Unbolt The Door To Your Heart

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  • Live in Harmony

    Romans 12:16

    “Live in harmony with each other. Don’t become snobbish but take a real interest in ordinary people. Don’t become set in your own opinions.” J.B. Phillips Translation

    “Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. AKJV Version

    “Get along with each other; don’t be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don’t be the great somebody.” The Message

    Live in Harmony, Be of the same mind. These instructions from Paul do not mean that we are all to think alike, have the same opinions, uniformity of thought.  But what is greatly missing in today’s world is respect, empathy for another person’s opinion and thoughts on any matter.  A transformed Christian is not to argue with, be negative about, talk about or gossip about, or not associate with someone that believes different than you. We need to Listen to the other opinion with respect in our body language, tone of voice and with Love.

    The next part speaks directly to those of us who think we are special.  We have been given a special message, we are more intelligent, and God has blessed us with more knowledge. We are not to think more highly of ourselves than we should. We are to be very humble and always consider friendship with anyone of any race, social standing, economic standing and sexual persuasion. Each person is special to God; we hold no special place in God’s heart that is ahead of anyone else.

    The next part is a warning against thinking we have all the knowledge and are again special. “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3. NIV.  This verse speaks directly to all of us.  God still has things to reveal to each of us, no matter our standing in life. You are never going to stop learning for eternity.

    If we allowed ourselves to be transformed into this type of person, it would be the start of a whole new world of peace.

    Take time today to revisit Romans 12:3-8, 

    You are called to live in this world and yet be not of this world.  Be Salt or a Light today to everyone God sends your way.

    Prayers for All

    Larry

  • Good morning.  What a great day to dive a little deeper into God’s word. We are going to start in verse nine of Romans chapter 12. 

    Yesterday, I emailed verses 9-21 of chapter 12 in the book of Romans.  I asked that each of you spend some time with the Holy Spirit reading and then listening to His voice and guidance. I pray and hope that it is the start of a wonderful journey.

    Romans 12:9 is the opening of a list of practical instructions for Christian living. It sets the tone for how believers are to relate to one another and to the world.

    First, I would like for us to revisit verse 2 of this chapter. “Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within.” This is the J.B. Phillips translation.  This is a good warning to us, that unless we have allowed and are allowing God, through the Holy Spirit, to transform our minds, these verses 9-21 in Romans will not make much sense to us in our daily living.  

    Verse nine starts with telling you that your words are worthless when it comes to showing Love.  Love must not be an imitation; it must be sincere. The King James version says “Let love be without Dissimulation”.  This word means hiding one’s true feelings, intentions, or beliefs by pretending to be something different, a form of hypocrisy or deceit. It implies a deliberate act of concealing one’s real self and adopting a false appearance.  You are telling someone you “Love” them, but you have no intention of showing that love in an actionable form or fashion.

    You have read that faith without works is dead, well the word Love without any action on your part to actually show “love” is exactly that.

    It is not a witness to others about God if your words are just words and you have no actionable loving attitude toward that person.

    The second part of verse 9 states for us to break from evil and have a real devotion to what is good.   The second part of this verse goes hand in hand with the first part.  There is a lot of evil that we could talk about breaking from. But remember the first part of this verse. The evil spoken about here is the evil of telling someone you love them and then doing nothing to show that love. You are supposed to abhor that form of evil.  You are to embrace the “good” way of living and show love to everyone in an actionable fashion.

    You have heard the saying “speaking with a forked tongue”.  Telling someone that you Love them and then having no outward actions is doing using a forked tongue.

    Remember the greatest commandment is to Love.  Not just in words but in an actionable form.  This can only happen if you go back to verse two and understand the transformation that must happen inside of you.

    Today, Let God in. Open the Door to your mind and heart. He is knocking and just wants to come in to sit, eat and drink with you.

    Let others see God not in your words but in your deeds.

    Love and prayer for all

    Larry

  • Listening to Others

    “Be completely Humble, gentle, and patient, bearing with one another in Love.” Ephesians 4:2

    Sit With Them and Enter into their world.

    Often when we enter into another’s suffering or struggles we try to drag them into our world. We want them to think like we think, choose what we would choose, understand what we see, and live more like we do. We want them to leave their depression, sorrow, and grief behind and “Get over It”.

     We can only help people by listening intently to their lives. We cannot talk them out of suffering, trauma, addiction or great grief. We must go to them, sit with them, and listen.

    “Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was”. Job 2: 13.

    Jobs friends came to comfort Him.  The best comfort was just to be there.  Not one word was spoken for seven days. 

    Only after listening in silence can we little by little walk them to a closer walk with God.  Toward a new and different place. It is only if we humble ourselves and give of our time and energy that we can bring them into our lives and homes.  Why? So that we can eat together, become a family, to listen, to care, and to let the Holy Spirt speak.  Only then can a person experience the tender, healing, loving care of God.

    Are you showing God to others by your attention to others needs?

    Prayers for All

    Larry

  • Circumcision

    Heart Transformation

    Circumcision of the heart

    “In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self-ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ”. Colossians 2:11 NIV

    “Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer”.  Deuteronomy 10:16 NIV

    Circumcise yourselves to the Lord, circumcise your hearts, you people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, or my wrath will flare up and burn like fire because of the evil you have done—burn with no one to quench it”. Jeremiah 4:4 NIV

    Spiritual circumcision, a concept found in both the Old and New Testaments, refers to a transformation of the heart, a spiritual cutting away of the sinful nature and reliance on the flesh, and a turning towards God through faith in Christ.

    Circumcision symbolizes the removal of the hardheartedness and stubbornness that hinders one’s relationship with God. It is a spiritual journey that involves removing worldly desires, dedicating oneself to God, and humbling oneself before Him. It is a process of transformation that leads to a closer relationship with God and a life that reflects His values.

    “The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live”. Deuteronomy 30:6 NIV

    The verse speaks of a spiritual renewal, a turning of the heart toward God, rather than a physical act. This Verse speaks of a transformation of the heart.  It no longer has the desires of this world.  It no longer tries to reach heaven with works. Not only is this promise for you but for your children and grandchildren.  The purpose of this transformation is so that your whole existence will be to Love God and bring Him Glory and Honor. You whole heart, your whole soul will live every day to bring about Glory to God.

    Behold, He is standing at the door of your heart knocking.  You cannot change your heart, habits or desires.  The Only thing you can do is answer the doorbell and open your heart to Him.  He is not bringing in any rules. He is just bringing in Love.

    Prayers for each of you every morning.

    Larry

  • 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