Heart Reflections

  • Heart Reflections: You Think You’re Safe

    Birds Nest Safely hidden away

    One day as our family was spending time outside cleaning up the yard and gardens something caught my eye.  In one of our small holly trees was a little birds nest.  It was nestled snugly into the trees branches with a road only a couple feet away, across the street from a cat, and on our side of the yard where a dog and kids were running around.   The nest was so low to the ground that the girls were able to look into it.  For weeks they kept checking to see if the bird was coming back.

    It must have been a quiet day on our street for a bird to think that the location she had chosen was a good one especially with it being next to a road, cat, dog, kids, and close to the ground.  The bird must have felt safe in the shelter of the tree despite all the danger around her.  As I thought more about the little bird who lived in that nest it made me think about my life.  How often do I go through life thinking my heart, life, and soul is safe?

    I believe the bird felt protection and safety from the tiny leaves surrounding the nest, however, danger was all around it.  As we go through life we will encounter hills and valleys.  Sometimes we have a false sense of security in things (money in the bank, our health, family unity, etc…) much like the false sense of security the leaves provided the bird.

    Yes, bad things happen to good people, but there are ways to help protect us from falling and that teach us how to be a better Child of God, Wife, Mom, and Friend.

    • Personal Relationship with Him – a heart focused above
    • Reading the Scriptures – not only does this bring you knowledge but it gives you hope, wisdom, and encouragement.
    • Prayer – an on-going dialogue

    Someone recently asked the question in our church Community Group – how much time did you spend reading God’s word this week?  Honestly, my answer some weeks is pretty embarrassing.  I often fill my days with good activities but somehow neglect the most important activity.  Taking time to read God’s word, pray, and having a personal relationship with Him is the best way to not only find contentment but to truly be safe and protected.

    The birds nest is easily seen from up above much like God sees me.  He sees my heart, accepts me for who I am, and challenges me to grow.    Where is your safety found?

    A beautifully crafted bird nest exposed to the world. 

    Love seeing the handiwork of God’s creatures, simply amazing!

  • Free Audio Book: “Trusting God” by Jerry Bridges

    For the month of February Christian Audio is offering a free download of their audio book .  This month the audio book is Trusting God by Jerry Bridges.

    Because obeying God makes sense to us. In most cases, His laws appear reasonable and wise, and even when we don’t want to obey them, we usually concede that they are good for us. But the circumstances we find ourselves in often defy explanation. (information from Christian Audio)

    If you have been wanting to a book to listen to throughout the day or while driving then this is a great opportunity to get a book for free when you download it from Christian Audio in February.   Make sure to submit your order by February 29, 2012  to get your free audio book.  Thanks Christian Audio!

  • Song: “Hold Me Together” by Royal Tailor

    I was in the van listening to the radio after dropping the girls off at school when this song started playing.  It hit at the perfect time because it was one of those super crazy weeks and I was “grumpy”.  Do you ever have those days you just feel like growling at everything?  Yup, it was one of those days.

    Hearing this song made me think about what was really “holding me together.”  Many times I find myself trying to manage my life and schedule in my own strength instead of allowing God to work.  Yes, there are days when everything is coming at me in waves but I need to remember that He has plans for me.  When I let go of my agenda He has the potential to do something even bigger than I ever dreamed.

     

  • What Do You See – a Mess or a Race Track?!

    After lunch one Sunday the girls were instructed to pick up the newspaper after they were finished looking at it while Jake and I worked for a few minutes on our schedules for the upcoming week.  After about thirty minutes or so I came back into the kitchen and this is what I saw…..my first thought was “seriously, what a huge mess!”  Instead of picking up the papers they had spread all of them over the kitchen and dining room floors.  When asked as to why they didn’t pick “up” the newspaper they told me “Well we decided that it would make a great race track!”

    Although the mess was big I had to hold back from laughing.  It was a pretty cool looking race track even if it was a mess.    They were quite proud of their “track”.  So despite the fact the kitchen and dining room looked like they were carpeted with newspaper and ads I decided to let them enjoy it for the afternoon as long as they would pick it up before we left for Awana that evening.

    The silly part is that they had a blast with the newspaper.  Who would have ever thought that a newspaper could provide so much entertainment.  They rebuilt the roads several times, added new vehicles, used it as a walking track, and several other silly things all in that one afternoon.  In a matter of hours that newspaper got more love and provided more entertainment then all the other newspapers we have ever received put together.  And the best part, when asked to pick it up (the second time) the girls did it happily and in a matter of a couple of minutes.

    So was it worth me having to endure a messy house for a few hours?  Absolutely!  The girls had fun, they used their imaginations, were creative, and played well together.  The problem is I don’t always “react” well when I see a mess someone in my family has created whether intentionally or unintentionally.  Sometimes I am more worried about the mess they are making that I don’t allow them to just have fun.  Yes, having a clean has is important but if the house is always perfect then a race track would never happen.

    It was worth a temporary messy house to hear the girls giggling together over a silly newspaper converted into a race track.  Thankfully this time around I gave into just enjoying the fun moment and waited to clean up the mess later.  What do you see – the mess or the race track?

  • Song: “Come, Now is the Time to Worship” by Phillips, Craig, & Dean

    How much of my day do I spend in worship?  Some days the blessings are easier to see and other days they are more difficult.  Worship should be more then just a few minutes on Sunday morning in church.  I like the phrase “Come, just as you are, to worship” you don’t have to be perfect to come before his presence and worship.  Here is the chorus of the song:

    Come, now is the time to worship.
    Come, now is the time to give your heart.
    Come, just as you are, to worship.
    Come, just as you are, before your God.
    Come.

  • Song: “Beautiful One” by Jeremy Camp

    As women we love the word “beautiful” and long to have that unfailing love.  This song talks about the most beautiful One in our lives.   “You opened my eyes to your wonders anew” so often daily life becomes about me and not Him the one who created me, His continual work in my heart, and joy of experiencing a life committed to Him.  He extends love and mercy to me every day when I stumble.  I like the phrase “Captured my heart” because it is when my heart is captured and focused on the real priorities in life He can work through me to make a positive impact on the lives of others.   Here are a few lines of this upbeat and encouraging song for you to enjoy:

    Wonderful, so wonderful
    Is your unfailing love
    Your cross has spoken mercy over me
    No eye has seen no ear has heard
    No heart could fully know
    How glorious, how beautiful you are.

    Beautiful one I love you
    Beautiful one I adore
    Beautiful one my soul must sing.

    You opened my eyes to your wonders anew
    You captured my heart with this love
    Because nothing on Earth is as beautiful as you