by Maggie Ree

“As he thinketh in his heart, so is he.”
{Proverbs 23:7} 

The heart. A simple little drawing of a heart is so powerful because it conveys the meaning of love toward others. In fact, when I was a little girl I was indeed very disappointed when I found out that a real heart didn’t look anything like it did when I drew one! The real human heart is one of the body’s most important organs and it is the heart that is responsible for keeping our blood moving through the body regularly.

All through the Bible the “heart” is referred to, but is it referring to our physical heart? After all, how could one of our body’s physical organs do any wrong? The heart that the Scriptures refer to is our spiritual heart…and our spiritual heart really makes up who we are inside. Just as our bodily heart pumps precious life blood through our whole being, our spiritual heart pumps its contents all through us and through our mind. This is why it is so important to have a clean heart – our whole outlook on life will be directed by what it contains.

It is so important that we examine ourselves and take a close look at our hearts to see what they contain. In 1 Corinthians 11:28 it says, “let a man examine himself,” and though this verse is expressly talking of the Lord’s Supper, it would be a wonderful thing if each of us determines to examine ourselves on a regular basis. Do you see anger or love in your heart? Gentleness or an unkind spirit? The contents of our spiritual heart don’t just stay locked up inside us, but they are responsible for our actions, our thoughts, our speech. Thus, by looking at our actions, thoughts and speech, the contents of our heart is quickly discovered. Jesus says in Matthew 15, verses 18-20, “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man.” After such an assessment, it may be that we need to cry out to Him with the words of the Psalmist:

“Create in me a clean heart, O God.”

As we ask His forgiveness and seek a clean heart, don’t stop there. Seek to fill your heart again, only this time with Him. In Matthew 13, verses 43-45, Jesus tells the story of an unclean spirit that is cast out of a man and goes into dry places, seeking rest, but finding none. Finally he says, “I will return to my house from which I came.” He returns to that same man and finds him swept clean and in order, but…empty. So the spirit reenters the man with seven other spirits more wicked than himself, so that poor man is much worse off than he was to start. It isn’t just important to ask the Lord to give you a clean heart, but a heart filled with Him. So full that it can make room for nothing else.

It is also important that we clear our hearts of any grudges toward other people. If someone makes you upset or if you wrong someone, do your best to make quick amends. Don’t give sin a place to root in your heart, because, just like a nasty weed in your garden, one angry thought or word can lead to another until your whole heart is filled up. Rooting these things out speedily and healing your friendship will put your heart at peace again.

“For the Lord does not see as man sees;
for man looks at the outward appearance,
but the Lord looks at the heart.”
{1 Samuel 16:7}

Would the Lord be welcome to see everything that is in your heart? If not, don’t waste another second, but come to Him now, casting yourself at His throne. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7). May the Lord bless you!

~Maggie Bullington
{Guest Writer}

Join us for our November challenge – begins today!

by Christina Book

“I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep… I am the good shepherd, and know my and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep … My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them to me, is greater than all; and no one is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.”1

 In the previous parable, Jesus places Himself in the position of a Shepherd over His flock. We, His people, are referred to as His cherished sheep. Jesus is our perfect Good Shepherd in the ways He cares for us, leads us, and ultimately loves us so much that He lays down His life for us.

First, Christ cares for us. Every day of our life brings us new struggles and “mountains” to overcome. As one of Jesus’ little lambs, we may look up the side of the looming hillside and say, “Lord, why do I have to go through this?” Then He takes us in His strong arms and carries us over the mountain and to the restful valley. Our petty troubles may often seem too small to “bother” the Shepherd with, but Jesus cares about our every worry and need: “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” Whenever we may feel burdened or weary, He will strengthen us in His might, for He said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”2 Jesus is the giver of strength and we can run to Him with every worry, no matter how small, for the Good Shepherd cares for His little lambs. When we cling to Him, we can say with the Psalmist, “He restoreth my soul.”3

Besides taking care of our needs, Jesus also leads us in His ways. “He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”4 At times it is hard to see the way in which God wants us to walk, but when we stay ever close to the Shepherd’s side, we need not worry or be lost. Though in our sin we may stray from His side, He will draw us back and point us in the right direction. “Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.”5 When we can’t see around the next “bend in our road”, God takes us by the hand and says, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”6 When we don’t completely understand the ways in which the Shepherd leads, He will give us grace to trust: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”7 God’s ways are always perfect and He calls us to follow Him, because He knows best.

God cares for us and leads us, but ultimately, He loves us. Jesus loves us in ways beyond what we can imagine or understand. His love is so much greater than our imperfect love, for He says, “my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”8 His love is perfect and unchanging. Our futile human minds can’t begin to grasp the depth of His faithful love for us: “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”9 Though we may waver, He never will, and though our love is imperfect, His love is eternal.

As the Good Shepherd, because of His great love, Jesus laid down His life for us: “I lay down my life for the sheep.”10 Jesus died on the cross to save His precious lambs from eternal death because He loved us. He once said, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.”11 There is no greater love than the love of Jesus Christ, our truly Good Shepherd. He gave of Himself in order to save us and make us His own. “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”12 We belong to Christ forever and will spend eternity with Him because He paid the final price for sin. We are His white, cleansed lambs, belonging to the Good Shepherd who bought us with His blood: “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”13 We are perfect lambs for Christ has cleansed us with His blood.

In closing, Christ is truly our Good Shepherd. May we continually look to Him and eagerly await the day when we see Him perfectly as the Lamb and also our Shepherd: “For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.”14 When the Good Shepherd is at the forefront of our lives and we follow and seek Him, by His grace, Jesus will supply our every need, guide our paths, and love us perfectly. We sheep will finally find sweet peace when we walk with Jesus, our Good Shepherd.

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” 16

-Christina Book
{Guest Writer}

NOTES

1 Verses from John 10
2 1 Peter 5:7
3 2 Corinthians 12:9
4 Psalm 23:3a
5 Psalm 23:3b
6 Isaiah 48:17
7 Jeremiah 29:11
8 Proverbs 3:5-6
9 Isaiah 55:8-9
10 Romans 8:38-39
11 John 10: 15b
12 John 15:13-14
13 John 10:28
14 1 Peter 1:18-19
15 Revelation 7:17
16 Psalm 23

by Alyssa Hage

This is the final in a five-part weekly series; we pray it has been a blessing to you! Thank you to our guest writer, Alyssa, for sharing these gleanings from your times with the Lord.

“The LORD is my defense; and my God is the rock of my refuge.”
{Psalm 94:22}

Our heart, like a greenhouse, is suited for growing, fertile, ready to produce good fruit, and has to be managed. Your thoughts are like seeds—some become flowers, some become weeds. As you are selective in the seeds you allow into your greenhouse, even more importantly you must be careful about what thoughts you allow to grow in your heart. The more selective you are with seeds, the more delighted you will be with the fruit. Stand watch as a trained soldier at the gateway of your heart. Guard your heart and deny wrong thoughts entrance. Submit your thoughts to God’s authority. Your mind is your heart’s doorway, where you determine which seeds to sow and which seeds to discard. The Holy Spirit helps you manage and filter thoughts trying to enter by standing at the threshold with you.

Transient squirrels and migrant birds pausing on a rock illustrate how rocks are resting places for the weary. In the same way, we find refuge in God. Rocks speak to us of strength, permanence, and stability. God is dependable, immovable, all-powerful, and always present during grievous times and gladsome times. God, the Rock of Ages, is always near, ready to provide safety and solace. 

“Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from Him cometh my salvation.
He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense;
I shall not be greatly moved…My soul, wait thou only upon God;
for my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation:
He is my defense; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory:
the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
Trust in Him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before Him:
God is a refuge for us.”
{Psalm 62:1-2,5-8} 

Alpine plants grow very close to a rock, enjoying extra water from runoff and a bit of shade from the rock’s shadow. We also ought to live continually very close to our Rock, the Lord Jesus Christ, daily taking in the water of His Word and seeking to bring glory to Him.

“And the LORD said, Thou canst not see My face:
for there shall no man see Me, and live.
Behold, there is a place by Me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock:
and it shall come to pass, while My glory passeth by,
that I will put thee in a cleft of the rock,
and will cover thee with My hand while I pass by:
and I will take away Mine hand, and thou shalt see My back parts:
but My face shall not be seen.”
{Exodus 33:20-23} 

Throughout the Old Testament, when people found themselves in trouble of many kinds they would seek refuge and relief in physical rocks, i.e. mountains and caves. David especially came to see this from a spiritual perspective as the Lord became his refuge and strength for every trial he faced. 2 Samuel 22:2-3: “And he (David) said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; the God of my rock; in Him will I trust: He is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; Thou savest me from violence.”

When going through any kind of trouble, look to the Lord as your rock and refuge and thus be able to say with David, “God is our refuge and strength; a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).

Tips for Your Garden

For an alpine rock garden, select porous rocks such as limestone, sandstone, and shale. These rocks absorb water, keeping roots cool and moist. Impermeable rocks such as marble, basalt, and granite are preferable rocks for desert rock gardens.

God’s blessings to you sisters, as you plant healthy seeds in your hearts, that the fruits of God’s spirit will be able to take root in fertile soil!

~Alyssa K. Hage
{Guest Writer} 

By Alyssa Hage

This is the forth in a five-part weekly series – we’d like to celebrate spring and the opportunities it presents, both physically to the new life on earth, and spiritually to the work Christ is springing forth from our hearts.

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”
{Proverbs 4:23}

Our heart, like a greenhouse, is suited for growing, fertile, ready to produce good fruit, and has to be managed. Your thoughts are like seeds—some become flowers, some become weeds. As you are selective in the seeds you allow into your greenhouse, even more importantly you must be careful about what thoughts you allow to grow in your heart. The more selective you are with seeds, the more delighted you will be with the fruit.

• Stand watch as a trained soldier at the gateway of your heart.
• Guard your heart and deny wrong thoughts entrance.
• Submit your thoughts to God’s authority.

Your mind is your heart’s doorway, where you determine which seeds to sow and which seeds to discard. The Holy Spirit helps you manage and filter thoughts trying to enter by standing at the threshold with you.

Tips for Your Garden

For growing plants indoors…When cutting off brown tips of leaves on potted plants, leave a narrow brown border; cutting into live tissue will cause further drying and dieback.Do not use leaf shine products, as they may clog leaf pores. Enhance leaf luster by wiping them with a damp sponge. Keep plants free of dust, as dust can clog leaf pores. If the house has low humidity, spray a mist of water on the leaves to give the plant a bit of humidity.Have any gardening tips to share? Feel free to leave a comment!

~Alyssa K. Hage
{Guest Writer} 

By Alyssa Hage

This is the third in a five-part weekly series – we’d like to celebrate spring and the opportunities it presents, both physically to the new life on earth, and spiritually to the work Christ is springing forth from our hearts. Have a blessed spring rejoicing in Christ’s glory!

“Jesus answered and said unto her,
If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee,
Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of Him,
and He would have given thee living water…
Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst;
but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water
springing up into everlasting life.”
{John 4:10,13-14}

The cactus plant retains water to survive living in a dry climate. Be like a cactus. Retain the water of God’s Word and you can live cheerfully anywhere, even in a desert. John 7:37-38: “Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink. He that believeth on Me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” It’s important for the gardener to be regularly present—to observe and prevent, to notice and nourish—in order for the garden to grow. It’s important for us to be regularly in God’s presence in order to grow spiritually; if I am not, I won’t notice His songs, hear His voice, or respond to His instructions. As we are persistent in cultivating a lovely garden, so we should persist in the cultivation of living in God’s presence. As we draw near to Him, our gardens (our lives and homes) reflect the glory of His presence. Our relationship with God, like a garden, is a place of creation, consecration, and calm.

“Thou wilt show me the path of life:
in Thy presence is fullness of joy;
at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”
{Psalm 16:11} 

God gave Adam work to do in the Garden of Eden, but it was also His idea to just walk together in the cool of the day (Genesis 3:8). Often we think we need to do great things for God, but He wants us to simply enjoy the great things He has created and done for us. Contemplating the flow of water down a waterfall…A minute passes, is it the same stream still? Yes. But is it the same water? No. The liquid mass that passed me a few seconds ago now fills another section of the channel, new water has replaced it; water instead of water. John 1:16: “Of His (Jesus) fullness have all we received, and grace for grace.” The word “for” means “instead of.” The picture is of a perpetual succession of supply, a displacement ever going on, like a waterfall. So hour-by-hour and year-by-year, grace takes the place of grace through Christ. One stream has continual water displacement. Our lives in Christ have continual grace. James 4:6-7&10: “But He giveth more grace…God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you…Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.”

Just as plants can’t grow in a garden having hard ground, so our lives can’t be fruitful with a hard heart of unbelief. God grows beautiful things from the soil of depleted lives. Go to the Lord and exchange your ruined garden for a garden full of roses. Isaiah 35:1-2: “The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing…” 

“And the LORD shall guide thee continually,
and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones:
and thou shalt be like a watered garden,
and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.”
{Isaiah 58:11}

Just as we restore ruined gardens, God restores ruined lives. As a Father, God envisioned His children having fellowship with Him in unbroken harmony. In the Garden of Eden, His vision was fulfilled only temporarily and then disobedience brought ruin. It took Jesus Christ to restore the fellowship between God and mankind by taking the penalty for our sins. From fulfillment to ruin to restoration; now for those who receive Jesus Christ as Savior, the Garden of Eden still exists. Psalm 51:10-12: “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence; and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation; and uphold me with Thy free spirit.”

Keep the soil of your heart well-cultivated for the seed of God’s Word to take root in. Then He will plant within you a garden of beautiful roses in the midst of the spiritually dry and thirsty land in which we live.

“O God, Thou art my God; early will I seek Thee:
my soul thirsteth for Thee, my flesh longeth for Thee
in a dry and thirsty land,
where no water is; to see Thy power and Thy glory, so as I have seen Thee in the sanctuary.
Because Thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise Thee…
Because Thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of Thy wings will I rejoice.
My soul followeth hard after Thee: Thy right hand upholdeth me.”
{From Psalm 63} 

Tips for Your Garden

The centifolia roses are often called cabbage roses because their whorled petals and lush rounded blossoms resemble cabbage heads. Feed roses with a granular slow-release fertilizer or apply a dousing of fish emulsion. Water “modern” roses (varieties of the 1900s) several times a week to a depth of three inches; “old” roses (varieties of the 1800s) need watering once a week. Avoid wetting foliage to discourage black spot.

~Alyssa K. Hage
{Guest Writer}