by George | Sep 3, 2020 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
Keep Your Heart
“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”
Proverbs 4:23
The neighbor across the street has the best yard in the neighborhood. You never see a tall blade of grass. Not even around the edging that surrounds the flower bed. There is not a weed to be found. The bushes are trimmed uniformly near the windows.
Does this beautiful yard just happen by chance?
No, it happens by the diligent work of the neighbor.
I see him out in his yard every day, doing something to keep his yard looking this way. Cutting the grass, weed eating, turning on a sprinkler, pulling weeds by hand…
Our neighbor is “vigilant” against any weeds or tall grass that would mar the beauty of his yard.
In the same way it takes vigilance to “keep our heart.”
This passage is not referring to the blood pumping muscle inside of us, but rather to our affections.
We speak of someone we love as “having our heart.”
Who, or what has your heart?
The rich young ruler went away from Jesus, because his heart was set on his riches.
Martha’s heart was set on making a perfect dinner instead of spending time with Jesus.
Demas left Paul because he was “…in love with this present world…”
2 Timothy 4:10
Is your heart set on the tumultuous events happening around you?
Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me.” John 14:1
Remember to love God above all else. “And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Matthew 22:37-39
Keep God first. Love Him with all of your being.
Our heart, our affections can easily be moved from God. It takes vigilance to guard our hearts from it. Keep the tall grass and weeds cut!
by George | Aug 31, 2020 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
Busy, Busy, Busy!
“For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” But you were unwilling,”
Isaiah 30:15
Where is it written that we have to work all the time? That we need to stay busy? Perhaps we read it in a “How to Be Successful” business book, or heard a motivational speaker talk about it.
When we are constantly busy, we tend to get anxious and worried. This in turn takes our focus off of God, and on our problems.
We need a spiritual “reset.”
So, as my dad used to say, “What’s your hurry?”
Let’s sit down for a moment and consider what God is saying.
- Returning:
In this passage,
God is pleading with His people to come back to Him. But they are not willing. Seems to be the same today. It’s my prayer every day that America will return to God. “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
James 4:8
- Rest: If you return to God, you will find rest for your soul. Remember what Jesus said? “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29
- Quietness: In that rest there will be quietness. “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10 I’ve been told that this verse is literally saying, “cease striving .” Be still, and listen for that still small voice.
- Trust: In returning to God, you have found rest and quietness for your soul. Naturally, your faith, your trust in God is strengthened. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 Life is not easy, but if we focus on God, He will guide you. “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33
by George | Aug 27, 2020 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
Finding the Right Words
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
I struggle to find the right words sometimes. What do you say to the father who is watching his 50 year old daughter die of cancer? When he speaks of a hole in his heart that won’t go away?
The day I’m writing this marks my 16th anniversary of becoming a chaplain. You would think I would know what to say each time. I don’t.
It’s not a matter of how much education one has.
As I thought and prayed about it this morning, I felt that God was telling me to rely on His words more, not my own.
One thing I’ve figured out in all these years of ministry is that I don’t always have the words to comfort. The main thing is being there. A “non anxious prescience” they call it. A shoulder to cry on. Before this COVID stuff started, I gave a lot of hugs. (I still sneak some in! I can’t help it.)
So, realizing that I don’t have the right words all the time, I will strive to pray more, and ask God to speak through me.
Paul says God comforts us so we can comfort others. He’s the “God of all comfort.”
