Jesus, our Heavenly Cardiologist!

Although I am in the medical profession, you certainly don't have to be in the profession to understand the importance of the heart to the human body.  The heart is the life line- without it, well.....we'd all be in the grave! Quality of human life is determined greatly by the heart.  A unhealthy heart will affect our kidneys our lungs, every organ of our body!  We will lack energy for we will get out of breath just going up a flight of stairs!

We also have a spiritual heart, and we have the Great Physician who has given us specific instructions in taking care of this heart.  In Proverbs 4:23 (NKJV) we read:  "Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life."

In our physical heart we have several vessels, all important.  If one of those gets clogged, the entire heart can face something very serious we all know as a "heart attack".

Our Spiritual heart is composed of our mind, will, and emotions.  It is important that we take care of all 3 of those areas.  If one gets into trouble, our spiritual heart will suffer.
That is why God tells us to guard our heart.  But what does that word "guard" mean- how do we "guard our heart"?

1.) A healthy diet- The government now requires food labels to give us information about how healthy that food product is.  We have all become familiar with "trans fat", HDL, LDL, etc and what they mean.  You may be one of those people at the grocery store who reads the label before buying the product. (I hope you are!) So it is with our spiritual heart- we must take in a healthy diet.  Through the books we read, the TV programs we watch, the movies we go to, it will affect our spiritual heart for good or for bad. Prayer must be a large part of our diet. And it must be a regular part of our diet!

2) Exercise- Exercise is important to keep my physical heart strong.  It is a muscle and it takes some work to maintain that muscle.  We have gyms all over the place and we probably frequent those gyms or exercise at home in order to maintain a healthy heart.  Our spiritual heart is also in need of exercise.  It is the exercise of reading the Word of God, church, and service to the Lord.

3.) Minimize stress- We can have a great diet and exercise program but every doctor will tell you that if you are that "type A" personality then you are putting your heart at risk. That is why you see a lot of lifestyle changes after a heart attack.  Folks are  forced into it after the fact.  Makes you wonder what would be different if they had  minimized stress in their life as a lifestyle- perhaps they wouldn't have had the heart attack.  Our spiritual heart is put at risk through the stress of unconfessed sin.  I want you to think of unconfessed sin as the plaque that gathers on the arteries of our physical heart.  As that plaque builds up it narrows the artery causing a decrease in blood flow.  At some point, it finally causes a heart attack.  Sin in our lives narrows the "artery" that allows the flow of fellowship and instruction from our Father.  If sin continues to go unchecked, it will occlude that line to our Heavenly Father and our spiritual heart will suffer.

King David understood this as he wrote in Psalm 32 (NKJV)

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.  Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity.  And in whose spirit is no deceit.  When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long.  For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was turned into the drought of summer.  I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden.  I said "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,"  And You forgave the iniquity of my sin.  For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You in a time when You may be found; Surely in a flood of great waters they shall not come near him.  You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance.  I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.

A physical heart attack is expensive.  It cost not only a lot of money, but it also costs  in worry in the patient and the family of the patient.  It has long term effects on our body and finances through drugs and check ups.  I have taken care of many patients who look back in regret that they did not care for their heart so that they could have avoided all that came with the heart attack.

A spiritual heart attack is also very costly.  It affects our relationships with family and friends.  It most of all affects our relationship with our Heavenly Father.  Sin can have long term effects.  I have counseled many women who look back in regret that they did not care for their spiritual heart and now face consequences that could have been avoided.

The prescription from our Heavenly Cardiologist
1.)  Healthy diet- Word of God, good worship music, healthy prayer time
2.) Exercise- Serve the King in your local church, witness to those around you who need to hear about Jesus
3.) Limit stress- Keep short accounts with God.  Confess your sins and turn from them.  If you fall, get back up!  Memorize Psalm 32 and heed its instruction.


Guard your heart!
To God be the glory

"What do you think God is up to?"

I love the way God opens doors to talk about Him and His gift of salvation!!  This week at work I had the opportunity to strike up a conversation with a co-worker.  She asked me where I met my husband.  I said church.  That prompted  a few more casual questions about my church but the Holy Spirit spoke through me and gave me the words to say that not only spoke of church but spoke of Jesus.  She then said "You know not many people speak up if they are a Christian when they are on the job"  I replied, "oh no, that is the most important part of my life, God first, then my husband, everything else comes somewhere after that"  her reply was "that's nice, I like that"  I found out she does go to a church in the area but I don't know if she is a Christian.

A few days later she said to me, "So with all this earthquake stuff lately and the tsunami and just all this stuff, what do you think God is up to?"   Love it, love it, love it! - Not because I can speak for God and lay out exactly what God is doing but I can speak from the Word of God about what God is up to.  So I began to speak, I told her that the Bible speaks of these things occurring in increasing measure and intensity as we draw nearer to the date of His return.  I told her that although these were undoubtedly troubled times and "scary" at times, the child of God can look at them with anticipation for they bring us closer to home!  Her response kind of made me think perhaps she does not truly know Christ as her Savior.  Pray for her!
Pray that God will open more doors and continue to open my mouth.

Which leads me to these 2 questions- Where are  you spending eternity?  If the Lord raptured His church today, would you be included?  You can know.  I John 5:13 says "I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God , so that you may know you have eternal life."  Please click on my tab about having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  Then, let me know of your decision and, if you like, I will email you more info on developing a relationship with Jesus Christ and growing in your walk with the Lord.

My next question is this:  Are you telling others about Jesus?  God has given us the privilege of sharing the salvation message with others.  It is our privilege, it is our duty.  I wrote a song about 3 years ago called "Will you be the One"  I asked will you be the one, to lead them to the One?  Who came to you, who shared Jesus with you?  Aren't you glad that someone was obedient and bold in sharing the salvation message with you!?  So many are in need of hearing that they are loved, so loved by Jesus Christ.

It's hard to believe, but we now live in a post Christian area- there are folks out there who do not know anything about Jesus Christ or they have been taught that it is a myth- just a story.  They need us to tell them.

We look at the behavior of our youth today, the rebellious attitude, dress, language.....the drugs, the immorality....it's obvious that people are searching.  We live in a very spiritual world today- but it is the wrong spirit that this world seeks.  Just look at the billboards of the movies that are out, the TV programs that are out.  They  center around the occult in one way or another.  Hollywood is evangelizing, but they are evangelizing a lie.....Where are the Christians?  We must be evangelizing the Truth!

Pray for God to open doors for you to speak to one person about the Gospel.  I promise you this, if you are willing to speak the Truth, then God is willing to use you.  If you are willing to submit to the Holy Spirit, then you can be sure that the Holy Spirit is willing to speak through you.

Oh may we be people with a desire to rescue the perishing.  If you get on the computer or turn on the news, you will see and hear of rescue workers working around the clock trying to reach those who may be trapped under the rubble that came as a result of the earthquake and Tsunami in Japan.   Why?- because lives are precious, and we dare not walk away when there is a chance that we might even rescue one person.

After 9/11, the New York fire dept and EMT's and the Police worked around the clock looking for any possible survivors- putting their own lives at risk looking for any survivors.

Friend, there is a soul in each person that will live eternally in one of 2 places- heaven or hell.  We must be in the business of rescuing the perishing soul.  As believers, we are God's EMT"S out there searching for those who need to be rescued by being introduced to Jesus Christ.

To God be the Glory!!

The Once in a Lifetime Invitation

I plan on coming back to the lessons learned from my dogs- but the Lord has laid something on my heart that I must share because He told me to.

There is a lot of chatter these days about "end times" - and well there should be.  It doesn't take a doctorate in Theology to see that what we read in today's newspaper we actually read in yesterday's Bible study.  The Bible has CNN and Fox beat by a landslide when it comes to keeping us up to date with that is going on in the world!

I wake up every morning with the thought of "just maybe....today may be the day Jesus returns"  I go to bed each night wondering if I will wake up to being caught up!

As in every situation there are two extremes and unfortunately we, and especially those who can't quote one verse from the Bible but talk like experts, like to focus on the extremes.

The one extreme is the group that has laid out the exact date of the return of Christ.  The moment you do that you immediately disqualify yourself from being  of sound doctrine for the Bible is clear that NO MAN knows the date nor the hour that the Lord will return.

The second extreme is the crowd that accuses Christians of trying to evoke fear in people by talking about current events and how they relate to the prophecies in the Bible.  They laugh at us, (or actually, God) and think we are crazy.

So, if I may, I would like to share my heart with you.....hoping perhaps you will open your heart to the gift God has for you and you will comprehend even just a tad of the immense love He has for you.

I remember when it came time for my now husband and I to send out wedding invitations.  What an exciting time.  I carefully handpicked the invitations and put much thought and care to how I wanted the invitation to read.  I picked the font and the style....everything about it had the fingerprints of my husband and me all over it!

We stayed up until 4am in the morning sitting at a table, carefully addressing each invitation.  As we wrote out each address, we often thought back on a story about our friendship with that person or something we really loved about that person we were inviting.

Our invitations had only one stipulation.  It wasn't that you had to dress a certain way, or even bring us a gift!  We sent out invitations to folks because we wanted them there to share this special day with us.These people were very dear to us and we wanted them with us, celebrating with us.  At the end of the invitation we just asked that you RSVP.

In my box (or boxes) of treasures- things I plan to keep forever, you would find every RSVP sent back to us.  They are special to me- We so love those who responded to the invitation, essentially saying "I want to spend that day with you, celebrating with you"

When sin entered into the world, God devised a way to reconcile man to God. He carefully planned every detail.  Just as my husband and I did not pass off the duty of writing  of invitations to anyone else, so God did not leave the plan of salvation in the hands of anyone else.  You are that important to Him!  The invitation was sent out by way of a cross- and it was His Son, Jesus, who hung upon that cross.

There are no strings attached with this invitation.  It was sent out for one purpose.  God does not desire to spend eternity without you.  The only stipulation is that you must RSVP.  This is done by asking God to forgive you for your wrong doings (be they "big" or "small" in your eyes) and placing your faith in Jesus Christ, inviting Him into your life to be your Lord and Savior.

There were people who did not respond to the wedding invitation we sent them.  They didn't say they were coming- they didn't say they weren't.  Perhaps they just didn't get around to it and the day came upon them and it was too late.  Perhaps they didn't care anything about spending Saturday, March 1, 2008 at our wedding ceremony.  Whatever the case, they didn't show and we didn't force those we invited to come- so we certainly honored their response- even if it was no response.  God will do the same.  He will honor your decision- eternity with Him - should you accept the invitation- eternity without Him should you decline.

I am not trying to evoke any fear in anyone when I say that those who reject Christ will spend eternity in a place the Bible refers to as hell.  I am simply giving you the only two options every human being has been given- I don't work on commission when it comes to my serving the Lord.  I have no agenda other than my desire to keep you as far away from hell as I possibly can.  I will go to heaven whether you accept Christ or reject Him.  I share the Gospel because it is the "Good News"- that is what the word means!  And what good news it is- you and I can be forgiven of our sins and never face condemnation from God.  We can walk in freedom on this earth, unshaken by the events that surround us.  We can face death without fear- for death will just be our transport home to be with our Heavenly Father.

Precious one- please don't delay your response.  Don't be the one who is thinking about it,  planning on getting around to it, or waiting to see how the whole thing plays out before you make your decision.  The Bible describes the Lord's return as "in the twinkling of an eye"-

There's alot of talk today about a wedding- it is taking in place in a month or so.  It is the wedding of one day King, William and Kate.  Every day we are fed information about what the wedding party is wearing, who is invited, who is not invited, for $9.95 + shipping and handling I can get a cup or a spoon or a pen or a t-shirt with their picture on it!  It's kind of overkill and makes me want to say TMI! (too much information!)

However, what if, just think, if you went to your mailbox today and in it you found a wedding invitation from Prince William and Kate, YOU invited to the wedding of the one day King!!


I got one better for ya- you have already received an invitation to THE KING, the KING OF KINGS!  WOW, please RSVP today!

Let me know of your decision

To God be the glory

Pray for Japan

As I listen to the news I am at a loss for words- Please pray for these people.  We have a God that can make a way when there seems to be no way and that is what these people need right now.  A way to receive water and food and medicine.  A way to receive shelter and electricity in the cold temperatures.  Father, restore that the people may be able to use their cell phones to call for help and also to let family know they are ok.  Sustain them Jesus on the little water and food that they have.

God is mighty, God is loving, God is bigger and stronger than any earthquake or tsunami.  God, you are faithful and we know that you are there!  You have a strong hand and you lack no resources to help these people.  Oh Father, open up the windows of heaven and pour out your resources on these people.  Oh Father, may they know that is is you, Jehovah Jireh, their Provider that is making a way for them.

Through this tragedy may people know that you love them and that you are there.   Oh Father, please provide.  May we unite and find ways to help them, may we be generous at this time in both our treasure as we give and our time as we pray for these folks.  Dear citizens of Japan, may you experience the love of Christ and may you find some comfort in knowing that there are so many people across this globe praying for you and looking for ways to help you.  I love you with the love of Christ and I am faithfully praying for you. More importantly you are so loved by the Creator of the Universe and the One who created you.  He is there.....reach out to Him in prayer.

In the mighty name of Jesus, Amen

Pray for those who lost loved ones in the Japan earthquake and Tsunami

Isn't life so fragile.  People are just going about their day, unaware that in just seconds they would find themselves in the middle of a very deadly earthquake and trying to escape the tsunami that was to follow.  Some survived, others injured or dead.  Many grieving the loss of life and treasures, and things we often take for granted like water, electricity and shelter.

As I watched the videos that revealed the unbelievable horrific scenes, all I could do was pray.  So many still yet to be rescued as the storm has isolated them and the rescuers are having trouble reaching them.  So many can only look around them and see what once was.

Yet this one thing we know, God is in control.

Heavenly Father

Please wrap your loving arms around those who are suffering, those who are scared and especially around the children who lost parents, whose little minds are unable to understand all that is going on right now.  Thank you that you are in control.  I believe that even this can be used for good, to bring people to a saving faith, to grow all of us as we awake today to find we appreciate life a little more, we hold a little tighter to those loved ones around us, we drop to our knees a little more frequently, we find our eyes spending more time gazing upon the One who holds the entire world in His hands.  We take our eyes off the things that don't have eternal value.  May we draw closer to you as we, this entire globe, grieve with those in Japan right now who are suffering and those around the world who have friends and relatives over there.  You are a faithful, loving God who makes no mistakes and we know that you are the healer, the healer of bodies and the healer of hearts.  We love you.

Keeping Pace With the Master

This is perhaps the most precious lesson I learned from my dogs that I will share.  I am frequently reminded of this lesson but I will always remember the first time I learned this lesson through an "aha" moment.

In 2003 I lived in the Miami area....oh that was a taste of heaven! : >  I would walk my dogs around this lake that was essentially in my back yard.  There was a path around the entire lake and after the sun would set, providing us with a tad cooler temperatures, I would put the leashes on my dogs and off we would go for our walk around the lake.

If you have spent any time with my dogs you would see that my dogs have very different personalities.  I have one dog that has no problem keeping pace with me.  She doesn't have a desire to run ahead and she doesn't have a desire to lag behind.  She loves to stay pace with  me.  However......I have another dog who is just the opposite!  She always wants to be about 20 feet in front of me. She seems oblivious to the collar around her neck and the leash that is attached to it.  This leash is only about a 5ft leash.  She can go no farther than that for my hand has a tight grip on the leash and I maintain control of that leash during the entire walk.

Well, as you can probably imagine, my dogs come to the end of their walk, one dog energized, and the other dog, well she looks like she just finished the Boston Marathon!  Why?  One dog didn't try to race ahead or lag behind.  She understood her limitations of the leash and she was content keeping pace with her master.  My other dog, however, she is worn out and ready for a long nap.  Why?  She was not content with the limitations the leash had placed on her.  She desired to go beyond.....even though her master is stronger and kept control of the leash, she just kept trying and trying to get ahead.  A little tug on the leash to remind her of her limits was to no avail.  She felt the little choke, coughed a little and was at it again, striving to get ahead.

Let's look at this and what the Lord said to me that day.  Both dogs with the same master in control of the leash, walking the same trail....the dogs are the same age and just about the same size.  At the end of the walk one dog is energized, the other one is exhausted.  Why?  One was content keeping pace with the master, the other one was not.  This was a "aha" moment for me.

I am on the path of life that has been laid out by my Master.  The gracious thing about my Master is that He has a leash on me for my own good.  I keep a leash on my dogs for their safety, not mine.  Without that leash, they risk getting killed- they don't understand cars and how running out in the street can be lethal to them!  God loves me enough to keep a leash on me.  He knows I don't fully understand everything and I can get myself in trouble if I am left to run as I please.

I must learn contentment within the limitations of the leash and I must be content to keep pace with my Master.  I can try to get ahead of my Master but He is stronger than I and He is in control of the leash.  He has a plan for my life and within that plan is a timing in which His plan for me will be carried out.  If I try to speed it up, I will not get ahead and will only get exhausted.

At the end of the walk, I have one dog that is content and one dog that is exhausted.  One enjoyed her walk and the other one is ready for a long nap........the Lord spoke clearly to me here.

 He longs for me to enjoy my walk with Him.  He has provided the means by which I can enjoy my walk.  He has a leash on me that gives me some freedom but also provides me with safety.  He is with me on the walk, leading the way, holding the leash.  He never leads at a pace that I can't keep up with.  Although He may lead me in paths that seem a little scary or a little tough, He is there, He is leading, He is protecting me.

I don't want to come to the end of my walk with the Lord exhausted and joyless.  At the end of the day or at the end of my life, I want to look back with joy on my walk with the Lord.   Essentially it is up to me.  If I am willing to keep pace with the Master then I will experience joy.  If I spend my time fighting my Master all along the way, trying to get ahead, trying to go places I don't belong, then I will come to the end of my walk exhausted, and the level of my joy will be low, possibly unmeasurable.

How are you doing in your walk?  How am I doing?  I will be quite transparent with you.  I am at a place in my life right now where I would like to run ahead of where God has me right now.  Yet, God has a hold of the leash and He is not letting me get ahead.  Why?  As hard as this is for me to say,  God has set my pace through this particular trial.  I can try to rush through it but He is holding the leash and I will only add to my exhaustion when I try to fight against the leash.  I am reminded that I must keep pace with the Master- He always leads us THROUGH the valley of the shadow of death, never leaving us there.

Exhausted?  Perhaps it's because you're fighting to get ahead of your Master.  May we walk each day singing and more importantly believing that "It is well with my soul".  The joy of the Lord is our strength.  We must know that God desires we walk the path He has laid out before us with joy.  Count it all joy!  Pray for me....I will be praying for you.
To God be the glory!

Anxiously awaiting the return of my Master!

Welcome back to my current blog subject of what the Lord has taught me through the lives of 2 precious dogs.  Today I want to talk about "Anxiously awaiting the return of my Master".


My dogs are so funny and bring me such joy.  One way that they have brought me joy is through their watchful eye just waiting for me to walk through the door each day.

Through the years my dogs have spent some long hours without me home (12 hours is the longest).  I never like to leave them that long but sometimes my job left me no choice.  They got used to my schedule and so as they saw my routine and my final move of putting on my shoes and grabbing my bags, they would (and still do) let out this sigh and lay down with the saddest looks on their faces.  I walk over and give each one a hug and a kiss and a bone that will keep them busy for a while and go on my way.  After a long day at work, I have to say I have always had an anticipation on the drive home of opening the door to find them waiting for me right there.  It's as if they can smell me!  As I near my door, I hear their little noses sniffing and I hear their little cries of excitement.  I open the door and feel like a movie star getting mobbed by her fans!  The excitement goes on for several minutes.

Well, at first I can remember thinking "all this is going on because I was gone for the entire day"  But, it this is their behavior when I am gone for 12 hours or gone for 12  minutes!  They sit at the door, just waiting for me  to enter. My husband tells me when I am gone and he is at home with them, they still sit by the door waiting for me.  It's not that they don't love my husband, but I became their master when they were six weeks old.  While they do obey my husband, they understand me to be their master.

I believe the Lord showed me a lesson here.  He spoke to my heart one day, reminding me that He is returning one day, (sooner than we probably realize).  Will He find me watching, anxiously awaiting the rapture of the church.  That once in a lifetime moment (for real) when we who are in Christ will actually meet Him in the air and be taken up to our new home and far from the wrath that will soon come upon the ones who rejected His offer of salvation!  Will He find us watching?

Unlike my dogs, this anticipation of the return of my Master, my Heavenly Father, does not mean that I can sit  on my duff and just do nothing.  My dogs can do that and get by with it because....well, because they are dogs!!  However, the Lord has told us to "Occupy till I come" (Luke 19:13 KJV)  Or, as we read in the New Living Translation,  "Invest this for me while Iam gone".  God has given each one of His children a job to do and we are to invest it, planting, watering, or being a witness to the harvest, we are to do His work as we anxiously await His glorious appearance.

May the Lord find me watching and working while I watch and may He find this true of you also!  Thank you Father for what you have taught and continue to teach me through 2 precious pups!
To God be the glory!