Matters of the Heart

In my growth group from church we are studying a book called "Change your Brain, Change your Body".  It is my job this week to read the chapter on 'the heart' and report back to the  group.   Since the author is not a Christian and relies on hypnosis and Brain scans to diagnosis mental and emotional and physical problems,  I wanted a fresh look at what the Bible had to say about the Heart.  I studied and looked up tons of verses and I feel like I only recorded a small percent of  what the Bible has to say on our hearts.  Here is what I have compiled.  I hope the ladies like it.  My heart enjoyed writing all of this down, that's for sure.
And as the author says,  'if it warms your hands, then it's good for the brain'.  
My hands are feeling a lot warmer, but so is my heart!!

How the heart works (from the Bible) 

The heart can:  break, tremble, harden, stir or respond.

The heart can be circumcised, thrilled, sick, wayward, gentle,  changed and sad.

We can love with our whole heart, we can pour out our heart, or get a new heart.

Our hearts can be pure…. or evil.

We can lose heart when trouble strikes.

We can keep the promises of God deep within our hearts.

Our heart meditates on the things of God.

We can make music to the Lord in our hearts and praise him with all our heart.

God creates a clean heart in us if we ask.

“My heart may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.”  Ps. 73: 26

“The Lord doesn’t see things the way that you see them.  People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”  1 Sam. 16:7

“ I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Ps. 119:11

We can ask God to search our hearts and know our hearts. (Ps. 139:23)  And ask him to guard our heart. (Prov. 4:23)

The heart can be peaceful ( Prov. 14:30) and cheerful ( Prov. 17:22)

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding.” Prov 3:4,5

“Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him.  (Eph.3:17)

“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”  Ps. 37:4

“Be beautiful inside your heart, with a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.”  1 Pet. 3:4

Love each other deeply with your whole heart.  1 Pet. 1:22

Be filled with love that comes from a pure heart.  1 Tim. 1:5

Do the will of God with your whole heart.  Eph. 6:6

Pray for our hearts to be flooded with light, to understand the hope he has given us.  Eph 1:18

A person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.  Rom 2: 29

God knows people’s hearts.  Acts 15:8

Jesus is humble and gentle at heart.  Mat. 11:29

What is in your heart determines what you say.  Mat.  12:34

“Where ever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will be also.” Luke 12:34

 Dedicated to my 2 kids:  my daughter who has inspired me to do more stuff outside of my comfort zone and my son who loves a good-deep-hearted-talk!  They have both enlarged my heart in a good way.

What I've learned the last few months

So.... when things get tough, we learn life lessons.

Being sick is not fun, but through it all I've learned some things I hope to never ever forget
or take for granted.

~It's OK to drink lots of water
~it's OK to ask God why I'm going through another health issue
~ it's good to go the doctor, even if it takes 5 or 6 of them to figure it out.

I'm learning to take vitamins regularly
I'm learning to read my Bible more to remind me daily that I'm loved
It's OK to pray, take this sickness from me please....... God.

I've done things I've never done before now:
Like go the doctor every week
Like go to the pastor and ask him for prayer
Like wear ear plugs for church instead of cringing (when the music is too loud)
Like sharing with my book club that I need prayer and rejoicing that they did :)

It was a rough couple of weeks to say the least.
I shared with my class I was sick and they felt my pain.
I called my sister and asked her for help.
I even spent a few nights at her house so she could take care of me.
I had days when I could barely get out of bed.
I feared it would never go away

I felt pressed on every side, but not crushed.
I felt perplexed, but not drived to despair.
I never felt abandoned by God.

At times I felt knocked down, but not destroyed.
2 Cor:4,8

Then I realized that through suffering in our bodies, that we share in the death of Jesus
and His pain on the cross.

But because Jesus lives is me, there is a constant hope.  There will always be life:  whether we live or die, we are Christ's.  And his resurrection becomes our eternal inheritance.


It's the things that we can't see that last forever.
So I'm learning to not look at the troubles today, and focus on the things that can't be seen.
The things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.  Amen
2 Cor:4:18

May we all learn that God is always there, taking care of us.  Visiting us in our sickness and never leaving our side.  He is the author of perfection.  Is the creator of our bodies.  He is the inhabitor of my soul.
And because of this I can rejoice.  Not because I was sick, but because I know He is my Father and He wants me to enjoy life and restore my health.

Maybe it was is just another lesson in learning to lean on Him.
Yes Lord, even when I am in the doctor's office with a small suction in my ear, you are still there holding my hand.
Thank you Jesus!!!!!

The Medicine Will Cure IT!

Swish, swish, swish...... on and on goes the noise in my left ear.
I just found out today that I have yet another ear infection.
Had them as a baby and as a small child.  Even in my 40's I had a few, and now when I am 56.
I guess none of us are exempt from a little ear pain.  There is always going to be infection somewhere.  Then the pain calls out to us and says "Go to the doctor"

Well I did.  And hopefully the medicine will cure it.

Read me, Read me, read me.......... on and on goes the noise in my mind.
I just realized today that God is calling me to read the Bible.
I have not been exempt from worry, strife, bitterness, anger, unforgiveness.
I had it as a little kid , and I still have it.
It just took a little reminder from a talk with my daughter to realize that the medicine bottle for my spiritual infection is right by my bedside.

It's  my BIBLE!

Thank you daughter.
And what a better way to cure the "I need more of God" syndrome than to just open it up.

He speaks, he always has.  He knows my name.  He knows my frustrations and my accomplishments.
But He wants me to know Him more.

So I opened the Book up and read the following:  " We have been justified through faith"  Romans 5:1

I am raised up with Jesus.
He is my righteousness.
I stand in PEACE before God.
I can rejoice in my sufferings.
My heart is filled with LOVE  from the Holy Spirit.
I have a constant HOPE that He will never leave of disappoint.
 So therefore, I can rejoice in all things.

Thank you Jesus for still speaking to me at a time when I desperately wanted to hear from you.
Just wanted to hear you say that you still love me.
Why did I wait so long to open your VOICE TO ME?

Sheila Walsh once said :" God in his mercy, out of a desire for a real relationship with us,
will continue to allow us to fall flat on our faces until all we want is him.
He is so committed to our spiritual health and growth
    that he will do whatever it takes
        to free us from our selfish nature.
He knows us well and loves us lavishly."

I think I need to re-find myself in Christ.  So I can begin to have deep relationships with Jesus and others.

I'm going to have to go deep, get out of my comfort bubble and tell God once again that I'm His and I'll do what He asks.

So I'm asking Him again to use my weaknesses and strengths for His Glory.

I hope the medicine clears up my ear infection.
But I know God's word will clear up my longing heart.

Thanks Charissa for  investing time into your dear old mom.

Has It really been six months since my last post?

Wow!  Time flies when you are a grammy.  There are a million things to say about being a grandparent.
I never understood when people said that being a grandparent was the best thing EVER!!!
I loved being a mom.  It was so fun and challenging and right up my alley.  But yes, I was probably a little stressed out about the whole thing.  You are always thinking in the back of your mind..... am i doing the right thing?  (please dear God let this child grow up normal)
Well ~ here she is.  My first born~ 30 years old~ and a mommy~ the best mommy ever!

And here is child # 2.  We are two of a kind crazy people.  WE love hanging out and joking around.
People don't get it I'm sure.  But ever since he was a kid, we've enjoyed each other's weirdness :)







Then came David. :) Then David came for a visit, and I could hardly contain myself.  Get the crib and let the hugging begin.  Such a little tease he is.  He is interactive and such a joy.  It's like seeing life from a different perspective.  Maybe that's how God views us~ (He just doesn't see who we are, but what we can BE!)

  I want him to be loved and happy and yes, perfect.
I want to enjoy every facial expression and every sound that comes out from his mouth.
I could just stare for hours at how he soaks up the huge universe with those little eyes and inquisitive hands.
Even when he sleeps, I think he is dreaming about how he can be an even cuter baby, just for grammy.

Yes, I ADORE my daughter's perfect child.  While she does the nurturing and raising and "hard work";
I get to enjoy the squishy baby and the joy he brings me.
(if I lived any closer, I would probably move in)
So yes, this is therapy for me.  To write it out and just say it as plain as can be:  I LOve Him.