A Helping Heart, By Allison

A Helping Heart 

By Allison W.

    How many times have you grumbled or complained when your mom says, "Please load the dish washer," or "I need you to rake the leaves this afternoon."? How many more times have you obeyed, but inside yourself you don't want to be doing the chore? You see, there is a difference; obedience is an outward act, while submission in an inward heart attitude. God wants us to not only obey but also to submit our hearts. 

James 4:7 Submit yourselves, then, to God.

    So how do you become submissive? Respond cheerfully, see your responsibilities as serving the Lord, and be willing and ready to do whatever asked of you. However, the first step is to come before Jesus and ask Him to change your heart. If you humble yourself, He will be more than willing to come and give you an attitude check. 

James 4:6 God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

    I encourage you to evaluate your attitude as you go into a certain job. Are you wanting to serve? Would God be pleased with your attitude? From this attitude God will bring great joy and rewards. Keep it up!

Our Hearts Toward Authority, By Anonymous

Our Hearts Toward Authority

By Anonymous 

Ever had someone tell you to do something, and you go off and do it, but in reality your heart’s not in it - anyone who can hear you under your breath knows you do not have a good attitude. You are murmuring about some aspect of the task ahead or some fault in the person who gave your directions.
In the back of your mind, you know you can get into trouble by disrespecting authority outright. You may even know that even thinking bad things against your authority can get you into trouble - maybe you’ve slipped and said something aloud you meant only for your private thoughts. What does the Bible have to say about authority?
Go to: Ecclesiastes 10:20
Here’s a neat paraphrase:Don't bad-mouth your leaders, not even under your breath,
And don't abuse your betters, even in the privacy of your home.
Loose talk has a way of getting picked up and spread around.
Little birds drop the crumbs of your gossip far and wide. (The Message)
Children must honor their parents, wives must honor their husbands, employees must honor their employers, and church members must honor their pastors (Ephesians 6:1-3; Ephesians 5:33; Titus 2:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 5:12;).
Think about it practically; if you aren’t harboring these feelings and words in secret, then you are certainly not going to slip up and say something bad, or constantly be guarding yourself when you are around those you might think badly of! Jesus knew that; in Matthew 15:19 He says that our sins come out from our heart. If you want your actions to be blameless, your heart needs to be pure. Only Jesus can make your heart pure. It is something that He starts the day you are saved and continues to work in you until you meet Him face to face. Have you let Him start working in your heart?
“Take, me, make me
All You want me to be
That's all I'm asking, all I'm asking
Welcome to this heart of mine
I've buried under prideful vines
Grown to hide the mess I've made
Inside of me
Come decorate, Lord
Open up the creaking door
And walk upon the dusty floor
Scrape away the guilty stains
Until no sin or shame remain
Spread Your love upon the walls
And occupy the empty halls
Until the man I am has faded
No more doors are barricaded
Chorus
Come inside this heart of mine
It's not my own
Make it home
Come and take this heart and make it
All Your own
Welcome home
Take a seat, pull up a chair
Forgive me for the disrepair
And the souvenirs from floor to ceiling
Gathered on my search for meaning
Every closet's filled with clutter
Messes yet to be discovered
I'm overwhelmed, I understand
I can't make this place all that You can
I took the space that You placed in me
Redecorated in shades of greed
And I made sure every door stayed locked
Every window blocked, and still You knocked 
Take me, make me
All You want me to be
That's all I'm asking, all I'm asking”
~Shaun Groves