Open Heart Surgery

The center of our life is our heart.   The condition of our heart rests on many factors, the physical condition of our body, what we eat, how we handle stress and our emotions.  Our heart is such a fascinating organ; it even takes on our personality traits.   Our heart is strong and it is weak, it breaks, it gets hard and it gets soften, our heart grows cold and it melts. 

Sometimes we build a wall around our heart with armed guards at the entrance.  And sometimes our heart is open to anybody & everybody to reek havoc.

There are a lot of different vices that we use to mask issues of or build a wall around our heart.  Drugs & Alcohol are popular but there are also such things as work, school, hobbies, kids, men, women, and the not so obvious such as being involved in others’ business & drama, anything that would distract someone from having to deal with past hurts. 

We all want to love and be loved.  But in order for us to truly love we must unmask the issues of the heart, tear down the wall, allow Jesus in, receive & accept His love.

We must submit ourselves to the Great Physician for open heart surgery.   We must allow Him to bind our wounds with His love, heal the broken places in our hearts and make us whole.  It is only then we will be able to love with pure untarnished love and to receive the pure untarnished love that we all long for.

 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.  Ezekiel 36:26

Saved By Grace ♥ Changed By Love

Cindy

God Still Moves

In June 2009 I had a very real heavenly experience where God supernaturally healed the relationship between me & my deceased father.   The Lord showed me Heaven, I tasted, I felt and I saw.   The Lord Father gave me instructions, imparted His power & commanded me to use it.   Above all, He said that I have been made whole, walk in love and keep His commandments.

In November 2009, through Facebook, a friend from childhood contacted me.   It was so great to hear from him.  I had always had a heart connection to him.   

He came home for Christmas that year and of course I just had to see him.  Although we were on two different paths, I knew God had called me and he had never met Jesus, I still had to see him.   We saw each other a couple of times while he was in town and we kept in touch after he left.

He was so drawn to me that in April of 2010 he quit his very nice salary w benefits job and moved back to Missouri.

Our relationship grew closer and dysfunctional.  As I said before I was on a path to serve God and he wasn’t. I knew I had entered into a relationship that was not of God, or was it?

Clearly from what eyes of the flesh would see would be worldly, but what God was doing in me & through me during this time was utterly amazing.

I believe for the first time in my life I experienced having a fullness of agape love for someone.  I believe for the first time in my life I experienced & understood the difference between being hurt by someone and hurting for someone.  I experienced God working through me in so many situations with him, and not just him but with his entire family. 

I was so amazed that God loved me so much that in even what appeared to be a wrong choice, He still took the opportunity to show up & move.

Even when we detour off the path that God has set before us, He will still be faithful to His promises. 

 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

Our God is utterly amazing and His love is unfailing.  I love you Daddy. 

Saved By Grace ♥ Changed By Love

Cindy

When I am Weak

The power of God does not come to arrogant people.  People who think they have it all together.  Or those that believe they can fix it, they have it all under control.

It is only in glorifying our weaknesses that the power of God is made strong in our circumstances.

If we are going to experience/encounter the fullness of the Holy Spirit we have to get real with God, be transparent with God, be transparent with people, and say Lord deal with my dark place, deal with my crooked place, deal with my heart.

2 Cor 12:9-10 - But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Saved By Grace ♥ Changed By Love

Cindy

When God Speaks

Daniel 1:17 – As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

Do not allow someone to disregard or minimize a message from God that is received through visions and dreams.  Messages received in visions and dreams are just as important and powerful as any other method that God uses to communicate with us.


Saved By Grace ♥ Changed By Love

Cindy

Why Is Everyone Against Me ?

Have you ever noticed that when you are running late, having a bad day or super busy is when people start getting in your way, on your nerves, or wanting more from you?  

 It never failed that when I was in a huge hurry I would get behind the slowest driver or someone that needed a price check at the register.   I was always blaming others.  “They” were doing this to me.

I have learned that it’s not the turtle driver that is making me late or the incompetent woman who failed to make sure that her new top had a price tag!  It was me!  I failed to allow the appropriate amount of time. 

I have learned to first ask God what, how can I do better. If I have done everything in my power, I then ask God why I am in this circumstance?  Am I here to help someone?  Am I here to learn something?  Are You protecting me from something I don’t see?

The enemy of our soul is out to conquer & divide and he loves to use the spirit of offense to do this.  The quicker we recognize that we are going into defense mode the sooner we can put him (enemy) under our feet. 

A couple of techniques that I use when someone triggers my defenses are:

1.            I rephrase the statement/question back to them. 

2.            I ask questions.

3.            Do not be argumentative

4.            Keep a teachable spirit

5.            It’s possible that I could be wrong

More often than not I am in agreement with what the person said, we just had a language barrier that needed to be worked through.

How many times have you either been hurt or hurt someone’s feelings unintentionally???  When we begin to feel hurt we need to be quick to remember that, whatever it was, was probably not meant to hurt us.  Remember it’s not always about us!  If/when we do feel hurt we need to address it quickly so that it does not manifest into something bigger.  Remember, the Bible teaches not to let the sun go down …

These are just a couple of examples of offenses, there are many more, we know, but the important thing to remember is this is one of the many tools the enemy uses to divide us.  Especially in marriages & families.  A great warrior prepares for battle long before the war, so let’s put on our Armor, be alert and shut down the attack before there are any causalities.

Let us not forget, as James said, ‘be quick to listen, and slow to speak’  …  James 1:19

Saved by Grace ♥ Changed by Love