State of the Heart

 Let the words of my mouth

and the meditations of my heart

be acceptable in Your sight,

O, Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.

Psalm 19:14

The heart-

The seat of my mind, will and emotions.

God has been dealing with my heart lately.

As I read His word,

I form a red-penciled heart over the word.

This morning I read 1 Chronicles 29. The heart is mentioned six times:

-with a whole heart

-You (God) try the heart

-in the integrity of my heart

-in the intentions of the heart

-direct their heart to You

-a perfect heart to keep Your commandments

The heart is a busy place.

It thinks, acts and feels.

It is also sick.

The heart is more deceitful than all else and desperately sick;

who can understand it?

-Jeremiah 17:9 NASB

God knows my heart is the problem.

When I believed with my heart to be saved,

God poured out His love within my heart...

...because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts

through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

-Romans 5:5 NASB

So that Christ may dwell there.

How is the state of your heart today?

Good Housekeeping Bad for My Heart

You shall not covet... 

-Exodus 20:17

During a grocery run to Pick N’ Pay, I wandered upon the latest issue of Good Housekeeping. Scanning the article titles I noticed the word “summer.” It’s winter in the states, “Why do they have something about summer?” I questioned. It was a gray-haired blonde moment…for I then noticed it was the South Africa version of the magazine. I didn’t realize they had different versions for other countries.

Though, none of the articles pertained to my life:

1. Conquering clutter is pretty easy when you live in a one room round house.

2. The only mad morning rush I have is to the bathroom.

3. I’m past caring about 5 ways to wake up beautiful.

4. While I could definitely stand to lose 5kgs in 4 weeks, Dr. Oz’s One Day Diet has foods that are not on this missionary’s budget.

Yet, off I went to purchase the magazine that would remind me of home. How wrong I was! In the words of Paul:

“But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead.” Romans 7:8 NASB

Yes, I began to covet. I wanted those cute little mugs on “The Good List.” Wouldn’t I look great in the reversible hat by Gyspy Lou in Mozambique? Wow, they even have a coupon for Milady. I could really use some new clothes. On and on almost every page was a feast for my lustful eyes.

Covet: Greek word-Epithumeo. 

Means to set the heart upon; long for-covet, desire, lust (after).

A simple magazine corrupted my heart.

Is there some place you shouldn’t go or something you shouldn’t do because it leads you to covet?

Linking up to Titus 2days and Missionary Mondays.

Homesick

December 2010 Birthday Dinner with Family

 I hear a voice. See a reminder. Receive a card. 

Sigh. The heart wistful...

Homesick: experiencing a longing for one's home

during a period of absence from it.

Oxford Dictionary of English

Seven months has passed since we left the states for South Africa.

Days into weeks...Weeks into months.

Time passes quickly.

When the feeling comes, I pray for those I miss.

I remind myself of the reason I am here-

to bring good news to the lost

and to disciple new believers in their faith.

There's another kind of homesickness.

A longing for our HEAVENLY home...

"having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on earth...

But as it is, they desire a better country,

that is, a heavenly one."

Hebrews 11:13b,16a NASB

The desire to be in the midst of HIS presence...

"and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes;

and there will no longer be any death;

there will no longer be any mourning, or crying or pain..."

Revelation 21:4 NASB

Do you ever long for your heavenly home?

Linking to Spiritual Sundays

Epaphras Labored Earnestly

Epaphras…always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers. Colossians 4:12

I love to delve deeper into the barely mentioned names I come across in God’s word. Always laboring earnestly…As I read these words I realized that it had been a long time since I had done any laboring in prayer for anyone. I thought of this man whose name means “lovely.” He is mentioned  just a few times in the Bible and from that I learned:

Colossians 1:7

-He shared the gospel with the church at Colossae

-He was a beloved fellow bond-servant with Paul and Timothy

-A faithful servant of Christ on their behalf 

Colossians 1:8

-He informed Paul & Timothy of the church’s love in the Spirit

Colossians 4:12

-He was a bondslave of Jesus Christ 

-He always labored earnestly in prayer for the Colossians

Colossians 4:13

-He had a deep concern for the Colossians & other churches

Philemon 23

-He later became a fellow prisoner with Paul

Epaphras labored earnestly, not just in prayer but in the work of the gospel going forth. Yes, there is much I can learn from this barely mentioned man...

Do you have a barely mentioned person in the Bible that has intrigued you?

Linked up to Spiritual Sundays.

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