Heart Check Up

We all need an occasional check up. Here is a heart check up that might reveal some spiritual deficiency's. 1. Emotions, have you cried lately? Or have you really laughed? A healthy heart is fully aware of deep emotions, and can name them. 2. Moments, are you present or preoccupied? Ask your spouse, children, or friends if you're "All there" when you're with them. They can say whether your "Skimming key relationships. 3. People, do you resent phone calls and people seeking you out? Or do you see them as opportunities for ministry? If you're running for cover, trying to dodge people you're overextended. 4. Whispers, how long has it been since you heard the still, small voice of God? One of the first signs of a hardening heart is a deafened ear to the quiet promptings of God. As long as we are doing a check up, here are four categories of pride. 1. When I begin to assume responsibilities that belong to God. A. My protection. Psalm 18:2 B. To be critical or judgmental of others. God is the Judge. Romans 2:1-3. C. To take control of my life and situations. I Timothy 6:15; Proverbs 3:5-6. 2. Looking to someone or something to give me only what God can give. A. Worth, value, significance, acceptance. B. Because of the death of Jesus Christ, I have all these in Christ. Ephesians 1:3-6. 3. Holding on to things that rightly belong to God. A. My life, physical body, time, plans, secret desires. Romans 12:12; Galatians 2:20; colossians 3:2. B. Possessions, they belong to the Lord. If you think you own something, you don't own it, it owns you. 4. Neglecting or rejecting what God has clearly told me to do. James 4:6-10. Remember, to be prideful and half hearted is to get the worst of both worlds. Dr. Ken Copley is available for counseling, conferences, and local church meetings.

God's Overlay

A thought I received from a book by Henry Blackaby has intrigued me. Henry said "At times God will overlay your heart with His heart." When I was a pastor I would use an overhead projector (that should date me). In using overlays, I would at times lay down a simple map, and then overlay that map with a another overlay, the second overlay would add dimensions not seen in the first. The idea of God's heart overlaying my heart fleshes out new aspects to my Christian life and this brings hope. I have prayed many times "God break my heart with the things that break your heart." I believe every child of God wants to know the heart of God. God often allows pain to ignite purpose and destiny in our lives. That is why he said "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything" (James 1:2-5). Without motivation, many of us would never fulfill the purposes for which God created us. Oftentimes a measured assault invades our life and creates a depth of pain that all we know to do is snuggle up to God with all our being. The closer we get into God's heart the more we experience God. When we cry out to Him in absolute abandonment, and He is faithful to walk through the trial with us. I am certain you remember the poem dealing with the footsteps in the sand. The upshot was only one set of footprints meant God was carrying the writer of the poem. How many times has God carried us when we were void of strength to carry on? God and God alone is the source of life, and He is in charge of igniting purpose in our lives. Dr. Ken Copley is available for counseling, conferences, and local church meetings.