Heart Reflections

  • Heart Reflections: Finding Contentment

    Linda Dillow in her book Calm My Anxious Heart speaks of a missionary woman that lives in a mud hut in Africa.  When she asked the missionary how she was so content this is what she said:

    • Never allow yourself to complain about anything (not even the weather).
    • Never picture yourself in a different circumstance or someplace else.
    • Never compare your lot with the lot of another.
    • Never allow yourself to wish this or that had been otherwise.
    • Never dwell on tomorrow.  Remember it is God’s and not ours.

    A few months ago I had the opportunity to travel to India.  It was an amazing trip and I had a great time exploring several different areas.  I saw things while traveling that just broke my heart…people living on the street or under tarps, children who didn’t have their basic needs met, poverty, and much more.  On the flip side while in India I experienced the wonderful hospitality and generosity from the people we encountered (many who didn’t have a lot yet graciously shared).

    Traveling to India revealed a lot of things in my heart – one of them being how selfish and discontent I am even though I have been abundantly blessed.  I have food, family, clothes, shelter and even more yet some days I still complain.   I plan to use this list as a reminder to focus on the many blessings in my life so my heart will rejoice  and break the shackles of discontent that sometimes holds my heart captive.

    At times it can be difficult to be thankful for the many blessings we have in life.  Life doesn’t always go the way we expect.  I have a tendency to not only be discontent but to worry about the future or things out of my control.

    I could fill my house and heart with all kinds of stuff, worry, fear, or anything else yet by doing this it only grabs hold of my heart and hampers my effectiveness in ministering to the people around me.  Besides life here on earth is temporary and I cannot take stuff with me when its my time to go.  Let’s take some time today to think, pray, and count our blessings in our lives and find contentment in what really matters.

  • Remind Me Who I Am by Jason Gray

    When I lose my way,
    And I forget my name,
    Remind me who I am.
    In the mirror all I see,
    Is who I don’t wanna be,
    Remind me who I am.
    In the loneliest places,
    When I can’t remember what grace is.

    Tell me once again who I am to You,
    Who I am to You.
    Tell me lest I forget who I am to You,
    That I belong to You.
    To You.

    I’m the one you love,
    I’m the one you love,
    That will be enough,
    I’m the one you love.

  • You Loved Me First by Mikeschair

    Was it my broken heart that led me straight to You?
    Was it your broken hands that I cannot refuse?
    Was it my emptiness or was it Your empty tune?
    That pointed me home, pointed me home to You

    I should’ve known all along, You’re the one who loved me first
    And if I had to save myself, this never would’ve worked
    I wouldn’t be in Your arms, I wouldn’t know where to start
    But You gave Your life to prove to me what I was worth
    You loved me first

    You were pursuing me before the world began
    Before there was anything I was in Your plan
    What did You see in me? How we understand
    The depth of your grace, God, I’m amazed, God, I’m amazed

  • Heart Reflections: Walk That Mile

    As I was walking on the treadmill one morning earlier this week I realized…..whether it’s the first mile you have walked in years or the final mile in a marathon after months of training that first mile is always the hardest.  You have to remain focused and determined to finish.  You may not notice the fruit of all the hard work invested right away but over time you’ll build up endurance, strength, and that extra energy you need to get through each day.  It really is worth it, stay focused.

    It is hard enough for me to get up early and walk my one mile or more but yet often I set similar expectations on others.  I figure if I can raise multiples, write a blog post for the day, work, maintain my house, attend activities, and everything else I manage to squeeze into my day surely everyone else can do the same.  Right!?  These type of expectations are not healthy, mainly because I have no idea of what complications or road blocks the other person faces in their lives.

    On the outside most people may look like they have it all together when in reality everything really could be falling apart.  Only God sees their heart.   If I had to walk a mile under the weight and pressure they are baring I would most likely crumble.  God does not call me to walk in their shoes but down the path He has given me.  While my day to day stress is not the same as my neighbors with His guidance I can have many opportunities to make a lasting imprint on the lives of others.  Instead of judging others or getting jealous of the easy life they seem to have set before them I need take those first steps down the next mile in my own life to focus on what God has for me to do today in my corner of the world.

  • One Thing Remains by Kristian Stanfill

    Higher than the mountains that I face
    Stronger than the power of the grave
    Constant through the trial and the change
    One thing remains
    One thing remains

    Your love never fails it never gives up it never runs out on me
    On and one and on and on it goes
    It overwhelms and satisfies my soul
    And I never ever have to be afraid
    One thing remains

  • We Are Free by Aaron Shust

    We are more than conquerors
    We don’t have to be afraid
    Nothing is as powerful
    As His love

    Oh, the way He gave His Son
    To give life to everyone
    Not a thing can separate us
    From His love

    It’s the life and the hope that He brings
    His forgiveness that leads us to sing

    We are free to love
    Like our God has loved
    We are free to give like He gave

    We are free from sin
    We are free to begin
    To forgive as He forgave
    We are free