WOULDN’T YOU LIKE TO BE ABLE TO READ MINDS? I mean, if you could, you could make a fortune in a very short time! But the truth is, we can’t. Only God can do that. Psalm 94:11 says, “The Lord knows the thoughts of man; he knows that they are futile.” And in Luke 5:22 we read, “Jesus knew what they (Pharisees) were thinking and asked, ‘Why are you thinking these things in your heart?’”
But wait a minute! Perhaps it wouldn’t be so great if we could read minds. I’m not so sure we could handle it. That would mean that we would know every negative thought that someone else had about us. Yikes! That’s frightening.
Although we can’t see into a person’s heart, we can learn how to size up someone rather quickly if we can find the answer to three questions. All we need to know is three basic things about a person. Knowing this will help us to understand what it is that is behind their feelings and actions. So, here they are—the three questions—in first person.
First, what do you dream about? All great men and women throughout history were great dreamers. Abraham saw his seed as numerous as the sand on the seashore. Moses saw Israel living in freedom. Joshua saw the walls of Jericho coming down. Nehemiah saw the walls of Jerusalem going up. Paul saw the Gentiles embracing Christianity. And so it goes.
Never give up dreaming! Dreams motivate and inspire us to strive for something great. They also keep spurring us onward when the going gets tough. Dreaming drives us to our knees and that is always good.
T.E. Lawrence once said, "All men dream but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds awake to the day to find it was all vanity. But the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for the many act out their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible..."
Secondly, what do you cry about? What breaks your heart? What burdens you, moves you to action? If I knew I would begin to know what you are like on the inside as it relates to compassion.
I read a news report about a woman who hadn't shed a tear in 18 years. The reason for her dry eyes was physical, not emotional. Doctors said she was a victim of a rare condition called Sjogren's syndrome. For some unknown reason, antibodies attacked her tear glands as if they were undesirable foreign organisms.
This reminds me of a spiritual problem among the people of God—people who should and could cry, but don't. They need to learn what Jesus meant when He said, "Blessed are those who mourn" (Matthew 5:4).
Sometimes we think tears are a sign of weakness. But if this were the case, why did Jesus cry? (Luke 19:41). Why did James tell Christians to weep over their sins? (James 4:9). True, people differ in the way they express their emotions. But literal tears aren't the real issue. What's important is the attitude of the heart. The real issue is how deeply we sense the implications of our sins. Are we filled with Godly sorrow? Are we pained by the tragic consequences our sin creates in our relationships with others? I'm not talking about putting on a phony show of sorrow, but do we feel some of the same sorrow God feels about evil? Are we willing to turn from it? Or do we have dry eyes? — Mart De Haan, Our Daily Bread.
Thirdly, if I know what you sing about, I will know somewhat the depth of your ability to rejoice, even when the storms of life assail you. Singers are positive, optimistic, faith-filled folks—like Paul and Silas who sang one midnight, even though they were locked away in a dark, dank, smelly prison cell. There they were, with hands and feet in stocks, having been severely beaten. But they still had a song in their heart—a song of praise.
There’s something about a song for the Lord that stirs the heart within.
That reaches out to touch a life burdened down with sin
It’s the Spirit of God breathing on the words and flowing through the tune,
That captures the soul and brings relief to those headed for sure doom.
O, sing a song of worship and praise to the One seated on the Throne,
For His love and care have reached us here to assure that we’re never
alone.
Let our voice be raised in endless praise to the Grandest Composer of all
He has set us free, we are not the same, we have answered His loving call.
But wait a minute! Perhaps it wouldn’t be so great if we could read minds. I’m not so sure we could handle it. That would mean that we would know every negative thought that someone else had about us. Yikes! That’s frightening.
Although we can’t see into a person’s heart, we can learn how to size up someone rather quickly if we can find the answer to three questions. All we need to know is three basic things about a person. Knowing this will help us to understand what it is that is behind their feelings and actions. So, here they are—the three questions—in first person.
First, what do you dream about? All great men and women throughout history were great dreamers. Abraham saw his seed as numerous as the sand on the seashore. Moses saw Israel living in freedom. Joshua saw the walls of Jericho coming down. Nehemiah saw the walls of Jerusalem going up. Paul saw the Gentiles embracing Christianity. And so it goes.
Never give up dreaming! Dreams motivate and inspire us to strive for something great. They also keep spurring us onward when the going gets tough. Dreaming drives us to our knees and that is always good.
T.E. Lawrence once said, "All men dream but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds awake to the day to find it was all vanity. But the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for the many act out their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible..."
Secondly, what do you cry about? What breaks your heart? What burdens you, moves you to action? If I knew I would begin to know what you are like on the inside as it relates to compassion.
I read a news report about a woman who hadn't shed a tear in 18 years. The reason for her dry eyes was physical, not emotional. Doctors said she was a victim of a rare condition called Sjogren's syndrome. For some unknown reason, antibodies attacked her tear glands as if they were undesirable foreign organisms.
This reminds me of a spiritual problem among the people of God—people who should and could cry, but don't. They need to learn what Jesus meant when He said, "Blessed are those who mourn" (Matthew 5:4).
Sometimes we think tears are a sign of weakness. But if this were the case, why did Jesus cry? (Luke 19:41). Why did James tell Christians to weep over their sins? (James 4:9). True, people differ in the way they express their emotions. But literal tears aren't the real issue. What's important is the attitude of the heart. The real issue is how deeply we sense the implications of our sins. Are we filled with Godly sorrow? Are we pained by the tragic consequences our sin creates in our relationships with others? I'm not talking about putting on a phony show of sorrow, but do we feel some of the same sorrow God feels about evil? Are we willing to turn from it? Or do we have dry eyes? — Mart De Haan, Our Daily Bread.
Thirdly, if I know what you sing about, I will know somewhat the depth of your ability to rejoice, even when the storms of life assail you. Singers are positive, optimistic, faith-filled folks—like Paul and Silas who sang one midnight, even though they were locked away in a dark, dank, smelly prison cell. There they were, with hands and feet in stocks, having been severely beaten. But they still had a song in their heart—a song of praise.
There’s something about a song for the Lord that stirs the heart within.
That reaches out to touch a life burdened down with sin
It’s the Spirit of God breathing on the words and flowing through the tune,
That captures the soul and brings relief to those headed for sure doom.
O, sing a song of worship and praise to the One seated on the Throne,
For His love and care have reached us here to assure that we’re never
alone.
Let our voice be raised in endless praise to the Grandest Composer of all
He has set us free, we are not the same, we have answered His loving call.
posted by kazookid | 11:30 AM
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