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How to Keep Your Heart Out of the Danger Zone

July 9, 2020 by Ellen 5 Comments

He fell out of the nest a little early. I watched the baby mockingbird making his way across the yard. He went from one spot to the next, trying to stay safe. Mama bird would bring him food, and attack intruders (me and my husband) who got too close. She also screeched loudly when baby was headed in the wrong direction – toward potential danger.

I’ve heard those loud warnings in my life recently. Like a mama bird warning and protecting her chick, I felt the Holy Spirit whisper into my soul: Watch out! You’re getting into dangerous territory!

My heart attitude was wrong, and I wasn’t sure how to correct it.

Cynical, that’s what I had become. Distrustful of human sincerity. Contemptuous and mocking. That’s where I was. Thankfully, God was not going to let me stay there. His warnings pierced my heart. Surely that’s what a mama bird’s peck on the head feels like, when you’re too close to her baby. It’s sharp, stings and causes me to pause and examine my thoughts and feelings.

Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life. Proverbs 4:23 (CSB)

I needed to guard my heart. It had been so very easy for me to slide down the slippery slope to an attitude of anger and contempt. These are not from God, and did not honor Him.

Often, we don’t even realize our thoughts and behaviors are dipping into the danger zone. It’s gradual and hardly noticeable. Until it takes over our lives, and everyone notices!

We need to guard our hearts above all else. Above everything. It’s that important. When you get that holy warning that you need to make a course correction, listen to it…above all else!

How can we guard our hearts? Philippians 4:6 tells us not to worry, pray and be thankful. Then

“…the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7 CSB

But, how do we keep God’s peace? The next verse tells us. Whatever is just, pure, lovely, commendable, morally excellent or praiseworthy, dwell on these things.

I had not done this. Oh, I was prayerful and thankful. But I didn’t stay there. I’d gotten sucked into social media “news” and all the comments, critiques and infighting that came with it.

Have you been there lately? None of that stuff is pure and lovely. I had to stop reading, liking and commenting, and begin pondering on God’s truth and beauty. Maybe you do, too?

Here’s the thing, though. It’s not a one and done deal. We must continue dwelling on the things of God.

We must continue dwelling on the things of God.

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The most important piece of advice from this passage is in verse nine: Do what you have learned. Guard your heart; keep putting into practice all that you have learned; model it in the way you live.

Keep on doing what you have learned from God’s truth. Keep dwelling on those things that are pure and lovely. Then His peace will guard your heart and keep it out of the Danger Zone.

I need that kind of peace today, don’t you?

Grace be with you,

A Different Kind of Easter

April 9, 2020 by Ellen 8 Comments

WHEREAS, the measures are necessary to protect the health and safety of the people of Louisiana,

NOW THEREFORE I, Governor of the state of Louisiana, do hereby order and direct as follows:

…all gatherings of ten or more people shall be postponed or cancelled…until Monday, April 13, 2020^⁠1

April 13? Why, that’s the Monday after Easter, isn’t it? No Easter church service? No Easter lunch with all the family?

The thoughts sputtered in my brain.

But, but, what will we do??

Easter 2020 will be a different kind of Easter for sure. However, it won’t be much different that the first Easter.

So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” John 20:19 NASB

The first disciples were huddled behind closed doors in fear of the Jews. We are staying home for our health, wary of the highly contagious, deadly Covid-19 virus. We are disciples staying in for our safety, just like they were.

And Jesus still speaks those same words to us today: Peace be with you.

The peace of Jesus can be ours this oh, so different Easter.

In the gospels we read about parents bringing their children to Jesus, so that He might pray for them. The disciples scolded the parents. I can imagine why. When you get a group of small kids together, it’s no easy feat to control them! Just ask any VBS worker!

But Jesus said “Let the children come.”

Imagine with me all the children crowding around Jesus! They had no agenda, and no expectations. The kids had just heard about this man from their parents, and wanted to see Him. Their parents had said He would pray for them. So they flocked to Jesus.

Imagine with me all the children sitting at His feet. They just wanted to spend time with Him. Imagine the stories He would tell them, and the blessings He would pray over them. And they are happy and content, because they had Jesus.

Let’s put that perspective on Easter this year:

Our perspective: We can’t have our traditional Easter service with our church family.

God’s perspective: You have My Son, who died for you! You are co-heirs with Him. You are His child.

Our perspective: We can’t have our big family lunch after church.

God’s perspective: You have Jesus, the bread of life. You will never thirst again, if you drink the water He gives.

Be like children this Covid-19 Easter 2020: Sit at the feet of Jesus. Spend time with Him. Enjoy His company. Feast on His words! Be filled with the peace of Christ.

Yes, it will be a different kind of Easter. But in a good way.

“He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.” Matthew 28:6 NASB

Halleleujah! He is risen!

He is risen indeed!

Grace be with you,

¹https://gov.louisiana.gov/assets/Proclamations/2020/JBE-33-2020.pdf