Treasures of the Heart
1:50 PM - Posted by Sunchild - 0 comments

So, my beloved 1991 Toyota Camry was stolen outside my apartment complex this last week. 

 Stolen. gone. not present. and yes, locked. I was actually surprised during the aftermath to realize how unnerving and violating it is to have someone take something from you that you thought was safe. 

 After watching the surveillance video 7 or 8 times (thanks for nothing security camera) and watching with such chilling ease how the thief strolled over to my car and got in and drove away in under 15 seconds - believe me, I counted - it sort of breaks all trust in one's sense of security in this world. 

 I even had nightmares the next two nights of the people coming back for more or me finding my car only to have it stolen again. Silly and childish? I'm sure. Have I even mentioned that growing up is hard? 

 The police told me that if the car wasn't found in the first 48 hours, there was almost no chance that it would be found again. Well, it has been 123 hours and 58 minutes and still no sign of any hope of its return on the horizon. 

 My first thought when I realized my bereft state was "Oh God, please no. I need my car, how will I get to work tomorrow?" However, as time went on, the LORD has given me perspective. I am grieved, there is no doubting. I loved my car, and there were items in it that I will never get back, or be able to replace the memories I've had in it. 

 But 

 God, who is rich in mercy has given me hope. 

 Two things that I realized how blessed I was this week in having car stolen were:

 Firstly, however disappointing it was to spend the same amount of money as a plane ticket home to Texas as to rent transportation for the next week a half, and have to be burdened with the worry about trying to find a new car, I am grateful that I the LORD has given me a stable enough job to have the resources to do so - or at least not end up hopelessly in debt. 

 Secondly, it reminded me how transient this life is and how quickly the LORD can give and take away.  

 There have been a few verses that I've been meditating on that have really helped to bring me joy and comfort this week. Namely:

 "I will bless the LORD at all times, his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD, let the humble hear and be glad! O magnify the LORD with me, let us exalt his name together!" - Psalm 34:1-3 

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." - Matthew 6:19-21

As unforeseen and grievous as having my car stolen seems, I want to continue to remind myself of God's sovereignty and bless the LORD in the good times and the bad.

May I never forget the mighty God who knows all things and holds our lives and our futures in his hand. Blessed, blessed be the name of the God who wounds us and heals us for his glory. 

In doing so, I, like Job, can say: "the LORD gives and the LORD takes away, blessed be the name of the LORD".




My Head, My Heart, My Soul, & Me: A Personal Reflection
11:00 PM - Posted by Sunchild - 0 comments

"Our hearts are restless 'till they find their rest in thee",
Said my soul to my heart and my heart to my head.

In one accord agreed we then
To love and labor till he win.

Or better still, till gladdening eyes
And quicker, running, lengthened strides
I chase through life, one goal apart
Of whom has my soul, my mind, my heart.

"My soul," said I "wait thou only upon God
For His expectation gives days their joy".

And once again, there gathered three,
My head, my heart, my soul, and me
And all we talked of what imparts
In how we rest in head, in heart.

"To trust!” said one. "No need to fear!
We know that Christ draws ever near
And one day comes; twill ever be
A bliss! A perfect harmony".

Again, we nodded in one accord
And Heart, the weak, stepped meekly forward.

"I know this faltering flesh and tongue
Are quick to relinquish internal resolve,
But could it be a bit unjust to place expectation and think it trust?"

Again, we pondered all the words
And settled them into our heart
Lest we forget to remember,
Or remember to forget,
The fears that come with weaker parts.

And then rose up my fiery soul
Who addressed my fickle head and heart.

"And who are we to be unjust, or foolish
Or days of Him robust with internal grief
And fickle strife, are there not more
Days given Life?
For truly we must count our days
To give them best to wisdom."

And At that thought we glowed to red.
Ne’er forgetting how we’d lost our head
And heart and soul had felt the pain
Of allowing weakness to cause us shame
And mar the Goodness that we loved most.

Shy then, again, and well abashed
At thoughts of how the past gives back
The fruit in which we’d laboured –

We put our thoughts in circle three:
My head, my heart, my soul, and me.

Decided we then to wait and pray
And see what’d come, what will, what may.
Lest we talk without thoughts
Or act without shame
At things that might ‘ere have a day.

And then, the voice came and startled us three:
My head, my heart, my soul, and me.

The booming voice so whispery,
Filled us. Awed and quivering.

“Let us then be up and doing!
With a heart for any fate,
Still achieving
Still pursuing
Learn to labor, and to wait.”

“Truth!” said my head. “This thought I all along!”
“Yes!” said my heart. “’Tis a fair morn song”.
“Right!” said my soul. “Let us labor just
For what God has called us to – we will and must”.

So my head, my heart, my soul, and me
Decided then God’s face to seek.
Whether day by day, or week by week.
Tis his goodness we longed for. His promise we seek.

And ‘ere we forget how fickle we be,
My God gave my head, my soul, and me
A heart to complete us, and make us three.
That in all our weakness, his strength could complete.


“Let us then be up and doing!
With a heart for any fate,
Still achieving
Still pursuing
Learn to labor, and to wait.”
                                      
                                - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow