Prepare & Apply

7/21/14

Scripture

Isaiah had said, “Prepare a poultice of figs and apply it to the boil, and he will recover.” (Isaiah 38:21 NIV)

Observation

Hezekiah became ill to the point where he was facing death. He wept before The Lord and asked him to remember his wholehearted devotion to Him. God did. And, God told him he would add another 15 years to his life. But, after God had told him that he would heal him and give him more years to live, Isaiah does something that is mind blowing to me. He said in this verse to prepare a natural remedy for Hezekiah and to apply it to the wound. 

Application

This verse stands out to me because often times we think that because God has spoken that there is no action required on our part and we just wait around for His word or promise to come to pass. However, there are times in which He speaks what will happen, but there is still preparation and application needed on our behalf in order for that word to come to pass. 

Prayer

Lord, help us identify the times when there is action required on our behalf in order for you to do your part. We need your guidance and rely on you to see us through. We ask this in Jesus' name, amen! 

Favoritism Equals Discrimination

7/16/14

Scripture

"My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism." James 2:1

Observation

James uses the example of discriminating based on appearances to exhort the twelve tribes that are scattered among the nations on the issue of favoritism.  However, favoritism is not limited to the difference in treatment between the poor and the rich. 

Application

Based on this chapter, favoritism is forbidden if you call yourself a believer, a Christian. This is an issue of the heart.  How do you treat others that are above you vs. those that are beneath you in any aspect? Those that are more fit than you vs. those that are in a worse condition than you? 

Prayer

Lord, please help me immediately identify when I am looking down on someone based on looks, social status, popularity, and even those that just constantly make bad decisions. Help me keep focused on the fact that all people need you, regardless of where they are in life. In Jesus' name, Amen!

Clear Conscience

7/11/14

Scripture

"This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings-- external regulations applying until the time of the new order." Hebrews 9:9-10

Observation

In this chapter, the author discusses how in the first covenant there were certain regulations for worship in an earthly sanctuary, the tabernacle.  There were rituals that God told His people to follow and if there was fault found, the high priest paid with his life.

Application

God is not looking for people that know what worship is supposed to look like.  He's not looking for people with the "external" practices of a Christian who are fluent in Christianese.  There is no gift and no external sacrifice that can take the place of a worshiper's cleared conscience in Jesus.  The new order, Jesus, is here! He paid with his life so that we could live a conscience-clear life.

Prayer

Lord, help me not put my energy and what "Christianity" is supposed to look like.  Help me focus on you and put all of my energy on our relationship and the things that you want to teach me that will help me grow in You.  Help me understand that having a clear conscience comes from you and that there is nothing that I can do on the outside to give me that peace that I have been forgiven and redeemed by you.  In Jesus name, Amen! 

It Will Not Stand

7/10/14

Scripture

"Devise your strategy, but it will be thwarted; propose your plan, but it will not stand, for God is with us." Isaiah 8:10

Observation

Samaria was not in good terms with God.  They were going down. God had lifted up the King of Assyria against them and warned Isaiah to not follow in their path or not to fear what they feared.

Application

When Isaiah received word from the Lord about His plans for the people of Samaria, he was overwhelmed with confidence that it did not matter what they planned against God's people. Ultimately, they would not prevail! God has told us that in the end, we win!  Stand firm in that revelation and it that promise and know that no matter what strategy or what plan the enemy has to destroy us, IT WILL NOT STAND!!!! Sickness will not stand! Attacks will not stand! Whatever is trying to break you, it will not stand! God is with us!  

Prayer

Thank you for your promises.  Thank you for your Word that tells us time and time again that you are with us and that no matter what tries to come against us, IT WILL NOT STAND!

The Perfect Plan

Today's SOAP: 7/9/14

Scripture

If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also.

The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. (Hebrews 7:11-12, 18-19 NIV)

Observation

In the Old Testament, the law given to Moses by God himself was introduced to His people as a standard to live by.  However, the law was established ironically to show the people that there was no possible way to ever attain perfection before God's eyes. The law only pushes us further away from God. But, then there's Jesus, the bridge between us and the Father. 

Application

Understanding that the only way to God is through Jesus' righteousness and His sacrifice, we should never take grace for granted.  Let us draw near to God through the hope that we have in Jesus. If we are weak or useless, we are not under the right priesthood. 

Prayer

Dear Jesus, you came to change our weakness into strength, our uselessness into effectiveness, and our hopelessness into full-blown access to you and the Father. I thank you for that. Helps us never take that for granted. In your name, amen!

Soak in your S.O.A.P.

It's been a month since my last post and I want to give you all something to read on my blog but the way my life is set up right now, boy oh boy!  So, for the next few weeks I will be posting my daily SOAP from the Life Journal reading plan until I finish the post that I've been working on. If you have a smart phone and have the You Version Bible app, you should be able to browse plans and find it there. 

The way to SOAP is you can pick a passage from your daily reading and ask God to show you something you can apply everyday.  You jot down the Scripture, what your Observation is, how you can Apply this passage to your life, and what your Prayer is to make that application happen. God has given each and everyone of us the ability and capacity to read His Word and if we make our hearts available to Him, He will use His Word to speak to us. To soak means to become saturated or permeated (www.dictionary.com).  Will you allow Him to soak you with His SOAP daily? 

Below is today's SOAP.  I pray that you are blessed by it! Please feel free to join me and send me your SOAPs to the myheart4yoursleeve@gmail.com email. I would love to read them. 

Endless Diligence

Scripture
"God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised." Hebrews 6:10-12

Observation

Throughout the beginning of this chapter, there is a clear warning to those who have been enlightened by God and those that have tasted the goodness of God's Word and have chosen to fall away from the truth. The author is encouraging those in the faith to not get weary in doing God's work and that if we are persistent enough, we will get what He has promised us. 

Application

It seems that discouragement is directly linked to the lack of acknowledgement of others in what we do. This verse is clear in its directive. God does not forget.  Helping others is a direct way of showing God that you love Him. If we remain diligent in what we do to show God that we love Him, our promises will be fulfilled in Him. Warning: Allowing laziness to enter our lives will hinder our faith and our patience, both gradually decreasing. 

Prayer

Lord, show us the areas in our lives where we have become lazy or complacent. Make us aware that this laziness will cause us to lose patience and faith as we wait on you for your promises in our lives. Help us look to you for our reward and not to the acknowledgement of men.  In your precious name, Amen.

Hearts and Sleeves

Have you ever heard of the phrase "wearing your heart on your sleeve"?

I remember the first time someone asked me why I wear my heart on my sleeve.  I was very young and did not know what it meant but I remember the look on the person's face and could tell that it was not necessarily a good thing.  I asked around to find out what the phrase meant  and that was the first time I remember feeling badly about how I handled my negative emotions. On the other hand, I thought,  "How else are you supposed to act when you're mad"?

For those of you who do not know me very well, you will get to know me more and more with every post.  I did not grow up in a house surrounded by a white picket fence with housekeepers and people waiting on me hand and foot. I didn't even grow up in a poor home that was rich in love and positive reinforcement.  I grew up in an extremely dysfunctional home with one of my parent's struggling with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia that refused to take medications.  The second parent struggled with severe depression.  As the eldest child, I was exposed to many things that children should never be exposed to. Neglect, physical and verbal abuse, harsh and unkind words were all a part of the hostile environment that I called home.  I learned to protect my four younger siblings.  But, having to do that at such an early age and not knowing how to deal with my emotions in a healthy way, I turned to anger, bitterness, and resentment.  As much as I wanted to protect my siblings, I also hurt them as I did not know how to deal with the negative thoughts and the internal turmoil and pain. 

What does the blog title "My Heart For Your Sleeve" mean? 

If you've ever struggled with keeping your emotions in check, not taking things personally, displaying your negative emotions for everyone to see, saying hurtful or mean things without any regard of how the other person may feel, or allowing the things of your past to control your current feelings, amongst other things, then this blog is designed to challenge you and help you walk it out in a way that is practical, applicable, and realistic.  And, if that's not you, you may know someone that needs the information that will be disclosed here.  Heck, it may even give you another perspective and you may get to understand that person!

If you find that you can relate to these posts as emotional issues are brought up, I pray that you would release unto God the tender areas in your life that may need some guidance and TLC.  Wearing your heart out on your sleeve is not safe.  Think about your physical heart for a moment. Why is your heart placed inside of the rib cage? Without the rib cage's protection, your heart would be exposed to life threatening injuries.  The rib cage is the heart's safe place.  In the same way, your emotional heart, where your innermost feelings live, is exposed to emotionally and mentally damaging blows if it is not protected!  I am trading my experiences with you, my hurts and pains, my heartaches, my struggles, and my issues so that God could use them to help you protect, strengthen, and build a safe place for your heart.  That safe place is in God's hands, your emotional rib cage, if you will.  In exchange for my heart, I pray that you would give up your sleeve, that tender place where your raw emotions dwell and willfully make daily decisions to adjust and realign to allow God to help you build a rib cage for your broken, tampered with, or shattered emotional heart.

Disclosures 

I have prayerfully considered starting this blog because I will be exposing things about myself that I do not necessarily enjoy sharing.  I considered my family's feelings about this.  I'm concerned that any of them may get offended.  However, my desire to offer my heart for the sleeves of those that are hurting far exceeds any offense that some may take.  My intentions and hope for this blog are that as I share my heart with absolutely no reservations some would, in turn, place their emotional heart in a safe place, God's hands, and NOT their sleeve. And, if that's you, you can keep your sleeve!  Tops are still required in most places, but you can always go sleeveless. (You will soon find out that sometimes I crack myself up!!!) Ha!

Change may happen overnight, but it is highly unlikely.  It took years of hard work, messing up, getting back up again, and I still don't have it all together.  Reshaping and rearranging my thoughts to align with the Word of God is still a daily challenge.  I will be painfully transparent and brutally honest.  The issues I will discuss here may or may not be to your liking, but it once was my reality....the good, the bad, and the ugly.  God is NOT finished with me yet!  I am confident that God will use this blog and the things that are shared to bring healing and restore damaged hearts.  Care to walk this journey with me?  It will be the most challenging, most difficult, but most rewarding experience!

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Psalm 73:26 NIV)

P.S. I would love to hear your feedback on topics you would like to have addressed here. Please feel free to comment below or email me directly at myheart4yoursleeve@gmail.com.