Wellspring of Life

Fingers on keyboard again today - heart spilling over.

Proverbs 4:23 says that the issues of life flow from the heart and that I should keep it with all diligence.

How do I keep my heart with all diligence? Hmmm. I have a visual picture of me standing over my heart, finger pointed and saying, "Get back in line, heart!"

I backed up a bit and read, "My daughter/son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh."

I'm a lover of words on the page and through the pen or keyboard. I always have been for as long as I can remember. I taught math. But, oh how I love the written word!

God's words breathe life into me as He allures me as the Lover of my soul. His love is so complete and utterly perfect. He longs to speak to me out of His word. How I long to be spoken to! A word, a tender word, a convicting, route altering, hopeful word - especially for me.

His words are living and active! This is somewhat of a new discovery for me as I blow the dust off of the pages of my Bible and turn them. I'm just now really starting to understand that God's word is living and active and accomplishes purposes and is the sword of the Spirit to fight evil in this present age. It is life for me. It helps me with the issues of my life, my heart.

Mindful of the issues of my life today. Mindful also that what's on my tongue expresses what's in my heart. This is usually a good check for me. I just have to listen to myself. I'm surprised at what can come out of my mouth! Are you? I'm even more suprised sometimes to realize that that's what's in my heart.

Yesterday, sighing, huffing and snappy words came out. Impatience and selfishness reared their monstrous heads, and I chose not to slay them. Ugh. The battles of my heart rage on any given day. I'm in there somewhere listening and watching and fighting back and reaching up for my Great Rescuer.

Today, it's different. Monsters are being slayed. I'm being intentional about slaying them with giving, being flexible and letting go of my agenda. Every moment of every day is different isn't it? Am I tuning in to my heart enough and listening for those undercurrents of idols that slosh around and gush out of my heart - like my agenda? Not as much as I should, but today, I'm attempting, trying, wanting to.

My elderly neigbor, Peggy, called this morning, and man, can she talk your ear off! I fought the monster of "I'm looking through a Christmas catalogue right now and don't have time to talk to you."

She has an ox in the ditch.

Christmas catalogue closing.

The gifts we give are often ones that aren't in catalogues and don't cost money. They're more expensive - stuff like sympathy, our time, our caring, our sacrifice.

I should be thumbing through the catalogue of my heart every day. There's some good stuff in there from Jesus. Thumb, thumb.

Man, how I really want to get living like Jesus. For Him. Not for myself.

Living for Jesus is so much better than living for myself. Living for him produces fruit. Living for myself and my agenda produces more living for myself and my agenda. How boring is that? He created me to do good works well in advance- ones that He has prepared especially for little ole me to do. He cares about my life and how it is lived. How cool is that?

There's business that I need to take care of here on Earth. Am I going about that business? Am I?

Sometimes, I think it would be cool to have my name on a business card that says, "Whatever." In others words, whatever Jesus wants me to do today. I NEVER know what He has planned, but I love it when He fills me in! I get to look forward to that every single day.

Thank you, Jesus, for working on this heart of mine every day. For making me uncomfortable. For capturing my attention. For inviting me to do good works in you, for you, and through you.

Help me slay those monsters. The wild things. I know where they are.

More pics to come soon!