Guarding Our Heart

In the past week one cannot pick up a newspaper, read online news, or even scroll through Facebook without being inundated with “news” about the release of the movie, Fifty Shades of Grey. One advertisement called on women to enter a contest and win a Fifty Shades movie night for ten friends.

Proverbs 4:23 is an excellent yardstick when discerning messages and cultural trends that may influence our thinking and choices. “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” (KJV). The word used for “keep” literally means to “guard” in the sense of protecting. Our hearts, which comprise our feelings, will, and intellect, are bombarded with many unbiblical messages daily. Unlike previous generations, we have nearly unlimited access to information and images for any given topic. Often what is reported as “news” is nothing more than sensationalized depictions of lewd behavior.

The instruction of Proverbs 4:23 is to guard the heart and to guard it with diligence. A guard watches and protects from anyone and anything that can penetrate the safe zone. Are we diligently guarding the gate to our hearts or do we let our guard down as we surf the waters of the internet? Does curiosity entice us to read the newspaper reviews that outline vivid details? God has given us an amazing capacity in our mind to “make pictures” as we read. If we are guarding our hearts with all diligence, we will refuse to take in what makes pornographic pictures in our mind. Some reading this may recoil at the thought they are engaging in pornography when dabbling with Fifty Shades of Grey. However, consider the definition pornography from Merriam-Webster: the depiction of erotic behavior (as in pictures or writing) intended to cause sexual excitement. Fifty Shades of Grey in print or in movie version is pornographic and we should have a guard posted at the gate of our hearts to prevent any entrance.

Proverbs 4:23 further instructs us to guard our heart with all diligence because out of our hearts flow the issues of life. What grows in the heart will come forth and influence the course of the life. Ecclesiastes 1:9 tells us, “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. (KJV). Fifty Shades of Grey is nothing new; sins of the flesh are as old as the fall of man. What is new is the bombarding of the senses in order to reach every corner of the culture with the message. Just this week it was reported that a “Fifty Shades of Grey” puzzle was given to Pennsylvania middle school students. This reminds the mothers and grandmothers among us that we must be vigilant to guard the hearts of our children and grandchildren also.

(http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/02/12/fifty-shades-grey-puzzles-given-to-pa-middle-school-children/)

We live in a sexualized culture that craves and promotes increasing depravity in every form outside the boundaries of the beautiful gift God intended for sexuality. Indeed, one criticism of the movie has been that it wasn’t explicit enough in portraying the story as it was in the print version.  Let us consider the warning of Romans 1:29-32, guarding our hearts and choosing wisely from what this culture offers us as women. “And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. (ESV)

RE Words

In a recent training workshop on eliminating waste in business, the presenter said “RE” words always indicate WASTE. For example, reprocess, rework, reset, etc. That statement got me thinking about how opposite it is in the Christian life and the value of “RE” words.  These "RE" words show us that with God, nothing is ever wasted!

o   We REPENT of sin and call on the Name of the Lord

o   He REDEEMS our life and buys us back; He is the REDEEMER

o   He REMAKES us into new creatures in Christ

o   He RENEWS our mind

o   He RESTORES our broken lives

o   He REVIVES our heart when we are weary and weak

o   He RESETS our life with new mercies and grace every morning because 

He is the God of new beginnings

Polka Dots

Spring mornings are a special delight and some include extra surprises! This morning was one such day. As I drove into work there had been rain overnight and there were some misty remnants lingering, yet not enough to qualify as “rain”.

As I began the walk from the parking lot into the building, I was reminded of my first Spring with SummaCare 12 years ago! We were in a different location then and I remember being so amazed by God’s grace in providing the job. Each morning that Spring it was special just to park, enjoy the freshness of the morning and swipe my identification badge for access, a new experience for me!

As I reminisced this morning, and thanked Him for health, a mind, the beauty of budding trees, and Spring freshness, a new surprise awaited me.

As I rounded the corner to the walkway, I noticed the polka dot concrete.  It is just like my Father to add something extra to remind us of His presence and creativity.

The rain had caused the blossoms to fall on the concrete and the moisture painted them like a canvas of white polka dots! I had a custom decorated concrete walkway that far exceeded any man made red carpet at the finest gala. He graced my morning with this reminder of His artistry and gave me the eyes to see; the earth and the skies are His canvas.

Life can be as hard as that concrete some days when we face the challenges before us. But if we can see beyond the problems there are Polka Dots in every hard space that remind us of the Shepherd. We are not alone in the journey when we trust Him, lean into His presence, and seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.

Look for the Polka Dots in the kindness of a special friend, the prayers of those who care, His precious Word that comforts, and just the beauty of all He has placed around you. We can thank Him that even in the hardest of places He sends glimpses of grace and reminders of His love.

Daddy's Girls Club

I am starting a club and naming it Daddy’s Girls. Do you remember when we were young and everything seemed to revolve around being in a “club”. Week to week the club may change about as often as we changed our mind about most anything as a young girl. And, whether or not you were in the “club” depended on who was doing the organizing and choosing of members. Being left out was the ultimate punishment a friend may inflict if she was prone to getting revenge for even the most minor of offences.

Well, my club isn’t based on whim or fancy, likes or dislikes. Rather, it is formed by a very unique group of Daddy’s Girls that have been through the valley with their Daddy and can never turn back the hands of time. To be in this club means you have endured, faced life head on, loved lavishly and given unselfishly as Daddy’s Girl.

Most certainly, club members will welcome and embrace one another as those outside the club are unable to do. Their camaraderie will be evident in their understanding of one another, their tears, and their nods of affirmation. It isn’t easy to join Daddy’s Girls. It will cost you dearly, but it is worth every tear.

No one begins life planning to join Daddy’s Girls and the funny thing about it is that you don’t even know the club exists UNTIL you are already a member and meet another member. Suddenly, it is like pinky swear all over again and you could say, “jinx, you owe me a coke” because you keep saying the same things without even trying. 

Members have many things in common that are meaningful and deep but one of the most obvious is that they had a Daddy who loved them dearly, was so proud of them that he could just about pop the buttons on a vest if he wore one, and never tired of telling anyone who would listen about his girls. These Daddys were Mr. Fix It, Santa Claus, and Prince Charming all rolled into one. These Daddys made their little girls dreams come true and even when they really didn’t want to do it, you would never know!

But back to the Club. Sometime along life’s way the Daddy becomes older and the Daddy’s Girls begin to switch places with him and care more for him as he weakens and can do less and less for them. But that never diminishes the pride he feels or the smile he beams at just being with his girls. These are just pop quizzes and midterm exams but then one day the final test for being in the Daddy’s Girls Club comes. Daddy's girls suddenly find themselves wishing it wasn’t so and hoping against hope that something will change. Surely Mr. Fix It, Santa, and Prince Charming all rolled into one will garner the strength, or win the battle just one more time. But this time is different, he is losing, and he won’t stand tall ever again. 

Daddy’s Girls remember the love, the loyalty, and just how proud he was to call them his own. They remember all he taught them and they know what to do because they are Daddy’s Girls. They can’t walk away from the battle, even though he is losing the war. They stay, they love, they speak as he has spoken countless times over the years to them. Daddy’s Girls tell him they are okay, they will be fine,  and he did a good job. They also tell him it’s okay to go and they stay close and wait until the last breath, and the after breath tell them he’s gone. Daddy’s girls love to the end as he always loved them, lavishly, without holding back. It’s the least they could do for one who dried their tears, bandaged their skinned knees, and mended their broken hearts along the path of life.

Daddy’s Girls, the club for those who are given the privilege of choosing to stay by their Daddy’s side until his last breath. They are forever changed and forever blessed to have been Daddy’s Girls right to the end when he had to go, took a piece of their heart with him, and left his legacy of love behind.

·      In Memory of Gregory P. Graham

·      March 1, 2013 - Pam Cornell and Patte Smith joined the Daddy’s Girls Club

Mingled Tears

Tears of joy and tears of sorrow,
Tears of regret and fears for tomorrow,
Every tear that flows is captured above,
And shouts silently as a testament to love.
Hardened hearts feel no pain, nor do they shed a tear,
Their hearts have closed the door to shun the risk of pain.
The hearts of those who dare to love, also dare to cry,
For love and tears flow mingled down and intertwined.
So too, The Savior's love and sorrow flowed mingled down,
For it was His thorns that composed so rich a crown.

In memory of dad whose tears I dried and mingled with mine during his final days of illness.
Gregory P. Graham
1-2-28 to 3-1-13

"It's Not Life-Threatening"

On this morning's news it was reported that Warren Buffett, the well-known billionaire, has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. The report quoted Buffett as saying that it isn't "remotely life- threatening." Those words struck me as quite odd because we all have a "life-threatening" condition! We have to admit that none of us are guaranteed tomorrow or the next hour if we really consider our frailty.

What makes an 81 year old say something isn't "remotely life-threatening?" Is it trusting in the abundance of riches, self-sufficiency, power, or prestige? Anyone who has lived long enough has seen the sudden demise of rich and poor, famous and infamous. Death is no respecter of persons and all will one day encounter this final enemy. Alistair Begg stated in one of his sermons that we all have a shelf life, an expiration date; we just don't know what that date is. At 81 I would consider everything as "life-threatening!"

Yes, the truth is that we all have a life-threatening condition. The difference is that some choose to live in ignorance and denial as if it will never happen to them. But those in Christ know the One who has the cure. By His death on the cross and resurrection, Jesus conquered sin and death and He alone holds the keys to life and death. (I am he that lives, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive forevermore, Amen; and have the keys of hades and of death. - Rev. 1:18)

In James 4:13-15 we read about the wise perspective we should have as we make our future plans:

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”

Yes, each of us have a life-threatening condition but there is no need to fear when we know the One who conquered death and holds the keys.

One Hundred Fifty Three

Their nets are empty,

They are weary from trying.

The night lingers on,

No joy toward the dawn.

Then suddenly a sound

Comes from the shore,

"Let down your nets."

"Try over there."

Full to overflowing,

Sides bursting their seams.

The nets hold their fill,

One Hundred plus Fifty-three!

Is your net empty?

Are you weary from trying?

From shore the Master calls,

"Let down your net, try over there."

Do as He says,

You won't regret

That wonderful day

You let down your net.

John 21:1-11

2/11/87

Today's sermon referenced this scripture and Pastor Joel made the scripture alive with excitement. I recalled this prose from long ago and went searching for it. I am glad I did because it was typed on thermal paper and was fading away! Oh how our Master wants us to listen and obey. He will do more than we could ever imagine if we will let down our nets in response to His prompting :-)