I can't imagine or explain how God felt when He sent Adam out of the garden of Eden. However, the Bible clearly states how the heart of our God the creator of the Universe was toward mankind a few chapters later in Genesis 6:5-6   "Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart."  

Proverbs 4:20-23 says, "My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your sight; keep them in the midst of your heart. For they are life to those who find them and health to all their body. Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life." 

We spend a lot of time watching over worldly stuff, but we pay little attention to our hearts.  

The Bible describes a wicked man in Proverbs 6:12-19 "as one who walks with a perverse mouth… Who with perversity in his heart continually devises evil." 

It says also that "There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him" and "a heart that devises wicked plans" is one of them.

Isaiah talks about "a deceived heart" (Isaiah 44:20).

"The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God”. (Psalm 14:1).

"The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart". (Luke 6:45).

"For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man". (Mark 7:21).

"For evils beyond number have surrounded me; my iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to see; they are more numerous than the hairs of my head, and my heart has failed me". (Psalm 40:12).

I stop here and ponder a question…Do we have heart problems?  Yes we do… and we cannot enjoy God's blessings if our hearts are not right with Him.

Most of our spiritual problems, if not all of them, are because our hearts have failed us--to do God's will, to serve Him, to honor Him, to worship Him, to rejoice in His precepts and commandments.

Today open your Bible to Psalm 51:10 and ask God in prayer to perform a surgery on your heart.

In The September/October Issue of  Does God Exist John Clayton writes on The Christian Concept of Gratitude. “Americans have moved from an attitude of gratitude to an attitude of entitlement. There is no reason to give thanks for something if it was owed to us in the first place, and we seem to jump from one ‘gimmie fest’ to another as we go through the various holidays. The result of this is STRESS, WORRY, ANXIETY, and all of the physiological disorders that go with this self-induced pressure. The hallmark of ownership is WORRY. The hallmark of an ‘Attitude of gratitude” on stewardship is THANKSGIVING.

Dr. Stephen Post is a physician at Case Western Medical School. In Guideposts Magazine (November 2007, page 78) Dr. Post shared some data on how people who are thankful for the things they have are benefitted by the ‘Attitude of gratitude”. Here are some of his findings:

• Just 15 minutes a day focusing on things you’re thankful for will significantly increase your body’s natural antibodies.
• Naturally grateful people are more focused mentally and measurably less vulnerable to clinical depression.
• A grateful state of mind induces a physiological state called resonance that’s associated with healthier blood pressure and heart rate.
• Caring for others is draining. But grateful caregivers are healthier and more capable than less grateful ones.
• Recipients of donated organs who have the most grateful attitudes heal faster.

Have you counted your blessings TODAY?

Larry Grampp

Elder

What does it mean exactly to be a part of something that is "bigger than ourselves"? We hear this kind of terminology used in reference to all kinds of various activities and experiences. We may hear it from an athlete competing in the Olympics or some other notable competition, or from a soldier fighting for a cause that they beiieve in. We may hear such a comment from someone involved in humanitarian work and relief efforts after hurricanes, tsunamis, or just tragic occurrences in everyday life. No matter the event that triggers such a description it is hard to deny the fact that people look to be a part of something that is "bigger than themselves". 

Such a desire to be a part of something like this, and a feeling of emptiness or something missing until this "hole" is filled is not uncommon. Where people go to get this need met on the other hand, are as diverse as the imagination could possibly express.

Some turn to substances, alcohol, drugs, or food, some to relationships with others, some jion cults, clubs, or communities who hold beliefs that are as wide a variety as could possibly be described. Something needs to fill that hole. As Christians, we believe (even though sometimes we still struggle to apply these truths) that the only thing that will fill that hole is a relationship with God. It is the only real connection that gives purpose, mission, and doesn't leave us with empty spaces in our lives that need to be supplemented or replaced by anything else. A relationship with God really is sufficient to fill all those gaps in our lives.

The Bible tells us a lot about people, about their nature, their weaknesses, and their desire to be a part of something that is meaningful, enduring, and worth living for. It also recounts a lot of foolish things that people throughout history have tried to put in that place instead of a relationship with God. They tried to make their own gods, they tried sex, child sacrifice, a mix of a bunch of different religions, and also just plain apathy to the whole situation. None of them filled the hole.

The Bible also tells us one big story throughout its pages about a God who made the universe and desires to be the one who fills all the needs in our lives that cannot be filled any other way. He made us that way. Don't you think he knows how to fill it? God chose to choose one people (the nation of Israel). It wasn't because they were powerful or special (God makes that very clear), but instead he chose them so that they could help the rest of the world to realize that they all needed to fill the hole in their lives and their societies by being right with their Maker.

Jesus came and taught that God was still up to the same thing. He wanted people to be reconciled (or brought back) to Him. He gave his life so that it could happen in a way that was better than ever before. Not since the Garden of Eden in the very beginning had such an intimate and real relationship with God ever been possible. Through Jesus what was once simply wishful thinking was now not only possible but available to all who would seek it.

God is working today. Some say that God doesn't exist. Others simply suggest that He isn't interested. The truth is that God is just as busy today as he has ever been on the same mission that He had when it all started. He desires to be close to those who would seek Him.

Are you looking for something "bigger then yourself"? Look no further. His name is God. He is the Creator of all that exists and He is living in and working through his people. And he promises that if you seek Him you will find Him. Get plugged in. Stop filling that hole in your life with something different that doesn't fit the whole. Come to God and allow him to fill you to overflowing.

Welcome to the Journey.

THE PEARL OF GREAT VALUE

For many centuries Japanese pearl divers (usually female) risked their lives looking for the biggest oysters in very deep waters. Some died searching for pearls of great value. Pearls are valuable to mankind because of the time needed to produce them, their scarcity, and their beauty. In Jesus’ parable in Matthew 13:45, He says that the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant who would sell everything just to buy the one pearl of great value. What would make it that valuable in a spiritual application?

Could Jesus have meant that the pearl is heaven where the twelve gates are made of pearls? (Revelation 21:21)

Perhaps he was referring to one’s soul which is said to be worth more than the whole world. (Matthew 16:26)

Some scholars believe it is the church that was bought with God’s own blood. (Acts 20:28)

A physical pearl is made up of many layers but the same essence permeates the whole. In a spiritual sense one essence permeates the three possible meanings of the pearl of great value. Jesus Christ is God’s pearl of great value because he reigns in heaven at the right hand of The Father. He shed His blood for the church and will preserve our souls with him forever if we obey Him. (1 Thessalonians 4:17) Like the merchant in the parable, we have to search and discover our “pearl”. We then have to sacrifice our very lives and die with Him in baptism.

Finally, we experience the great joy of knowing it cannot be taken away from us. (Romans 8:38-39).

    Why do bad things happen to good people? It’s an age old question. We joke about God striking people with lightning when they make a seemingly inappropriate joke that has to do with the Almighty. But the truth is, for some reason, when bad things happen we think that it is the result of something that we did which was wrong. Perhaps that is one of the reasons that this story is so striking. The story of Jesus healing a man who has been blind from birth and his ensuing confrontation with the Pharisees seems to suggest that God may have a different purpose for our struggles.    

    Let’s start by dealing with the essence of the story and then drawing out some thoughts and implications for our lives today. The story begins with Jesus simply happening upon a man who cannot see. His disciples at this point ask what to us would be a shocking and perhaps even offensive question. “Who’s fault is it that this man is blind? Did his parents do something wrong or was it this man’s fault?” The other teachers of Jesus’ day would have speculated that it was one or perhaps both parties that were at fault and perhaps would even suggest why. Jesus however, saw a totally different reason for this man's affliction. He simply told them that his blindness wasn’t punishment at all but instead an opportunity for God to show his power and love through this man. Jesus gives him instructions as to how he can receive his sight for the first time and then simply slips away. The man, who can now see cannot identify the one who did this wonderful thing for him.

    It is the Sabbath, and the tradition says that you aren’t supposed to work on the Sabbath. Surely giving a man his eyesight is work. So this man whoever he is broke the rules. After interrogating the formerly blind man and his family they threw him out. Jesus went to the man and introduced himself as to who he truly was, God’s Son, the one who was sent that all may come to God and be forgiven. The man shows no hesitation in his reaction, he worships Jesus. The story concludes with Jesus saying that those who wish to see will find their answer in him and that those who believe that they already have all the answers and do not need nor want the Son of God will continue in their blindness. This story begs the question, “Which are you?”

    The biggest indictment in this story is of the people who should recognize when God is at work. We’re talking about the Pharisees. They were the religious elite, the scholars of their day. But Jesus makes it very clear that they didn’t get it. Instead the man who was thought to be “sinful” and as a result was blind was the one who recognized Jesus for who he really was.

• Have you ever had a time in your life when God brought you through a really difficult time? How did you feel?
• How would your life be different if you saw the events in people’s lives (including your own) not as punishment for something you did wrong but as an opportunity for God to show himself to you and to others?
• The man in the story who could see (both literally and spiritually) when he realized that it was Jesus who healed him began to worship him. Does remembering the ways that God has intervened in your life lead you to want to worship him as well?

 Almighty God,
     Help us to see you working in our lives and the lives of others and may we worship you alone.                
                                                                                        Amen.

So here are a few reasons why we must meditate on God’s Word:

• God reveals himself to us through his Word.
• Neglecting the Bible robs us of our understanding of our God-given mission and purpose as followers of Jesus.
• Failing to do so we risk the lives of not only ourselves but our children and future generations (see Deuteronomy chapter 6).
• It is a treasure given to us from the very hands of God. Its value is immeasurable and its riches inexhaustible.