Hi again Brothers and Sisters,
Blessed be the LORD! For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy. The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. (Psalm 28:6-7 ESV)
I was impressed today with how many times the subject of the “heart” came up in our Daily Bible Reading. In Exodus 7 & 8, the story emphasized Pharaoh’s hardened heart. I counted 8 times in those two chapters his hard heart was referred to. Then in our reading in Mark 8, Jesus chastised His disciples by asking them, “Are your hearts hardened?” (vs. 17). But on the positive side, we see in Psalm 28 that David (a man after God’s heart) expressed how his heart trusts and exults in the Lord. And when describing how the “Proverbs 31 woman” helps her husband and does not cause him harm, the writer states, “The heart of her husband trusts in her…” (v. 11).
I went back through my journal, where I write down key verses from the daily reading. And just from this past month, I found 18 verses or passages that mention the heart! As I was journaling this month, I wasn’t specifically looking for verses about the heart, so there are probably many more that we have read in recent days on this key subject. Obviously, the heart is a key theme in the Bible. I think one of the most important expressions for us is when Jesus said we are to “love the Lord your God with all your heart…” So how’s your heart today?
Perhaps the reason I noticed this especially today is that I am preparing for tonight’s class for parents that takes place during AWANA. We are working together through a book called,Parenting is Heart Work. The point of the book is to deal with our children through their hearts, not only through trying to modify their behavior. It brings out a number of these key Scripture passages about the heart that I mentioned already. If you have kids at home, it’s not too late to join the group and learn with us how we can do the “heart” work of parenting! We meet Thursday nights at 7pm in my office. If you are working in AWANA, or are not able to come Thursday night for some reason, you can still pick up a copy of the book for $12, and read it on your own – we have extra copies.
This past Sunday the members of FBC voted unanimously (62-0) to appropriate the funds we’ve collected to get started on the classroom building addition! Praise the Lord for how He is working and providing, and for how the church is moving forward with one heart and one mind. Please be in prayer for the leadership team overseeing this project. On Sunday there will be an insert in the bulletin for you to fill out so you can express your interest in helping in different ways (serving on planning team, providing food for workers, prayer-chain, etc.) Please be thinking and praying about how you’ll want to be involved, and be prepared to fill out the sheet on Sunday.
Remember that this Sunday we will be having a “going away” potluck following the worship service. Please bring a dish to share and join us to pray for and send off with our blessing the 5 people going to Haiti and the one going to Burundi!
AWANA leaders: remember there will also be a leaders meeting right after the potluck.
On Sunday I will be preaching on Luke 6:40, and we will look at what it means to be “fully trained.” This is the second message of three on “EQUIP”. What does it look like to be a fully trained disciple of Christ? We will examine a number of verses relating to this.
Last Sunday I suggested everyone try to memorize 2 Timothy 3:16-17 and 2 Peter 1:20-21. These are key passages on the doctrine of the inspiration of Scripture. Since many of us use different translations, let’s try to all memorize from the same one, so maybe we can all say it together on Sunday! Think we can do it? Please give it your best effort! Here are the passages in the English Standard Version:
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2Tim. 3:16-17 ESV)
knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (2Pet. 1:20-21 ESV)
Praying for a church full of fully trained, well-equipped disciples!
Love From Your Pastor,
Michael