Dirty Bible, Clean Heart

"The  Lord  God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden  to work it and take care of it ." -Genesis 2:15 NIV "Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and  entrusted his wealth to them .   To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag,   each according to his ability . Then he went on his journey.   The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more.   So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more.   But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money ."  -Matthew 25:14-18      God calls us to work. Not only does He call us to it, but He also expects it of us. The church (and even society itself) has recently re-discovered the virtues of rest in our busy modern world. After all, it was God Himself who instituted periods of rest  and...

  "During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears...and he was heard because of his reverent submission.  Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered ..." -Hebrews 5:7-8 Last fall, which considering present global circumstances seems like ages ago, I remember having lunch with a friend. We were catching up and began talking about what God was doing in each of our lives. The prayer requests that we had, places God was leading us into, etc. As the conversation progressed, my friend said something to me that really caught my attention. She said, "you know I have this special type of relationship with God that basically anytime I ask Him for something He just does it for me!" As I thought about her statement, my friends words really resonated with me. Although God had not yet answered every single prayer request at that time, I did think that for the most part I pretty much received wh...

  "He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all-- how will He not also, along with Him, freely give us all things?" Maybe no one knows or perhaps everyone does but God knows. In fact, it's become your number one prayer request. And even if you haven't mentioned it that much, deep inside you want to. You desperately want to ask God to do this one thing for you but perhaps you don't because it's so precious that should you ask and not receive it, the disappointment would be overwhelming. After much wishing and praying the day comes when God gives you His word that He will do it!  He is going to fulfill that desire of your heart. Tears of joy run down your face as you wonder in awe at God's love and kindness that He should give you such a wonderful promise. Faith fills your heart and thanksgiving your lips. But what you may not realize in that moment of ecstasy is that between God giving you a promise and Him actually fulfilling it is a four-...