SEARCH MY HEART

by Barbara Chad wick



Seven strangers in rows of chairs - three on one side and four on the other - the rows about four feet apart. Eyes looking down, closed or idly trying to focus on pages in a magazine - not reading because eyes are dilated. Dilated.

The individual can't see but the Doctor can see all about the eye.

Oftentimes we're in a position in life where we can't see or don't notice that we've moved away from God but God can see into our hearts with precision. He can see all that's in our hearts.

Just as we can ask the Ophthalmologist what's wrong with our eyes, we can ask God to show us what's in our hearts and ask Him to help us fix it.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.  Psalm 139:23-24

THE TURNING PLOW

by Barbara Chadwick

 

  

“The turning plow goes deep. It turns up the soil and up-ends weeds and old dry plants from the previous season. Weeds grow from seeds so we would plow them up before they developed seeds thus preventing the weeds from taking over.”  Kenneth, who grew up in the Ozark mountains of Arkansas, described the work of the turning plow – Hot. Hard. Work.

Jesus talked about planting seeds in Matthew 13:1-8, then in verses 24-30 He tells the disciples about weeds. The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.

Barnes commentary said, “The weeds are the children of the wicked one (the enemy)…though they do not own his name, yet they bear his image, do his lusts… he rules over them… They (the weeds) do no good, they do hurt; unprofitable in themselves, and hurtful to the good seed…they are weeds in the garden, have the same rain, and sunshine and soil…but are good for nothing…”

Sometimes, while we’re sleeping, we let little negative things develop and grow in our hearts and minds until they become, “hurtful to the good seed;”  hurtful to the joy and grace that God has given to us.

In her book “Unglued” Lysa Terkeurst talks about this:  “If we plant seeds of reassurance, blessing, and love, we reap a great harvest of security. Of course, if we plant seeds of backbiting, questioning and doubt, we reap a harvest of insecurity. I’ve discovered that the more love and joy I pour into others, the more I experience in my own life.”  (Chapter 10)

Backbiting, questioning and doubt are like the weeds Kenneth would dig up with his turning plow. Reassurance, blessing and love are the great harvest we reap when we dig out the weeds before they can start to grow.

The turning plow goes deep. Hot. Hard. Work.  Just so, we should dig deep to remove the weeds from our hearts and minds so that our lives will reflect God’s love and bless others with His grace and joy.

Jesus On Your Life

By guest writer William Chadwick

“So I tell you, don’t worry about the food or drink you need to live, or about the clothes you need for your body. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothes." Matthew 6:25 NCV

There are people who go through their lives with no troubles or concerns. They don't worry about what other people think. They never worry about their jobs, kids, spouse, health, or credit score. They are completely at peace.

I don't know those people.

For the rest of us, Jesus has some words.

Many of us have been reading our Bibles for a long time. Sometimes we don't see our lives in the Bible because we use a favorite translation. The words are so familiar that it's been years since we thought through what they mean. We could quote the verses while working on our checkbook or while chewing bubble-gum and walking.

We can be like the little children James Dobson describes in his book "Dare to Discipline." The children cause lots of trouble in the neighbor hood. Their mother comes out every little bit and yells at the kids to stop what they're doing. But the children completely ignore it and continue what they're doing. "Oh yeah, that sounds like mom. But she doesn't really mean it." We've heard it so much that we're not listening anymore.

We say things like "Well, that doesn't really apply to me. What I'm facing is slightly different."

When I read Matthew 6:25, for a while I've seen it as saying, "William, you can worry about bills or finances or your job, just don't worry about food and clothes." Even if I also read on to Matthew 6:34, for many years it's seemed to say, "William it's perfectly acceptable to worry about your future, just so long as you don't worry about food and clothes in your future." I saw it as strictly a food and clothes passage. I have never really felt concerned that I wouldn't get enough food. And, except for a few minutes when I was fourteen, I've never cared about clothes. So, I've been thinking that whole part of the New Testament was written specifically for people who lived in poor countries (food) and women (clothes).

You may say, Wait! That's not what it says. Well, if you read the whole passage and take it as a whole, it does seem to be focused on food and clothes.

That is, it does if you're not paying attention.

One day recently, I was reading the same verse in the Holman Christian Standard Bible. And it leapt off the page at me: "Don’t worry about your life."

There were no student loan bills when Jesus said these words. No. But, the consequences of failure were much more severe. They didn't have food stamps or soup kitchens.

After telling people not to collect stuff, Jesus gets more basic. He says not to worry about what keeps you alive: clothes, which keep you warm in the winter, and food, which keeps you from dying.

If Jesus were here today, he would probably say things like,

        "How many months will worrying add to your job?"
        "How does worry save your marriage?"
        "Which credit card company reduces your balance based on how much time you spend worrying?"
        "How many cancer cells are killed with worry?"

It's very simple, "Don't worry about your life." It applies to you.

You have permission. From God. Stop worrying. God is saying, "Cut it out."

by Barbara Chadwick

 

60% of your brain is fat!?!  Are you serious?! I always thought it was this big muscle that made everything in our bodies work.

After reading this 60% statistic I was curious about the instruction God gave the Israelites to burn the fat of their sacrifices on the altar and that it was a pleasing aroma to God. For every different sacrificial offering this was to be so.

Consider the peace offering in Leviticus chapter 3. The fat, the kidneys and the fatty lobe of the liver are to be burned; including “the entire fat tail.”  Interesting.  I never thought of a sheep’s tail as being significant.

Then I read that, “The Palestinian breed of Oriental fat-tailed sheep… have an extra long tail that serves to store body fat. A tail weighing 15 – 20 pounds is not uncommon and is regarded as the choice part of the animal for eating, much as we regard a filet mignon or prime rib of beef. Such sheep still exist in the Middle East today, and stories are told of little two-wheeled devices attached to the tail to support it as the sheep moves around…. Therefore to give God the fat was to give Him the very best.”  (From the Preacher Commentary)

The Barnes Commentary said, “Now the burning of this fat is to signify, (1.) the offering up of our good affections to God in all our prayers and praises.  God must have the inwards; for we must pour out our souls and lift up our hearts in prayer and must bless His name with all that is within us…The fat denotes the best and choicest, which must always be devoted to God, who has made for us a feast of fat things.  (2.) The mortifying of our corrupt affections and lusts; and the burning up of them by the fire of divine grace (Colossians 3:5) Then we are truly thankful for former mercies, and prepared to receive further mercy, when we part with our sins, and have our minds cleared from all sensuality by the spirit of judgment and the spirit of burning. (Isaiah 4:4)”

The Preacher Commentary concluded this portion with, “I keep wanting to find the strength, and courage to bring the very best of what I have to God. It would be easier to cut a fat tail off a sheep than it is to give God the best of my energy, the best of my talents, the best of my time and money. Why is this so difficult?”

The apostle Paul said, Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing and perfect will of God.  Romans 12:1-2

So since the mind is 60% fat it must be a “best and choicest part” to God. The words of our prayers and praises are formed in our brains. Our corrupt affections and lusts also come from our brains. Let us be transformed by renewing our minds. Then let us present our bodies as a living sacrifice which is pleasing to God (i.e. a pleasing aroma to God)

THE WONDER OF GOD'S CREATION

By Barbara Chadwick

“Dad would give us a quarter for being the first to spot a moose or a bear on our hour-long drives into Anchorage and you’d think we’d have tired of seeing yet another caribou or dall sheep along Alaska’s roadways. But then, as now, our wildlife inspired excitement, and even today we’ll still pull over to look and take a picture. My parents instilled in me that appreciation; we were not to take for granted the wonder of God’s creation.”  From Going Rogue: An American Life by Sarah Palin

Ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea inform you. Which of these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In His hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.  Job 12:7-10

Kenneth and I live in the Colorado mountains and every day we are inspired by the majesty, beauty and wonder that surrounds us. Creation itself is a witness to God.

When the moose nonchalantly walked across our yard, I hurriedly called to Keneth to look out the upstairs window to see him.  Another day the deer grazed on the bank across from the kitchen and Kenneth called my attention to it. On hikes in the Roosevelt National Forest behind our house we see flowers of every color and shape. Morning after morning the sunrise is glorious. It's as if God is saying, "Good Morning. I'm going to bless your day!"

 

We have lived here eleven years and we are still inspired and excited to see it all.

Photos by Kenneth Chadwick

A NEW KEY

by Barbara Chadwick

 

The Praise Team leader for the week said, “Can we change this song to a new key. This key is really not working.” The guitarist said, “These flats are just too awkward. Can we change the key?”

Remember the days in your life when, in exasperation, you told the Lord (in so many words), “Heavenly Father this key (this time in my life) is just not working. Can you change the key for me?”

It is written of Job “And Job died, an old man and full of days.” (Job 42:17)  Do you recall his story?  How he lost all his children, all his sheep, camels, oxen and donkeys then was stricken with painful boils from the soles of his feet to the top of his head?

Some of Job’s statements from that time:
“May the day of my birth perish…”  Job 3:3
“I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil.”  Job 3:26
“If only my anguish could be weighed and all my misery be placed on the scales! It would surely outweigh the sand of the seas.”  Job 6:2
“My days are swifter than a runner; they fly away without a glimpse of joy.”  Job 9:25

Apparently,  there were certainly many days when Job wanted to change the key and the tone of his days. But his focus was entirely on himself. We can certainly sympathize with those feelings.

Throughout the discourse with the friends that came to “console” him, Job speaks with great pride of his accomplishments, his obedience to God, his wisdom, his standing in the community, and how he helped the poor and defenseless. He says, Men listened to me expectantly, waiting in silence for my counsel…  They waited for me as for showers…I dwelt as a king among his troops...  

Job 29:21,23 & 25

But then finally, in chapter 38  the Lord answered Job: Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation....? While the morning stars sang together (In a perfect key I might add!) and all the angels shouted for joy...? Who endowed (your) heart with wisdom or gave understanding to (your) mind...?   Job 38:4, 7, & 36

The Lord shows us that in order to change keys we have to change our thought processes.

For instance, to change from the key of C# minor to C Major we have to arrange the notes mentally from four sharps to no sharps or flats. With much practice this process happens quickly.

So, to change the key for the days of our lives, we have to mentally change our focus.  Our focus has to be on God. Job finally said, Surely, I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know…My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore, I …repent in dust and ashes.  Job 42:3, 5-6

Our focus has to be on God. With much practice (prayer and reading God’s Word) that shift in focus from I/My to You, Lord will happen quickly.

Incidentally, The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the first.  Job 42:12 

The key – the focus of his days was radically changed.

WALK & TALK & SEE LIKE CHRIST

by Barbara Chadwick

 

 

Love God

Love Others

Connect With Our Community

 

This message was printed on the backs of the T shirts the staff wore for VBS (Vacation Bible School).

After VBS we went shopping downtown. Everywhere I was conscious of that message on my back. I felt that every response I made should reflect my love for Jesus.

When we passed someone sitting on the sidewalk with a cup I felt honor bound to offer money – whereas often in my haste I’d pass by without a thought.

In the shops I tried to think of words of blessing I could offer instead of trying to hurry through the transaction, not taking the time to fully look into the eyes of the clerk.

I intentionally smiled at people. Usually I feel so rushed that I hurry through – not that I’m rude, but I just don’t make the effort to connect.

As Jesus walked along He “saw” people. He had compassion on them.

Since I want my life to count for Christ I wonder why I don’t “intentionally” walk & talk & see like he did even when I’m not wearing a T shirt with a Christian message on it.