Scribbled on my Heart

Proverbs 3:3-6

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

The word tablet has a very different meaning today.

It's interesting how, through the years, the definition of words has changed. When I was a child, I rested on a blanket in the yard and watched the clouds float past. Now I save my stories, devotions, and book reviews to an invisible cloud I can access from my computer or phone. In college I listened to my professor drone on and on, now a drone flies in the sky (with those clouds I mentioned earlier) and snaps photos. The birds in my trees tweet in the morning, so do my friends on Twitter. The tablet I mentioned is an electronic device I use to connect with social media. Wow!

In the Old Testament, people often wrote the words from scripture on a small scroll, tucked it into a tiny box, and tied the box to their heads, arms, or necks. That way, they could remember God's intervention at the time of Exodus, and his promises to them.

I scribbled Proverbs 3:5-6 on the tablet of my heart years ago. Trust in the Lord. In this world with its sorrow, blessings, sadness, and joys, what else could I do? For the one thing that never changes are the promises and love of God. He calls me to trust him no matter the circumstances. He asks me to seek him, whether through scripture, prayer, or the new Bible app my daughter showed me.

I may still watch the clouds and listen to the bird's tweet. But I can also use the new tools God gives me to seek him and glorify him.

What have you written on your heart?  

Trust Him!

God calls us to trust Him. 

Not easy, I know.

But I also understand that the God who created the universe, 

the God who makes the flowers bloom and the birds sing,

 loves me so much He wants to give me His wisdom and guidance.

Just give it to me. Free of charge! You can't beat that.

Who's Your Ringmaster?

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.

Recently, I've heard people say, "That's not my circus and they aren't my monkeys."  Then whose are they? I'm pretty sure the circumstances that surround my life are mine. The question is what am doing with them?

I've been to the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus a couple of times. The discipline and practice that goes into each act amazes me. The performers who swing from the trapeze bars in sync must have rehearsed for hours on end. They didn't miss a beat. Even the clowns moved in trained step.

Living a spiritual life sometimes feels like a circus act. Imagine walking the highwire, holding onto a balancing pole. You're holding steady until Satan adds the weight of worry to one end. The pole begins to dip and tugs you down. The Holy Spirit nudges and says trust your master. Whew...back in balance. A few steps later, boom...fear is hanging on the other end of the pole. No, I'm going to fall. Then I remember to pray and seek God's guidance. Back in step just a little farther to go. My footing slips. Anger tips the balance. I think on a scripture that fills my heart with peace. He's straightened my path. I'm almost to the platform. With joy, I step onto the safe surface and bow before Jesus, my Ringmaster. If I trust him, lean on him and submit to him, he'll be with me every step. Praise God for his son!