looked at several areas of my life such as physical, spiritual, emotional/mental, social, occupational, and intellectual and asked myself the question, “What do I need to do diiferent in this area”? That is how I came up with some new goals. SO, day four is going good. Only 361 left, right? I always have great intentions but lack the follow through. But this time I do have a few people to hold me accountable and I am hoping that will make the difference this time.

One thing I have been doing is the daily bible readings at www.oneyearbibleblog.com I am really enjoying it and taking notes a long the way. Oh wait, did I mention that I am doing this at 6:30 am? Yeah, for those of you who know me, know that this is miraculous in and of itself as I am NOT a morning person. I am determined to change that though. Someone ask me how that is going in about three months, ok?

Well, I hope you all have a blessed day. I am still thinking about “the matter of the heart” and hope to post some more regarding this. The heart is of the upmost importance. “It’s a matter of the heart”, right?

God bless!

“The church is to be known, above all else, as a community that radically and powerfully loves others. Sadly, this is not generally our reputation. Despite all the emphasis today on spiritual formation, church leaders rarely address what spiritual maturity looks like as it relates to emotional health, especially as it relates to how we love other people. The link between emotional and spiritual maturity is a large, unexplored area of discipleship. We desperately need, I believe, to reexamine the whole of Scripture—and the life of Christ in particular—in order to grasp the dynamics of this link.” ~ Peter Scazzero

This morning during my Bible reading time I read the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount. I read it first in the NIV translation and then read it again from The Message. Let me share with the The Message translation….

“”You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

“You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

“You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are–no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.

“You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.

“You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being “carefull,’ you find yourselves cared for.

“You’re blessed when you get your inside world–your mind and heart–put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

“You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.

“You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom.” - Matthew 5:3-10 The Message

As you read the beatitudes, what verse jumped out at you or really spoke to you and why do you think it did?

We Must Guard It!!!!

Guarding your heart is more about feeding your soul than avoiding sin. When our heart is strong, we are able to resist the temptations that cause many saints to stumble. The book of Proverbs identifies some things to avoid, but it also contains numerous instructions to pursue wisdom, grace, discipline, and life.

Guarding your heart includes seeking God, but we cannot ignore the instruction to minimize the trash from our lives. The verses that follow the command to guard our heart describe putting away perverse speech, looking straight ahead, and choosing good paths. These verses are similar to the New Testament challenge contained in Hebrews 12:1-2 “Therefore since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily entangles us, and run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith.” Both of these passages reveal the need to remove some things from our lives so that we can run the race of faith. The sinister trap of legalism ensnares those who make removal the goal of faith instead of removing sin for the purpose of going forward in faith.

Some trash is easy to identify. Moral corruption, perverse behavior, and evil acts that harm others stand in bold opposition to God’s will for your life. Other trash is more difficult to discern and to remove. A lack of faith, unwillingness to forgive, materialism, pride, and false belief systems can stop the flow of the “wellsprings of life” just like the easily identified sins. Trash, big or small, is still trash. We should embrace the challenge that the apostle Paul gave Timothy to purify himself so that he would be a “special instrument, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work” (2 Tim. 2:24).

Guarding your heart is critical to experiencing all that God desires for your life.

Nuclear submarines consist of some of the most amazing technology on the planet. These incredible military vessels can stay underwater for ninety days, but every ninety days the submarine must resurface to maintain proper alignment with the North Star. While underwater, the submarine’s navigational system is affected by the earth’s magnetic forces. Because these submarines carry missiles of mass destruction, they must pay close attention to keeping the navigational equipment aligned to the true reference point of the North Star (Chip Ingram, I Am With You Always, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 2002, p.217).

The nuclear submarine provides an excellent picture of our heart. Just as the submarine may have enough physical provisions like food, water, or fuel to survive, it cannot perform at its highest level or complete its mission without maintaining proper alignment with the true reference point. Your heart is the navigational equipment of your life. It must stay aligned with God. By guarding your heart, you stay locked on to God’s will and the “wellsprings of life.”

God’s Scattered Sheep

The sheep of God’s pasture are scattered;

Their shepherds have led them astray.

They’re weary, confused and battered,

And everyone goes his own way.

From pasture to pasture they wander,

In search of a place to find rest.

In darkness of night they ponder,

Just which of the pastures is best.

The shepherds are working for hire,

And the sheep are not being fed.

Their food has been tramped in the mire,

By those of whom they are led.

All you foolish shepherds, take heed,

And listen to God’s command.

Since you, on His flock do feed,

He’ll take them all out of your hand.

The chief Shepherd soon will appear

To gather His sheep to His breast,

Then only His voice they will hear,

In pastures green, they’ll find rest.

Maggie Brannon © copyright 1996