HEART STRONG

How this squeezable heart ended up in our grandsons' toy stash, I'll never know. It's intended to help you squeeze away your anxieties, build up hand strength, or remind you how hard your real heart pumps to keep you alive! But I had additional thoughts--of the “heart” metaphor for the deep parts of our emotional and spiritual lives.

“The things that come out of the mouth come from the heart,” Jesus said about people whose “walk” didn't match their “talk.” Then He got very specific: “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander” (Matthew 15:18). Reading that list, I thought: Those are the plot lines for television shows and big-screen movies. But sadly, “art” imitates life. I can recall the physical sense of heaviness in my heart when I suffered from others' verbal sins.

Those Jesus entrusted with leading the early church saw the same problems. Paul bluntly warned the Ephesians to be truthful, keep short accounts, and watch their words: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths....Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice” (Eph. 4:29, 31).

He similarly scolded the Colossians: “Rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips” (Col. 3:8). James shared the same advice after comparing the tongue to a fire capable of much damage (James 3:5-6). He was disturbed that people who called themselves Christ-followers could use their mouths to both curse and praise. “My brothers and sisters,” he said, “this should not be!” (3:10).

How much better when the name and character of Jesus are lifted up in our ordinary lives. I like how James characterized what that looks like: “peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere” (James 3:17). Such are the character qualities that are squeezed out of a changed heart—one transformed by love for Jesus Christ.

Maybe that's the message needed for Valentine's Day--not sappy “luv,” but genuine, sacrificial love. The one made possible by the One who died on a cross. The One who showed us how to live with kindness and care—wholeheartedly.

P.S. In thinking about this topic, I looked up sayings about kindness. I'd heard this one before: “Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly, leave the rest to God.” I never knew it came from former President Ronald Reagan. For more encouraging quotes about exercising that “kindness” muscle in your heart, try this website:

https://www.pinterest.com/stevenspianostu/speak-kindly/

And some more encouraging words...

I have a story in the newest "Chicken Soup for the Soul" book to be released this week, about "Making 'Me' Time." It's my seventh time in a Chicken Soup title, and I was especially grateful to be able to tell my story about donating home-sewn baby blankets to area hospitals and a pro-life clinic. I never dreamed that a simple project of a dozen blankets for my church's "community outreach day" would become more than 1,300, and also serve as emotional healing for me over the past decade. The story's title is "Patched-together Positives."

Garbage mouths

Someone who looked and talked “rough” had come to look at an item my husband was selling. As the conversation continued, he used profanity, then stopped and remarked to me, “Pardon my French.”  Well, it wasn’t French, and I’m not sure if he caught himself in his weakness because I was a woman or because of the invisible qualities of faith.  I don’t quite recall my reply, but I think I said something like, “Well, thank you.  That’s not how I say things.”

This happened years ago, but I’ve become aware of how “garbage mouth” has also crept into the church.  Yes, we need to welcome those who haven’t reined in those tongues, trusting the Lord Jesus to do His cleansing work as they submit to Him. But I’m bothered by those who do the “Christian things” but cannot tame their tongues.

Please, no more OMG

One thing that slices a knife in my heart is to hear so-called popular oaths spoken in church and even by spiritual leaders from my church’s platform.  That includes the “OMG” slang (said in full or abbreviated).  Automatically I recall the Third Commandment:

You shall not use or repeat the name of the Lord your God in vain [that is, lightly or frivolously, in false affirmations or profanely]; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain. (Exodus 20:7 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition)
I hope the only time I say the entire “OMG” is when I get to Heaven and kneel in worship, maybe even go face-down, amazed and awed by His purity and glory. I recall how Isaiah described his  own "undoing" in the vision of God’s throne room:
Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips, for my Eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. (Isaiah 6:5 NKJV).
Right after that, one of the seraphim (heavenly ministering creature) touched Isaiah’s tongue with a coal he had taken with tongs from the altar, representing purging of Isaiah’s sin.

So-called “casual” swearing isn’t the only habit that saddens me.  Paul named some of those behaviors:

But now put away and rid yourselves [completely] of all these things: anger, rage, bad feeling toward others, curses and slander, and foulmouthed abuse and shameful utterances from your lips! (Colossians 3:8, Amplified Bible, Classic Edition)

Sick labels

Unless we live in an isolated bubble, there will come time (if it hasn’t happened already) when we’ll experience those sins, or even commit them ourselves.  Last year, someone’s negative attitude toward me climaxed with them calling me a “b---h.”  Knowing this person had used this label for others who'd genuinely tried to help them didn’t take away the sting. I felt cheapened and demeaned by this vulgar term. Ditto for other times I’ve experienced someone’s negative mouth. In highlighting these sins, I’m ever mindful of my own weaknesses, and the need to say, as King David did:

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit with me....O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. (Psalm 51:10, 15 NIV)

Am I alone in being bothered by “OMG”? I welcome feedback in the comments section