Where Does Your Heart Go?

When you’re lonely and feel no one cares, where does your heart go?

When you’re afraid and search every corner for harm, where does your heart hide?

When you’re broken and believe not one could mend a shattered piece, where does your heart reach?

Run to the Only One who can love unconditionally.

Hide in the Shadow of the One who can defend.

Take comfort in the Only One who can heal a ravaged soul.

He is looking, and He sees the child He created.

He is lingering, and He adores you.

He is waiting, and He loves you.

One touch, one word, one moment in His presence…

Your heart will never be the same.

He heals the brokenhearted
And binds up their wounds.

Psalm 147:3

For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold
From those who walk uprightly.

Psalm 84:10-11

The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me. In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.

Psalm 18:2-6

Keep Walking Tall

No matter where you are on the trail, keep walking.

No matter how you feel, keep walking.

No matter who’s around, keep walking.

Just keep moving, keep going forward.

You can do this. You can make it.

Don’t worry about finishing first or finishing best.

Those things come in time.

Sometimes, you just need to focus on finishing.

Do it. And you’ll be glad you did.

But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ

Philippians 3:7-8

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

Philippians 3:20-21

When You Feel Small

All of us go through the struggle of feeling less than.

Less that perfect.

Less than amazing.

Less than good.

Less than we should be.

Never let those moments of low convince you to quit.

Never let those minutes of doubt persuade you to quit.

It’s natural. We’ve all been there.

But the great heroes in this world never let the failure consume them.

The courageous leaders we see never let the darkness overtake without lighting a match.

So, strike that wood. Let it spark.

And even if you have to blow in the embers,

Let the flame burn.

And keep standing taller.

You’ll eventually get there.

You can do this!

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do,forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:12-14

Strength Will Come in Time

When you’re feeling weary, ragged and beaten, it’s hard to remember better days.

When pain consumes your heart, it’s difficult to have clear vision beyond the moment.

When you’ve been stabbed, betrayed, accused, and shattered, it’s grueling to look past the shattered dreams.

Yet, just beyond the horizon, the sun is readying it’s radiance.

Just beyond the forest, the brilliance will be peeking through.

When you feel it’s warmth and affection, strength will be revived.

When you see it’s radiance in full, hope will be renewed.

Hold still.

He heals the brokenhearted
And binds up their wounds.

Psalm 147:3

Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!

Psalm 46:10

Tomorrow Brings Healing

The saying goes, “Time heals all wounds.”

The truth is in the clock that is ticking and the hand that is scratching.

If the hours are sped up, the wound cannot mend itself and breathe.

If the hours are slowed, the agony can be unbearable.

If the fingers pester and pick, the cut cannot strengthen and bind.

If the hand never soothes, the bruise will still groan.

But if the hour glass does its duty, and the palms will appease,

The lesion is quickly dissipated, and the scar will begin to appear.

So, don’t stop the minutes.

Never withhold the care.

These are vital for our healing and our reviving.

Tomorrow will soon be here.

Then your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.

Isaiah 58:8

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Revelation 21:4

Reflections of the Soul

Are you one to reflect or to react?

Are you one to shout or to soothe?

Are you one to pause and breathe or to stomp and run?

In high profile training operations, the first rule of explosive response, or any violent attack on a unit, is to assess yourself before assessing others.

For, if you don’t take the time to evaluate your bullet entry and see your blood,

You cannot accurately see or help to heal the one beside you.

In this life, you will have trouble.

You will have pain, and you will have sudden impalements to the soul.

How you respond and retaliate will determine how many others you can help save and heal.

Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.

1 Samuel 30:6

Where Does Your Heart Heal?

Where do you go when you’re hurting?

What do you say? What do you do?

Are you the person who rants and rages over everyone and everything?

Even the child who simply wanted a hug?

Are you the person who sulks and simmers deep in the cave of your own selfish desires?

Pulling away even from those extending love?

What do you do when you’re bleeding from your wound?

Do you let it bleed, spilling over to every street corner, ever merchant, every friend?

Do you bind it up tight, removing the life, restricting it to imminent death?

What do you do when all is lost, all is shattered, all is betrayed?

Your responses in these moments of certain reality will determine your future and your impact.

Reply well, and you’ll become a king.

Return wrong, and even the gutter snipes may not want you.

As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the same clan as Saul’s family came out from there. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he cursed as he came out. He pelted David and all the king’s officials with stones, though all the troops and the special guard were on David’s right and left. As he cursed, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you murderer, you scoundrel! The Lord has repaid you for all the blood you shed in the household of Saul, in whose place you have reigned. The Lord has given the kingdom into the hands of your son Absalom. You have come to ruin because you are a murderer!” Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head.”But the king said, “What does this have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the Lord said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why do you do this?’” David then said to Abishai and all his officials, “My son, my own flesh and blood, is trying to kill me. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the Lord has told him to. It may be that the Lord will look upon my misery and restore to me his covenant blessing instead of his curse today.”

2 Samuel 16:5-12

Build Your World

Our society is full of overrated success stories and braggadocios achievements.

Once you enter that arena, it’s hard to walk in humility toward your goals.

And in nanoseconds, the competition and back biting that occurs can reduce even your small beliefs of survival to an overwhelming feeling of defeat.

But if you’ll begin to build your world with the bricks of humility, determination, and grace,

You’ll get there, even if no one knows it.

And when you reach the top, you’ll have time to set your feet solidly in the accomplishments before the champion knows what has happened.

So, press on. Work on. Reach those goals.

And win.

Silent Chaos

You can talk all day and never be understood.

You can talk “till you’re blue in the face” and never have comprehension.

Oh, but when you have who someone who gets you,

When you have that someone who understands even without words,

That’s when the chaos is silenced.

That’s when the storms are calmed.

It’s not because the tragedies change or the situation miraculously alters.

It’s simply because that someone will speak to the depth of your soul and bring a peace within.

That is when your heart is understood.

You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off.

Psalm 139:2

Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Romans 8:27

Warning Signs

Warning signs and advice aren’t offered because someone is trying to be a killjoy.

Rules and directions aren’t given because someone is trying to restrict your freedom.

Boundaries are set for our safety.

Barriers are placed to protect others from recklessness.

Sometimes on rare occasions, there may be a person or organization that has become power hungry and feeds on the controlling of someone else.

But those tendencies can be easily observed through reputation, rapport, and the consistency of the restrictions.

But for the most part, when you see an attention getter, a show stopper, or a poised hand making you stop, there’s a rhyme for that reason.

And the reason could very well save your life.

So next time, take a minute to breathe. Step back and assess the situation. And follow the signs to a greater liberty than you once knew.

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know thetruth, and the truth shall make you free.”

John 8:32

My son, do not forget my law,
But let your heart keep my commands;
For length of days and long life
And peace they will add to you. Let not mercy and truth forsake you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart,
And so find favor and high esteem
In the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and depart from evil.
It will be health to your flesh,
And strength to your bones.

Proverbs 3:1-8