A Shift in the Wind

Going to the beach on a holiday was one of our favorite things to do when our children were younger. To save alittle money, we would always go late in the season which meant "storm season".

One particular year, we enjoyed 2 weeks on the sandy shoreline but on our last day there, a shift in the wind happened. Storms were brewing up all around us and the dark clouds could be seen in our rear view mirror as we drove out of town. A day later, we heard the news. The storm we saw was no ordinary storm but remnants of a hurricane that swept in and took out many businesses along the beach, including the very condo that we had stayed. 

A shift in the wind brought about some sudden changes for that beach town. Likewise, when the wind shifts in our life, change is inescapable. Many fear change, but sometimes God must shift our wind to place us where He needs us to be. 

Perhaps your wind has shifted in a relationship, or a job, or a way of thinking. Whatever change you are encountering, recognize that your wind shift doesn't have to be turbulent. God often times changes our wind so that He can place us right where He needs us to be.

"For he commanded and raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea." (Psalm 107:25)

If you see dark clouds in your rear view mirror, leave it behind and trust the Wind of God.

BLESSINGS. Laurie

@copyright2018 laurieadams

Is There More?

Today's devotion can also be found over at lacedwithgrace.com:

After finishing the hearty dinner of all of his favorite things, my husband asked, “Is there more?” He wasn’t asking because he was still hungry and was thinking of a second plate. He asked because he wanted to come back for more tomorrow.

Isn’t it a great feeling when there is plenty to go around. There’s nothing but disappointment when you’ve thought about that last piece of pie in the refrigerator all day long, only to come home at 5:00 pm and find it is no longer there!

I have been asked more than once that same question, “Is there more?” Except many times it didn’t mean leftover food, often times, the question was asked about life choices. After serving a corporation or a church for several years, perhaps you’ve asked the same question, “is there more?” Or after graduating from high school or college…”is there more?” After you’ve buried a loved one, “is there more?”

Perhaps you have found yourself in a “is there more?” situation and you are contemplating what else is left for you to do. I’m actually in what I call a holding pattern right now in my ministry, coming out of one area and waiting for the next door to open. To be honest, I’ve asked God this very question…”Is there more?” What more could there possibly be, God?

I’m reminded that there is so much more to life than working at a job, getting married and having children. While this seemingly is every American’s dream, it doesn’t stop there. There IS so much more!

God wants our lives to be full of all of those things that I mentioned, but He also created us to be so much more. Having a family is the best, but God has more. Attending a good church is a good thing, but God has more. Having wealth, power and integrity is admirable, but you guessed it, God has more!

God’s blessings never cease to amaze me but yet I cease to be amazing for Him. I settle for the job I’m in, I walk past my hurting neighbor, I sit in the same pew week after week and don’t see the unchurched, I accept disappointment and despair as what I deserve. All the while not seeing, not realizing, that God has so much more for me to see, to do and to become.

“Is there more”, you ask? God wants more for us than we could ever hope for. Jesus said this…

“It is the Spirit Who gives life; the flesh is no help at all.” (John 6:63)

The leftovers that the world throws at us will only last a short time, with God there is always plenty more!

BLESSINGS. Laurie

@copyright2018 laurieadams

Are You Ready to Answer the Call Yet?

TODAY'S DAILY...

How many times has your phone rang and instead of answering it, you hit mute or unavailable? 

There are tons of reasons why we don't take time to answer the call. Perhaps we are in the middle of something or perhaps we intentionally ignore the caller. 

When God calls me to do something, often times I find myself hitting the mute button. How about you?

I don't mean to ignore His voice but sometimes I find myself telling myself (and God) that "I can't" or "maybe later".

One thing I've learned over the years is that when God calls you, He will prepare and equip you and when the time is right, you will answer His call. 

The question is, what will we do during the incubation period? 

It may be a week or two, or a year or a decade before God opens the right door for which He has called you. A delay does not mean He called the wrong number, rather, it could be that the time has not come yet for you.

"Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ.  I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it.” (1 Corinthians 3:1-2)

Paul was saying to the church members at Corinth that they were not ready YET! While they were still like infants and needing milk to feed upon, the implication here is that solid food would come at a later time. 

Whether it be to teach a Bible Study, start a new career, or go overseas - when God calls, don't be afraid to answer. He will be with you each step of the way, from milk to solids and beyond!

BLESSINGS. Laurie

@copyright2018 laurieadams

COME TO THE LIGHT

One of the darkest places I've ever been is down in a cave. A few years ago, we visited Mammoth Spring Caves. During the tour, once we were deep into the cave, our tour guide turned off his light so we could experience just how dark it was.

While the lights were out you couldn't see your hand in front of your face. I never thought that any other place could ever be so dark until the moment that isolation and discouragement showed up. 

We all experience moments, sometimes days or weeks, in which everything around us appears dark and desolate. Perhaps it is a dead end job, or the kids seem to have forgotten you or the stress of life just leaves you feeling defeated. Whatever the reason for the darkness in your life, let's remember what the miners in the cave had to do; when darkness fell upon them, they ignited their lights. 

“But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.” – John 3:21    

The Light of Christ will illuminate those dark corners of our life and give us hope and an eternal love that will light up our world. 

With the Truth of God as our light, there's no reason to sit in the dark. 

BLESSINGS. Laurie

@copyright2018 laurieadams 

Letting Go and Letting God

TODAY'S DEVOTION..

Every mom's heart longs to cling to her children. Sometimes loosening our grip is the best choice that we can make.

I remember taking our son to college and how difficult it was to leave him there. I cried nearly the entire 7 hour drive home. The tears didn't end there either. For weeks I cried at the grocery store purchasing his favorite cereal; I cried every time I passed his bedroom; I cried every phone call he made to me. It was ridiculous how consumed I had become with his absence.

Finally, one day I was talking with a friend and she made a comment that changed my way of thinking. "He's not gone forever, he's just at college". Wow! She was right, I had become more emotional about his leaving and less trusting God for his well being.

I can only imagine how emotional it must have been for the mother of Moses (Jochebed) to leave him. It was after king Pharaoh decreed for all Hebrew male babies to be killed that this mother hid her baby son for 3 months. When it came evident that she could no longer keep Moses hidden, the Bible tells us she let go...

"She got a basket made of papyrus reeds and waterproofed it with tar and pitch. She put the baby in the basket and laid it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile River." (Exodus 2:3b)

I cannot imagine how Jochebed felt that day. Somehow leaving my child at college seemed less frightening than this. While the stories of these two mothers seem different, two things remain the same. Both Jochebed and I trusted God and we both believed God had a plan and purpose for our child's life.

Whether you have sent your child off to kindergarten, high school, college or across seas; can I remind you that God is in control and because He has our children in the palm of His Hand, we don't always have to.

PRAYER: Lord, help me to not over stress about things that You already have in control. Give me peace, confidence and trust that whatever phase of life my child is in that You are always with them. AMEN

BLESSINGS TODAY. Laurie

@copyright2018 laurieadams

DAILY DEVO... don't be a slothful Christian.

TODAY'S DAILY...

No one likes to be called lazy, perhaps another word no one likes to hear is "slothfulness". I always thought the two words meant the same. But honestly, the hardest working person can actually become slothful. 

“Slothfulness” has nothing to do with energy or the lack of it, actually it speaks of our inward condition and the state of where we are headed. 

(Proverbs 19:15) "Laziness brings on deep sleep, and the shiftless go hungry."

Today's Scripture indicates that laziness will not lead us anywhere, not anywhere productive anyway. But even in the busiest of busy days, people can find themselves stuck in becoming slothful or living in a neutral state of mind. 

Like driving a car, the state of being neutral means you are not going anywhere, you are simply in idle mode. 

I never want God to find me being lazy, but I also don't want to be found slothful either. If you are feeling "stuck" in your ministry or perhaps in your life as a whole, maybe it's time to switch gears and get moving again. It's time we stop being so idle in our Christianity. 

BLESSINGS. Laurie

@copyright2017 laurieadams

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE READING: Ezekiel 24-26, Hebrews 11:32-40, Proverbs 19:15-21 

DAILY DEVO...Are you washed and stuffed like a turkey?

TODAY'S DAILY...

Today is my last Thanksgiving post this week. I pray each of you have a blessed gathering at your table of thanks.
************************
"May your stuffing be tasty,
May your turkey be plump.
May your potatoes and gravy
Have no lumps.
May your yams be delicious
And your pies take the prize,
And may your
Thanksgiving Dinner
STAY OFF of your thighs!" (Unknown)

Today is Thanksgiving Eve and while that poem was meant to make you chuckle, it has a great spiritual lesson.

Today, tonight and tomorrow morning we will all be busy with the preparation work for our Thanksgiving meal. Cutting, mixing, blending, baking, roasting and cleaning.

Everyone who has ever hosted Thanksgiving in their home knows that it requires a lot of preparation work. It takes hard work to prepare all that our little poem describes. The turkey. The dressing. The potatoes. The yams. The desserts. And so much more.

Likewise, if we desire to have a heart of gratitude and serve God with a thankful heart; it takes preparation:

First; like a turkey we must be washed and cleansed. Before a turkey can be stuffed, it must be clean...

(Psalm 51:2) "Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity And cleanse me from my sin."

Secondly, like a turkey, we should be stuffed with the good stuff...

(Galatians 5:22,23) "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control."

When we start with these two ingredients in life; washed by the Blood and pursuing the fruits of the Spirit, an attitude of gratitude will come more easy. Instead of wearing our food on the outside (like the poem says), our spiritual food will spill out from the inside - from our washed but stuffed heart. 🦃

Gobble Gobble. Happy Thanksgiving!

@copyright2017 laurieadams

DAILY DEVO...Doesn't God deserve our thanks?4

TODAY'S DAILY...

It is Thanksgiving week and I am sharing "Giving Thanks" posts this week:

I have come in contact with too many people who no matter how hard you try, you just can't seem to satisfy them. They are never happy. Never content. 

Reminds me of the story about the ten lepers in the Bible. Leprosy was a terrible disease and most that were inflicted were cast away and isolated from others. Their one hope was to be healed one day.  

Imagine with me, what it was like one day when 10 lepers approached Jesus, begging Him to heal them. 

In an instant, their request was granted. But out of 10 whose lives were changed for the better, only one came back to say "thank you"! 

What happened to the other 9? Were they so full of ingratitude that they couldn't muster up a simple "thank you"?

Today, I see some "leper attitudes"; people who don't have hearts of gratitude. Some people are expectant of receiving and reluctant to give thanks. Too many times I have even felt taken advantage of or at least unappreciated for the kind things that I have done. 

Imagine how Jesus must have felt that day...

(Luke 17:17,18) Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?”

Ingratitude is a sin, and surely it grieves God's heart when we are not appreciative of God's kindness. 

We can either choose to be ungrateful like the 9 or we can choose to be grateful like the 1. May we all take a moment and reflect on what God has done for us today and simply say "thank you". 

Doesn't He deserve at least that?

HAPPY THANKSGIVING WEEK!

Laurie

@copyright2017 laurieadams 

DAILY DEVO...think before you speak

TODAY'S DAILY...

I've heard it said over and over, "think before you speak" but yet too many times we do the exact opposite: we speak without thinking. 

Today's Scripture Reading takes us to Proverbs where we are reminded that a righteous person will study their answer before responding...

(Proverbs 15:28) "The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil."

Some time ago I saw an acronym for the word "Think", I don't know who came up with it to give credit but I thought it was worthy to share today as we think about the words we speak. Before opening our mouth, let's ask ourselves the following 5 questions:

1. Is it True?
2. Is it Helpful?
3. Is it Inspiring?  
4. Is it Necessary?
5. Is it it Kind?

T.H.I.N.K. - may we study the words that we speak and refrain from using any words that kill, steal or destroy. 

Think about it before you speak about it! 

BLESSINGS. Laurie

@copyright2017 laurieadams

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE READING: Lamentations 3:38-5:22, Titus 3, Proverbs 15:27-33

DAILY DEVO...guard the deposits that God makes

TODAY'S DAILY...

When we deposit our money into a bank, we not only expect our finances to be kept safe but we expect it to make more money!

In today's Scripture reading, Paul is saying the same thing about our relationship with Christ. 

(1 Timothy 1:14) "Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you; guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit Who lives in us."

God has placed His trust in us for something far more greater than money. God has entrusted us with faith, the gospel and His plan. No doubt, He would like to see something happen with his investment.

Guarding the deposit that God has made in us goes far beyond counting the blessing; the deposit of His Word into our hearts is not something we should take lightly. Nor should it be something we keep stored up in a lockbox. 

God wants us to share our wealth of knowledge of Him with others. We should never mismanage the great deposit that Christ has made into our heart; into our lives. 

Keep the things of God safe and be faithful with everything that God gives you. In doing so you will see your riches increase. 

BLESSINGS. Laurie

@copyright2017 laurieadams

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE READING: Jeremiah 48:1-49:6, 2 Timothy 1, Proverbs 14:7-22

Laced with Grace...never get weary of doing good

I am flat out tired as I write this devotion.

Between life, working in ministry, working a job and going to school, my body is screaming, “I’m tired!” I am sure one or two of you reading this today can identify. Sometimes we just get weary.

The Bible tells us to not get weary. It isn’t talking about physically, actually, in the book of Galatians it is talking about not getting tired of doing good…

(Galatians 6:9Open in Logos Bible Software (if available)) “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap if we do not give up.”

Now, the fact that Paul has to warn us that we should not become weary in doing good tells me that there is a very good chance that we WILL get tired of doing good things. Not the kind of “get tired” as in needing a nap but the kind of “get tired” that propels us to quit.

Truth is, when we can’t see the fruits of our labor we tend to want to throw in the towel. Imagine with me that you work day in and day out at a factory. At the factory, it was your job to produce the best fruit that you could. Every day you work  hard, but at the end of the day, you see no fruit. You continue this for days, then weeks and over years…still no fruit. One day you decide that you aren’t  going back to that factory. I mean why? You have no fruit to count. Why keep doing a good job for nothing!

But what you didn’t know (or see) is that the “fruit” came in a different shape. The fruit you were making was the “good morning” to the one no one else would speak to. Your fruit was encouraging the one who needed encouraging. Your fruit may not have been noticed by you, but it was being counted in so many other ways.

Doing good is not something that we should ever tire of doing. Doing good is a way of thinking, a way of living; it is what defines who we are!

If you are tired (physically), get some rest. If you are tired of doing good, keep doing and see how God will bless you for endlessly being devoted to Him.

BLESSINGS, Laurie

@copyright2017 laurieadams

DAILY DEVO...God is faithful!

TODAY'S DAILY...

We all know what it is like to be let down or have promises broken. People have disappointed me thru all stages of my life, that's to be expected, but God has remained faithful thru it all. 

The definition of faithfulness is "constant; true to one's word or promise". That is exactly Who God is!

We are reminded in today's Scripture reading that whatever God promises, He is faithful...

(1 Thessalonians 5:24) "The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it."

In a world that is ever changing, God is the only thing that remains the same. He doesn't make mistakes, He doesn't change His mind and He never sways from the Truth. God is the firm foundation which I stand upon. 

People will continue to disappoint me in this life and I'm sure I will disappoint them as well, but the longer I live the more I understand that God's faithfulness is all that I need.

May we all learn that our word means something and that there is something about keeping our word. May we all be found to be faithful; faithful to each other and faithful to God.

BLESSINGS. Laurie

@copyright2017 laurieadams

TODAY'S READING...Jeremiah 31:23-32:35, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28, Proverbs 12:1-14

DAILY DEVO...God loves us so much He disciplines us

TODAY'S DAILY...

One of the most loving things a parent can do for their child is tell them when they are doing something wrong. 

We have all either been corrected by a parent or been on the other end of the correction belt, as a parent. 

Whether we use the term "correction, reproof or rebuke"; all three words are used in the Bible and God says it is necessary for our growth. 

I suppose no one really likes to be punished, but when God reprimands (punishes) us, He does it out of love. It is an act of His love that He wants us to walk the straight and narrow way. 

I suppose at times my own children thought it was unfair to be punished, but in the end they learned their lesson and they changed their ways. 

In Jeremiah chapter 31 we are reminded of God's everlasting love...

(Jeremiah 31:3) The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness."

Before we would punish our children for a wrongdoing, we would always say to them, "this hurts me more than you". A child who is about to be punished finds that hard to believe but as a parent I assure you, it pains us greatly when our children do wrong.

If it's that way for you and me with our children, how much more do you think our sin (our wrongdoing) hurts our Heavenly Father? 

If God is reprimanding you for something today, it isn't because He wants to but it's because He loves you! 

BLESSINGS. Laurie

@copyright2017 laurieadams

TODAY'S READING...Jeremiah 30:1-31:22, 1 Thessalonians 4:1-5:11, Proverbs 11:27-31 

DAILY DEVO...leaves blue around aimlessly, our lives shouldn't.

TODAY'S DAILY...

When I watch the leaves blowing around in the wind, I'm reminded that the leaves that have fallen no longer have life.

They blow around aimlessly in the yard, bouncing over the grass and landing on the fence, pressed up against it with nowhere else to go. Full of activity but yet empty of life.

God did not create us to be like lifeless leaves, just blowing around aimlessly. God created you and me to be purposeful!

One of God's purposes for us is found in today's Scripture reading...

(1 Thessalonians 3:12) "May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you."

Paul prayed that the Thessalonians love would increase for each other, and increase for ALL people.

The love that Paul speaks of has specific purpose, it's the kind of love that encourages others to live in such a way that they would not be found blowing around like a leaf; aimlessly lost and dead.

When our love increases for others (and for God), we will then see that our purpose in life is still alive and well and not just blowing around in the wind.

BLESSINGS. Laurie

@copyright2017 laurieadams

TODAY'S READING: Jeremiah 28-29, 1 Thessalonians 2:9-3:13, Proverbs 11:22-26

DAILY DEVO...you be you and I'll be me!

TODAY'S DEVOTION...

"We are not trying to please people but God, Who tests our hearts." (1 Thessalonians 2:4b)

God never intended us to become someone for the sake of others, instead, God made us  who we are for His sake!

I learned a long time ago that you can't please everyone all the time. In fact, many times you can't please some people any of the time.

God made me to be me and He made you to be you. Don't let others define who you are. There's no worse place to be than in an identity crisis, trying to find out who you are and what your purpose is.

Moses had an identity crisis. Born a Hebrew slave, but raised Egyptian royalty. When Moses grew up, he had a choice to make: to become who others said he was or become who God intended him to be.

I see too many people today trying to be something they are not. What I love about Moses is that he chose to give everything up to become who God wanted him to be.

My question today is this: whom are you trying to please, God or man?

Be who God created you to be and I will do the same. Together, we can make a difference because God's love has already defined us.

BLESSINGS. Laurie

TODAY'S READING...Jeremiah 26-27, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-2:8, Proverbs 11:12-21

DAILY DEVO...make the main thing the main thing!

TODAY'S DEVOTION...

Have you ever lost your focus? I'm not talking about when your eyeglasses need adjusting, but losing focus in life. 

It is so easy to get off track with our focus in life. 30 years ago, I was doing something completely different than what I am doing today. Things change. People change. Our focus can change. 

Making the main thing the main thing in our life isn't always easy when we don't know what the main thing is.

I suppose life can be like the sport of archery; aim the arrow at the door where you want the arrow to land. Sometimes you get a bullseye and sometimes you don't. 

(Colossians 2,6,7) "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."

When we make Christ our main focus (our main thing), we will have a firm foundation to build our life upon. And every arrow we shoot will be dead centered right where it was intended to fall, in the center of God's plan. 

But before we can make the main thing the main thing, we have to make Him the main thing! 

Don't lose focus, just change your focal point. Aim for the Bullseye. 

BLESSINGS. Laurie

@copyright2017 laurieadams

TODAY'S READING: Jeremiah 18:1-20:6, Colossians 1:24-2:15, Proverbs 10:6-14

DAILY DEVO...pray without ceasing

TODAY'S DEVOTION...

The image of someone "praying without ceasing" may cause you to think of someone walking around with their heads down, hands folded and bumping into things as they do their nonstop prayer walk.

When Paul speaks about not ceasing to pray for the Colossians, he was not talking about having a certain posture or praying every moment of the day.

To "pray without ceasing" doesn't mean for us to talk to God nonstop. Instead it means that we should live in an attitude of prayer and bring ALL things to God.

Praying without ceasing is surrendering our temptations and faults to God, it is thanking Him for the good things, it is asking for wisdom and strength in the bad times, it is being sensitive to the Holy Spirit knowing when to speak and when to listen, it is praising God for all that He is and for all that He does.

When prayer is on our lips continually, every aspect of our life is an opportunity to connect with God and it will enable us to walk worthy of the Lord.

(Colossians 1:9,10) "For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God."

Is there anything that you care so much for that you would be willing to never stop praying about?

Pray without ceasing so you can walk worthy of the Lord.

BLESSINGS. Laurie

@copyright2017 laurieadams

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE READING...Jeremiah 16-17, Colossians 1:1-23, Proverbs 10:1-5

DAILY DEVO... how well do you know God's love?

TODAY'S DEVOTION...

Paul prayed that the Ephesians would know the depth of the love of Christ. He wanted them to see what was beyond their comprehension when it came to this kind of love. 

It is difficult for our minds to wrap around this thought of just how much God loves us.

Most Christians go thru life thinking that they know God, but do we really know Him? 

The true test of "knowing Him" will appear when the bottom falls out of our life. When our marriage struggles. When we lose our job. When death or serious illness affects us. These are just some of the life struggles that if we lean hard enough upon God, we will see Him for Who He truly is. 

(Ephesians 3:19) "And to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."

I have people in my life that seem to only know me when they need something. I'm sure you do too. When it comes to my relationship with God, I don't want to be that child that only knows Him when I'm in need.

Even though it goes beyond my comprehension of how deep and rich the love of God is, I want to know God; really know Him. Understanding Who God is will help us in those topsy turvy times in life.

Paul brings up a good question in today's Scripture reading, so I have to ask; "How well do you Know God?"

HAVE A BLESSED DAY. Laurie

@copyright2017 laurieadams

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE READING:  Isaiah 65:17-66:24, Ephesians 3:1-4:16, Proverbs 6:20-26

DAILY DEVO...we reap what we sow

TODAY'S DEVOTION...

Everyone knows that before you can bite into a juicy watermelon, you have to first start with a seed. 

Not all of the seeds that we plant turn out good. The Bible warns us in Galatians:

(6:7,8) "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life."

Many people are deceived in this world. They are deceived in thinking that their discord, destruction and evil will somehow turn into something good. But as today's Scripture reading tells us, it only turns into destruction. 

The law of "reaping and sowing" applies to everyone; saved or not saved, rich or poor, man or woman. Everything good (or bad) first starts with a seed, no matter who we are. 

Let's make sure what we are planting is good so that good things will come back to us. With God, we not only reap what we sow, but we will reap even more!

HAVE A BLESSED (and fruitful) DAY! Laurie

TODAY'S DAILY READING: Isaiah 58-59, Galatians 6, Proverbs 5:15-23

DAILY DEVO...guard your heart!

TODAY'S DEVOTION...

Our heart (literally) beats life. Anyone knows without a heart, one cannot live. 

But in today's Scripture reading,       we read that it is out of our heart that all issues of life come from...

(Proverbs 4:23) "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."

The heart is a mysterious thing to me. With each beat, our heart is saturated with emotion. It is where we can be happy and sad, all at the same time. 

The Bible actually speaks of the heart often: it can be grieved, broken, pierced, divided and be full of joy. 

Our heart is the very expression of who we really are. This is why it is imperative that we guard what we allow in. 

Heart disease is probably one of fastest growing diseases there is. Once diagnosed with a heart condition, life altering changes usually are a must in order to live a full life. 

Spiritually speaking, when we allow the wrong things into our heart, it isn't long before disease sets in. This kind of heart disease is called sin and without a life altering change, our hearts cannot be whole.

Guard your heart - for what you fill it with will surely come flowing out. 

HAVE A BLESSED (and hearty) DAY! Laurie

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE READING:  Isaiah 52-54, Galatians 4:12-31, Proverbs 4:20-27