Nasty Hearts in the Church

My daughter and I communicate all the time. Her husband is now in theology school. She often goes over his lessons and books with him. So, they're both getting the same education for one price. Anyway, this week they are talking about having filthy hearts.

Everyone knows that you'll find the majority of your hypocrisy from church-goers. Many won't come to church for that very reason. With one mouth they teach forgiveness. With a double-sided snake-like tongue, they then pronounce judgment when they themselves are hurt. With one side of their mouths, they speak of God's love. In their hearts, they are full of hatred. They can tell you what you should be doing, but they themselves don't do it. This shouldn't be so, and it hasn't always been as bad as it is now.

After reading the material my daughter emailed to me, I fell on my knees and asked God to heal HIS people. Make us one way. No more teaching it the right way, but living it the wrong way. I repented and asked God to forgive us for being the most stiff-necked, hard-hearted, unforgiving, unmerciful, and unkind people in the world. I repented for us all because we have nasty hearts while sitting in pews. I don't want to be that way anymore. I ask each of you to repent also. Now's the time, right before we enjoy these wonderful Thanksgiving dinners. Let's add mercy for things we're thankful for. We've all had to have it. Now try giving it.

Full of Redemption

Last week, I enjoyed sitting down with my friend, Mary. We've been friends since grade school. She moved away for a very long time, but now she's back in our hometown.

Over coffee, she told me about some of the things that has befallen her. She grew up in church, but then fell away for a brief season. She got into an adulterous relationship that cost her a lot and began using drugs. I look at her now and you would never be able to tell it by looking. She has a program that she runs now. It teaches people at her church how to love God and love His people. It teaches them how to never judge a person while they are down. She talks about all the people who put her down while she was low already. Now, she has everything she could want, but most importantly, she's full of God's redemptive power.