Forgiveness that Flows from the Heart

11-16-07
Have you recognized the unspoken expectation that requires you to pass on the goodness extended to you? When this is not done an offense is committed that causes persons to become angry or frustrated at you. Kindness received expects kindness to be given, justice received expects justice to be given, love received expects love to be given. What ever goodness we receive there is an underlying expectation that a similar form of goodness will be given to someone else.

In order for this type of exchange to take place something fundamental must take place on the inside – that is a release of individual rights. For example, I may have the right to press charges and have some one thrown in prison for some crime committed against me. Also, I could have the opportunity to cause some misfortune in another person’s life. Forgiveness that flows from the heart supersedes individual rights and the opportunity possessed in order to release the person from the misfortune. This is the kind of forgiveness God expects His children to display towards each other, forgiveness that releases from the bonds of misfortune.

It is so sad when others benefit at the expense of another person misfortune. Forgiveness that flows from the heart looks beyond the right and wrong because it realizes that trespass must not exist between brothers so it takes the steps toward its removal. It does not try to change the person – it seeks to remove the act from the relationship. The condition of our relationship with God depends on our level of forgiveness toward our brother. Allow forgiveness that flows from your heart to make wrongs right and restore broken relationships. It is the plan of God for your life.

All the Heart and More

11-26-07

The love we are required to bestow upon God is far greater than the love we give to ourselves. We can get by loving ourselves with a partial, some-time type of love but the love God requires involves all of what is on the inside.

Love is the leading affection. It provides for us a place of rest and satisfaction for the soul. Love begins in the heart and flows out though our affections and aspirations. All the love from the heart is too little to bestow upon God. Therefore, we must bestow all the powers of the soul and mind.

Too often we treat as light the love we are required to give as evidence of our relationship with God. Our life style reveals our carelessness and lack of concern in responding favorably in love. Our attention has become dull and disconnected from the voice of love which called us into a peculiar style of living. Completely open the heart, soul and mind to adequately bestow upon God the quality of love that only He can receive.

Heart for Greatness

11-26-07

Great is a description attributed to qualities standing paramount among the norm. Such a fate, although easily recognizable, comes with much effort. Many of us aspire to be great in some aspect of our lives but aspiration alone will not get us there.

The acquisition of greatness comes with a hefty price. The source of which is tagged in the heart. To achieve greatness the heart has to be fully committed. Half-hearted, partial commitment will not do. All of the heart has to be submitted to the pursuit.

For example, to achieve the greatest commandment in the Bible all of the heart must be committed to love God. No reserves, no holding back. Love must flow freely. The heart represents the affections and love is the leading affection. It is not until we completely submit ourselves in love do we acquire the greatness of God.

A test of love in the Heart

05-25-07

Certain things have to be done in order for love to prove itself true. The quality and intimacy of love can be proven by a test of the heart and soul. At times it may take all that you have within you to prove the kind of love you have. All of your attention, focus, motivation, feelings, opinions and intuitions will have to be submitted as a part of the test.

Perhaps you have been in a situation where your love was tested. If you have, then you know the pressure it places on the heart. If you haven’t prepare yourself because it will come, when it does understand that the location of the test is in the heart and the key to passing is written on wall of your heart. There are no right or wrong answers, good or bad, only love or on love.

A test of love from the heart causes the attention to not only be fixed but locked. It causes the feelings to not only be sparked but enflamed. It causes the motivation to soar and the intuitions to penetrate. A true test of love is a test of the heart and soul.

Voice of the Heart

05-01-07

Too often the ‘Voice of the Heart’ differs from the voice we speak out loud. When there is discomfort in revealing what is in the heart the voice spoken out loud carries a different attitude but when truthfully revealed the ‘Voice of the Heart’ represents the true voice.

Although hidden for many reasons including fear and lack of faith, the ‘Voice of the Heart’ is just as if not more important the voice spoken out loud. The things said in the heart reflect an individual’s thought pattern. These patterns usually come from the level of belief and they portray a person’s attitude toward what they are facing.

God knows us for who we really are and who He wants us to be. He is familiar with the ‘Voice of the Heart’ so without reserve He could warn us of the danger rooted in our personality. By warning us God can saves us from the aspects of our character threatening who He wants us to be.

Allow God’s voice to have priority in what you say and do, even beyond the ‘Voice of the Heart’.

In the Heart: Spiritual Pride

05-02-07

What is in the heart can lead us into believing and interpreting the things that occur in our life incorrectly. We can think we have something when in reality we don’t. We can come to the conclusion that our efforts, words or ingenuity brought a particular result, when in actuality they didn’t. The things we have in our heart can lead us into ‘Spiritual Pride’.

‘Spiritual Pride’ is an attitude possessed in the heart of church people with self proclaimed rightness and goodness. It causes a mode of thinking which has the appearance of God but lacks God’s perspective. Persons with ‘Spiritual Pride’ may see the power of God and even be used by the power of God but still end up with a wrong interpretation of what happened. To a spiritually prideful person, God’s perspective does not have the flair they desire and they see no error in putting their interpretation on the work of God.

There are many ways ‘Spiritual Pride’ can show itself in a person’s life. When a member of the church think they are in right standing with God and they are not or when a church member think they have more rightness than they actually do. The difference between what they have and what they think they have is ‘Spiritual Pride’.

When a church member think they are the reason they are so blessed they are filled with ‘Spiritual Pride’. These persons don’t realize the blessing they experience today is a result of what God is doing in someone else. To sum it up ‘Spiritual Pride’ is the work and the image of God without God. The only person capable of committing such an offense is church people.

Conditions on the Heart

05-10-07

It’s exciting to receive a promise. Especially when that promise brings privileged benefits. The major challenge with receiving a promise is meeting the requirements. When the requirements are not convenient some persons stumble and become confused and doubtful. In order to meet the requirements and unleash benefits in the promise we have to have the right conditions in the heart.

The promises that are made by God requires more than mere acts of veneration. They place a demanding personalized form of loving where everything we do and how we do it is detrimental to the flow and the benefits in the promise. There are no secrets, closed doors or private areas. Everything we have and do is involved with receiving that promise.


At times we neglect to consider the important connection our heart has with what God offers. Having the conditions on the heart in the way God commands releases daily benefits we long to receive. When we serve God with all the heart and soul, God will give the favorable nurturing qualities that unlock what was promised. This includes the preconditions that cause the promise to be ready to bring an increase. It also includes the post conditions that refreshes and forwards that increase to the point of maturity. All of this in exchange for what is in the heart.

Adapting Heart

09-17-07

The vicissitudes of life hurls many situations at us. The ability to deal with these situations is key to your survival and peace of mind. An Adapting Heart is an awesome tool to make any situation work in your favor.

First of all the Adapting Heart can only happen after you have accepted the situation. We spend so much of our time fighting against the things that can be used for empowerment. Acceptance puts you in the control seat and considers you as the one responsible for progress.



For example, a friend of mine, Patt during his high school days was dealt a rough card. His parents schedule caused him to arrive at school two hours before classes started. This early schedule would cause most teen ages to grumble but not Patt. He used the time to complete homework and do class assignments. Although this is not the ideal time for this sort of thing, Patt used it and by using it he developed an ability to focus in time clutching situations. This ability has led him to be the senior manager of a major company at young age. By adapting to the situation Patt saw how it could be used to effectively.

When we are able to adapt to situation we truly accept what God is doing in our lives and we recognize that we have what it takes to get through despite how difficult it may seem.

Meek Heart

10-22-07

Some things are available to everyone but hidden from the common eye. These things are of great value but only found by the few who have the heart to see them. One of the things is a meek heart.

The meek heart acknowledges its weakness. With this knowledge of itself teaches it to gently endure the provocations of others without withdrawing despite the hardship imposed by the weakness of others. The meek heart accepts God’s dealings with us as good and does not dispute nor resist. It relies on God to defend against injustice because it knows God’s control over the situation.

Heart of Rest

10-22-07

Remember what it feels like when you have worked real hard and become so exhausted from the load of the work? In moments like these nothing is more refreshing than a good rest. The load of the work can become overbearing so it is necessary to have opportunities to rest. In resting strength is recovered and the energy is rejuvenated to meet the demands of the work.

Jesus extends an opportunity for rest to all those who work hard and have become weary. The only requirement is that we come to Him. In coming to Him a bond is established where we are able to observe what He does and how He does it. Observing Him teaches us what to do and how to handle what we are dealing with.

How ironic. The heart finds its rest by observation. Observing the character of Christ recovers our strength. It make us aware of which tactic to use, we gain the ability to deal with what we are facing and the knowledge to overcome. The rest takes on the form of empowerment that is released through observation.

No need to be exhausted with for the load you are carrying. Rest! No need to be frustrated while doing good works. Rest! See the practice and acquire the habit. You owe it to yourself and to those you serve, rest.

Heart of Worship

10-29-07

Worship is vain when the heart is not right. The mouth draws us closer and the lips bestow honor to God, but the heart brings legitimacy to worship. We can have the right words to say and arrange them in a linguistic way. We can also design programs, services and traditions that symbolize our acceptance of God but if our heart is not in it, it is empty.

Our heart contains the life of our worship. It carries our conformity to the God we worship. When the heart is right the thoughts, feelings and aspirations are subjected. Our whole human system is deprived of all other influences. The joy of our desire, the clarity of perception, the fervor of our will, the strength of our faith and power of our conscience is lock in and focused on the object of our worship.

When the heart is right in worship we become instruments in tune to be played by the Master through situations and circumstances that come up in our lives. When the heart is right in service we become one with the Master of our destiny taking authority over circumstances.

A Far Heart

10-31-07

We as humans are known to be the masters of impressions. We are able to say the right words, give the proper signs and mimic behaviors to portray the image or idea we want others to see. Even when the image is not real we can add actions and attitudes that reinforce our phony-ness. Masters of manipulation, skilled in the art of trickery, we make up our own little worlds then try to force others to live in it. We put together our own ideals and insist that others line up to them.

Such is the case Jesus referred to in Matthew 15:8 & 9. The religious persons were saying the things that gave praises; they even had the language that gave honor but their heart was far from God. These religious persons were seeing and hearing what Jesus was doing but their desires and concerns were not supportive. They were in the right pace physically but their heart was not supporting what was going on. In essence they were giving honor and praises but their heart was so far they could not relate to what they were giving.

Like these religious people, we to can have a ‘Far Heart’. How do you know when the heart is far? When the heart is far there is a tendency to look and respond to God differently. God is no longer the affection of the desire. We may find ourselves sitting in church but reluctant to get involved. We may read our Bibles but have trouble accepting Its commands. We may pray to God but struggle to trust and obey what He says. We lift our hands in love but on the inside we resist and hold back. We know the way to God but instead of going to Him we go through the motions. We look to God for the wrong reasons, desiring that He would meet our needs, relieve our burdens or calm our troubles.

The ‘Far Heart’ has a broken link in the connection. With a broken link no access to God can be established in a way that reflects a meaningful relationship. Communication may take place but not to the point where it affects. Mutual interest is lost and the differences in concern lead to differences in identity where persons can be involved but refuse to accept or acknowledge the connection or relationship. The heart is far.

Buried in the Heart

10-26-07

Quite often we associate burial with death when in fact burial speaks to confinement rather than the loss of life. Being buried in the heart enables the things in the heart to come alive. Consider the person who buries them self in work, family, church or play. The result from this effort is higher level of commitment and performance.

To be buried in the heart seals you in the core of you identity to the point where you are lost in the essence of your desires and consumed by your habits. There is seclusion and confinement into the things that makes you tick and you are left alone only to what really matters. Released out of this confinement is a true and pure representation of your identity.

Who wants to be that true or pure? Consider this, when you tell a lie you surrender the truth of your reality to someone else. Truth and purity causes you to have more authenticity in what you do. Once you are able to live comfortably with the true source your desires your life becomes empowered by the treasures found in that source.

Being buried in the heart allows for a greater level of purity of ones identity. It enables us to live life comfortable without the mask or behind the scenes.

Full Heart

10-24-07

The heart is the source of much of what is experienced in life. The quality of life we come to enjoy and the standards we set for ourselves are products of the heart. Whatever is in the heart in large quantities seeks to release itself. Our verbal and non-verbal communications are mere extensions of the full heart.

So, how does the heart get full?
What the eye sees, hears hear and body touches allows connection to the source that provided the impulse of what is seen, hear or felt. Once connection is established exchanges takes place. Withdrawals and deposits, acceptable and unacceptable standards are communicated back and forth.

The things we are connected with are able to grow and increase once allowed in the heart. Growth causes the impulses to become more frequent and stronger. The frequency in communication causes the full heart .

By repeatedly thinking about a thing, feeling a certain way, accepting a certain value, believing a certain thing or giving favor to a certain thing the heart becomes full. Our life is only a product of our habits. Our habits are the practice of our interest and desires.

Our heart becomes full of what we allow it to be filled with. It is no surprise the things of the world constantly bombard us with things we try to get away from.

Astonished Heart

9-18-07

While taking a friend home a few nights ago we found ourselves stuck for a short period behind a car parked in the middle of the street. The lights were on, the engine was running and the driver’s door was wide open. Standing a few feet from the car was a young woman. The sound she made was too faint to be a scream but too blurred and trembled for a conversation. With her arms folded rubbing her shoulders and walking around trembling made it clear, terror was in the air.

Fortunately she had stopped just across the street from the police station. The police were trying to comfort her and sooth her troubles but to not avail. I heard one of the officers in a demanding yet disturbed voice ask, “Where is he, is that him?” With each question she turned away briskly screaming, 'No, Ah, Ah'!

Knowing my magnetic pull for being caught in weird situations. I hurried the car around as I spoke a word of peace over her situation. No doubt some guy had done something causing her to become what Deuteronomy 28:28 calls an ‘Astonished Heart’.

What is an astonished heart? It is a heart that is filled with feelings of anxiety. It leaves a person uneasy, nervous and vulnerable to the unexpected. Everything seems to go wrong even the right ones. There is no comfort regardless of what is done. The sense of urgency rules even when there is nothing happening. There is no confidence regardless of the amount of support.

Self assurance is not produced by an astonished heart. A person with this sort of heart is unable to identify the truth from a lie, the secure from the worried, the positive from the negative nor the certain from the uncertain. The person is left full of doubt, jittery and afraid. Silent fears are killers. They rob life of its future, hide the opportunities that come available, drain the drive to do more, get better and improve oneself in order to get the most out of a situation.

How do you get rid of an astonish heart? Trust in the Lord. Listen carefully to His voice and OBEY.

Heart of Gratitude

10-01-07

Too often we take for granted the satisfaction that comes from having more than enough. The ease in which things come cause us at times to overlook what God has put in place. For example, how often do you neglect to verbalize your appreciation for the acts kindness given to you? Do you acknowledge God for the two freezers fill with food? How about those wonderful kids and grand kids that carry your likeness? We love for things to go good all the time and get disgust when things don’t work the way they should. How about being grateful for being able to experience the good and the bad and the ability to know the difference?

What is a heart of gratitude?
A heart of gratitude is a feeling of appreciation flowing from place where emotions are generate. It is the joy and gladness coming from within that stimulates a positive attitude. It is seen in what we do and how we do it. The heart of gratitude is a force flowing from the heart designed to keep us on top of our circumstances, connected in our relations, dedicated in our service, protected from our enemies and in the right relation with God.

A heart of gratitude is evidence that the heart recognizes the hand of God in what is experienced. This type of heart prevents advancement of enemies by guarding who or what is allowed to influence your balance. We know what happens when you loose your balance right? You fall. A heart of gratitude is what we must show for all the great things God has freely provided. It is hard to make a stand without it.

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Faint Hearts

8-27-07

If you ever plan to accomplish something of significance here is one thing you should remember:
‘faint hearts are not fit for battle’

There are certain things that are not allowed in a confrontation and a faint heart is one of them. A faint heat is a prerequisite that separates those who are not ready and should return home. This not an incrimination but evidence that the heart is missing the basic necessity for success.

Understand that if you are going to accomplish anything significant you will have to pass through difficult situations. A faint heart is one that has lost its strength and energy. The heart may have been strong at one point but some where along the line it has grown weaker and more emaciated.

Several things can cause a faint heart.
1 – weariness from the stress of the confrontation
2 – conditions of danger that arise in the confrontation
3 – tendency to break under repeated pressure
4 – the wrong mindset and thought patterns

Here are two strategies to protect yourself from a faint heart.
1 - spend sufficient time alone with God
2 - obey as directed

God is more concerned about where the heart is and where it should be than were it was or where it came from. So, keep the heart strong and do not let it become faint, then success and faith size results will be your reward.

The heart and its treasure

10-13-07

What is a treasure?
Treasure is a deposit. It indicates a place where wealth is stored for safe keeping. Treasure holds what is valued. We resort to it as a source of hope and security. We confide in it to supply our needs and find our level of satisfaction. Our aims and intents become levelled in the place referred to as treasure.

Why is treasure important?
Treasure is important not only because of its value, but also because we depend on it for the future. The heart follows it like the flower follows the sun. Treasure affects the temper of our attitudes, the direction of our pursuits, and the tenor of our lives. Out of the treasure flows our cares and fears, concerns and thoughts. This includes our first thought, inner thought, familiar thought and frequent.

Take wise action when securing your treasure because its location influences the heart and content of life.

Whats the harm? nobody sees or knows

10-10-07

Many persons have developed a belief that the things that occur internally are not regarded as action. Thinking or feeling something is OK as long as you don't do it. Nobody sees or knows so what the harm?

Whatever harm exist will be found in the person who carries the thoughts and feelings, their actions being guided by those thoughts and feelings. Evidence of the harm can be detected in the ability of the character. Understand that character type has power to exact and demand within the context of that character. For example a person who is respected for an honest character will gather more trust than a person with a dishonest character. similarly a person with a reputable character will be able to gain more respect than a person with a lesser character.

The harm can also be seen in the opportunities the person is able to form and embrace. Opportunities are links that takes life to another level. Once handled correctly they will enable us to have experiences and develop relationships that enrich our lives. The things that exist internally helps us to see those opportunities and embrace them. Allowing the internal to be off focused or mis-intended limits that ability to see and embrace opportunities that come available.

The heart is key for the life one expects to have. What is allowed to enter the heart eventually leads to experiences both internally and externally. Setting the heart in line with the life one expects to have forces everything else to fall in line - the eye will see right, the mind will think right and the actions will be right.

It is your duty to keep the heart from corrupt glances and defiling impressions to ensure it does not limit or degrade the quality of your life.

Ability of the Heart

10-09-07

One of the things that make the heart so powerful is the abilities it possess. The heart has an incredible ability to convert what is seen into vision, what is heard in to discernment, what is known into understanding, what is felt in to passion and what is chosen into commitment.

The heart adds commitment in relationships; dedication to service; sincerity to worship and generosity to love. It does not end there. The heart can also add focus to vision, truth to discernment, wisdom to understanding and strength to passion.

What you have in your heart can literally direct, protect, destroy or revive you. With the heart life never have to remain the same. Life can be lived and enjoyed to the fullest in focus, sincerity, truth, wisdom and strength.

The heart is connected so closely with life in that all that pertains to life flows through the heart. The heart and life are inseparable, you can't have one without the other. Unleashing the abilities of the heart squeezes the essence out of life.

Not satisfied with life? "Put more in it, to get more out it" Put more of your heart in it, that is put more dedication in your service, more sincerity in your worship, more generosity in your love and more commitment in your relationships. Then life will open itself up to you.

Pure in Heart

10-09-07


You are fortunate and well off when your mind is free from corrupt desire and your feelings are free from guilt because you will be able to gaze at something remarkable. Not just a mere glance but an earnest inspection to the point where inward impressions are made and a spiritual experience is derived.

Purity is a character that is able to discern the higher good, with it you can discern visually beyond the common eye to observe Godly activity when they are present. With a pure heart you are able to become aware of the things of God and experience God as you witness His presence.

A pure heart involves nothing else but what is in perfect tune with God. All the unnecessary elements are left out. Purity enhances sight - it opens the sense of perception to God. Purity establishes focus - it enables one to observe God activity. Purity enables a connection - connection can be made to experience God at work.

The major problem with purity is 'who wants to be that clean?'

Head vs. Heart - 4

5-21-06

It is only fair to have a definition of what is referred to as the heart. So, "What is the heart?"

When we speak of the heart we are referring to the central and core part of an individual. The heart contains the essence of life. It is the hidden spring for personal life and it contains and conceals the true character. The heart makes up the motive, desire, intention and affection.

Not be confused with the soul (mind, will and emotions), which contains the inner attributes, such as the thoughts, choice and feelings. The heart gives each person their distinctive features which are displayed in actions, attitudes and beliefs. The heart represents the ideas a person owns. These ideas are developed over time and affect how a person acts and what he/she acts on.

Although the heart contains much of who a person is, its reclusive nature causes it to be filled with mystery and deception. A careful look at the heart gives a person reason for doing; it reveals a person's moral nature and it gives actions a foundation to move on.

I trust that this explanation gives a clearer representation to the question, "What is the heart?"

Head vs. Heart - 3

1-03-07

When considering the heart and its potential, some might recall the famous story "The Wizard of Oz". The lion who was born to be a king but lacked the courage because he had no heart. The condition or absence of his heart prevented him from being in his rightful position and living the standard of life he was created to live.

Lets look at another. How about the character "Data" from the Star Trek movie. Data posess a unique ability to compute information and posess vast amounts of knowledge but no heart. The absence of heart prevented him from showing personal emotions. He can think but not feel. He could know but not relate.

The heart offers much more than the head can ever conceive. The next few weeks I will share with you what I have learned about the power we possess in our heart. I will show you how it effects the quality of life, ability to serve God, achieve goals and the impact it has on our ability to make the most out of life.

Head vs. Heart - 2

1-03-07

There are a few points that oppose the head as being the most powerful.
1) the intellectual stiff syndrome - too much knowledge can lead a person to a point where all they know is how to be intellectual. These persons have the capacity to be really interesting and extreemly boring. At the appropriate time, to hear them speak on their subject matter is great. To hear them most of the other times gives the feeling of a child who has heard a two hour sermon for the third time.

2) the big air syndrome - too much konwledge causes a person head to be filled with air. They become swollen with pride and arrogance. Perhaps you have felt the airness of being around someone who thinks they are better than you or who knows too much. Pride and arrogance are major factors in the destruction of lives and broken relationships.

3) the never ending syndrome - there is no end in the pursuit of kowledge. It is impossible to be completely rational. Although science teaches us so much about ourselves and the world we live in, it is not the only teacher. A person can litterally spend their entire life acquiring knowledge and never be filled. There is no end in the pursiut of kowledge. For some things the satisfaction is in the pursuit. Unfortunately, knowledge has very little to offer to those who chase after it.

Head vs. Heart - 1

1-03-07

For years I was lead to believe that the brain or head is the most powerful part of the body. The head being the place of control that directs and leads the rest of the body and ultimately the type of life one would enjoy. The decision are made in the head. Our reasoning and rationality are in the head.

Certainly arguments for the head as the most powerful part of the body is legitimate. Perhaps this is why me and many others accepted that belief for so many years.