heartlifeministries.org

The Story Is Not Over Yet…

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 04:05:40 +0000

There are some very skilled writers who can take you down one road as you read their story and have you convinced that you thoroughly understand both the plot and the characters, only to find at the end – a surprise twist that reveals that he had masked both the plot and the nature of the characters to come up with a surprise ending!

Life is kind of like those gifted writers, just when you think that you have it all figured out – and you know the characters that you are dealing with – up comes a make-over of a rebel, who in effect was a sheep in wolf’s clothing all the time. As the colloquial expression goes, “it ain’t over, until God says it’s over!” A scripture come to mind immediately:

Matthew 20:2-14 (King James Version)

2And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

3And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,

4And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.

5Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.

6And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?

7They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.

8So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.

9And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.

10But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.

11And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,

12Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.

13But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?

14Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.

It is NOT over, until it is over – there are many that will be sent out in this latter day who will finally get it – and begin their work for the Master – and make heaven their home! Can we be as just as our Lord, and have compassion on those who have made wrong decisions, and poor choices – and open up our arms and say, “Come and go with me, to my Father’s house?” – knowing that He is a merciful God and will give them equal status to those who have bore the heat of many years of service?

Selah,
Maria

Make Me Better Lord, Make Me Better!

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:53:12 +0000

It’s been a week now, since I got upset with my Friday evening class and have gone between trying to let go and pouting about the solution that I came up with. Thank God for the saints, because Saturday, Sunday and Monday were such glorious days for me that it probably prevented me from making my own self sick. But then, we got back into the work week and feelings of resentment began to surface again,

Last night I was up nearly all night, wrestling with my attitude. You see I found out that you can do the right thing for the wrong reason and still miss out on your blessing. Because we are in the year of “no do-overs” – and we’re half-past the moment of victory – I don’t want ANYTHING blocking my pipeline from here to glory!

As I fought with God and mostly with myself, I knew what I had to do and all I could say was, “make me better, Lord, make me better!” It’s “the little foxes that spoil the vine” – those things that we think we can ignore and keep on stepping. NOT THIS YEAR! I’ve got too much riding on breakthrough not to allow my heart being yielded to the Holy Spirit to love the unloveable, and be patient with those who try to vex my soul!

I’m so glad to know that He is not only able to do what we need done, but He WILL DO IT! and DO IT AGAIN! Our trials come to make us strong, and they also come to make us wise. I don’t know why God can’t fix the things that are wrong with our personality and our character once and for all. I don’t why we have to “labor into enter His rest” over and over. But one thing I know, He will come through!

God has blessed me with another birthday – I wish I could say I had conquered all my flaws and was over having failure – I’m not there yet – but one thing I do know, when my flaws and failures come – it is a temporary place – I DON’T LIVE THERE PERMANENTLY!

1 What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it—we’re called children of God! That’s who we really are…

2-3But friends, that’s exactly who we are: children of God. And that’s only the beginning. Who knows how we’ll end up! What we know is that when Christ is openly revealed, we’ll see him—and in seeing him, become like him. All of us who look forward to his Coming stay ready, with the glistening purity of Jesus’ life as a model for our own.

4-6All who indulge in a sinful life are dangerously lawless, for sin is a major disruption of God’s order. Surely you know that Christ showed up in order to get rid of sin. There is no sin in him, and sin is not part of his program. No one who lives deeply in Christ makes a practice of sin. None of those who do practice sin have taken a good look at Christ. They’ve got him all backward.

7-8So, my dear children, don’t let anyone divert you from the truth. It’s the person who acts right who is right, just as we see it lived out in our righteous Messiah. Those who make a practice of sin are straight from the Devil, the pioneer in the practice of sin. The Son of God entered the scene to abolish the Devil’s ways.(1 John 3:1-8 (selected verses MSG)

God Bless You,
Maria

Naked and Not Ashamed, Part Ii

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:50:38 +0000

Yesterday we began talking about the scripture, “and they were naked and not ashamed” from Genesis 2. This semester I am teaching a class on Human Development and it is bringing many things to my understanding as to why we function as we do as adults.

Many of our fears and emotional feelings begin before we are really conscious of them. We react to things as adults based on experiences we had as children that we cannot even remember. It is because of this fact that I appreciate the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ even the more. For the message of the gospel includes a new birth – not based on what you can do for yourself, but what God will do for you because of Jesus!

The gospel is the only message proclaiming::

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
2 Coriinthians 5:17(KJV)

This tells me that whatever we were, whatever we experienced B.C. (before Christ), it will become new if we are iIN Christ!

When two people come together, they come with genetic make-ups that are different, backgrounds that are different, life experiences that are different. As one of my old pastors used to say “two people are never going to agree all the time with each other, unless one of them is a dummy” (you would have to know him to appreciate this statement-mother wit was his specialty). The truth is – marriage is not the easiest institution by any standards.

And yet, as we see in Genesis 2, God designed it, commends it for His people, (“it is not good for man to be alone”), and depends upon it for the procreation of mankind (“be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth”). So this tells me that marriage is not only a good thing, it can be a great thing!

It takes work, it takes prayer, it takes two people who have become one flesh to become one with the God who loves them both:

8There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.

9Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

10For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.

11Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?

12And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.Ecclesiastes 4:8-12 (KJV)

God Bless You,
Maria

And They Were Naked and Not Ashamed!

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:16:14 +0000

This morning I thought on Genesis 2:25 and wondered why.As I reflected on the scripture in Genesis:

24Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
25And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.Genesis 2:24-25 (KJV)

What was God saying to me? It really did not seem like this particular passage applies to me in this season. yet I knew that there was something there God wanted me to meditate on – and as I thought on the whole chapter,,,

In the second chapter of Genesis God completed making the heavens and the earth. In this chapter He issues instructions to Adam concerning the garden that He placed him in:

15And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.
16And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
17But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

After setting things in order – God recognized that Adam needed someone to dwell with Him in this garden, and God gave him a wife.
I confess marriage has been on my mind – marriage is not man’s idea, it is God’s idea. I have two sons that are engaged – and I have been talking to them about marriage – what it really means. Another marriage scripture came to mind the other day:

22Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.” Proverbs 18:21 (KJV)

With marriage comes favor! What a God idea!

There is no doubt that marriages are under attack! And even more, the institution of marriage has been twisted from its’ original design. Even when i watch channels that appear to be safe, like HGTV, I am reminded of how the marriage design for so many today is so contrary to the original plan. Couples go and find the house and live together before they get married – not knowing that one day they will not be able to be “naked and not ashamed.”

Everything God says, and everything He prescribes is for our health, not just for our soul, but for our spirits and our bodies. When we do things God’s way – we won’t be ashamed – we can look the adversary straight in the eye and know that we are in the plan of God, hence we have dominion over our garden and the favor of God.

Too much for today – -more on this tomorrow.

God Bless You,
Maria

A New Birth, God’s Giving Us More Time!

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 05:11:19 +0000

It is very interesting to me the scriptures that we don’t have to labor to memorize – we just read it once, and because of the anointing they carry as a Word for that season, they are forever a part of our memory. Such is the case with the following passage:

22While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.Genesis 8:22 (KJV)

It is for sure that this scripture is comforting – with all the changes we have to go through on a daily basis, some that even prove to be life-threatening, what a joy it is to know that there are some things that are going to remain – we are going to have a time of planting, a time of reaping, a time to enjoy both winter and summer, and both day and night.

It’s comforting also for me to experience the advent of a new life in the earth realm. Such was the case last night when I was there to welcome my new grandson, Isaiah James into the family. When I rejoice over the great celebration it is for the parents, and for all of us in the family I am reminded of the Gaither rendition of “Because He Lives.

One of the verses goes like this:

How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
And feel the pride and joy he gives;
But greater still the calm assurance:
This child can face uncertain days because He Lives!

Chorus
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!

Words and music by William J. Gaither
© 1971

Thank God, He Lives!
Maria

He Showed Me the Way!

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 05:51:58 +0000

I’m kind of down in spirit as I write this post. I had a very challenging day in class, received some criticism from my students, and it was not easy to take. I didn’t hear it immediately, but once I got in my car on the way home, I heard the words I gave to my students in yesterday’s class, admonishing them to go beyond what is fair, to work with their students where they are, not where we want them to be. Didn’t know those words were going to come back so soon to haunt me, and especially didn’t think I would have to do that in a graduate class!

Life is not always fair. Situations don’t always line up the way we think they are supposed to. Sometimes we have to go out of our way to lead someone out a place that is self-imposed. Sometimes we have to give up our pride, our confidence in what we’ve done – our annoyance of those who haven’t done what they should – sometimes we have to give up the right for the wrong! How do I know, my big brother did it for me!

Jesus lived a sinless life. After being called to come forth in public ministry He labored tirelessly with the masses – healing the sick, casting out devils, teaching, preaching, mentoring His disciples – all in the midst of on-lookers who criticized His every move. To top all that He was convicted, tried, and executed for crimes He did not commit – and in the face of unbearable slander and accusation – His only words were, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

I could never attempt to compare my minor problems, (some of which I also create for myself) – with that of my Savior – but I can look at His example, and I can attempt to follow His character. And I even have one better – because He lives in me – and longs to “bear my burdens” – I can give this one to Him… I can allow His spirit to rule and reign in this situation, knowing that He has a way of taking dead situations and bringing them to life!

Being the oldest of six children, I never had a big brother to watch out for me. It’s so good to remember, I have one now. Even now i feel better…it’s well! I will rejoice in the God of my salvation, my Savior, my burden-bearer, my Comforter, my Redeemer, my Friend.

8-11Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.. 1 Peter 5:9-11 (MSG)

“Thanks be unto God, who always causes us to triumph in Christ Jesus!”
Maria

Problems or Problem Solving?

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 04:54:08 +0000

Recent problems with the website sent me into a dilemma – what did it mean? Has the daily posting run its’ course? Maybe I need to do something else – or…? Or, maybe I need to persist until the problem is fixed!

Problems will either drive us to one solution or another – and often we fail to utilize the gift God has given us to PROBLEM-solve! As an educator, i stress to my students daily the importance of teaching their students to problem-solve. From the simplest exercise to the most complex analysis – what separates man from the rest of God’s creation is our ability to use this very intricate brain we have.

One thing I noticed over the years I’ve been in the church is the passive nature too many Christians have regarding exercising their abilities. Recently I heard a message on the parable of the parable of the talents – this particular preacher talked about the God-given talents and abilities each of us have been given – particularly the believer. It reminded me of a passage from one of Myles Munroe’s books that states that the richest place on the planet is the graveyard – where tons of treasures went to the grave with the deceased!

Why was the master so hard on the servant with the one talent, who hid it in the ground. After all they didn’t risk it, they played it safe. We really see the answer in the reply of the master:

24 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’
26 “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. Matthew 25:24-28 (KJV)

At the very least, the servant could have put that one talent in the bank so it could draw interest, at least his master would have had that gain.

God is not unjust – He has given us the ability to seek out a way to gain increase in the Kingdom – and that does not always mean an increase in money. In fact, when we explore what the kingdom really is about – we find that the concentration is not on money – after all “the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.”

We are now in the third month of this new year. Are we looking forward to a quarterly increase? Can we say that we used that which God has given us toward pleasing the master?

God Bless You,
Maria

What Moves Your Soul to Action?

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 04:30:44 +0000

Everyone is motivated into action by different things. For me, I am most moved in the realm of my emotions. When I catch a vision and become passionate – I receive a jet propulsion to act on it. Of course waiting for this can sometimes be problematic because we don’t always have good emotions – trusting negative emotions can have a deadly affect on our life. This soulish realm where our emotions live can be deceptive – that’s why we have to feed our spirit a daily dose of the Word of God – it will keep those emotions in check!

This year has been a defining year for me – yes, I know I’m getting older – and for too many years preceding this -I have felt the pressure of life quickly passing by – however, this year I made a decision to go for it – not considering my age or stage – but trusting the God who made me, that if He could call Moses at 80 – He might still have something He wants me to do for His glory, and He will give me the energy to do it!

One of my all-time favorite recording artists is Larnelle Harris and he sings a beautiful song that has helped my emotions to stir up that passion I need to act by faith on things that seem impossible to my natural mind. the first part of the song goes like this:

Alone again in a crowded room
Cornered by the questions in my mind
It’s so hard to understand
How the life that I had planned
Stole my joy and left me far behind

Though all I have is lost it seems
In the shadow of a dream that used to be
I can look beyond the skies
Deep into the Father’s eyes
And see that there is hope for one like me

I can begin again
With the passion of a child
My heart has caught a vision
Of a life that’s still worthwhile
I can reach out again
Far beyond what I have done
Like a dreamer who’s awakened
To a life that’s yet to come
For new beginnings are not just for the young..

If you can go to You Tube – listen to “I Can Begin Again” in its’ entirety – it will bless you, it will stir you, it will give you hope. What does the scripture say:

1-2By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us—set us right with him, make us fit for him—we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus. And that’s not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God’s grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise.

3-5There’s more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!

6Christ arrives right on time to make this happen. Romans 5:1-6 (MSG)

Be Blessed to Act – In Jesus Name!
Maria

This Word Bears Repeating! by Apostle Nina Marie Leslie

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 00:07:20 +0000

My Beloved Child,
This is a reprint from last year – that I believe we need to hear again. God Bless You to Receive It!

This is a time of recovery in your life. I am aware of your struggles. I am aware of your challenges. I am aware of darkness’s attempt to define your life by your circumstances. Remember these words: the things you are facing today are temporal. The decisions that you are making will result in eternal outcomes. So pause. Praise. And be moved only by Me.

I am aware of all that you are plowing through. I know where you itch, tickle, scratch, and burn. I hold you in the palm of MY hand and I know the paths I have ordained for you, even as I know how many hairs are upon your head.

This is a time of advancement in Me, says the Lord. This is a time of you coming full circle in some areas of your life. This is not the time for broken focus, or for being off balance living. Gone are the days that you would choose the lower path, because it seemed easier. Gone should be the days that it was hard for you to trust me with weighty things.

This is a time of advancement, and in order to go forward … you will have to let some things go. You will have to watch some fall to the ground, and others you will simply cut off and keep walking forward in Me.

I have a path and a plan for your life. l alone know your every step, even before you take it. Remember, I created you and I formed you and yes, I also formed your destiny and your life’s work. So come up. Come up into a new place of trust in Me. Trust me with your secrets and watch Me heal and show you how to recover things that had been lost. I have some very specific blessings for you, if you will follow My leading. I know the way you take, before you even take it.

As you enter into new dimensions of trusting Me, there shall be a blowing away of things that in times past held you back. You will not worry as you did in time past. You will follow your truest heart, and you will trust Me. I joy for this season being presented to you. A season of recovery and a season of advancement. And it all comes through Me, says the Lord of Hosts. Know that I love you. My child!

Teach Us to Number Our Days!

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 19:09:54 +0000

Yesterday I talked about my passion being driven by the passion I feel in my soulish realm. Though I discussed the negative possibilities of being “passion driven” – there is one thing that came to mind after I wrote the post. I heard the scripture from Psalm 90:12:

12So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Psalm 90:12 (KJV)

I believe that the God who created us understands the need that some of us have to be strongly motivated before we move into action. And in His infinite wisdom He addressed every area of our lives at some point in scripture. In this particular passage, the psalmist seems to indicate that he too is a passion driven person, who at the writing of this psalm was somewhat frustrated by the turn of events in his life. He had begun to feel as if wrath was greater than His mercy. In this state, he cries out to God to “teach us to apply our hearts to wisdom,” – I can appreciate the depth of concern he had, having been there myself, -“God if I’m operating outside of Your will or Your way – teach me – grant me wisdom that I might know what to do, and how to do it.

I can remember the principal of my children’s Christian school praying during prayer time so often this prayer, “Lord show me what to do and how to do it, and what to say and how to say it.” It was a simple prayer, but one that I have prayed myself many times. After all, it’s not in the eloquence of the words, or the sophistication of the prayer – it’s in the sincerity of the heart that God is moved to help us.

We all need wisdom, and it’s so good to know that God will grant it – to those who are quick to obey, and to those of us whose passionate nature requires a little more encouragement.

God Bless You,
Maria