A Guiltless Heart

A Guiltless Heart “I’ve done a lot for you. But after what you done I will never forgive you!” A funny thing about forgiveness, we want our relationships to be good, but we are not good to our relationships. Jesus said, “I desire mercy and not sacrifice.” If midsentence we are inclined to use the word “but” we may be focused on our sacrifice rather than forgiveness in our heart. Life is short. We would be wise to live our best today rather than to have the mentality that perhaps tomorrow or in time forgiveness will come. Focus on what’s good, give people what they need to grow, offer words that heal. What you receive in return is a guiltless heart. What a heavenly way to live! Matthew 12:1-8 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath; his disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. When the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, "Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath." He said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him or his companions to eat, but only for the priests. Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and yet are guiltless? I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. But if you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath."

Put Your Feet Up And Relax

Put Your Feet Up And Relax “I can’t do this! I’m not equipped for it!” “God gave you a gift, but he didn’t give me any!” “I have been weighed down for so many years. I just don’t believe I will ever feel different.” We forget that we have an awesome God! God gave us His Son to lean on. Jesus asks us to give Him whatever weighs us down. We all must do what we can do daily to address people, participate in rectifying situations, and learn from our toughest experiences. Then we can confidently give all that is left to Jesus. We might be doing these things already. If we are and still feel ling weighed down, then . . . take a leap of faith, and give your burdens away. With Jesus in your corner, there is rest. Put your feet up and relax. Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus said, "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

The Gentle Touch

The Gentle Touch “Don’t bother me with your troubles. I don’t have time for that!” “Good fortune will never happen to me. I have the worst luck!” “I can’t do it. God didn’t give me that kind of brain.” If we are too pompous we will not hear a word anyone says to us. If we are too proud we cannot be touched. If we believe we are too weak we cannot be strengthened. If we believe we are too ignorant we cannot be taught. Believe that you can hear God’s voice. Have trust that God has your back. Accept as truth that you are a child of God and that all things are possible for you. God has a gentle touch. He touches those who are humble, charitable, non-judgmental, gentle and servants. If you are not already these things, spend time learning about your faith, make time daily for prayer, and then with the new knowledge you possess, go out and live! Matthew 11:25-27 At that time Jesus said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."

A Desire For Mercy

A Desire For Mercy “Why do you want to help everybody? You should be taking care of yourself.” “I know she’s depressed because she’s taken a few steps back. But I can’t give up on helping her to keep moving forward.” “Can you see that she needs me? You, however, are doing just fine!” We hear our family members take offense when we reach out to help outside of our own circle. We may gripe and complain that we are ignored, but could it be our eyes are set on selfish desires that make us blind? What makes us take offense to being charitable to those in need? Jesus said to His apostles, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means. I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” Let us go and learn what it means to have a merciful heart. Invite others close to you to join you in a life that resembles that of Christ. Sit a table of the less desirable. Stop to talk to one who is sitting alone in a corner at a party. Get up off the couch and walk into a hospital or an assisted living facility to visit the sick and lonely. Pay more attention to those who are hurting in your home. And praise and teach those in your life who are doing well. Encourage them to share their success, knowledge and good heart. It is human nature to desire to have our egos stroked. But at the end of the day, our sense of self can only be measured by the scope of our spiritual desire to help, inspiring thoughts and compassionate deeds. God gave us the capability to be merciful beyond our comprehension. Human nature naturally works to bring happiness to self. The human spirit naturally works to bring joy to others. Jesus is calling you to follow Him. In the quiet of your life you will hear Him. Go with a merciful heart and learn what this means. Matthew 9:9-13 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him. And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" But when he heard this, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners."

The Interior Of Your Heart

The Interior of Your Heart “He just wants her money, that’s why he’s helping her.” “She doesn’t care about her. She just wants people to think good of her!” When someone performs a charitable act, reaches out to visit the lonely or offers compassion to the ailing or hurting keep your hands clear of interference and your thoughts clean. If we consistently try to break down someone’s good intentions we may one day be successful in killing their spirit. If we bring negative attention toward another’s good nature we might find that we’ll lose a good friend. If we plant the seed of greed in one who is easily swayed we may be giving up a good soldier for the church to the devil’s mob. Jesus asks, “Why do you think evil in your hearts?” Give of your time because you can. Share your wealth because you are blessed. Love even the greatest sinner because you are loved with all your imperfections. Search your heart and ask yourself, “Are you are a disciple of Jesus or a warrior of the enemy? For which is more costly to say, “Why would you want to help her” or “Let’s do something together to lend a hand.” Jesus came to show us He will forgive anyone who repents and believes. With faith in your spirit, and the strength of the gift of your hands, mind and body praise the good works of others. Be the first to support, bear witness, and imitate a servant of God. The interior of your heart will eventually surface to the top. God is counting on you to be His crème de la crème. Matthew 9:1-8 And after getting into a boat he crossed the sea and came to his own town. And just then some people were carrying a paralyzed man lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven." Then some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man is blaspheming." But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Stand up and walk'? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" - he then said to the paralytic - "Stand up, take your bed and go to your home." And he stood up and went to his home. When the crowds saw it, they were filled with awe, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to human beings.

The Unseen Truth

The Unseen Truth “I didn’t think that I would get the job. I doubted it until I got the phone call.” “I never believed that we could get back together again, but look at us now!” Do you now believe because you have seen the results, the finished product or the healthy baby? Do you not doubt because now your marriage has reconciled or friendship repaired? Our negativity breeds pessimism. Our lack of enthusiasm proves unhelpful. Our reluctance eventually makes us unwilling. If we do not believe in our abilities, in our choices, and in our God then will never know our victories. Jesus once asked of Thomas, His disciple, “Do not doubt but believe!” Believing for us is half of our triumph the other part is keeping our faith. If we keep our faith through our trials and tribulations we will feel the confidence that comes with trust in the Lord. We may not receive what we ask for and not realize a particular aspiration. However, we must not doubt but believe that our faith in God will always reveal our extraordinary gifts, fitting promotions, and unique advantages shown through only His graces. Don’t believe because you have seen. With faith believe in what you cannot see! There is much reward for one who has faith in the unseen truth! John 20:24-29 But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe." A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."