Breaking Up With Target

Dear John (aka Target)

Since I cannot talk to you in person, I decided to write this letter instead, sad though I am to write it. To begin, let me take a trip down memory lane.

When we first met, I was thrilled! You were everything I wanted, and more. You were handsome, thoughtful, fun and playful, yet you had a serious side too. I loved spending time with you and I enthusiastically told all of my friends about you. Many of them came to hang out with us over the years. It was extra special when you moved into my neighborhood!

I never knew exactly how our time together would turn out. Sometimes it was a quick visit, and sometimes we lingered and passed the time walking and taking in the sights. I loved many of the souvenirs from those visits and they all had a special place in my home or closet :-) 

I always left you feeling good about those times together.

As I spent more time with you, I spent less and less with my old friends. It wasn’t hard because you were so special and I really didn’t miss them at all. Once in awhile I would spent just a few minutes catching up with them if you were unavailable, but it didn’t compare to what I had with you.

That is why it is so hard to write this letter to you but I must. You have shown by your words and actions that you have little regard for me, my thoughts, my opinions, and yes, even my feelings. You seem to have disdain for me, rather than the desire to please that you once had. It has been hard for me to comprehend this; indeed for awhile, I even overlooked it and tried to believe it wasn’t true. Recently, I could no longer deny it and your actions made it clear that you no longer wanted to spend time with me, my family, and my friends.

I am sorry to say goodbye on Mother’s Day,  but I must and I will move on. Recently I have visited with some of those old friends and we are getting reacquainted. They are helping me recover from the loss of our relationship and seem grateful to have me around.

It is unfortunate it turned out this way but it was your choice. Thanks for the memories.

Sincerely,

Once Loyal Customer

Why Won't They Believe?

November 10, 1983

Why won't they come my heart cries out
why won't they believe in Him?
A gift so freely given in love
And yet they won't receive

If I offered them a shiny new bauble
Clothes, a car, or maybe a trip
There would be no hesitation then
They'd gladly accept that gift

You offer them the gift of life
Your precious, holy Son
The One who holds a matchless treasure
Freely bestowing love beyond measure

They could have it all if they would believe
Boundless horizons as the Master's child
The joy, peace and life's deeper meaning
All of this for just receiving

Their hearts seem cold and so unyielding
Some say, "No thanks, I have no need
They shake their head and shift their glance
Feet shuffle, they go, will there be another chance?

How it must grieve You when they refuse
Please help me to keep proclaiming the truth
They wander aimlessly, blinded by sin
But amid the masses is a soul to win.

Praise

November 9, 1983 - that November was a month of inspiration for me :-)

Praise RESOUNDS
It bounces off the walls and ceilings
It sails through the air on wings of joy

Praise REPLENISHES
It nourishes the weary soul and battle-scarred
It is healing balm for open, gaping wounds

Praise RESTORES
It springs us back in time to the joy of salvation
It clothes us in garments of righteousness once more

Praise RENEWS
It makes us sparkle and shimmer as new fallen snow
It fills us with hope, resolve and visions for tomorrow

Praise Him once more!

Seeds and Tears

This one is dated November 23, 1983:

Precious seed sown in tears
Weeping, praying and anxiously waiting
The seed that is so small you see
Brings forth life sown on bended knee

The sower must be a diligent one
And scatter it far and wide
So much will fall on barren land
When it filters from the sower's hand

Scattered seeds upon the land
The dusty, dry and barren land
But here and there some moistened soil
Where tears were part of the sower's toil

It falls, it dies, it brings forth life
The seed that was sown in tears
Fields are white unto the harvest
The gathering of souls is near

The one who carried a bag of seed
And scattered it throughout the land
Returns again this time rejoicing
Carrying the sheaves within His hand

Psalm 126:5-6
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and wept, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

The Adversary

I came across "The Adversary" which was written November 13, 1983 and remains true today!

Prison bars are on the door
The walls are cold and damp
I cannot see the light of day
From this dusty floor on which I lay

I walked in here of my own free will
Thinking I would not tarry
But now it seems the door is locked
The key being held by the Adversary

He said it wouldn't be this way
He told me such a lie
A little here, a little there
I'm fearful now I'll die

He painted such a pretty picture
A graphic of his lie
And added such a sweet aroma
Surely, now I'll die

He changed my day to night
This murderer and father of lies
Why didn't I see him as he is
I was deceived by the angel of light

From the depths of my soul, I cry for help
I remember the light of day
The bars and chains will fall asunder
Calvary is the way

You are the one, the great I AM
Far greater and stronger than he
I know the way to be set free
It's your blood from Calvary

Please keep me from this prison of sin
I hate when I'm trapped within
You are the freedom my heart longs for
Oh, please don't let me go back through that door

A Prayer

For all Your blessing,
Heavenly Father,
Known to me,
and for all unknown,
accept my thanks.

May I not murmur at
Your Providence,
or dread the future.

Whatever happens,
help me to believe in your
unfailing care
and to know that in the
Valley of the shadow
You are by my side.

F.B. Meyer

How many blessings do we receive that remain unknown to us, perhaps until eternity? He protects, provides, guides, and strengthens us in ways we may not recognize each day; therefore, we routinely do not give Him thanks for all the "unknown" blessings we receive.

"May I not dread the future" called my attention to the peculiar temptation in this season of life to "dread" or fear the many "what ifs" that invade my thoughts.

Indeed, His love and care are unfailing and He is by my side, ever faithful.

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)