Tag Archives: Heart

Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day Matthew 5

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The Seven Deadly Sins and the Four Last Things...
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“You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.” Matthew 5:6 (MSG)

I have never heard a message delivered about appetites. Someday, when God gives the opportunity, I’m going to do so. Over the last several years of my own journey I’ve come to understand that my life reveals my appetites, and my appetites reveal the condition of my heart.

I can draw a dotted line between those things with which I struggle and appetites out of control. The first bite of forbidden fruit was rooted in Adam and Eve’s appetites. The fruit was pleasing to the eye and they wanted to possess it. It was so juicy, looked so scrumptious that they wanted to taste it. It would make them like God and they wanted to experience it. The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life are appetites without a governor. Every one of the seven deadly sins (greed, lust, sloth, envy, pride, gluttony, and wrath) are unbridled appetites.

Today, I’m asking myself: For what do I truly hunger? For what do I truly thirst?

The fruit of my life will reveal my appetites.

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Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day 2 Chronicles 1

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That night God appeared to Solomon. God said, “What do you want from me? Ask.” 2 Chronicles 1:7 (MSG)

What do you want?

It’s such a revealing question. As an actor, I was trained to break a character’s words down and ask this question for almost every line of a play. “What is it you want?” For the character of Lars Knudsen (pictured), the motivations were pretty simple. Lars wanted his love, Martha.

A character, a person, you, and me – we all speak, act and think out of that which motivates us. Watch a person long enough, listen to their conversation, and you can often find what motivates them. Their words and their actions reveal their motivation. You can see what they want.

What do I want?

It’s not such an easy question to answer. I’d like to say I want wisdom and I want God’s will. But, the reality is that my words and my actions convict me of less honorable motivations.

Today, I’m trying to answer the question honestly. What do I want?

Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day Isaiah 22

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Storm. You looked and looked and looked, but you never looked to him who gave you this city, never once consulted the One who has long had plans for this city. Isaiah 22:11 (MSG)

I have a friend who is currently walking through an incredibly strong and powerful life-storm. His life is completely upside down, and as the storm circles around him the chaotic effects seem to multiply. As I walk beside him, I've been impressed at his response to all of the tragic events swirling around him. His heart aches, but I don't see him reaching for a pill, a drink, or a one night stand to dull the pain. He is not running from the storm. He is resolutely walking through it, and quietly seeking God's strength in each and every moment.

There is nothing like a crisis to reveal the condition of a person's heart. Where we look for strength and what we reach for to comfort our pain says a lot about who we are and where we stand in our relationship with God.

I love my friend, and I know he's going to be more than alright. These momentary circumstances are going to result in new depths of wisdom. That which is dying within him will be transformed to new life. His heart is fixed on God, and God is faithful. He'll be fine.

What saddens me are those who look, and look, and look in all sorts of places for an escape to life's pain, but never once consult the One who has eternal plans, good plans with a bright future, for those who will simply ask for it and have the faith to seek after it.

Creative Commons photo courtesy of Flickr and ilhangendron

Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day Isaiah 1

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Light in the distance. "Quit your worship charades. I can't stand your trivial religious games: Monthly conferences, weekly Sabbaths, special meetings— meetings, meetings, meetings—I can't stand one more! Meetings for this, meetings for that. I hate them! You've worn me out! I'm sick of your religion, religion, religion, while you go right on sinning." Isaiah 1:13-14 (MSG)

The theme yesterday, from the message I heard in morning worship until the quiet pillow-talk with Wendy at night, was of forgiveness and repentance. I wake to read Isaiah's prophecy and the theme continues. There are days when, no matter where you turn, God keeps hammering a lesson home.

Pastor Andrew had a brilliant illustration yesterday of the child who has learned that "sorry" is the prescribed response to wrong-doing and turns it into life's get out of jail free card. Apologies are profane in the absence of repentance.

When faced with a choice of what to do about the darkness in my own soul, I can recount three different ways I've responded. One is outright rebellion and the willful choice to embrace the darkness. Another is repentance; literally the willful choice to turn the other direction and take clear and conscious steps towards the light. As I take intent, sometimes painful, steps towards the light, the darkness is exposed, examined, and its potency fades. The third response is to remorsefully turn towards the light while remaining fixed in place. I deceptively feel the light's reflection on my face and experience the warmth of it washing over me in the midst of my confession. Without stepping towards the light, however, the darkness can steal away deep inside to a place I can reach the next time I need a fix.

The power of light is realized and darkness fades in increasing measure as we move ever closer to the light source. Turning towards the light and stepping towards the light are often two very distinct decisions.

Creative Commons photo courtesy of Flickr and adavey

Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day 1 Kings 6

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Keeping up appearances. The word of God came to Solomon saying, "About this Temple you are building—what's important is that you live the way I've set out for you and do what I tell you, following my instructions carefully and obediently. Then I'll complete in you the promise I made to David your father." 1 Kings 6:11-12 (MSG)

We are obsessed with appearances. Take a spin through the television channels in the middle of the night and look at what is being hawked by men with loud voices and beautiful celebrities. Make-up, pimple cream, exercise equipment, diet pills and flab gadgets. We want to look better. We want to keep up appearances.

It's really no different with our spiritual lives. Appearance is key. We want to look good for others so our spirtuality isn't questioned. Play the game. Say the right things. Show up in the right places. Look the part. But, you don't want to look too spiritual and attract unwanted attention. It's tricky. You've got to maintain balance. Fit in. We don't want to appear too crazy, too wierd, too over-the-top.

Solomon built a gorgeous edifice. Solomon's temple would attract considerable attention. But, in today's chapter God made it clear that he placed far more importance on the unseen condition of Solomon's heart than the public display of his temple.

When it comes to matters of faith, what is hidden is far more important than what is seen.

Creative Commons photo courtesy of Flickr and bbaltimore

Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day Judges 3

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But the People of Israel made themselves at home among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. They married their daughters and gave their own daughters to their sons in marriage. And they worshiped their gods. Judges 3:5-6 (MSG)

I love being at home. I'm comfortable here. I relax here. It's a warm, loving, cozy place.

They say, "home is where the heart is." Jesus took it a step further when he said, "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Home says a lot about your heart. Home reflects who you are. Observe me in my home, and you'll get a much clearer picture of who I truly am.

I find it interesting that the people of Israel "made themselves at home." among the people of the land. They got comfortable and cozy. They even adopted their gods. There is archaeological evidence that the Israelites even worshiped the fertility goddess, Asherah, as the wife of Jehovah, who told them coming out of Egypt that they were to have no other gods.

Today, I'm contemplating where my heart is. I've always echoed the sentiment, "this world is not my home, I'm just a passin' through." But do I really believe that? Where have I made myself at home in this world and become too cozy? Where have the eyes of my heart been pulled away from God to become enamored with that which is worthless?