Square pegs and holes in hearts

I remember back in my little kid days playing with this toy, where you had to match the pegs with their same-shaped holes.  The lesson from this puzzle game is that you can’t fit a square peg into a round hole.  Each piece fit in only one specific space.  As hard as a kid can push and jam, or turn the piece around and around, it will only fit into it’s certain spot.

I see how God’s love works the same way.  I’m convinced that there is a space in each person’s heart that is so unique, only God’s love can fit it exactly.  This empty space is such a noticeable void that we know we just have to fill it.  Some people try and substitute drugs, alcohol, money, possessions, sex, -- all the things this world offers, even in excess – yet they still know something is missing, and spend their days and nights trying to fill the void.  I learned the hard way; none of this stuff can fill the spot reserved for Jesus in my heart.  Once I surrendered completely, God’s Holy Spirit filled all the voids, and my former wants and desires are gone.  Good riddance to them, I don’t miss anything!  I don’t miss cigarettes, hangovers, those feelings of being lost, worthless, and life is pointless; and I certainly don’t miss feeling unloved, unwanted, and the nagging thoughts of suicide.  I don’t have a specific scripture reference to back up my theory, just personal experience, and testimony from others.  I see evidence in radically changed lives.

Scripture tell us that God created us for His own good pleasure.  He loves us no matter what.  God loves us so much that He sent us Jesus, His Son, who willingly took the death penalty, and hung on the cross to pay for our sins so that we could have salvation and spend eternity with Him. (John 3:16:  “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.) 

Seriously think about this:  He loves us so much that He died for us, and all He wants from us is to love Him back.  That’s it.  So, do you want what’s missing?  Open up your heart, and let Him in.  Confess your sins, accept His forgiveness, and start your new life.  That empty spot will be filled-in.  His love will permeate your entire being.  And nothing – no thing, no person, no experience, or substance – can compare.

Romans 3:23:  For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

Romans 6:23:  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 10:9-10:  If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.

Romans 8:38-39:  And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.  No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

(all scriptures quoted from The New Living Translation)

Forgiven or Indifference?

“and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us…”  Luke 11:4 NLT

Long ago, there was an incredibly deep hurt.  Thanks to the Lord’s gracious gift of forgiving, and time, the wound is healed.  Thoughts are far removed from that dark time; it’s further away than a distant memory.  There is no longer pain, and speaking of it comes rather easily compared to when the hurt was an open, gaping hole.  It was the greatest hurt my heart endured.

This morning I wondered how I would respond if the offender would reappear in my life.  Would I be kind, caring, and hospitable; would I be able to show Christian love?  I believe that if the answer is anything other than a promptly spoken “yes” then true forgiveness has not yet occurred. 

A state of indifference is the lack of emotion.  No love, no hate.  Zero feeling.  Forgiveness means a clean slate.  Forgiveness allows love.  God is love. (1John4:7,8)  God requires forgiveness. (Mark 11:25) 

He is the source of my ability to forgive.  He alone makes it possible for me to promptly reply, “Yes, it is forgiven.”

The Lord is close to the broken hearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

Ps 34:18 NLT

The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.

Psalm 145:8 NLT

My Father, My Dad

(I wrote this a while ago, and thought I'd re-post it in honor of Father's Day)

My Father created me.

Long ago, His plan for me was laid.

My life was part of the creation,

the world He formed by simply the words He said.

In the same way, my Father also created my dad;

the earthly man who loved, and raised, and supported me;

he carried me when I was tired, and held me when I was sad.

Everyone says I look just like my dad.

I have a lot of his traits;

our love for music is one of the best

and less favorable is how we’re both always late.

Dad taught me about life on earth and after.

Before he left, he said we’ll meet up again, when we’re called

to stand before our Lord, our God, our Father.

Dad worried so about his problem child, but I came around after all.

On that glorious day, when there’ll be only joy and no one will ever be sad,

I’ll be there with both of them, my Father and my Dad.

Ephesians 6:1-4

Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do.  “Honor your father and mother.”  This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth”.  Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them.  Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.

What's on My Mind 11 Apr 2010

Like others that I mentally criticize for doing to me, I am so guilty of putting too much emphasis on a person's appearance rather than on their heart. I am drawn to things and people whose appearance is pleasing, and to those whose personality is pleasing. It's easy to love "lovely" people. But what about the others? The "others" are the ones that Jesus, and perhaps only Jesus, loves. We are commanded to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Jesus loves the lepers, the beggars, the "woman at the well", the tax collectors, the poor, widows and orphans, the cripples, you, and me. If we imitate Jesus, we'll love them too. If we need help, He'll help us; we need only ask. He will grant us that request.

Bring light and love into the lives of those who know only darkness.

Matthew 22:37-40 (nlt)
Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

Ephesians 5:1-2 (nlt)
Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

1 Corinthians 13:13 (nlt)
Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life. 1 JOHN 5:20 (NLT)

Christians are encouraged to have fellowship with other believers. Fellowship is defined as, “A company of people that shares the same interest or aim; a feeling of friendship, relatedness or connection between people.” For Christians, the connection, of course, would be faith and belief in Jesus. The New Testament speaks about the fellowship of the believers among the newly formed church (ACTS 2:41-47). During these times of fellowship, they shared meals, had times of worship and they prayed together.

The New Testament book of 1John speaks of our fellowship with God the Father and with Jesus Christ the Son. The Old Testament book of Genesis speaks of two men who walked in fellowship with God. Enoch was taken up to heaven. “Enoch lived 365 years, walking in close fellowship with God. Then one day he disappeared, because God took him.” (GENESIS 5:23,24 NLT). Noah was the only “good” man on earth during his time, so the LORD spared him; God told him to build the ark as shelter during the great flood. “Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God.” (GENESIS 6:9 NLT). Everyone except Noah and his immediate family was destroyed, along with all the other living creatures that did not make the ark.

When the venue of a gathering is the Church, for a Bible Study for instance, the focus of conversation would most likely be about the Bible. Subsequent discussions are generally wholesome in nature, and bring people closer together through a more intimate understanding of each other. People tend to be more careful of the context of their statements and the selection of their words, and make an effort not to offend or hurt anyone’s feelings.

Perhaps a get together is elsewhere and consists of a few friends meeting for coffee. The atmosphere is different. The conversation could start out innocently; someone asks about the well being of a mutual friend. Then, before the friends are aware of it, they are engaged in a gossip session.

In another scenario, a group gathers for a prayer meeting. It is common they begin by discussing the people they will pray for. How quickly such a well-intended effort can turn into a time of talk that grieves the LORD. It is not necessary that secrets or intimacies be revealed, and personal information about others made known, especially if it is second-hand information. It is a betrayal if something is shared when it was received in confidence, even with the best intentions.

The conversations that people share should always be pleasing to God’s ears. Regardless of where His children gather, He hears every word that is said, and He knows the content of each heart. If words are not true, helpful, insightful, necessary, and kind, they shouldn’t be said. Fellowship is a wonderful time spent with God and with each other, and shouldn’t be tainted by dishonorable conversation, any time or any place.

PSALM 41:6 (NLT)
They visit me as if they were my friends, but all the while, they gather gossip, and when they leave, they spread it everywhere.

2 CORINTHIANS 13:14 (NLT)
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

IN DENIAL

Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT) “Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

A family is going through a season in their lives. An unfortunate event occurred a while back, and the residual effect is devastating to this couple. It is a serious situation; one that will no doubt affect them the rest of their lives.

They are both dealing with it in different ways. The husband is taking it very hard; he feels responsible for their situation. He, along with many others, lost his job when the factory closed down. He has no experience or training for any other type of work; he started at that job when he was 20 years old. Now, at 57, his age and several health issues are additional strikes against him. His chances of finding a job earning the amount of money he was making are right around zero. He is feeling totally and utterly hopeless, and is his thoughts are consumed with their financial situation. Their savings account is just about depleted and he cannot find a job anywhere, not even as a janitor. Her small salary as a part-time school cafeteria aide barely pays the utilities and the groceries. Soon, they will have to sell their house.

What irritates him the most is his wife. She acts as though nothing is wrong. He’s constantly telling her to get her head out of the clouds and face what’s going on in their lives. He’s angry with her because she does not express the same level of concern that he does. She is calm; he is a nervous wreck. Surely, she is in denial ("the refusal to acknowledge the existence or severity of unpleasant external realities or internal thoughts and feelings [HEALTHLINE.COM]"). She can’t cope with all of this so her mind is just shutting it all out. He’s convinced that’s what’s wrong with her.

She’s not in denial, though. She is very well aware of the state of their affairs. She is walking in faith. Instead of succumbing to the weapons the evil one is firing at them--fear, doubt, depression, anger, envy, jealousy, despair, etc.—she gave up her concerns to the Lord. She is facing life clad with the armor of God. She admits she is powerless and knows God has power over everything. She trusts that as long as she is walking in God’s will, He will cover her. She has peace while her husband is in turmoil. She feels God’s presence and protection; he feels deserted and defeated.

Let useless worry destroy you or be in peace trusting God? Which would you choose?

Scriptures:

Psalm 55:22 (NLT) “Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.”

Philippians 4:6-8 (NLT) “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus”.

JUDGE NOT LEST YE BE JUDGED

[Matthew 7:1-5] “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.”

Jesus pointed out that they who judge others unfairly would be judged themselves, in the same measure. It is foolish and hypocritical for us to criticize someone for a fault while remaining blind to our own considerable faults[1] . Plainly, we should expect to receive what we dish out. Jesus’ statement didn’t mean to dismiss or ignore bad behavior; His point was to loose the holier than thou attitude. He wants us to stop the practice of knocking people just to make ourselves feel superior. The contrast between the “speck in your friend’s eye” and “the log in your own eye” gives us an accurate visual. How can we possibly have clear vision? We don’t. Before we go looking for dust in our sister’s house, we better do some house cleaning at home first.

[Matthew 7:12] “So in everything, do to others what you would have them to do to you, for this sums up the law and the prophets” [NIV]

Toward the beginning of The Sermon on the Mount, we read about meeting the requirements of the Law and the Prophets; here the Law and Prophets are mentioned again. A lot of His lessons up until this point pertain to this simple yet meaningful phrase we know as The Golden Rule. The message it delivers is that we should do for others what we’d want them to do for us. It sounds easy enough and is totally fair. It’s a tough act to follow, though. Who can be so caring and supporting 100% of the time? Who is so selfless that they always think of others before they think of themselves? Not me. Notice the second and third words: “in everything”. No further explanation is needed, eh?.

How quickly we jump to conclusions about others! Jesus tells us we have no right to judge others, only God does. He doesn’t suggest for us to turn a blind eye, rather, take a good, hard look at ourselves, and consider our motives and behavior before we pass judgment on others. We don’t have to apologize for mean things we don’t say. When we look at our peers through God’s loving eyes of pure, clear and wide vision instead of our own nearsighted critical eyes, we will see past their faults and catch glimpses of opportunities to glorify God. We will see how we can be forgiving and recognize how we can be helpful and respectful, in spite of different opinions.

We must treat each other the way God treats us: with love, generosity, patience, and forgiveness. When we apply the Golden Rule to our lives, in everything, we can refrain from jumping to the wrong conclusions, differentiate between good and bad, and show respect for everyone, even those we disagree with. [2]

Footnotes:
[1] NIV Study Bible; note on Luke 6:41

[2] Adult Student Book, by David C. Cook, Dec 2008 – Feb 2009; pgs. 33-39

MY FIRST CHRISTMAS WITH THE "ARMY"

I hope everyone had a blessed Christmas celebration and that each had a moment or two to reflect upon the true meaning of Christmas—the celebration of the birth of Jesus. “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” [ISAIAH 9:6 NLT]
My Christmas wish to all may be a bit late, but sincere nonetheless—May God’s light always shine brightly on you and yours. (Thanks, Joe, for that phrase.)

The past few weeks have been a blessing and a learning experience. The Lord selected me to fill an opening in the office at the Salvation Army in my town. What an honor! There are so many people looking for work and Praise God, He selected me! Wow! I am so thankful for the privilege of serving Him in this way.

My “job” started at the peak of the Christmas season. The annual toy drive was drawing to a close. The parcels were at the participating vendors awaiting pick-up. After days of fetching then sorting toys by boys/girls and age, bags were filled according to the applicants’ children’s ages, gender, and special needs, if any. On Thursday and Friday (18th & 19th), the toys, food boxes, and turkeys were distributed.

Since this was the first Christmas under the command of the new officers and the program was different from the previous years, we expected to make a few mistakes here and there. Through participation, I wanted to capture the Christmas spirit and be joyous. I wanted to see happy parents with gifts for their children, some who might otherwise not had anything to wrap and place under the tree. I expected frazzled co-workers and volunteers; everyone worked so hard in order to prepare for these two hectic days.

What I really hoped for was the spirit of thankfulness and giving of the heart. I’m sure there were many grateful parents amongst the crowd. However, we only heard from the unhappy ones. The complaints and disappointment rang louder than the quietly mumbled “thanks” offered as people left with loaded car-trunks and pull carts. The atmosphere of entitlement was heavy. Yes, the program was not like previous years. Yes, it didn’t run like clockwork. What saddened me the most was the lack of support and respect for the new officers. (In my opinion) it wasn’t right that the officers were talked down the way they were. A sense of order must be established when dealing with such a large volume of people. Rules are set forth for a reason: to maintain order and control—and they must be adhered to. Each person must be treated equally and fairly. Although a day was set aside to make exchanges/returns for mistakes and/or inappropriate choices, some exceptions were allowed and corrections were made immediately. Regardless, the officer in charge was accused of being cold, uncaring, and insensitive. That is so unfair and inaccurate. The officers made a lifetime commitment of service to God and to others. As in the armed forces, the rank of Major comes only after many years of exemplary performance. The officer enforced the rules; others took offense. If exceptions had been made to everyone, it would have been mayhem.

I’ve learned this: We can’t help each and every person who comes in for assistance. It is just not possible. However, we do a lot for many. The charity work this Church does makes a huge difference in the lives of the recipients. We cannot be successful if we have no unity. We cannot be successful if we have no respect our leaders. We cannot maintain a joyful spirit if we have no love for one another. If underlying resentments govern our feelings and the lack of forgiveness exists, we will not effectively serve our community, the ministry will fall apart, and the evil one will be victorious. That thought makes me very sad.

Please join me in prayer and let’s go to the Lord and ask for unity within our group, to share the Love of Jesus Christ with each other as He commands us to, and spread it to all whom we serve; and that the true meaning of Christmas--the birth of our Lord and Savior--is celebrated every day of the year.

Scriptures:

Matthew 20:28: “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

John 15:9,12: [9] “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. [12] This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.

Ephesians 4:1-6 “Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each others' faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all.

Un-hardened Heart

heart didn’t want to feel that way.
everyday, still say,
“love you”.
heart didn’t feel right anymore,
no longer warm, the way it used to.
heart turned cold.
now that love is old,
no longer new,
heart doesn’t spark
like it used to.

words like “you, I hate”
at night, when it was late,
would hear the other say.
when full, go to bed.
hurtful things said
so much
heart-skin grew tough.
every night,
closed eyes, closed ears.
no tears after so many years.

oh what joy! Jesus filled heart with love
Father in heaven above
said, “all sins are forgiven”.
heart had to forgive
in order to freely live.
heart surrendered to the Lord.
saturated with the word.
a new creation.
the old, gone.
heart sings a new song.

even so, cloud still covered the sun.
“Father, can this battle ever be won?”
it’s an illness,
a disease.
“get some help, please”.
heart still loves him
not on a whim
betrothed.
with cloud over them they married.
that burden both carried.
suffered together, raging storms weathered.
calm seas sailed on happy days.
the Lord said “do not part, don’t go separate ways.”

“Lord, heart needs to feel something
inside, deep within.
not cold, numb, emptiness.”
for them, heart did pray,
every night. every day.
Father spoke;
heart felt a poke.
“remove that plank from your own eye.
stop pointing out faults, for shame,
not long ago, your indulgence was the same.”

“when one cheek feels the burn
give the other, sideways turn.
it’s at these times you must love the most”
battles fight, the lord said he will;
keep quiet and be still.
one short phrase
uttered on a dark rainy day
“un-harden this heart, Father.”
a cold stone,
revived love once known.

praise God for un-hardened heart.
praise the Lord! gone, the rough part.
faith so strong, so real.
every worry, every care,
given up, for him to bear.
God un-hardened heart.
His spirit never to depart.
filled with his love,
His light to shine
in heart, for all time.