Emotions

This has been an influential and challenging sermon series.  I should listen to the whole thing once a month!  If you only listen to one sermon, listen to "Sanctification & Our Emotions Part 3".  Really good stuff!

http://www.monergism.com/mp3/2011/06/biblical_emotions_20_mp3_sermo.php

Matt Chandler Teaching Song of Solomon

Hug Me

My love language is Physical Touch.  And I really need a hug today.  Not one of those little side ways ones.  I need a bear hug.  I need a hug that is strong and tight.  And a little too long.  I live in a culture that doesn't hug.  And even the American's I know aren't big huggers.  Sometimes I go days and days with any touch - and sometimes I go weeks without any real hugs.

So, this morning, I confessed to the Lord how much I "feel" like I need a hug.  And I'm waiting expectantly for Him.  I wonder what He is going to do.  On a day such as this, a little old lady was passing and started to trip so she grabbed my arm.  It was just the right touch.  But, maybe He will find other ways to fill me... to remind me of His love.

Even though it's not yet 9am, I've already been delighted 3 times.  And though not a one has been what I feel I "need", the Lord's hand is doing the blessing.

Maybe my unfulfilled need is so I will start paying better attention to the things I do have.

Greatest Love Connection Video EVER!!!

Oh, man...  Things could always be worse.

It's Not Fair

I just heard a seminary professor tell this story.  He had given a really tough exam and the scores were really low.  Instead of bumping everyone's scores up, he decided to only bump up the women's scores.  Of course the women were delighted.  Of course the guys were furious.  It's not fair they kept saying over and over.  Well, the professor went on to explain, fair is getting the grade you earned.  That's fair.  The test included the parable in Matthew 20 where the guy who works for an hour gets paid the same amount as the worker who worked for 12 hours.  

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+20&version=NIV

Well, was it fair - really fair that the workers who worked for 12 hours got paid for 12 hours?  Yah.  That's fair. It's what they earned.  I like that.  I'm OK with that.  But... I'm not so good when it comes to watching someone who worked only an hour or two get the same thing.

I'm not so good with grace.

Unless it's me.  Unless I'm the one who worked only an hour.  Unless I'm in the group who gets the grade curve.

I've been having a hard time lately.  I'm really jealous of a friend.  It just seems like she gets life handed to her on a silver platter.  And I get grumpy with her - and with God - and think it's not fair.  It's just not fair.

But then I need to look at what is fair?  Hellfire and brimstone.  Ummm, yah.  That's the fair part of the deal.  That's what a deserve.  That I get eternity in a place where there is no mourning or crying or sickness or lonely Valentine's Days or a week that goes buy without a hug?...

I'm not the worker who worked for 12 hours and got paid for 12 hours.  I'm the worker who worked 3.3348 seconds and got paid a life time of wages.  So what if my friend only worked 333478 seconds and she gets a new car, a diamond necklace or a book deal all in one day?  Does that change my eternity in Heaven?  Absolutely not.

Absolutely not.

And is it fair that I get my eternity in Heaven?
Ab-so-lute-ly not.

It Happened Again

The wounds of years and years of being rejected by boys still sting sometime.  It's crazy how they get rubbed the wrong way and start stinging again.  So, let me get out the salve... the balm of truth.  And it will be the same truth that scars of loneliness, bitterness... well, it will be the same truth that offers healing.

Gen 1:1: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  God’s in charge.

Jer 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  It might be uncomfortable, just like when the nurse puts medicine on the stings – but He knows what He’s doing.

Prov 3:5-6: Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  Even when my emotions are telling me otherwise.

Phil 4:6: Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Have I stopped to pray yet?  Or am I too busy having a pity-party?

John 10:10: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. This pity-party is hosted by Satan. 

Phil 4:8: Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.  So, how does my issue fit in with this scripture?  Ummm...

Phil 4:7: And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. I need to stop thinking about myself and think about God.

Isa 53:5: But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. He wants to heal you.  Look at what it cost Him.

Heb 12:2: Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Yah, that first part.  And the second part. 

1 Pet 5:7: Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.  Am I stirring my anxiety or am I casting it?

1 Cor 10:13: No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.  God has a way out!  God has a way out!  God has a way out!

Heb 11:1: Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.  What am I hoping for?  Really?  … that I will grow in Him and HE will be glorified.  In the end that’s what I really want.  

The War of the Heart

How exactly do you guard your heart and still be open to what God is going to do?  Good question.

I think the answer lies in Proverbs 4:23 itself.  In the NIV it says “Guard your heart, for everything else flows from it.”  The ESV says “Keep your heart with all vigilance.”  That’s better.  It's closer to the original language, which tells you what to do, and how to do it.

What do you keep? 

Do you keep boarding passes from a trip?  Or fortunes from the fortune cookies?  Do you keep encouraging notes that from friends that came just at the right moment?  Do you keep photos in boxes or in back-up files on your external hard-drive? 

Me?  I have three strings of pearls.  OK – not real, real pearls… but they’re as close as I’ll ever get.  One strand was worn by my paternal grandmother.  One was worn from my maternal grandmother.  One was a gift from my own mother.

I keep them.  I have a special place for them.  I don’t throw them in the bottom of my closet or in my junk bowl by the front door.  I don’t just throw them down when they’re bothering me.  I don’t just toss them on the park bench while I’m reading.  I don’t let them get thrown away.  I don’t let little babies chew on them.  I’m a little jealous of them – and I don’t know if I even want you to play with them.  I wipe the dust off them.  I like to look at them and see them every day as I get dressed.  I keep them.

Do you hear these ideas in this “keep” word?  I protect.  I maintain.  I preserve.  I observe.  They are all found in the Greek word.

How do we do this?  Well, let’s go to the vigilance word… one that means that watching and guarding with diligence… literally – it means the man at the prison.  You wanna come in – you need to go through him.  You wanna go out – you gotta go through him.

This is where we fail.  We want to keep our hearts, fine… but we are lazy about it.  We want it to be easy and we want to feel good about it.  But it’s not really like that.  It’s work.  “House keeping” is only really fun if someone else is cleaning the toilets and mopping the floors every day.  Being a house wife is a recognized job by the government in Italy – and for good reason.  It is a job.  And to do it well, you have to be vigilant.

So, how do you keep something with vigilance?  Especially your heart?  Especially when hormones and emotions and ticking clocks are swirling around you?

Let’s go back to Proverbs 4 and let’s start singing a very appropriate children’s church song: Oh, be careful little eyes what you see… oh be careful little mouth what you say… feet where you go… Hmmm… OK – that’s great for a sermon outline.  But what about HIM.  You know, the Guy.  The Great Guy.  The Really Great Guy.

We are talking about him. Well, really, we’re talking about you.

1.      ...Be careful little eyes:  Look towards God.  He is Your Eternity.  You’ve given your heart to Him and He knows your needs.  He loves you and through His love He will bring glory to Himself.  Don’t trust yourself with this – trust Him.  I know, I know… easier said than done.  So you say it.  You say it again and again and again.  You say it every time you go to the bathroom.  You say it every time you have contact with him.  You say it every time you’re not having contact with him but wish you were.  Preach it, sister!  Preach it to yourself.

2.      ...Be careful little mouth: Quit talking about him.  To your girl-friends.  (Ask them to pray, you can’t go at this alone – it’s a battle, we’re talking about! – and then leave it be.)  And quit talking to yourself.  I know, I know… it is so very hard.  But, the more you dream up things – the more dangerous this gets.  The more you analyze every little thing he says and does, the more … well, you’re just making him into a little idol.  Fill your mind with scripture, sermons… the needs of the people around you. Keep going back to Philippians 4:8. 

3.     ... Be careful little ears: Turn the dial.  Ba-a-ad theology comes straight from the country music station.  And the pop one, too.  Turn off the sappy songs and turn on the worship music.  Don’t watch that chick-flick even though it would feel good for a few minutes.  And that book, you might need to put it down, too.  Anything that is saying “You have to have a significant other to be happy” is trash.  Get rid of it. 

4.     ... Be careful little feet: Pay attention to what you’re doing.  Oohhh… I’m not in the camp of Don’t Say Hi First.  But, I am in the camp of Don’t Call Him Eight Times in One Day.  Remember those words we looked at earlier,  keep and vigilance? They both have the idea of PAYING ATTENTION.  Pay attention to what you are doing.  If your best friend were doing the same thing, what would you say to her?

Now – take a deep breath.  You’re not alone.  God wants what is best for you.  He wants to equip you with the strength you need.  He will be faithful.

And that boy?  Put on some lip gloss.  Laugh at his jokes (only if they’re funny, though.)  Don’t ignore him when he wants to chat on line with you.  But remember the words of my dear mother: If it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen.  You can’t make it happen.  Only God will do it.  So relax and don’t forget a spritz of perfume. 

And give yourself some grace.  In all honesty, I stunk at all of this… several times over.  Especially with my own Dave.  Eyeyeyeee… but, I’m growing.  I’m maturing.  And all this stuff is still true – now that I’m not thinking about a boy but thinking about marriage and kids and moving and my life completely changing…  I still need to guard my heart.  To guard it from fear… to guard it from me wanting to control everything… to guard it from becoming proud or lazy… to guard it from being weak or calloused… and yes, even to guard it from worshiping that same boy. 

Grace.  Hope.  God’s faithfulness.  Jesus.  In the end, that’s how a heart gets guarded.  And that's how the battle is won.

LOOK AT YOURSELF AFTER WATCHING THIS.mp4