Are All These Heart Patients?

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 few years ago, I found myself sitting in the waiting room of Presbyterian Hospital in downtown Dallas.  I was there for a two-day stress test, just to see that everything under the hood was in working order.  For me, the real stress test had occurred prior to my arrival at the hospital.  After facing the traffic between Dallas and Fort Worth, especially during early morning rush hour, I figured any test they threw at me would be pretty much a cakewalk! 

My appointment on Thursday morning was set for 10:30. I arrived 45 minutes early, just to be on the safe side.  When I entered the waiting room, there were already several people occupying chairs and sofas, reading magazines or talking to family members, trying to pass the time until their name was called to see the doctor or go for testing.

About 30 minutes into my wait, an older gentleman entered with a younger man I took to be his son.  After completing the preliminary paperwork, they took a seat across the room from me.  As the gentleman sat down, he blurted out in a rather loud and somewhat surprised voice, “Are these all heart patients?” 

At first, I thought the question somewhat rhetorical since we were all waiting to see a cardiologist or to take different types of tests for our hearts.  But the more I thought about his words and the more they resounded in my ears, the more I began to think this man had made a statement that had profound implications.

The prophet Samuel learned firsthand that God is a cardiologist at heart (no pun intended).  When asked to anoint the next king of Israel, Samuel saddles up his donkey and goes to Bethlehem to visit Jesse and to select one of his sons to rule Israel.  Upon his arrival, Samuel is taken by Jesse’s oldest son, Abinadab.  This young man is handsome, tall, well-built, and carries himself as a king should.  Samuel is ready to dump his horn of oil right then on Abinidab’s head when God calls him up short and teaches him a very important lesson; a lesson we need to hear again today!

1 Samuel 16:7 gives us God’s perspective on human nature: “But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

Talk about a stress test!  God wanted Samuel to know that outward appearances count for nothing; it is the inward attitude which God sees and the character of heart for which He searches.  Outwardly, Abinadab possessed all the desirable attributes, but inwardly something was lacking.  Abinidab’s baby brother, David, a young boy not so handsome, not so tall, not so well built, but one whose heart was right before the Lord possessed that something lacking in his older brother.

On that Thursday morning I learned this truth all over again.  The answer to that man’s question was, and is, a resounding yes.  All of us in the waiting room that day were heart patients.  In fact, as far as God is concerned all of us are heart patients.  God wants to change our hearts, to make them better, to cleanse them and restore them to a right relationship with Him.  This can only be done when we accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of our lives.

How long has it been since you had your heart examined?  The stresses and strains of every-day life leave all of us in need of a checkup on a regular basis.  God wants to look into your heart, to examine it, and make whole.  Won’t you make an appointment today to have your heart examined and repaired by the Great Physician?  You’ll be glad you did!

It's Soup

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ne Saturday, I had a hankering for some homemade vegetable soup.  Although I had never made vegetable soup before, I was pretty confident I had all the necessary ingredients.  A quick look in both my pantry and my refrigerator confirmed my belief.  Everything necessary to make soup was right at my fingertips.

I remember my mother made vegetable soup when it came time to clean out the refrigerator.  Leftover vegetables, meat, pasta, and home-canned tomatoes were all she needed to make an incredible meal.  She would bake a fresh cake of cornbread to go along with it.  Believe me; nothing was better on a cold winter’s evening than a bowl of that soup!

Before starting my own pot of soup, I checked in with headquarters back in North Carolina just to make sure I had everything down pat.  Mom was home and after she gave me a few pointers I gathered all the necessary ingredients.  From my refrigerator, I took some peas I had left over from an earlier meal.  In the freezer, I had a bag of mixed vegetables and some corn, and from the pantry I took the last jar of canned tomatoes and my only jar of tomato juice.

I dumped everything into my slow cooker.  First I placed the tomatoes and the juice, followed by all the vegetables, salt, pepper, and a dash of sugar.  I placed the lid on the cooker, and set it on the lowest setting so it would cook all day long.  Throughout the morning and afternoon hours, I ran several errands.  Each time I returned home, I was greeted with the wonderful aroma of homemade vegetable soup. 

Late in the afternoon I paid a visit to some very close friends.  When asked what I had been doing all day, I told them about my errands and the pot of soup that had been cooking since morning.  What followed was wonderful.  I was given some cubes of beef bouillon to add to the mixture so the soup would be just perfect. 

Afterwards, I headed home, stopping by the grocery store to pick up some cornbread mix to complete my dinner. When I arrived home, the soup was still going strong. I added the bouillon, prepared the cornbread batter according to the instructions, and waited until everything was ready.

When it came time to eat, I cut the cornbread, ladled some soup into my bowl, poured myself something to drink, grabbed a napkin, and sat down to the table for supper.  I was so excited over that bowl of soup! It tasted so good and hit the spot.  It was piping hot and all the flavors had blended together!  What started out as a bunch of individual leftovers and frozen bits of vegetables had turned into a truly wonderful meal.

While eating, I couldn’t help but think of my mom’s favorite passage of scripture.   Romans 8:28 reads, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” The soup in my bowl was a tangible representation of this passage.  By themselves, none of the items in the soup seemed very important or useful.  The few bits of vegetables, the small amount of macaroni noodles, and the two small bouillon cubes, didn’t look like much by themselves. In fact, I couldn’t have done much with them individually.  However, when combined with the tomatoes, they made for a very hearty and healthy meal.  What I normally would have thrown out, I was able to turn into something I could eat and draw strength from.

This is exactly the way God works in our lives.  Things that seem unimportant, things that we would like to throw away, and things that seemingly have no value are just the things God uses to enrich our lives and teach us wonderful lessons about Himself.  Sometimes God takes situations that have proven painful in the past.  Sometimes He uses the leftover portions of life that others believe should be thrown away.  He uses small handfuls of pain, disappointment, and grief that we have placed on the back shelf of our lives.  He mixes these all together with the right amounts of His love, His grace, His forgiveness, and His mercy and He makes something wonderful out of them.  It may take a while and He may apply heat and pressure but in the end everything melds together to produce in us a wonderful result we could not have experienced otherwise.

Today, it may seem that your life is filled with leftovers.  You’re not sure what to do with them and you don’t even know how they can be used for God’s glory.  Let me reassure you that God can take anything, no matter how insignificant or leftover we consider it to be, and He can turn that into the most wonderful thing in your life.  His purpose is always to bring us into a closer relationship with Him. 

Won’t you let God work in your life?  Slowly but surely, He will take all the leftovers of and make something wonderful out of them.  Instead of seeing a bunch of scraps and wasted items, God will look at your life and say, “It’s soup!”  When this happens, you will be a source of encouragement, strength, and spiritual nourishment for those around you.  Hmm, I’m getting hungry; I think it’s time for another bowl of soup!  Have a great day!

Safely Sleep

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ur home on Main Street was a wonderful place to grow up.  We had great neighbors all around, there were plenty of other kids to play with and it seemed we never lacked for anything to do.  Mom would step out onto our back porch more than once to call us in, especially during the summer months when school was out.  Finally, as the last remnants of sunset gave way to the dark pall of night, we would head home for baths, and bed.

Each night before closing the house for the night, mom or dad would follow the same routine.  All the lights in the house were turned off, the thermostats were checked to make sure we were cool or toasty, mom and dad would stop by our rooms to kiss us good night, and the doors, both front and back, were firmly shut and the security latches fastened.

Peace then rained in our home and we all settle down for a good night’s sleep. I never felt afraid, nervous, or worried about anything happening to our family.  Mom and dad were there, they had secured the house, and all was well with the world.

Today it is quite different. I go through the same routine each night as my parents did but the last thing I do is to make sure the security system is armed and all the outside lights are on.  Then, I hop into bed and Trixie, my cat, takes settles into one of her many favorite spots, and we go to sleep.

Isn’t it funny how we place so much confidence in locks and security systems?  David, the shepherd boy who became king, had no such options. Instead, as a shepherd, he looked to God for his safety and security.  He records this for us in Psalm 4:8 “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.”

There are three great truths tucked neatly away in David’s words.  First, notice his confidence in the Lord.  Despite weather, despite intruders who would harm the sheep or try to steal them, despite the lion and the bear that could easily strike the flock, David says confidently that he will lie down and sleep.

Then notice how David plans to sleep.  He will lie down in peace and sleep in safety.  No cares, no worries, no things going bump in the middle of the night, just deep, peaceful, and restful sleep. David knows full well that God is on watch, that God will protect him and let no harm come to him.

Lastly, let us take notice of why David will sleep in peace.  David categorically states that he can and will sleep in peace and safety because the Lord, and he alone, will make this happen. In fact, David uses the word, dwell, to demonstrate his faith and confidence in God’s provision. To dwell means to remain constantly in that state. In essence David is saying I will lie down and sleep in peace and safety because Lord you, and no one else, constantly stand watch over me, be it day or night.

Tonight, I will make the rounds just as I am sure my mom and dad will make the rounds at their home.  Before I turn out the light and settle in, I will remind myself that despite the locks, despite the outside lights, and despite the security system, I will sleep in peace and security because God alone will stand watch over me, just as he has every night of my life!  Do you know this security today?

A Slice of Humble Pie

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essons in humility are not fun and they never come at a convenient time in life!  The instruments used to teach these little gems are varied.  In fact, anything and anyone can be used to bring you to your knees.  Who among us hasn’t had the unpleasant experience of apologizing to someone because we wronged them or because we used them as a sounding board to air our frustrations even though they did nothing to cause our anger? 

During one Christmas holiday vacation, however, my lesson in humility came at the hands of my family’s dishwasher.  Yes, you read that correctly, the dishwasher, and oh what a lesson I learned!  Now you may be wondering how on earth a dishwasher could teach a lesson in humility.  Well, I’ll let you in on my lesson, a lesson about serving with humility that as a Christian, I should have learned by now.

When I am home, I like to help out around the house.  I vacuum, clean the kitchen, wash an occasional load of laundry, and run errands.  The thing is, I sometimes forget that I am in North Carolina instead of in Texas and that I am staying in my parents’ home and not am not in Fort Worth. 

One evening after supper, I cleaned the kitchen.  The first order of business was to empty the dishwasher so I could place our dirty dishes inside to be cleaned.  I began the process of placing the clean dishes back into the cabinets and drawers. For the most part, I knew where everything went.  However, when I encountered a pot or a utensil about which I was a little unsure, I “guesstimated” its placement.  This means that I looked around for a place that looked good and put the item away.  In no time, I had cleaned the dishwasher, loaded it again, finished the kitchen and joined my parents in the den to watch television.

The next morning, however, it was time for my humility lesson.  Unknown to me, my mom had been in the kitchen looking for a few things I had put away.  She had some things sitting on the counter that I knew I had put away the evening before.  When I asked about them she said I had misplaced them and she had had a difficult time trying to find them.  She continued by suggesting that I ask her when I was uncertain about putting something away.

At first, I was just a little upset.  I mean, after all, I had cleaned the kitchen and I had put away the dishes.  I had helped her out and I had given her an opportunity to relax and to rest.  How dare her point out my mistakes!!  How about all the dishes I had put away correctly?  What about them? Didn’t she care? Wasn’t she thankful?

As you can see, my focus was not on my mom; it was on myself. I really didn’t seem to care that I had not helped her out as much as I thought.  What I had done was make her task more difficult because she had to go behind me, discover my hiding places, and set everything back the way it was supposed to be.  I should have done things the way she wanted them done instead of how I thought they should be done.  This was the humility lesson I learned.

We’ve all been here, haven’t we?  We want people to appreciate what we’ve done for them and we want them to approve our work no matter what!  However, this is not the mark of servanthood that Jesus commanded in John 13:15-17, “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”

The example Jesus is speaking of is the washing of the disciples’ feet at the Last Supper.  All twelve, including Judas Iscariot, were in that room when Jesus removed his outer garment, wrapped a towel around his waist, got on his hands and knees, and washed their dirty feet.  He washed each of the disciples’ feet but no one washed his!  When he finished, he told the disciples to follow his example.  He underscored the fact that no servant was greater than his master and if the master had washed feet, they should do the same in keeping with his example.  The result was blessings for them if they obeyed what Christ had commanded and if they did it in a manner consistent with his example.

This is the lesson of humility.  We are to do things in a manner that pleases God and God alone.  The one who is serving, the Christian, must do things according to the wishes of the one being served, God.  The servant cannot do things his way.  His will cannot enter into the process at all.  He is a servant, which means he follows and obeys the commands of the Lord, Jesus Christ.  Washing feet is not always fun but it is a good reminder that our will is not our own; we must seek to God’s will as we serve others.

This is the lesson Jesus expects us to learn and to follow.  It is a lesson we learn daily and sometimes on a moment-by-moment basis. True service for God means we do things the way He wants them done regardless of the circumstances, regardless of the person, and regardless of how we feel about the situation.  We don’t get it our way; we get it His way. Realizing this should drive us to our knees in humility before God’s throne.  Have you had a slice of humble pie today?

And Jesus Had Not Joined Them

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here was he?  He promised he would be there and that he would be there on time.  It wasn’t like Jason to be late.  In fact, he was the one who insisted on being everywhere fifteen minutes early.  Sarah remembered the time they had shown up at the corner market at 5:45 in the morning just so Jason could have his pick of the fresh strawberries.  It wasn’t like the strawberries would start to sour at 6:00, but that was Jason--no excuses,always on time.

So what could be the hold up?  Sarah promised herself there was some logical explanation and that he wouldn’t be more than five or ten minutes late at the most.  So you can imagine her shock when, after a full hour, no Jason.  She began to pace back and forth, what could be keeping him.  On at least five occasions she picked up the phone to call the local authorities but she changed her mind at the last second.

They had arranged to have dinner at their local restaurant and had made a reservation for 7:30.  But it was now 9:00 and Jason had not joined her.  Sarah was beside herself and just as she rose to leave she saw him coming through the door.  He looked absolutely fine, not a hair out of place and not one wrinkle in his suit.  And to beat it all he was smiling!  That upset her all the more but when he got to her, she was simply so overjoyed to see him that all the fear and worry disappeared.

Now, Sarah and Jason are obviously fictitious characters and yet their story could have happened just yesterday, to any one of us.  None of us like to be left wondering if someone we care for is injured or if some circumstance has caused them to delay their promised arrival.  Jesus’ disciples were no different and on the Sea of Galilee one stormy evening, they experienced in the real what was only imaginary in the story of Jason and Sarah.

In John 6:17 we read these words, “By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them.”  What dejection there is in these words. The disciples had just spent the most miraculous afternoon with Jesus.  They had seen him take five loaves and two fish and feed over five thousand people until they were completely stuffed.  There were 12 baskets of leftovers and everyone knew they had been in the presence of the Messiah.

Now, they found themselves all alone on the Sea of Galilee with the darkness closing in all around them.  Hour after hour they had looked for and hoped to see their Master but alas, he had not come.  Had something happened to him?  Had some unforeseen circumstance prevented him from coming?  All these uncertainties were only compounded by the growing darkness.

The sea of life is much the same.  How often do we strain at the bough of our boat looking for Jesus only to find darkness?  How often do we seek shelter from the storm or try to hide ourselves from the blustering winds of trials only to find the waves growing stronger and the gusts gaining in strength?  It seems it is dark and that Jesus will not join us.

But just when we are at our wits’ end, just when we are ready to give up, we hear his voice saying, “It is I be not afraid!”  Jesus, our master always comes to us.  He promised he would never leave us nor forsake us and even though we think he delays in coming to our rescue, we find that he is always on time.  No matter how dark it is around you, rest assured that Jesus loves you and will join you right where you are just when you need him most.

Hanging By A Thread

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n my study, just next to my window, hangs a replica of a hot air balloon I purchased a several years ago.  When my mom and dad came out to Fort Worth to help me move into my house, mom got up on the stepladder and hung the balloon.  Her touch and opinion of where to place that balloon made all the difference in the world and ensured success!

When I opened the box and examined all the components, I found a long piece of thick transparent string.  It resembled fishing line and provided the means of hanging the balloon from the ceiling.  I went to one of the local home supply superstores in the area and purchased a hook, returned home.  When mom finished, the balloon hung from the hook and, unless you observed very closely, it seemed as if the balloon was suspended in thin air.

Even now, whenever I enter my room, before I go to sleep, or in the morning when I wake up, I see that balloon.  Although it appears to float in mid air, I know it is hanging by a mere thread.  That thread, however, is strong enough to support the balloon’s weight, supporting and upholding it on constant and consistent basis.

The story of Job is familiar to most people, even if they are unfamiliar with the rest of the Scriptures.  Whenever we are having a bad day, whenever Murphy’s Law is in effect, or when everything seems to be stacked against us, we usually compare our plight with that of Job.  I am convinced, however, that we have no idea what Job endured and I am certainly not taking a number and waiting in line to find out!

It should come as no surprise to us that Job’s very life hung by a mere thread.  Most people would agree with that statement noting that Job’s faith in God was the very thread that kept him and sustained him during his trial.  While I agree that Job had incredible faith, I want to explore the possibility that Job’s faith was not the thread that held him.

In Job 1:12 and 2:6 we read the following statements, “The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger." Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD. The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life."

God, Himself, makes both of these statement in response to Satan’s accusation that God’s protection and blessing in Job’s life are the sole reasons Job follows the Lord.  His argument is that were those blessings and the protection lifted, Job would curse God to His face and no long worship Him.  Two words must jump out at us from God’s response.  The words occur in both verses.  Can you find them?  Can you find the thread that held and supported Job?  Yes!  The words are “Very well.”

In other words, God said to Satan, “Go ahead, do your worst, my servant will not fail me.” So it was not Job’s faith in God that sustained him; it was God’s faith in Job.  The words very well connect Job to His God and relate the faith God placed in Job.

Wherever you are today in your walk with the Lord, I pray you will take encouragement from this passage of scripture.  Sometimes life gets crazy; it seems everything is against us and we are hanging by a mere thread.  But if that thread is God, we have all we need to cling to.  That thread is all the strength we need and will support and sustain us both constantly and consistently.  It will never break, it will never come untied, and it will never let us go.  Hanging by a thread is sometimes the only place we experience the sustaining power of our God.  Are you hanging confidently by a thread today?

House Inspection

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n August 9, 2006, I met with a builder and did a walkthrough of the new house I was going to move into the following week.  That walkthrough represented the culmination of the building process and the beginning of transferring the property from the builder to me.

The purpose of the meeting was a final inspection.  I opened all the doors, pushed all the buttons, flipped all the switches, looked in every nook and cranny, and inspected every inch of the place in order to find flaws and things that needed to be repaired.  I was told “not to be kind” but to mark everything that concerned me.

Building a house was the most humbling experience of my life.  To think, that God would allow me to build a home and to see the care and love that everyone involved in this process showered upon me often moved me to tears.

Like most people involved in this process, I visited the site on a daily basis.  My parents received a nail-by-nail report of the construction.  They didn’t see the house in the real, only pictures I e-mailed, but they knew it as well, if not better, than I did.  Yet, throughout all this, the words of Solomon from Psalm 127 continued to echo in my mind.  Solomon reminds us of this great truth in Psalm 127:1, “Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it…”

If this is true of a house, imagine how much more true it is of a life.  Unless God is the builder of our lives, we labor in vain to build one.  Only He truly knows us.  Only He knows what we can stand, what we can face, how strong and how weak we actually are.  He knows these things because He has made us, the Scriptures are very clear on that point. 

When we allow God to really inspect our lives, to find and locate all the areas of concern and ones that can cause problems, we acknowledge Him as the master builder.  He alone knows how to build our lives so that they bring glory and honor to Him.  His plans for us are perfect and even though we don’t always understand them, they always work to produce good in our lives, good that God will use to make us stronger and better than we would ever be on our own.

So, as my inspection moved forward, I was reminded that God inspects my life every day.  He looks deep into my heart and finds all types of things that will cause problems and disasters if they are not repaired.  Are you ready for your house to be inspected today?

It's Time To Hit The Scales

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he battle of the bulge—not the one from history but the one around my waist—is still being waged!  Every time I visit the doctor for a checkup, I’m reminded just how difficult it is to win not only the battle, but the war.   The scales are a continual enemy, exposing my weaknesses and my areas of vulnerability.  Every piece of pie, every bowl of ice cream, every candy bar, and every morsel of chocolate, no matter how far in the past, is revealed by the scales.

What’s more, no two scales weigh the same.  Have you ever noticed this?  One set of scales shows my weight to be within “acceptable” (acceptable by me that is) norms.  Another tells me I’m a little lighter than I thought (how rare is this?) and yet another displays a number that is “slightly” larger than I anticipated (I never reuse these scales because they have factory defects!!).  The doctor’s scales fall into this last category.  No matter how good I’ve been, no matter if my scales say that I’ve maintained proper weight, the doctor’s scales always show I weigh more than I think!

Doesn’t anyone make an honest set of scales?  Isn’t there any way I can get a proper, consistent reading?  Of course, the downside to this question is that these scales, if they exist at all, would probably demonstrate that I could stand to drop a few more pounds.  I doubt seriously if they would indicate I weigh too little.  Like the scales in the first paragraph, these “perfect” scales would inevitably point out every grain of sugar I’ve eaten in the past 53 years!

The idea of weights and balances plays a very prominent role in the Scriptures. On more than one occasion, God says plainly and forthrightly that He detests dishonest weights, scales, and balances.  These scales, however, reflect the dishonesty in the hearts and lives of those who use them to further their own interests.  God never weighs our actions; He weighs our intentions, a totally different set of standards!

Job understood and appreciated God’s standards of measure.  During the most difficult trial of his life, Job appeals to God’s just standards and His perfect scales.  In chapter 31, Job answers some of his friends who have come to “comfort” him during this difficult moment.  In their conversations with him, however, they do more accusing than comforting, more questioning than understanding, and they are not very sympathetic.

But Job patiently listens to them and then he responds.  Chapter 31 is a wonderful chapter, filled with the standards that Job uses to weigh his actions and his life.  However, Job 31:6 reveals the true manner in which Job wanted his life to be weighed and it provides good advice and guidance for us today as we also place our lives on God’s scales.  Job 31:6 reads, “Let Him weigh me with accurate scales, and let God know my integrity.”

Job’s statement is both comforting and sobering at the same time.  We find great comfort in the fact that God’s scales are accurate.  They are not skewed, unfair, and they have not been tampered with.  When God weighs something in His balance, the results are always accurate, faire, and just.  This should also humble us and give us a sober understanding of our own lives in relation to God.  Notice that Job wants God—not his friends—to know his integrity.  This is all that matters.  Our lives and our hearts are an open book before God.  He sees and knows everything about us, whether we believe He does or not.  We are all weighed on God’s scales and He knows our integrity, He knows our desires, He knows our thoughts, and He knows our intentions.

So, as Christians and followers of Christ, we must ask ourselves how long it has been since we’ve been accurately weighed.  Are you ready to hit the scales today?

Anatomy of the Heart

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n March, I paid my semi-annual visit to the cardiologist.  It is always a good thing to have a look under the hood just to make sure the fuel pump is working properly and is in top notch condition.  On both accounts, I passed the test.  The pump is going strong and all indications are that no changes need to be made in its daily maintenance.

While waiting for the doctor, I read a book and, as I always do, I looked over the examination room with a fine-tooth comb.  I had been in this room several times over the last 19 years but I hadn’t actually been assigned this room in quite some time.

The room was not markedly different from the others.  The same carpet was on the floor, the same wallpaper decorated the space, and the cabinets and the examination table were in the same location as the other rooms.  However, some of the wall decorations were different and in this particular room something caught my eye.

On the wall, right in front of me hung a huge framed poster entitled Anatomy of the Heart.  It came as no shock that I would find this in a cardiologist office and I had seen the same poster in one of the other rooms but that poster made me stop and think for more than a few minutes.

The detail was striking.  Every inch of the organ was displayed, marked, and named.  No part was left uncovered.  Instead, it had been thoroughly examined, studied, labeled, and displayed for everyone to see and learn from.

The words of Jeremiah 17:9-10 immediately came to mind, “The heart is hopelessly dark and deceitful, a puzzle that no one can figure out. But I, God, search the heart and examine the mind. I get to the heart of the human. I get to the root of things. I treat them as they really are, not as they pretend to be."

You want to talk about looking under the hood?  God leaves nothing uncovered, does He?  The heart in scripture, always describes the very essence of who we are.  The heart is the seat of all emotion and motives and is the seat of all that we do, think, and say.  At first wash, this appears to be a very negative passage.  God describes in accurate detail the condition of the human heart and He is exactly right.  Our hearts are deceitful and dark.  We need look no further than the front page of the daily newspaper to see this truth.

However, God does not leave us there.  God locates the dark areas of our lives, reveals them, and then deals with them.  He brings to our attention anything that keeps us from being what He wants us to be and He makes sure we are aware of our failures.  But He also provides a solution to every heart problem we have.  Our Father is the ultimate cardiologist, examining every nook and cranny of our hearts to make sure they are cleaned and running in top-notch condition.

When was the last time you paid a visit to the Heavenly Cardiologist?  Don’t you think it’s time you did?  Let Him examine your heart and repair it.  Only He knows where to look and only He knows how to repair it.  Won’t you make an appointment today?

A Lasting Impression

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08 East Main Street was my address growing up.  Everything that mattered happened here and some of the greatest lessons in my life I learned in our house or in our back yard.  Like all the other houses on Main Street, we had a driveway.  Our driveway was a little different than most others because it sloped, creating a nice hill from street level at the top to our garage at the bottom.  Many Saturday afternoons found my friends and me riding bikes, skateboards, or anything else we could find down that hill. 

Just outside and to the left of our garage was a drain.  This drain caught water cascading down the hill or off the garage and ferried it to a ditch which separated our back yard from our neighbors.  One day, I came out of the house to find my dad with a wheelbarrow, a shovel, and some concrete mix working on that drain.  The garage had been torn down and daddy decided to close up that drain with cement.  When I arrived, he was almost finished with the last shovel full.  He smoothed it out and then he invited my brother and me to put our hands into the wet cement and write our initials and our birth dates.  He explained that when the cement dried our hand prints, initials, and birth dates would leave a lasting impression in the cement so everyone would know exactly who had been there.

I remember thinking what a neat idea that was!  As I grew older, I paid less and less attention to that piece of cement but every time I saw it I remembered that day and the lesson I had learned.  Remembering the past is important especially when we learn from our experiences and use that knowledge to remind us of how we should act in the future.  This was something the Old Testament writers understood very well and it is a lesson God wanted Israel’s kings to remember for all time.

In Deuteronomy 17:18-20 we read “When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the priests, who are Levites.  It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the LORD his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees and not consider himself better than his brothers and turn from the law to the right or to the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel.”

These requirements were written specifically for the king.  At this point Israel had no king but God knew the people and He knew that one day they would want a king to rule over them.  God wanted His words and commands to make a lasting impression on the king and the Lord also wanted the king to put these laws into practice on a daily basis.  The king was to take the law and make a copy for himself.  In essence, he was pressing this onto parchment and into his mind as an everlasting marker of what God commanded.  The king was to remember God’s law and was not to think of himself more highly than his people because both the king and his people were subject to the same law and the same God.

God wants to make a lasting impression in our lives.  He wants us to take His word with us everywhere we go and to apply it on a daily basis.  We have copies of His word all around us.  There are probably several copies of it in your home or perhaps you have a copy with you at your place of work.  It is this word that reminds us and teaches us about our Heavenly Father.  We are to read it and to share it with others thereby making a lasting impression in their lives as well.

When my mom and dad moved from Main Street, they took that piece of concrete with them.  They still have it, and although the years have worn it and it is now in a few pieces, those hand prints, initials, and birthdates are still visible.  Won’t you let God make a lasting impression in your life today?       

Bumper Stickers

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 few days ago I was making my way from Fort Worth to Arlington, trying to arrive a little early to the office to attend to some much-neglected paperwork.  As I gingerly navigated the traffic on Interstate 20, the day seemed to be progressing normally.  No accidents, no traffic jams, even the parking lot at the local doughnut shop was free of tangles!  Will miracles never cease?

In any event, as I continued my journey down Cooper Street toward UTA a car passed me.  I don’t remember the color or the make of the car.  I couldn’t tell you who was driving it and I don’t remember if the vehicle was remotely attractive.  The only thing I remember is the sticker proudly displayed on its bumper.  The message was simple yet convicting.  It simply asked, “Have you spent time with God today?” 

Now there is a question!  In the middle of traffic, on my way to hectic schedules, shuffled papers, and moving bodies, I was confronted with the most important question of the day.  Sadly, my answer to that question was no.  In my hurry to get moving and start my day, I had neglected the most important step, time alone with God.

The Scriptures are full of examples where great men and women of God spent time alone with Him in prayer.   But there is perhaps no greater example of this than Jesus himself.  In Luke 6:12 we find this example, “One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.”

Two elements of our walk with God are to be found in this simple statement.  First, we must get alone to talk to and listen to God.  Jesus took no one with him; he went away from everyone and everything.  There was to be nothing between him and his father, no interruptions, no knocks at the door, no conversation with anyone else, no guests of any kind, invited or uninvited.  This time was God’s time, a time for talking with God and for listening to Him.

Second, Jesus spent the entire night in prayer.  The conversation lasted hours, not minutes.  He took everything to God and spoke to Him in very intimate terms.  There was open communication, peace, joy, and wonderful communion.  It was a time of complete fellowship, fellowship that is hard to leave, fellowship that makes the rest of our existence mundane!

And this is something we all can and must do.  We must spend time alone with our Heavenly Father.  We must listen to His voice and we must spend time, quality time, in His presence.  Nothing else matters until we have spent time alone, in prayer and in listening to God.

Isn’t it amazing what a little bumper sticker can do?  Is the bumper sticker of your life encouraging others to spend time with God?  Is your witness such that it stands out in the crowd and brings attention, not to you, but only to your Heavenly Father?  Have you spent time with God today?  What will your answer be?

All She Had To Live On

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ach month I perform the same task.  I sit down in front of my computer, open my banking program, and begin the long, arduous, and depressing task of paying my bills for the month ahead. The university pays me on a monthly basis so once I have entered the amount of my paycheck and deducted all the bills and obligations for the month; I am left with a small balance.  I figure if the Lord can divide 5 loaves and 2 fish among 5000 people, He can take what is left over, divide it by 30, and make sure all my needs are met.  He has never disappointed me.

I sit back and stare at the remaining balance for a few minutes and realize that is all I have to live on for the coming month and I realize I need to make good decisions on how that money will be spent.  I am sure you can identify with me as you navigate the treacherous waters of your own monthly bills.  But isn’t it amazing how God always provides just what we need, when we need it?  He is always on time and is always faithful, making sure all our needs are met.

In his gospel, Luke records the story of a woman who also had budgetary challenges.  Now we don’t know her monthly income, we aren’t party to her financial obligations, but we are, like the disciples who were with Jesus on that day, witnesses to the decision she made concerning her livelihood.

In Luke 21:4 we read these few words: “All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” The scene was very familiar; people were placing offerings for the temple into a large coffer.  As they passed by they placed their coins into the receptacle.  Some put in much, some put little, but this woman put in everything she had.

This story has been the subject of many sermons, Sunday school lessons, and Bible studies.  She has been held up as the prime example of giving to God and we have all been encouraged to give just a little bit more of our money to further God’s work.  But let’s take a look at the last few words of this passage.  Notice the passage says this woman did two incredible things.  First, she gave out of her poverty; not out of her wealth.  This is the exact opposite of what is customary.  We usually sit down and write our tithe based on our incoming funds.  This woman, however, had nothing coming in; she had everything going out.

Second, Jesus makes it clear that she had nothing else to live on.  She gave all that she had to live on which means that from the moment the coins entered the coffer, she was totally and utterly dependent on God to provide for her.  She had no savings, no money left over after bills, no hidden stash of cash.  All she had, all her buying power, all her clothing, all her groceries, all her shelter, all her financial obligations, were contained in that small offering.  In essence, she trusted God to divide nothing by the remainder of her days and to provide all her needs.  You know what, I have a feeling God did exactly that.

A Word of Warning

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t happens every Wednesday evening promptly at 6:00 p.m.  No matter where I am in the house, or even if I am not at home, the weather radio in my living room sounds and alarm followed by an explanation that the weather service is conducting its weekly test to make sure everything is in working order.  I have grown accustomed to the sound and sometimes, unless I am really listening for it, I miss the test altogether.

A few weekends ago, however, the alarm sounded on at least three occasions as severe thunderstorms passed through our area bringing with them much-needed rain but unwanted wind and hail.  Early Saturday morning, at approximately 2:00 a.m. the alarm sounded. It pierced the silence and set my nerves somewhat on edge.  A few of the surrounding counties were being warned of severe weather in the area.  My county was mentioned and the voice coming over the airwaves indicated that heavy rain and light hail would be in our area within the half hour.

As if on cue, thirty minutes later the wind grew stronger, the rain fell in torrents, and the clicking sound of ice pellets against my window indicated that hail had also joined the party. The alert instructed us to remain in our houses and if conditions worsened, to seek shelter in the center of the house away from windows.  The wind did not grow that strong and the entire storm passed by in just under forty-five minutes.

Here in Texas, the weather is very uncertain.  It can be gorgeous one minute and life-threatening the next, you‘re just never sure what the next fifteen minutes will hold weather wise.  That’s why I invested in a weather radio so I could be aware of any potential weather threats and could take appropriate action in order to remain safe and sound.

The prophet Ezekiel knew about sounding the alarm in order to alert people to God’s will and commands.  He understood that God had called him to serve as a watchman and to make sure the Children of Israel understood the dangers that surrounded them and the need to heed God’s warning.

In Ezekiel 3:17 we read God’s conversation with Ezekiel, “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.”  Ezekiel’s role was clear.  He was to serve as God’s spokesman, to make sure the people of his day understood God’s directives and commands and to communicate them so the people could live in obedience with God’s commands.

So, what does this have to do with us today?  Actually, it has a lot to do with us?  As Christians, we are to set an example for those around us.  We are to share the good news of Jesus Christ on a daily basis, not only by what we say but also by what we do.  People looked to Ezekiel, to the watchman, for God’s direction.  And today, people look at us to see if we are consistently following God and serving as an example for him.  Are you serving as a good watchman on the wall of life today?

Boy Am I Thirsty

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ike most people, I love a good pizza, and the more toppings, the better.  I especially love pepperoni and, if I am not careful, will over indulge.  It’s just so good that unless I apply the culinary brakes, I will eat my fill and then some.

One weekend I my neighbors invited me to dinner and we had homemade pizza!  It had the works and I had to pace myself or I would have eaten the entire thing without any assistance.  The meal was great but later on that evening, I found myself making several trips to the kitchen searching for a glass of water.  For those pizza aficionados out there, you understand my search for water.  While pizza is a wonderful meal, it leaves you parched and thirsty.  It’s all that salt that makes your body crave water.

David was no stranger to thirst.  In fact, the Psalms speak about his longing for water to ease the burning dryness of his body.  However, David also addresses another type of thirst, a thirst of the soul for God.  Far beyond the need for water, David understands the soul’s need for God and the necessity of drinking from the fountain of His word.

In Psalm 63:1 David writes, “ You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.”  Notice the words, earnestly, seek, thirst, longs, dry, parched, no water. All these are an indication of David’s inner condition. The dryness of the land around him only reflects the dryness and parchedness of his soul.

In order to slake his soul’s thirst he earnestly seeks the Lord with his whole being. He longs for God as a man in the desert longs for water.  Now what does that mean exactly?  In the desert, where water is scarce, where the land is parched, a man’s only thought would be for water. He needs that water for his very survival and without it he will die.

This is the very point David is making.  For the soul of man, the world is a parched and dry land.  There is no water that can slake his thirst. The world offers many wells, but they are dry or putrid. Drinking from them does not satisfy and leads to the death of the spirit.  Only God provides the water of life that we need. Only His well contains the cool water that will completely satisfy and remove the thirst and the longing of the soul.

On that Saturday evening, I had to return to the kitchen over and over again to drink water.  Every glass left me thirsty for more and even during the night I had to get up and drink water.  I kept thinking and wishing that only one glass would be enough to quench my thirst but I had to keep coming back.

When we drink from God’s fountain, one trip satisfies us.  The water He gives us goes straight to the soul and quenches and removes our deepest thirst.  So, I have one question for you this morning, Are you thirsty?  If so, open your Bible and take a long, cool drink.

Always In Service

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ou can see them everywhere at the university.  In fact, they are so common that if you don’t look twice you will walk right by them and not even know they are there.  Everywhere on campus, it seems, these little blue towers stand guard over the student body, always at the ready to lend a helping hand and put them in direct contact with the police in the event of an emergency.

The little towers are more noticeable at night when a blue light near the top illuminates and all the towers begin to glow, bringing a sense of safety and security to those walking the campus at night.  However, there is one tower I pass each morning that is distinctly different from the rest.  In addition to its blue color and its lamp, this tower also bears a swatch of brown and that swatch makes all the difference.

The swatch is a piece of cardboard with a message scribbled across it. The message simply reads, “Not In Service.”  Now, I ask you, how effective is that tower going to be should someone require immediate assistance?  It stands ready, but it is incapable of rendering aid of any kind in the event of an emergency.  The tower cannot be relied upon and therefore is of no help.

In Psalm 46, David reminds us that God is always in service.  He is always standing by, ready to help us when we need it; and we need it all the time.  Psalm 46: 1 reads, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.“  Who better than David to remind us of this truth?  David knew what it was to depend on God as a refuge.  He also knew God to be a constant source of help in times of trouble.  David had many troubles in his life and he also had many enemies, but he had learned to depend on the One who offered shelter and safety in the middle of life’s crises.

Do you find yourself in need of help today?  Do you need refuge from the world around you and are you running low in strength?  Look for God’s blue tower.  You probably have several of them lying around your house or gathering dust on coffee tables or bookshelves.  Pick up His word, open its pages. By doing so, you place yourself in direct contact with the one who knows you best and can help you the most.  He is always in service, ready, willing, and able to come to your aid at a moment’s notice.  So have you visited the little blue tower lately?  Perhaps it’s time you did.

The Front Porch Swing

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ike most of the houses on Main Street, ours had a front porch swing.  I never remember our home without it and when the house got a fresh coat of paint, the swing did also. Zeb Ford built that swing and it weathered all the abuse we could dole out.  No matter what, that swing kept watch over our front porch and over us as well.

The swing was on of my mother’s favorite places of refuge.  On summer nights, she would finish cleaning the kitchen, fold the last load of clothes, and after attending to a few things in the yard, she would steal away for a few moments to the front porch.  The rhythmic groaning of the metal chain and the wooden slats indicated that mom was on the front porch just thinking, or reading, or taking in the closing of the day.

Sometimes we would join her and at other times she would ask us to let her have just a few moments alone as she distanced herself from the toil of the day and welcomed the calm and comforting coolness of the evening.  When we did join her we had good conversations or sometimes said nothing at all. We just watched as the cars passed by or listened to the whistle of a distant train as it steadily made its way up the tracks toward our home.

Many evenings, my brother and I would retire to our room for bed and as I lay there drifting toward sleep, I could hear that old swing’s creaking and groaning, and in a few moments I was safely and securely in the Land of Nod.  Mom was on the porch swing, keeping watch over us and the sweet and peaceful assurance of her presence removed all fear and worry from a little boy’s mind.

In Exodus 12 we find an example of God standing watch over His children, spending time, if you will, on the front porch swing of the House of Israel.  The night before the Exodus, when the first born of Egypt, as well as the first born of any house not having blood on its doors and lentils, was taken, God stood guard.

In Exodus 12:42 we read, “Because the LORD kept vigil that night to bring them out of Egypt…”  What a comfort this must have been for the Children of Israel.  All night, God kept vigil, looking out for them, protecting them, keeping them from harm.  Although death was all around them, He protected His own.

Has it ever crossed your mind that God still keeps vigil over you?  During the night while you are asleep, God is still awake. He does not sleep! In fact, the Psalmist tells us that God, who keeps Israel, does not slumber or sleep!  He is on the front porch, making sure that all is well and that no harm comes to those who love Him.

Do you know this peace?  Do you know the comfort of having God watch over you?  Spend time in His word and you will come to understand that in the darkness of the night, sometimes the creaks and groans you hear around you are nothing more than a reminder of God’s presence on the front porch swing of your life.  You can go to sleep, you can rest in peace, and you can dwell in safety because God keeps vigil throughout the night.  Is He on the front porch swing of your life today?

Details, Details!

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here is a place in northeastern France which always held a special allure for me.  Although I lived in France for two years, it wasn't until my third visit, in 1994, that I was able to experience this tremendously beautiful region of France and see for myself the abbey at Mont St. Michel.  Mont St. Michel is a walled city on the border between Normandy and Brittany, two regions just a few hours northwest of Paris.  The wall around Mont St. Michel is necessary due to the very rapid and high tides that pour into the region from the Atlantic Ocean.  These are some of the fastest tides in the world and when they come in, they completely surround the city, cutting it off from the mainland.

I took several high school students for a tour of this region and they were all fascinated with the abbey and the city below it.  In 1066, monks from Mont St. Michel provided William the Conqueror with boats to sail to England where he fought and successfully won control of the English throne from his cousin.  Even though the history of this area was fascinating, there was something about Mont St. Michel which caught my attention.

Atop the abbey is a statue of the Archangel Michael, sword in hand, subduing Satan.  What is so amazing about this statue is the exquisite detail of its sculpture.  Close-up pictures of the monument show incredible detail, from the natural stance of St. Michael, to the feathers in his wing.  The artist meticulously fashioned this piece and then it was fixed to the spire of the abbey several hundred feet in the air.  From any point, except a helicopter, it is impossible to appreciate the artistry and attention given to the statue.  Why would someone go to such great pains when no one could fully appreciate his work?  What would cause a person to give of his time, effort, and talent, to create a statue that no one could ever see? 

The Old Testament book of 1 Kings records a similar event.  Chapter six of this book records the measurements and details for building the temple.  Solomon received his directions from God and they were very detailed.  Take a few moments to read through this chapter.  In addition to providing the starting and ending times for the temple (a period of seven years), explicit instructions are given for its construction.  The description of the most holy place is especially intriguing.  There was no stone visible in this room, only wood and gold.  It was built in the form of a perfect square and was dominated by two enormous wooden cherubim overlaid with pure gold.  The wings of these creatures spanned the room and touched the walls on either side.  Under their wings sat the ark of the covenant, where God's presence dwelled.

This room had to be lovely, but very few people ever saw it.  The high priest entered it only once a year to make atonement for the people.  For the next 359 days (the biblical year is equal to 360 days), no one entered the Holy of Holies, and no one even ventured near it.  Yet, God gave specific, extremely detailed instructions for its construction.

At the end of this chapter, there is a very interesting statement.  Verse 38 states, "And in the eleventh year, in the month of Bul, which is the eighth month, the house was finished in all its details and according to all its plans. So he was seven years in building it."  Notice how the biblical writer talks about the completion of the temple.  It was finished in "all its details, according to all its plans.!"

Sometimes in our daily walks with God, we become impatient.  We want to hurry the process, to be all God intends for us to be.  However, we wish to skip several steps and proceed to the finished product.  This is not God's way.  The temple was laid out according to a precise plan.  It was built to a certain height, to a certain width, to a certain length, and was made from certain, precisely ordered materials.  And what was the result of all this detail which most people never saw.  Take a look at verse 12, "Concerning this temple which you are building, if you walk in My statutes, execute My judgments, keep all My commandments, and walk in them, then I will perform My word with you, which I spoke to your father David."

The express purpose of following God's commands permitted Solomon to experience the full extent of God's promise.  When we obey God in every detail, we stand ready to receive the full blessing, inherit the full promise, and experience the total grace of God.  The scripture tells us that we are the temples of the Holy Spirit.  God does not dwell in substandard housing. No; he has a precise plan for the place where he dwells.  He has a plan for you, a precise plan which you must choose to follow.  When you do, you will experience the fullness of God's presence and the wonderful promise of his grace.  He has the plans, he knows the details, it is simply up to us to obey him.  Jeremiah said it best, "For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope"

God's plans for us are precise and detailed.  His desire is to for us to be perfectly conformed to the image of Christ, to be like him in every detail.  Why does God insist on details that no one else can see?  Because he will settle for nothing less than perfection, and nothing less than the best. And, even though no one else may see what is going on in your life, God does. Won't you let him take care of your life's details today?

Butterflies and Purple Hearts

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wo windows in my sister’s room overlook the backyard of my parents’ home.  We affectionately refer to the backyard as the north forty and the front yard as the south forty.  Once a week, and sometimes twice if there has been good rainfall, my parents spend several hours mowing, weeding, and trimming their lawn.  Something always needs tending and the work, it seems, is never finished.

Several years ago, while I was home for the Fourth of July holiday, my dad decided to cook some pork ribs in his smoker.  The process took most of the day but when it was over, it was definitely worth the wait.  After supper we carved a watermelon and had a good time just sitting and talking, catching up on all that had happened since our last visit together.

As the afternoon turned into evening, my mom and I were in the backyard, that’s the north forty, discussing the different kinds of plants she and dad have growing in the various flowerbeds surrounding the house.  In the middle of our conversation, I happened to look at Heather’s window and what I saw caused me to stop and think for a long time. 

Hanging there in the window were two stained glass ornaments that are very familiar to anyone who knows Heather well.   The two ornaments are a butterfly and a purple heart and they have been there in her window since they moved into the house.  Each morning the rays of the sun illumine them and cast beautiful shadows in Heather’s room.  The butterfly is important because when she was smaller her room was decorated completely in butterflies.  The purple heart represents two aspects of her character.  Purple is her favorite color, hands down and she is all heart!  Nothing speaks to me more of my sister than these two ornaments hanging in her window.

But there was also a lesson to be learned in Heather’s window, a lesson about God and His faithfulness to us and His love for us.  The butterfly is reminiscent of 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”  When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior our lives changed.  The old sin nature passed away and we emerged with a new nature and a new relationship with God.  The caterpillar goes into the cocoon an rather ugly worm but it emerges as a beautiful creature, completely changed from its former life.  This is how much God loved us, He sent Jesus to die for our sins so that we could walk with Him in the newness of life and be changed into something entirely new.

The Purple Heart is a symbol of those who have been wounded during wartime in the service of their country.  At times friends, family, and situations beyond our control wound our hearts.  Often we wonder if God is aware of our pain or if He even cares about our suffering.  David had these same feelings and he expressed them in Psalm 109:22, “For I am poor and needy, And my heart is wounded within me.”  In this Psalm, David cries out to the Lord because he has been wounded by those around him. They have treated him unjustly and have spread slanderous lies about him.  David, however, does not give up.  He knows that God is aware of his situation.  He understands that God cares for him and David knows that the same God who delivered him from Goliath will work in every difficult moment of his life.

The truths found in these two scriptures apply to our lives as well.  God provided a way for us to enjoy a new life and a new relationship with Him.  All things become new when we know Jesus and when we allow him to control all aspects of our lives.  Moreover, God is always near us, especially during moments of sorrow, when we feel all alone, and when no once seems to care about our pain and suffering.  God sees us, He hears us, and He cares.   Butterflies and purple hearts in a window, what reminders of God’s love and faithfulness can be found in your life today?