Heart Matters Part 3: “Treasures”

*Ok all, I am done with the Goofy saga i wrote so I hope you dont mind me going back to my heart. This blog is about what is in my mind, so i will from time to time lose my mind a little and go overboard!!! Now something i wanted to let you know as you read about these posts. These blogs on heart matters is me, considering my life as it relates to what i am reading in the bible. I am not here to tell you how your life should be, but what i want you to see is me as i am and not hidden. Hopefully, whatever I write may help you to see something in your own life that you are struggling with. Keep an open mind and enjoy and as always, i love to hear what you can add to the matter that affects me!*

So for those of you that have followed along through the first two parts, this one may sting a bit. We started of by asking the question “Why don’t we?” Then we got into the why: Idolatry and Pride leads to God letting us go and saying “If that is what you really want then you can go and chase your desires.” So now we come to what I call the hard part and that is do we really realize we have idols and pride and if we do realize it how deep is it truly ingrained in us. We will spend a good amount of time looking at transient treasures and their affects on our lives. This will be the longest part to date so let us dive in:

For this part we will need a definition of a word and thanks to dictionary.com I have it for you so here is the word:

Transient

1. Not lasting, enduring, or permanent; transitory

/ˈtrænʃənt, -ʒənt, -ziənt/ Pronunciation Key 2. Lasting only a short time; existing briefly; temporary

3. Staying only a short time

Matthew 6:19-21

Matthew is our focal passage for this lesson as we take a look at what transient goods will eventually become. In these verses, the writer wants us to not put our hearts into things that will rust or fade away or be stolen from us.

II Cor 4:16-18

This passage relates the same as of the previous passage. This passage shows us that what we have as our bodies, what we can see will eventually fade away…transient. While those things do fade however, it is our heart that can continue to grow towards our desires. Now keep in mind that thought…if our desires are of our idols then what will our heart grow too and vise versa if our hearts are in tune with God then where will we be?

Psalms 49:16-17

This passage talks about us as people not worrying about what is going on around them. Don’t worry that your neighbor’s “glory” is increasing because he has a bigger house or his car is now the newest thing out. When he dies the glory he attains here and the wealth he has attained will not go with him. (Transient)

Proverbs 23:4-6

Do not over work yourself to become wealthy because as mentioned many times before wealth is gone in the blink of an eye. We shouldn’t worry about how other people view us. The speaker made a point we are all guilty of “If you spend money on stuff you really can’t afford and actually don’t need then your treasure storage is here!”

We shouldn’t spend so much time making everything look so perfect on the outside when it really isn’t on the inside. A church, our friends, and our families should be places where we can be seen as we are. I mean if we are really in pain why hide it, if you need help we need to seek it. How many times myself as well as I am sure some of you reading has it tore you up inside because things are so bad and yet you keep them inside. This breeds more trouble and more till eventually you hit a state where you don’t care about anything…maybe even life itself. I am so guilty of that last line myself and though I know I cant change my whole world in one day, I too have made a dedication that I will work as hard as possible to let God control that part of my life and the only way I know how to do that is not being involved in my decision making process at all…figure that one out!

Luke 12:12-14

If you see a brother in need, sell something you own and fill that need. Ok now think this one through before the ruffled feathers start to kick in. The writer is not saying sell all you have and give everything till you are poor yourself. What Luke is saying is that if you have no money yourself but have possessions you can do without (And yes cable and internet, no matter how much even I believe I need them are not possessions I need) then sell them or get rid of them and help the brother in need.

This is the hardest thing we would have to accomplish as people. No one wants to give up their modern conveniences just so someone else who we feel could do better at managing their lives can eat a meal. Here is food for thought though: If the Holy Spirit tells you to give, then you give period! It is not our job to judge or monitor what they do with the money, that is the Holy Spirits job and if we follow what it directs us to do then we are storing up as Luke put it money bags that can not fade away. (Treasures in heaven) Now some of you are saying, how do I know it is the Holy Spirit? For those of us who are saved, you will know. You can not allow yourself to block the Spirit. I am as guilty as some of you in being pig headed about such things but the fact is when I don’t follow the guidance of the Spirit I am giving into the idolatry and pride of myself and saying to God I can do things on my own without His help. Now next time you decide you aren’t going to do the “right” thing because what you want to believe they will misuse your gift, think about that…when you say no to them your saying no to God, sleep well my friend!

Matthew 6:18-24

And we are back to where we started. As a college student now I have always noticed that when a teacher repeats things over and over again, it must be important and even apart of the test that is upcoming…Take a look readers! Six passages and many more in here I can assure you on the fact that we do not need to put our thoughts and beliefs in the transient things of the world because they will soon be gone. How many of you are still driving your first car you ever purchased? (That is for you older ones out there) For that matter how many of those vehicles if your still driving them is in perfect shape? There is wear and tear on those things because they are transient, they are fading away to nothingness and will be gone and then you will be back at the beginning all over again. Now I know what you are all saying “how does this solve the questions from last week?” Look a little closer, what this lesson does is show you the truth in your life. We all worry about the image as others perceive us…you’re doing it now! So yes you have something idolized in your heart right now! Your pride has blocked you from seeing it! So that means you have allowed God to pull away because you are chasing those desires. In the last verse of this passage it states you can not serve two Masters. If you love one you will hate the other and vise versa. You can not love serve both God and money, time to choose. This is a powerful passage to take in, due to the fact that it makes you feel awkward about your life to date. On the other hand it is also showing you there is that problem.

This passage has left me with a bitter taste in my mouth because as I type these words to all of you I become more and more aware of my own problems. I can not remember the last time I gave of myself for nothing more than to make someone’s life just a little less stressful. I complain because I don’t have the right shampoo because I was too lazy to go get some when I was out or when my friends don’t want to go places because they want to save a little money. I believe honestly that I am more selfish and fixed on idols than anyone I know. We do still have 3 more parts to go, and to be honest if I feel this bad going into the last few parts, where am I going to be when this is done? That is the Holy Spirit revealing to me what I need to get my life on track. Let me say that when we pray to God, he does want to know our needs but what does He want to talk about? He wants to talk about getting our lives on track with Him so we can be used for His Glory. So we can handle the things in life that feel out of our range. To store up bags of money that can not fade away. I am sure a lot of questions pop in your mind and a lot of angry emotions to what I am writing are coming out but I will leave you with a thought: It is not the Billy Grahams of the world that will make the hugest impact into the lives of those suffering around the world, it is each and every one of us who clear our hearts and set our minds on the face of God.

Part 4 is just around the corner…feel free to comment.

Episode III: The End of time

Garret-guy was soon to leave to return to School. His mind is troubled with the thoughts of what could happen when he leaves. So many things have happened over the weekend, Vic Vic’s death, Brad’s disappearance, Amber’s mysterious ways as well as many unexplained attacks. Garret-guy decided to head over to Kevin’s house to say goodbye to the group.

Amber and Clifton leaves Kevin’s house to go home. Amber is going to drop Clifton off when they arrive at the end of the trailer park there stands Brad. He stands there with a scowl on his face, a softball glove and frypan and he is wearing his Fury shirt. “Looks like he means business, time to finish the job my student!” Amber tells Clifton. Darth English hops out and runs toward Frygone when out of the trees comes Jerrad Phonetalker. Phonetalker spears Darth English to the ground, dropping fast as Brad lunges toward the Empress Pod car. Denting the hood, Amber gets out and grabs Brad by his neck and slams him into the side of the dumpster. Phonetalker throws his phone and just misses the Empress. She turns around and staring deep into his soul, Amber flies towards Phonetalker. Jerrad dodges Amber and takes off towards Kevin’s house with Brad hot on his heels. Garret-guy comes around the corner and pulling into the park, sees Amber and Clifton getting up to persue Brad and Jerrad. Garret-guy the Yodi gets out and trips Clifton then takes his magical staff and throws it at Empress Ferrell. Missing her as she chases the guys, Clifton jumps up only to be slammed back down by the powers of the Yodi. “You threatened my teacher, you must die!” Garret-guy says to Clifton. Kicking Clifton in the ribs then driving his now recovered staff into his back…he catches Clifton totally off guard. Beaten and with no hope of survival, Clifton reaches for something to at least fling damage to the Yodi. Garret-guy raises his staff to bring death to Clifton when he hears the shrieks of “yousa Die!” Garret-guy is immediately grabbed and slammed into his car over and over again. Turning briefly he sees Vic Vic, mauling him…shoving his face into the sidewalk and dragging him. Garret-guy is near death when Vic Vic turns to Clifton to finish the job the Yodi started. Clifton takes a hand full of dirt and thrusts it at Vic Vic, blinding him and sending him into a frenzy. Garret-guy grabs his staff, and hurling it like a javelin, he throws it right through Vic Vic’s heart. Waving his hand and chanting some crazy words, Garret-guy causes his staff to explode sending Vic Vic’s parts all over a 50 foot radius. Garret-guy and Clifton are left staring at each other, they nod and go their separate ways. Garret-guy goes to clean up and Clifton heads back to Kevin’s place.

Brad and Jerrad rush into the house where Nick and Kevin are watching the Astros game and start to panic. “She is trying to kill us, we need your help!” Brad says with fear in his voice. Kevin speaks up “Enough of this crap, I wont tolerate it anymore!” Kevin pulling his sword and drives it deep into the chest of Brad. Brad stunned as he drops to his knees “Why????” Brad cries. Jerrad leaps out towards Kevin and Nick holding up his hands freezes him…going to Jerrad, he slams his sword deep into his chest. Jerrad falls without even a fight. Amber bursts in “Sire, I am sorry.” She says to Kevin and Nick. “It is fine Amber, as long as the Job is done.” Nick replies. “Clifton is not ready, he already has horrid thoughts towards us, fix him or deal with him!” Kevin states. Clifton busts in and sees the dead bodies of Brad and Jerrad and then looking towards Nick and Kevin, he prepares to fight. “NO!” Amber calls out. “These are my Teachers leaders of the Quest for Peace.” Garret-guy shows up and seeing Clifton, he pulls out his staff and begins to swing it and Kevin raises his hand to stop the Yodi. Kevin addresses the group “Stop Yodi, she is Nick’s student just as you are mine.” “The job is done and the Fannati are soon finished. Now that the Fannati are without their leaders, the rest should go with little fight.” “Amber, notify the United Nations and return to hiding till you are needed again.” Nick says. “Sir?” Clifton begins to ask. “Yes Clifton?” Kevin asks. “What about Paul odor bad Kenobi?” Clifton wonders. “We do have a problem, Garret-guy take Darth English and find him, kill him if you must but make sure he is dealt with.” Nick orders the Yodi. Garret-guy and Darth English leave and Amber bids a farewell. Amber is going to go back to Europe to conquer some of the sites she didn’t when she was there before. As they all leave, Nick looks at Kevin and he takes out his cell phone. “The Job is done, what is your command?” Kevin speaks into the phone. “Discover the whereabouts of the other Fannati mini leaders, and take care of them. President Berkman wants them removed from site” Britney commands Kevin. “Yes Ma’am!”

Brad, startled from the couch to see Kevin, there are fries all over the ground, spilled Coke and Abby is covered in Ketchup. “What the crap are you doing?” Kevin asks. “Weird dream man, you were some sort of Jedi sort of master and I was like your enemy, you killed me and Nick killed Jerrad and Britney was like the head being…It was crazy!” Brad says. “You are weird man Brad. I had a strange day today…The dang internet was out at work today so I had nothing to do.” Abby hits the remote and Star Wars is on the TV, when a knock at the door is heard…It was Amber, Clifton and Nick. Brad is stunned…………

Episode II: The search for Truth

Amber, Jerrad, Paul and Vic Vic walk through the parking-lot and run into Garret-guy the Yodi who is home for the week. Garret-guy the Yodi, whom is known far and wide as an old wise man, looks perplexed as he sees this group walking together. “Brad and Clifton are discussing some important stuff” Paul states as they head to his deluxe station wagon. Vic Vic looks unsettled as Garret begins to talk “What if anything would Brad have to say that is important?” Garret asks puzzled. Amber walks over to Garret to say hello and Garret pulls away, He has seen those eyes before. The way she carried herself was as if she was on top of the world, that nothing could touch her. Disturbed by this unseen “force” he feels, Garret asks Paul and Jerrad to come over and help him move a few things and they would be back. Vic Vic loses his temper. “No way are they going to leave him behind, I mean come on…he and Phonetalker have been together since birth.” He thought to himself. “OOOOO Vic Vic wants to come!” he shouts out. Garret, with a look of horror, muffles out “no thanks, I am not having a racist party…go hang out with Amber.” Vic vic, angered by this darts off to Amber’s Vehicle and they go to leave.

Brad darts out at Darth English with his French fried grease pan in hand and ready to swing. Darth laughs and steps aside to watch as Frygone slips, falls and lands flat on his face. Picking up his pan, Darth starts to smash it over and over against Frygone’s head. “Why doesn’t he bleed?” thinks Darth English. Brad’s super solid skull (which was formed the day his brain evaporated due to the inability for him to adapt to anything but sports, hot dogs, French fries and bean and cheese nachos.) is unbreakable. Darth English needed to act quickly, so he turns and grabs the remote. Changing the channel to lifetime, Brad is stunned. “Why did you turn this on?” Frygone asks. “I mean seriously there is no value to this channel I mean sure if you like such things as useless chick flicks and…” Brad began his debate. Darth English, knowing this would keep him occupied for at least an hour, leaves the house to find Nick and Kevin walking up. He is stunned “what do they know?” He thinks. “What’s up midget?” Nick asks. Clifton is enraged “I will show him who the midget is. I have put up with this bloated windbag for far too long. Now would be a good time to end his life!” Kevin, noticing that Clifton is lost in thought offers the idea of heading to Garret-guy’s house. “He just called and he is in town, he wants us to go check the place out.” Kevin says with little excitement. “Sure” Clifton exclaims and they load into Nick’s Isuzu and take off for the Yodi’s pad.

Abby the wookie howls out in horror. She can no longer listen to Brads mindless rants about the Lifetime channel so she runs into Kevin’s room and hides under the bed. This mindless torture drives the wookie to the brink of suicide. After an hour or so of talking, Brad realizes he is alone. (Big Surprise to the audience) He then remembers that he sent out his friends with the Empress. Brad darts to the back, grabs his softball glove and a hot dog and sits at the TV. “I will save them after PTI is over” Brad speaks out loud…Abby howls again!

After meeting at Garret-guy’s place, Amber calls Kevin, and she is in tears. “What is wrong?” Kevin says with great concern. She can only cry, when she tries to speak you can not understand her. Then hearing Vic Vic in the back ground he realizes what is truly wrong. What kind of person would leave anyone in the company of Vic Vic…ALONE? Vic Vic is speaking to Amber about how preposterous it is for anyone to doubt his knowledge. Amber, in all her bravery screams out “Please let me Kevin!”. “NO! We will be right there, meet me back at my house.” She turns her car around and heads back to his house. (For those who don’t know, the Vic Vic clan have a tendency to be an “in your face” I’m always right kind of people. So much so that they will drive a sane person completely mad, even to the point of death.) Everyone arrives at the house to see that Brad has left and Garret-guy the Yodi offers to go to his parents to pick up some Sausage bread. Clifton does that Gay little jumping around and clapping thing as Garret-guy asks Vic Vic to come with him.

When the Yodi-rambler comes to the 4 way stop in Orangefield, Garret-guy stops and pulls over into a field. Throwing Vic Vic from the car, he yells out to him that he is tired of him being so annoying and that he is a racist! Vic Vic suddenly turns on Garret and mauls him. He beats him down to the ground, kicking him as hard as he can screaming out that he hates smart people. Garret-guy, shrieking in horror and realizing that he has no chance against Vic Vic, escapes to his car and proceeds to run over Vic Vic. Then backing up, he drives over him again and again. Vic Vic lays there lifeless. Garret-guy, bleeding from his fore head, drives off towards his parent’s house in anger. He is no sooner than a mile away when Vic Vic begins to stir. What Garret didn’t know is that the Vic Vic’s are a regenerating creature and he will hunt him down and get his revenge.

Moments later, Garret-guy the Yodi arrives back at Kevin’s house with the sausage bread and they begin to eat. “This bread smells funky” Kevin says, looking next to him and seeing Paul there eating like a man who hasn’t eaten in weeks. “Nevermind” Kevin speaks as he walks away. Garret stares intently at Amber. “What is so weird about her?” he asks himself. Could this be the one he was told about? He had heard stories about an uprising. How a leader was sent to destroy the Fannati. Clifton watches Garret carefully as he eyes Amber. “Is Garret the old and wise Fannati he had heard of, the one that no one can kill?” “Hey, where is Vic Vic?” Paul asks interrupting the stares going around the group. Amber shivers in fear at the sound of his name. “He had to go home. Tonight is the dance, dance revolution finals and he needed to get ready.” The Yodi tells the group. Vic Vics are known for their video gaming ability. It is well known that they spend around 60% of their lives playing games on assorted gaming systems.

Garret-guy senses a problem and begins to read the minds of the people in the room. His first attempt was on Clifton and as he looked at Clifton, he then realizing that he is filled with hate and evil. Scanning Clifton’s mind he discovers that he is plotting the death of all the people around him except Amber. “Strange, who is this guy?” Garret thinks, “Why does he not want Amber harmed?” “Why can’t I read Amber’s Mind? Why does it stink in here? What are the Fannati’s true identities? So many thoughts pass through the oversized head of Yodi. I will get answers later but for now I do not have time figure this out, I must follow the orders given to me, destroy anyone who threatens the life of his teacher.

Episode 1: Rise of the Miss

The Earth, a more or less peaceful planet has existed for many weeks now. Until recently, it has survived in harmony with others. Now, there is something that threatens the fabric of peace…the fabric of life! Last year, the dark side left our beloved nation (USA) and went to a far away to Europe in search of answers. She toured around looking, & taking pictures of places she just knew she would conquer...and then the “ray” of light struck her. It was time. It was time for her to find her another student, someone that she could use to help conquer the entire human race. She would return to the United States, and start her devious plans! So she did, arriving in the US where she thought it would be best to go to the south. Men who live there are much weaker willed there and a lot easier to conquer. She would need a male, someone that has had life beaten out of him, someone with no fight left in them. Her search would lead her to the Beaumont, Texas area.

In this area, the dark force knew that she needed help. She needed what we call “internet access” to find just the man to enslave. Remembering her friend Kevin worked at a mega company called Script Care, The empress stole the internet causing such pain and suffering that Kevin was forced to work instead of doing what he thinks he is paid for…probing the internet for new technology, Harry Potter updates and porn sites that wouldn’t tip off the management. The evil of the empress has struck pain in another individual and this makes her happy. The problem is Kevin’s computer held 2 important shreds of information…the name of the perfect beaten man and the whereabouts of her mortal enemies…the Fannati. Why did she hate them? “They are Worthless” she thought, “All they do is plan for their next draft and brag on some sort of pick ups…what about life, politics, religion…I must kill them all!” The Fannati are an advanced race of idiots. Their life goals rotate around their next draft pick, or some late round sleeper. They lust over ESPN even watching it in the wee hours in the morning during reruns of American Gladiators. She would need help. Sure they are worthless, but their powers are great.

Kevin arrives home a little late, beaten and tired from actually having to work for a day to find his brother on the couch eating French fries and watching the fantasy hour on ESPN. Looking up to see Kevin, Brad Frygone, Fannati master, asks what is troubling him. Abby the Wookie jolts up to meet Kevin while he describes the internet outage. All of a sudden Frygone hears a voice in his head as he senses a disturbance. “They are Miss Lords and there are always two…never more, never less. A “teacher” and a “pupil”!” Frygone gives a puzzled look and says to Kevin “there is a disturbance in the draft, I must go!” Kevin looks puzzled and stares at Brad with a perplexed look as he runs out the door. Then he glances at the TV to see Star Wars on…”Abby why do you always step on the remote?”

Later that evening Amber, A kind lovely and funny young woman (one that everyone loves), arrives at Kevin’s house to see Clifton, Kevin and Nick watching the Astros game. They all have decided to go get some food, but since they want different things, Kevin and Nick go to the store while Amber and Clifton go to taco bell. After being gone for a few minutes, Amber and Clifton arrive home to see Brad, Paul Odor bad Kenobi, Jerrad Phonetalker, and Vic Vic Binks at the house. Amber and Clifton shares their hellos with the group and they watch the game to eat. Clifton announces to the guys that he has a new job starting on Monday. He will be working for Abercrombie and Fitch which he is very excited about. Frygone grabs Odor bad Kenobi and says take Phonetalker, Vic Vic, and Amber from the house for a bit…he needs to talk to Clifton.

After leaving the house, Clifton sneers at Brad and ask him what is wrong? Brad, taking his pan of French fried grease into his hand and stares at Clifton “Who are you?” Brad asks. “I am Darth English of the Dark Empress Ferrell.” Brad’s look of surprise sends a bigger smile to the face of Darth English. “Oh no, I have just sent Vic Vic Binks, Phonetalker and Odor Bad to their death!” he thinks to himself. One of them has to die!

Heart Matters Part 2: “Some Answers”

So when we left off last week in our little “discussion” I presented you with the question that the speaker of this series left me…”Why don’t we?” What the post from last week was stating is that there were prophets such as Paul who were willing to give everything for just a little more knowledge of the Living God! And we were asked the question again and again “Why don’t we?” Why don’t we yearn for, long for and pursue God like those prophets or like someone who is truly saved?

Ezekiel 14:1-5

So let us look at why. In this passage of Ezekiel, the people of Israel went to the prophet in search of direction from God. As I am sure you know, God led his people through prophets He spoke to…despite what we may sometimes want, which is God just shouting it over the heavens so we can all hear. He then set out his own question and that was one of should I? In answering the people God said (Paraphrased of course) Men will come seeking direction with idolatry in their hearts and I will not answer them but I will talk with them about their idols. So what would constitute and idol of the heart?

It starts with a desire which is not wrong or sinful. We all have desires. Some would like to have a healthy bank account or a nice house and maybe even this great job and there is nothing sinful in these desires. When these desires become Non-negotiable that is when we give birth to an idol. When we as a people start to say “Hey God, do what ever you have to do but I am not leaving my job or changing this aspect of my life” we are closing our fists to the matter. We start to give authority in our lives to these desires or now called idols.

This part started to really make me feel uneasy. I have often known that I suffer from keeping small things from God and I do believe at all times we are all guilty of such matters. I have friends that it literally tears them up as they deal with their own personal idols. In my own I struggle with job and college and of course many personal matters that even my closest friends know nothing about. I have spent so much effort on trying to get bigger (job wise) and better and I have done it all for the sake of self improvement. It is no wonder that over the last few years I have genuinely struggled with my time with God and my own belief system. We continue…

James 4:4-7

James in this passage writes about Pride. Pride is the belief that we can sustain ourselves without any outside help. That when we accomplish thing, no one helped us we did it on our own. Pay close attention in verse 6 to the words “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Sustaining my life is something I have never tackled. I never really looked at the happiness I sometimes attain from doing something that took a long time or a great deal of effort as pride. But isn’t it? How many times in our prayers or in just general conversation with God do we thank him that our assignments went great or our project that we have been working for was the top of the line. Sure many of us ask for the help but do we offer the thanks for that help? No all too often we overlook it. “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Well in my past of reading this scripture I would have looked straight at the “…gives grace to the humble.” And said yea that is what I am trying to do, isn’t it great that God does such a thing. Hello?!? I totally overlook the part that “God opposes the proud” and in my actions I am often prideful. We all are as Christians. We set our saved hides up on these pedestals that we claim we don’t do and as a friend writes in a blog we look down on somebody because they are lower classed than us. We keep ourselves in our perfect little bubble and “sustain” ourselves all the while we are suffering from pride and God isn’t answering us but waiting to discuss our pride issues? So what is to come of our actions?...

Romans 1:18-23

Read these verses carefully. Play a little game and look for a few key things. In here look for the terrorists, corporations, governments, neighbors and such as to what is to blame for these problems we speak of. Pay special attention to the verse I type:

21. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God (idolatry) nor gave thanks to him (pride), but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.

This passage shows the results of our ways. When we build up idols of the heart and allow pride to consume our lives, God hardens our hearts. Now you’re saying to yourself now “why would God do such a thing?” Think about this for just a minute…is God doing this to us or are we doing this to us? In this matter God is basically telling us “If you want to focus on these things like the better house or better job and that is what makes you happy then by all means go ahead, I won’t stop you.” When our hearts become hardened we don’t understand the messages God tries to convey to each of us. This was often the case with the disciples and pharoses. They often asked questions of Jesus and he answered in parables. This often led to them having more questions because they couldn’t comprehend basic messages due to the fact that idols and pride lived inside of them…their hearts were hardened. God speaks in basic messages to us and we don’t hear him because idols are inside of us and our pride is too great.

If this doesn’t really shake your foundation a little then you could be farther gone than you thought. Even the disciples lived with issues of the heart and pride. Now this can be a huge discouragement if you allow it and I think we need to take from this a lot of disappointment in ourselves but in the same way we can take some good from it. There is no lost cause, the disciples came out of their troubles striving to seek God more. We have to open up the fist we have clinched around our desires and pride and give it to Christ. It is ok to have desires but we must keep our fists open and not close it and not allow God to change it if it is His will.

Now this leads to more questions:

1. How do we know if we have idols in our heart?
2. How do we recognize pride?
3. How do we know if we have closed our fists so that God can not be involved in certain matters?

That is what we tackle in Part 3,4,5 and possible some in 6…I do enjoy the comments or insight or even further discussion into the matters so feel free to “type” your mind.