March 5 2016

March 5, 2016 Greetings My Friend As water reflects the face, so the heart reflects the person."(Prov 27:19) I saved this passage and I happened upon it again. Today we could also say as the mirror reflects the face. I am a woman and yes I am checking out my face, what I am wearing or how my hair looks all the time. These are important to me because I want to reflect a certain persona to the world so the mirror confirms what I am attempting to present. Heart messages usually mean to me something warm and fuzzy and in a roundabout way the physical image I present is what I want my heart to also present. I want to be perceived as a kind and loving person and a woman who honors God with all of her being. I came back to “that” thinking again. Back years ago now I had no problem attempting to be one way in public and another at home. I felt family would always accept me warts and all. Out in the world I was not always accepted so I worked hard at being pleasing. I had my priorities all wrong, I should have been concerned about what my family felt about me up to a point. God convicted me about this and then I worked hard at being the same where ever I was. Honestly this way of being is so much easier. Basically I was learning to look into the mirror of my heart and worked on presenting that image. At the end of the day I like this much more which is God’s way. Today I use the Bible as my mirror. I try to reflect all that I learn from God which means my heart is changing to please God first. God wants me to respect Him and myself so that means I keep a watch over my mouth, the way I dress and the way I treat others. The more I gaze on God’s face the more I find my heart is reflecting God’s heart. It is impossible to love God with all I have and not change. The more I attempt to look at the heart of God I learn to look at the heart of a person and I find I make different choices. At times I may meet a heart that appears to be needy and has no intention of growing. I now know that I love that heart for a season and then I need to let go. Sometimes I meet a heart that is in need and I see searching and seeking within that heart. When I reach out with the love of God I see that heart starting to transform. I may minister to that heart for only a season or a lifetime. God will direct both of our hearts as to the length of time our hearts are to mingle. The more I learn to look at the heart of a person the less I try to force my love and the more I am able to let go if God wants me to. I am coming to understand that all this heart work is done through the Holy Spirit. I am beginning to see Him more clearly these days. I am learning that the heart of God is the Holy Spirit reaching to us and back to God. May God bless you and keep you make His face shine on you. Love Janet