Unbolt The Door To Your Heart

Category: Uncategorized

  • Time is Short

    Yesterday I stood in an ICU hospital room with family members around the bed of one of their members that was at the end of His life.  One thing stood out to me the most.  One of the brothers of the person was there.  He had arrived from Pennsylvania that morning.  He was here to see His brother.  The Brother in the bed was unresponsive and on life support machines.  They tried to get him awake but to no avail.  The brother standing there said, out loud, his regrets not being there earlier and speaking with his brother.  He also regretted not coming out for several years and spending time with his brother.  Being able to relive their past with conversation and food. You could see the regret in the tears coming from his eyes. 

    The Lesson is time is short, and things happen quickly.  What ever the problem is, Work, lack of time, or a need to forgive, now is the time to go to your family member and visit.  Not next year.  You may not have another time.  Don’t let time get away from you and you regret not spending time with family.  No matter what has happened or the distance or cost, GO and spend time with them when both can participate in the conversation.

    My Wife’s Mother is 94 and in a living facility.  She can’t get around much and she is hard of hearing.  But nothing is more precious to her and to us to spend a few hours a week just sitting next to each other.  Go, before you are not able to go.

    For none of us are promised tomorrow.  Get on a plane or in a car and go visit.  The distance is shorter than when they have passed away.

    Don’t let anything come between you and friendship.  Go and bring forth the radiance of God to every situation.

    Prayers for all.

    Larry

  • Bloom in Pain

    Blooming in Pain and Every Pinch of Pain is for a Purpose.

    Two of the most beautiful statements that have got me through the last year.  I shared this example at church yesterday as a testimony and help to a grieving family.

    Every Year at this time Donna and I must do something to our vegetables and flowers that I personally don’t like.  But the Lord has used our garden to teach both of us so many life lessons. Everyday we give praise to Him for a new lesson learned.

    Every Pinch of Pain is for a Purpose.

    In the early growth of plants, you must go through and pinch off the best early stems.  Both Flowers and Vegetables.  I have about a dozen Jimmy Nardello pepper plants. They are by far the best peppers ever, (my opinion).  Once the reach about 10-14 leaves you pinch back to eight leaves.  Even if the top has little pepper shoots already coming out. We do this to all the vegetables and many of the flowers Donna grows.  I fully believe that plants talk. Our ears may not be able to hear, but they are talking to each other and God above. So, I know they scream out in pain when the top is pinched off.  Their most beautiful bud is gone.

    But the greatest lesson of life is now going on display for us to learn about Pain. How does the plant respond?  You see you all know people that have had tragedies happen in their lives. Death, Abuse, Affairs, Illness and Chronic Pain. Some respond with depression, curling up and giving up on life.   Withdrawing from friends and family and society.

    But you see that the Plant does something much different.  I had pain given to it even though it was a good plant. Amid producing a beautiful flower of pepper. It had done nothing wrong. Yet it was Pinched. How did it respond?

    Within a few days the pepper plants responded with Blooming in a manner that only can be explained by God. Each plant went from one or two buds to 8 buds or more.  It responded by blooming more than it was ever going to do before the Pain.  It did not curl up or go into shock or depression.  It bloomed to show the Glory of God in the best way it knows how to.

    It did not ask why I got pinched.  It did not complain to God about its treatment. It accepted Pain for what it is. “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all”. 2 Corinthians 4:17 NIV

    It is a lesson I have learned the hard way.  Some of you know that I have and am experiencing pain that made walking extremely difficult.  I wanted to just lay in bed and moan. But from growing in my walk with God and being watching what the flowers do.  I changed my whole attitude about Pain.  I started thanking God for the Pain and getting up anyway to go about my day.  Did the pain leave. NO! You see I was put on this earth for only one purpose. That is to bring Glory to God and to share with others.  The plant blooms more so it has more to share.  Nobody saw God in my wallowing of suffering and pain.

    God is not glorified by your negativity and depression. Some people will say they are just being “real”. Well, that is a very harmful form of negativity.

    No matter what “Pain” has happened in your life. Stop asking God Why and Start Blooming from the pinch of Pain. Tell God Thank-You.

    Bloom in Pain.

    Prayers for All.

    Larry