Dr H Reflections

Do you have an undiagnosed heart condition?

Do you have an undiagnosed heart condition? ∙

The LORD does not see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. – 1 Samuel 16:7

Ezekiel 36:26-27

26 And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.

27 And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.

Samantha Edwards, a former Miss North Dakota USA, passed away unexpectedly in the summer of 2016 due to an undiagnosed heart condition. Her autopsy showed that she had a genetic condition called right ventricular arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, which, if detected earlier, could have potentially saved her life. This begs the question: How can you determine if you have an undiagnosed heart condition that could be potentially harmful?

Numerous individuals on Earth are born with genetic or physical anomalies, deficiencies, or defects. However, regrettably, the entire human population has a deadly spiritual heart condition. The Father has identified it and prescribed a course of treatment that is available to anyone who chooses to take it.

When the Father looks at our hearts, what is His diagnosis?

Jeremiah 17:9-10

9 The human heart is the most deceitful of all things and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?

10 But I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives.

“President Calvin Coolidge came home from church one Sunday, and his wife asked, ‘What did the preacher preach about?’ ‘Sin,’ the President said in his usual concise manner. ‘What did he say about it?’ Mrs. Coolidge further inquired, and the President replied, ‘He was against it’” (Wiersbe).

The Father is also “against” deadly spiritual heart irregularities. In light of the Father’s diagnosis, He desires to conduct a spiritual heart surgery. The human heart in its natural state is irreparably damaged, and the only viable option is a new heart – a transplant fashioned in the laboratories of heaven. The Father alone is capable of spiritual heart transplant surgery.

However, people themselves are often totally unaware of this fact. “The human heart is deceptive; we may think we know why we do something, but really we may be doing it for another reason. It is naturally sick, really totally depraved, and in need of healing. No one really understands his or her own heart, nor do we understand why our hearts behave as they do” (Constable).

REFLECT & PRAY

Do you have a heretofore undiagnosed heart condition? The Father knows your heart thoroughly. He is aware of all of its secrets and machinations.

Father thank You that You have given me a new heart. I desire to have a willful submission to Your guidance and direction.

INSIGHT

Born in the 18th century, William Carey was a sickly child. Humanly speaking, it was doubtful that he would be successful in life. His future could have looked better. But the Father had plans for him. He called him to become a pastor and missionary to India. He became an educator, translator, social reformer, and cultural anthropologist. He set the pattern for modern missionary work, which many Christian missionary organizations have followed ever since.

David, the son of Jesse, appeared to be an ordinary young man. Being the youngest among his siblings, he mostly tended to sheep in the vicinity of his home in Bethlehem. However, something extraordinary occurred. The Father sent the prophet Samuel to anoint the next king of Israel. All of his older brothers were rejected. This young, insignificant shepherd lad was the one. The Father saw David’s heart. David had a heart for God. The Father told Samuel to anoint David as king. And Samuel did so.

At that moment, the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David from that day on (1 Samuel 16:13). The insignificant shepherd had become the next king of Israel. Not only did he have a heart for God, but now he had a heart from God. And he was filled with the Holy Spirit. He was supernaturally empowered to be king. “The ‘heart’ in Scripture refers to a person’s inward moral and spiritual life, including the emotions, will, and reason” (ESV notes).

A person’s exterior appearance does not indicate of who they are on the inside. Their outward appearance is purely superficial. The heart is the most essential part of any human. That is what matters most to the Father.

Proverbs 4:23 Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

Pause momentarily and consider, “What does it mean to be a person after God’s heart?” This individual would be entirely in sync with the Father, with their primary motivation being to please Him. What mattered to the Father would matter to them. What the Father disapproves of, they would also.

As children of the King, such individuals willingly submit themselves to the Father’s guidance and direction. “When He says, ‘Go to the right,’ you go to the right. When He says, ‘Stop that in your life,’ you stop it. When He says, ‘This is wrong, and I want you to change,’ you come to terms with it because you have a heart for God” (Swindoll).

All children of Adam and Eve struggle with spiritual heart conditions. Their hearts are by nature stony, stubborn, and willful. The Father’s treatment plan is spiritual heart surgery. He provides a new, transplanted heart that is tender and responsive to Him. The Father places His spirit within every child of the King. As a result, our prognosis is drastically altered (Ezekiel 36:26-27).

We have the privilege and ability to walk in the spirit.

Galatians 5:16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you will not be doing what your sinful nature craves.

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Do you remember your first real Christmas? ∙

Do you remember your first real Christmas? ∙

You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. – John 8:32

Isaiah 9:2 The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.

Several decades ago, a young student at UCLA heard that a Christian was coming to speak in his all-Jewish fraternity about Jesus Christ. The announcement was made at the regular fraternity dinner meal. Most of the fraternity brothers thought it was a joke and laughed.

But on the appointed Wednesday night, over 200 students appeared in their living and dining rooms. This was a standard approach used to share the gospel by Campus Crusade for Christ, now called Cru, for those who may not know.

Out of pure curiosity, about five of the Jewish fraternity brothers went to listen.

One Jewish young man found the notion of an intelligent, educated person adhering to what he considered Christian mythology ridiculous,, as it appeared utterly preposterous. The idea that a man was believed to be God, born of a virgin, resurrected from the dead, and died for the world’s sins seemed absurd and based purely on nonsensical myths.

Hal Lindsey, who later authored The Late Great Planet Earth, was the speaker who delivered the presentation.

After he was done speaking, the student approached him and began to bombard him with questions. In response, Hal extended an invitation for the student to meet with him on campus at a convenient time and asked the student to bring his own Bible along. The student could pose any questions he wished, and Hal would endeavor to provide answers using the student’s personal copy of the Bible.

The student took him up on his offer, and for five weeks, they met together. Hal elegantly addressed every question posed by the student. The student soon recognized that the Bible was not a typical book but instead the very Word of God. Further, the Lord Jesus Christ was not an ordinary man. He was indeed the expected Messiah who had been promised to Israel. Following this revelation, the student made a personal decision, prayed, and accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his Messiah and Savior. Later that year, for the very first time, the student joyously celebrated his very first Christmas.

For two millennia, myriads of people worldwide have celebrated the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. But what did Christmas really mean to them? When you are on the outside looking in, Christmas is not about Christ at all. It is often merely a time of family gatherings, beautiful decorations, exchanging gifts, and huge festive meals.

But somehow the true meaning of Christmas has been lost to many.

REFLECT & PRAY

John 8:12 “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness because you will have the light that leads to life.”

Father thank You for providing the Savior and Redeemer. Thank You for opening my eyes to see and receive Him as my Savior and Lord.

INSIGHT

For many, Christmas is a beautiful and delightful time of the year. There is a spirit of Christmas in the air. This is reflected in literature and, more recently, movies and television.

But it is much more than that.

Luke 2:10-12

10 The angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.”

11 “The Savior – yes, the Messiah, the Lord – has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!”

12 “And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

Christmas is intended to celebrate the birth of the Savior of the world by those who believe in Him. The Old Testament predicted that he would come and lead people out of darkness into the light.

Isaiah 9:2 The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.

The promised Messiah would bring salvation to the world. The facts are out there for anyone to research and determine. But salvation does not come by merely knowing and understanding facts. It is about accepting and believing in the Person that these facts speak of. It is very personal and individual. It is a decision that anyone can make.

Luke 2:25-32

25 At that time, there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him

26 and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.

27 That day, the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required,

28 Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying,

29 “Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised.

30 I have seen your salvation,

31 which you have prepared for all people.

32 He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!”

At that moment, the Father’s promise was fulfilled. Simeon saw and believed. He accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and Messiah. Anyone can do it.

John 1:12 To all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.

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Indomitable courage ∙

Indomitable courage ∙

My servant Caleb has a different attitude than the others have. He has remained loyal to me, so I will bring him into the land he explored. His descendants will possess their full share of that land. – Numbers 14:24

Joshua 14:9-12

9 Moses solemnly promised me, ‘The land of Canaan on which you were just walking will be your grant of land and that of your descendants forever because you wholeheartedly followed the LORD my God.’

10 Now, as you can see, the LORD has kept me alive and well as he promised for all these forty-five years since Moses made this promise – even while Israel wandered in the wilderness. Today I am eighty-five years old.

11 I am as strong now as I was when Moses sent me on that journey, and I can still travel and fight as well as I could then.

12 So give me the hill country that the LORD promised me. You will remember that as scouts, we found the descendants of Anak living there in great, walled towns. But if the LORD is with me, I will drive them out of the land, just as the LORD said.

Numbers 13:33 “There also we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim [Giants]; and we became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.”

In the movie Jurassic World, one of the many sequels to Jurassic Park, Indominus Rex was one of the main adversaries. Her name means Fierce or Untamable King. She was the epitome of GMO experiments gone awry. She was a genetically modified species of dinosaur, a man-made hybrid. InGen created her by combining the base genome of a Tyrannosaurus with that of a Velociraptor. She also contained the genetic material of numerous other species, including cuttlefish, tree frogs, and a pit viper.

She was able to change color due to the cuttlefish DNA used in her creation. She could camouflage herself and become virtually invisible.

The creation of Indominus Rex was driven by the quest to increase the park’s profits. Jurassic World’s financial success as a global attraction declined years after opening. The board of directors authorized the development of a new vicious predator attraction for Jurassic World to satisfy investors. Once Indominus escaped from her pen, she left a trail of death and destruction behind her. It is no coincidence that modern organic food labels often contain a logo indicating it is Non-GMO.

The English word indomitable has a sense of incapable of being subdued, unconquerable courage. Two Old Testament biblical characters stand out as ideal examples of this trait: Joshua and Caleb.

REFLECT & PRAY

A pessimist complains about the wind.

An optimist expects the wind to change.

A realist makes adjustments.

Father with You, all things are possible. It is easy to be frightened, even terrified, in the dark days that we live. I pray that You will grant indomitable courage to me as You did for Joshua and Caleb.

INSIGHT

Before the scheduled invasion and conquest of the land of Canaan, the Father instructed Moses to send out twelve spies, one from each of the twelve tribes, to determine the quality of the land and take a measure of its inhabitants (Numbers 13:1-16). Their mission was not to assess the viability of the Father’s plans. It was simply to be a fact-finding mission.

The land was indeed wonderful, flowing with milk and honey. But it had large walled cities, well-trained, well-armed soldiers, and giants living there. They were terrorized and exaggerated when they told their tale. Ten of the twelve spies were terrified and recommended that the invasion be canceled. The ten spies stated that it would be suicide.

Numbers 13:31-33

31 “We can’t go up against them! They are stronger than we are!”

32 So they spread this bad report about the land among the Israelites: “The land we traveled through and explored will devour anyone who goes to live there. All the people we saw were huge.

33 We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak. Next to them, we felt like grasshoppers, and that’s what they thought, too!”

But Joshua and Caleb were undaunted by what they saw because they had total confidence in the Father. He would be with them and bring them safely into the land to take possession of it. The current inhabitants may be a problem for mere mortals, but it would be a trivial matter for the Lord God Almighty. Not to invade and take possession of the land would be sheer rebellion against the Father Himself.

Numbers 14:6-9

6 Two of the men who had explored the land, Joshua, son of Nun, and Caleb, son of Jephunneh, tore their clothing.

7 They said to all the people of Israel, “The land we traveled through and explored is a wonderful land!”

8 “And if the LORD is pleased with us, he will bring us safely into that land and give it to us. It is a rich land flowing with milk and honey.”

9 “Do not rebel against the LORD, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the LORD is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!”

Well, you know the rest of the story. The people of Israel chose to believe the evil report of the majority and rejected the good report of Joshua and Caleb. Because of their unbelief and lack of trust in the promises and faithfulness in the Father God, they managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of certain victory. So they were doomed to wander in the wilderness for 40 years until all of the adults from the generation responsible for that fearful, defiant decision died in the desert. Only Joshua and Caleb survived.

Joshua and Caleb did more than survive. Joshua became the leader of all Israel after the death of Moses. The Father Himself commissioned him.

Joshua 1:1-3

1 The LORD spoke to Joshua, son of Nun, Moses’ assistant. He said,

2 “Moses, my servant is dead. Therefore, the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them.”

3 “I promise you what I promised Moses: ‘Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you.’”

Joshua was given a prime directive to follow. And so he did.

Joshua 1:7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do.

Caleb was a strong, courageous, visionary leader. He had great faith and indomitable courage that he wanted to fight the giants and overpower them through the power of Almighty God. And it was so! Caleb started this fight when he was 85 years old. He finished well!

Numbers 14:24 But my servant Caleb has a different spirit than the others have. He has remained loyal to me, so I will bring him into the land he explored.

“Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from indomitable will” (Gandhi).

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Masters or Disasters ∙

Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. – Ephesians 4:32

1 Peter 3:8-12

8 Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude.

9 Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will bless you for it.

10 For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies.”

11 “Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.”

12 “The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.”

In the 1970s, a crisis flared up in American marriages. They were ending in divorce, separation, or deteriorating into dysfunctional bitterness at unprecedented rates. Social scientists began studying marriages in earnest. John Gottman was one of those researchers. He has continued his research for more than four decades.

In 1986, he and his colleague Robert Levenson set up a “Love Lab” at the University of Washington. They recruited newlyweds and observed them interacting, measuring heart rate, blood flow, and perspiration which measured their psychological activity. Six years later, they followed up with the couples to see if they were still together. They quickly divided them into two major groups: Masters and Disasters.

The Disasters were continually in fight-or-flight mode. They were aggressive and prepared to attack and be attacked.

The Masters, on the other hand, were calm and connected together. They demonstrated warm and affectionate behavior even when they disagreed. What made the difference? The Masters had created a climate of trust and intimacy that made them more emotionally and physically comfortable.

Delving deeper, he observed that the couples would make requests for connection. Gottman called them “bids.” They were looking to each other for signs of interest or support. Once a bid was made, their partner responded by either turning toward or turning away. These responses could be statistically measured. It turned out that the Disasters had “turn-toward bids” 33% of the time, while the Masters had “turn-toward bids” 87% of the time. The Masters were meeting their partners’ needs 9 out of 10 times.

Qualitatively speaking, it depends on what the couples bring to the relationship. They can either bring, enhance, and reinforce kindness and generosity or contempt, criticism, and hostility (https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/06/happily-ever-after/372573/).

21st-century America is characterized by divorce, separation, or simply two people living under the same roof in perpetual dysfunctional bitterness and strife.

The Father’s answer to this tragic human predicament lived out in time is very similar to what He provided for the eternal dilemma of sin, death, and separation from Him. He designed a way to resurrect people who were dead in their sins and give them the gift of eternal life. He bonded with us, the children of the King, and established eternal intimacy and affection. He placed us at His right hand in Christ Jesus. We are forever turned toward Him. Through redemption and transformation, it has already begun and will never end.

Ephesians 2:1-7

1 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins.

2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil – the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.

3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.

4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much,

5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)

6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.

7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus

REFLECT & PRAY

Master or Disaster, choose wisely. Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of your lives. Haggai 2:19 From this day on, I will bless you.

Father coach me in the skill of practicing trust and intimacy with You and my indispensable companion on planet Earth.

INSIGHT

Genesis 2:18 The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a companion for him who corresponds to him.”

The Father designed Adam and Eve to be partners and complement one another. The Hebrew word translated companion or helper is ‘ezer. The Father Himself is frequently designated a helper to each of His children. He is the one who does for us what we cannot do for ourselves, the one who meets our needs.

‘Ezer connotes an “indispensable companion.” The woman would supply what the man lacked in the creation design, and logically it would follow that the man would provide what she was lacking, although that is not explicitly stated here (ESV notes).

Paul encourages us as children of the King to find our way back to the Father’s original intent and design for marriage. It begins and is reinforced by abundant kindness, forgiveness, and tenderheartedness.

Ephesians 4:32 Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

The Greek term translated as kindness is chrestos. Chrestos comes from the Greek verb chraomai, meaning to furnish what is needed. Profitable, fit, and good for any use. A healthy marriage is characterized by each partner providing what is necessary for the good of the other. Kindness also connotes being gently pleasant, soft, and mild, not harsh, stern, or severe.

To live in kindness, abundant kindness, in the most important of all human relationships, marriage, is a decision each child of the King can make and reinforce repeatedly.

This is the skill in which the Masters of marriage became black belts. Anyone can do it. It comes down to choice, determination, and practice. As we learn and grow in this skill, we demonstrate for all to see the abundant grace of the Father God both now and for all time (Ephesians 2:7).

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Death creds ∙

Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. – John 15:13

Hebrews 9:26-28

26 But now, once for all time, he has appeared at the end of the age to remove sin by his own death as a sacrifice.

28 Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.

In the 21st century, there are all kinds of creds. The term “creds” is short for credentials. Creds is another way of referring to one’s “rep,” or “reputation.” It refers to an individual’s credibility among their associates and social or professional group. It signifies the quality of being believable or worthy of respect.

Folks with street creds are approved by ordinary young people and considered to be part of their culture. Usually, they share a sense of fashion and opinions. A person with prison creds has earned and commands respect from their fellow prisoners.

In life, what kind of a person has excellent credibility and a good reputation, “life creds”? They would possess, but not be limited to, the following characteristics. They would be reliable, dependable, and would do what they say. They do not defer to anyone. They would have no prejudice and would not discriminate based upon arbitrary, passing, temporal values. They would fit in and accommodate themselves to people without compromising their values or personal integrity. They would go out of their way to care and be helpful. They would be easily approachable. They would be self-sacrificial and put the needs of others before their own. They would love

unconditionally.

But what about death creds? Some good people with lots of life creds may go out of their way for the benefit of others. Rarely they might even die in another’s place. But such apparent altruism is not offered to just anybody. Instead, such self-sacrifice is somewhat exclusive. Such a person’s benevolence is provided only for somebody particularly close and important to them: good friends, parents for children, or children for parents. But such kindness is undoubtedly not made available to strangers, what some might deem deplorables, and above all, certainly not enemies.

Romans 5:7-8

7 Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good.

8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners

Only one person ever “earned” absolute and total death creds in the history of planet Earth. He died for all people. He died for evil, sinful people. In so doing, He demonstrated His impartial, all-encompassing love for the world.

REFLECT & PRAY

Since the time of the garden of Eden and the fall of Adam and Eve, sin and death have had power and control over mankind.

Father thank you that the power of sin and even death has been broken for all time and eternity because of the death of Your beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

INSIGHT

The Lord Jesus Christ has the ultimate “life creds” and “death creds.” He not only died for us and provided us with eternal life, but He defeated death itself and removed any uncertainty or fear regarding it. Death has been defanged, and its bite has been removed forever for every child of the King. Not even the slightest hint of concern remains.

1 Corinthians 15:54-57

54 Death is swallowed up in victory.

55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?

56 For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power.

57 Thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.

But there’s more. The Lord Jesus Christ could never have been captured, bound, mocked, beaten, or cruelly killed if He had not allowed Himself to be.

Reflect upon that – he gave up his life and made a matchless self-sacrifice for each individual child of the King.

John 10:17-18

17 The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again.

18 No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.

“These words would be utterly out of place were the Lord Jesus a mere man. He spoke of laying down His life and taking it up again by His own power. He could only do this because He is God. The Father loved the Lord Jesus because of His willingness to die and rise again, in order that lost sheep might be saved” (McDonald).

His sacrifice for us was totally voluntary, His own choice. He chose to lay down His life so that the world might be saved through Him. The Father’s plan for redemption was accomplished when His Son died for the sins of the world. The Son chose to take up His life again.

John 10:11 I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.

1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God . . .

The Lord Jesus Christ has unrivaled death creds. He alone is worthy!

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