Sunday, August 21, 2011

Heart vs Head

In the last 48 hours I have heard the same quotation from several different sources. Social media, radio and TV. The quotation?

The heart wants what the heart wants...

Although that may be true, it doesn't make the heart correct.

When my daughters were younger they frequently requested to do things, or have things, that I was not comfortable with.

But, kids want what they want.

 It was up to me to say yes or no, and guard them from things that would harm them. They did not make logical decisions at 5, 10 or even 15. That was my job as the mother. The one in charge..
Putting your heart in charge of your life is like putting a teenager in charge of himself. Feelings, not logic will be what dictates his actions. In most cases fleshly desire will be his driving force and Christian values will take a back seat.

Proverbs 4:23 says that we are to guard our hearts, because that's where life's issues flow from.
Proverbs 23:19 tells us to keep our hearts on the right path.

So if the bible tells us to guard our hearts, and keep it on the right path, then that must mean our heart should not dictate our lives.

Every decision we make should be contemplated using the word of God.
Prov. 2:2 says "So that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding"

 If we see that our heart wants something that God does not want us to have, then it is up to our spirit and our mind to tell our heart "No". We have to make it understand...

Feelings, what so many base their life on, are nothing more than smoke and mirrors, reflecting an often inaccurate image. You feel stupid, you feel ugly, you feel like you can't live without a certain individual. You feel lost, you feel broken, you believe what someone, a long time ago, convinced you was the truth. But it doesn't make it so.

God made you, God knows you. He knows what you want, but He also knows what you need. In order to give you all He wants you to have, you have to clean house and get rid of all the old baggage. You have to let go of the old, in order for God to give you something new.

God would never expect more from you than what you can accomplish. So the next time your heart cries out for something, stop and contemplate with your head whether it's a good thing. Guard your heart, because once broken, it's hard to repair.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Crutch

In a mid 90's winter, after a graceful glide (HA!) to my knees, I found myself in a brace, on crutches. My right knee was broken...I was also told that even after the 6-8 weeks of healing, it would never be the same. Since it was a work comp injury I was sent to a specialist who would eventually determine my permanent impairment and my cash compensation.

When you have a broken leg, you can't walk on it, depend on it, or even count on it for balance. If you try and use it without the assistance of a crutch, you can cause further damage and impede your healing. You have to depend on others to help fetch and carry, bear your burdens, and prepare your way. In my case, I couldn't even drive. Life was frustrating. My arms ached from using muscles I'd never used before, and my hands were sore.
But after a while, I got use to them. I could slip and slide around doors, maneuver steps and those sore muscles eased up and bulked up. When my healing time was over, it felt strange not to have them anymore.

Many people, those who are skeptical of God, often accuse Christians of using God/religion as a "crutch" .

I agree.

Without God,  I am broken. I am not whole. I am fallible, sinful, fallen and lost. But with my crutch, I am capable! I can maneuver through this life, leaning on Him. When my burdens are too much to bear I have help; through Him and my brothers and sisters in Christ. I have angels that prepare my way.
Learning to lean on God has often been painful, and stressful, but through the years I have become stronger, and those weakened spiritual muscles have developed over time. My hands don't get sore, but my knees still do, as they should.

When I returned to my specialist at the end of those 6 weeks, he walked in, looked at my x-rays, walked out, then returned with 2 other sets of films. He said "I'm sorry, but I thought they gave me the wrong records." He then popped all three films up on the screen. "This," he said, pointing to the first x-ray "was your very first x-ray taken. It shows a very clear fracture." He then pointed to next one "This one is the first one we took here, showing a healing fracture." Then came the one that had been taken just moments before. "This one, taken today, shows no evidence that a fracture ever occurred." He shook his head in amazement. "There will be no permanent impairment."
I wasn't surprised at all.  God promised me complete healing.
Crutches are good for something....

Friday, August 5, 2011

Tough Love

I Corinthians 6:12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
The first 12 words of that scripture speak volumes. 

Paul, in his wisdom and inspiration, let us know thousands of years ago that we would face a time when God's word would become nothing more than a few suggestions in a book. We live in an age where behavior that will send you to hell, won't send you to jail. Fewer and fewer people worry about the eternal effects of their actions. They only worry about the now. They don't realize they have their priorities backwards...

The moral expectations of most people have been significantly lowered. Our children are being taught that society, and not God, determines what is acceptable and right. They are told not to feel guilty when their actions and behaviors are in direct opposition to God's word, because "God made you the way you are."
That's as asinine as telling an alcoholic,or a heroin addict that God made him that way. When we chose to behave in direct opposition to God's word, we are opposing God Himself. Let me tell you, He is not someone I'd want to go head to head with...ever.

It is time that Father's got jobs, supported their families, loved their wives, and became the spiritual leaders of their households. Party time is over boys, put away the booze and the drugs and man up.

It's time that Mother's set a good example of what a Godly woman should be, and behaved like ladies. Bars and Taverns are no place for a mother, girls. If you wanted to act like a drunken tart, you should not have had kids. There is no reason on earth that you should be leaving your kids on a weekend night to go drink and party. Sorry. Look it up.

And for those of you raised by the above type of parents, quit using their bad behavior as an excuse to be a
drunk
drug addict
abuser
theif
liar
lowlife
need I go on??? Get a grip, pull your boots up and realize that as long as you have one breath left in your body you have an opportunity to set your life right. Better do it before your last chance passes you by.