A CONDITION OF THE HEART

The first half of 2020 has been literally crazy for most of us, if not all of us.  Things have changed so dramatically in this country, heck in the world all because of a virus.  Cities shut down, businesses closed, families quarantined in their homes for months, people learning how to work from home and people hoarding toilet paper.  It has been a challenge to say the least.  The thing that I've learned from this time is that my attitude will determine how I live my life.  I could have become angry, I could have chosen to be depressed or I could have decided that no matter what happens God is with me.  I think most of you know me well enough to know which choice I made.  The thing is no matter what choice you made during this time, it's your choice and no one else can make the choice for you and no one should make you feel guilty for your choice.  

As  a believer in Jesus Christ I am called to a higher purpose that I can't even begin to comprehend fully. I have been called to love others.  Now this is not a new concept but in light of the way 2020 has gone, maybe I need a refresher.  Jesus never said love only those who love you.  He never said love only those who believe as you do. He never said love only those who treat you well.  As a believer I am called to love.  I show love with my actions, but I also show love with the words I speak and the tone of my voice.  There are times I don't want to show love someone after all do they deserve my love?  There are times I want to give someone a piece of my mind and my words can quickly become a poisonous venom. It's in those times that God grabs a hold of me and shakes some common sense into me.  Do I deserve His love?  Does He want to give me a piece of His mind?  He could crush me in a heartbeat, yet He doesn't.  He could make me crumble into a pool of tears, but He don't.  Because of His unfailing love, I am a prisoner for the Lord. 

   

Ephesians 4:1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

Am I living a life worthy of the calling I have received?  No.  But I am a work in progress and God is continually teaching me and guiding me to become worthy.  Day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute and second by second I am continuing to learn.  I pray I never feel like I am too old to learn and change and grow.  I pray I never find myself unwilling to be convicted by God.  In fact I pray He convict me through His Word or through other Godly people.  The only way I can ever even begin to live a life worthy of my calling is if I allow God to continue to prune me.  Pruning is never easy and it is always painful.  Change is hard.   Admitting I was wrong is humbling.  Being a prisoner for the Lord will be a constant struggle but I will persevere because God is with me.  His very presence surrounds me daily.  

Listen 2020 is what it is but my heart, the condition of my heart will continue be praise and love!    

 

I'VE GOT, ONE TICKET TO PARADISE

Paradise....what is paradise to you?  A tropical island?  Mountains?  Snow covered ski slopes?  A desert oasis?  City night life?  We all have our different ideas of what paradise is to us.  For me it's sunshine, tropical beaches, palm trees and ocean breezes.  Recently we were in Hawaii for our 40th wedding anniversary.  I was in heaven, a tropical paradise where I was able to sit and enjoy the sunshine and the gentle breeze kissing my cheeks.  The palm trees, the ocean, the sand and the waves crashing onto the shore stirred my heart in many ways.  For some of you that may not sound like your idea of paradise, but for me it was.  

Now my mom and dad were very different.   They loved the heat and dryness of the Arizona  desert.  Yes there are palm tress in Arizona and yes there is sunshine.  But for me it's not my idea of paradise because there is no ocean or no sandy beaches.  I know the humidity is much higher around these tropical paradises, for me it's worth it.  I often wonder what it would be like to live every day in a tropical paradise.  No snow, no cold, no dreary overcast days that last for what seems to be an eternity.  Would I take it for granted?  Would it become nothing special?  

If I can be 100% honest here I do live in a paradise.  Not a tropical paradise but an eternal paradise.  One where all my problems are handled by a God who loves me.  All my sins and mistakes are forgiven and the slate wiped clean.  A place where peace reigns and love fills the air.  Somewhere beyond the rainbows where all the storms in my life are vanished and the lessons I have learned reminds me of how great my God is.  It's a place without worry, without dread and without regrets.  I love this simple little paradise I live in every day.  It's simply breathtaking and awesome.  But unfortunately I tend to take it all for granted.  

I take this for granted until I read Facebook and discover so many people going through so many difficult trials.  So many people suffering with incurable illnesses, so many people who are filled with anger and hatred.  It saddens me to see so many people suffering needlessly.  It sickens me to see the amount of anger and hatred people live with day in and day out.  What if I told you that you could live in paradise right now?  Would you be interested?  Would you want to know that you can have eternal peace right now here on this Earth?

You see the enemy (Satan himself) distorts the word of God.  He wants you to think that God wants to punish you for your sins.  He wants to fill your mind with lies and half truths that make you question who God is and what He can do for you and through you. He wants you to doubts God's love for you and he wants you to believe that eternal paradise is not possible and not realistic.  Well let me tell you...HE IS A LIAR!  Eternal paradise here on Earth is possible for those of us who believe in Jesus Christ.  I live it every day.  I dwell in the shadow of the Most High every day.  God is my refuge, my fortress, my protector, my guide, my counselor, my shield.  He has given me a peace which surpasses all understanding.  And even though I can occasionally take this paradise for granted, He forgives me and loves me.

It is only through my faith and belief in Jesus Christ that I now live in a state of eternal paradise no matter where I live.  You can have this too, if you dare to believe.