CLEAN HEART

By Cindy Bice

Aloha!

Our heart is vital to our lives and is so very important the Lord instructs us to guard it above all else!

The heart can be strong, fragile, and even deceitful.  How do you inspect it? How do you make it clean? How do we keep it strong and protect it?

Listen to yourself talk and what you’re saying.  The words coming out of your mouth are good indicators of how your heart is doing.

There are a lot of folks with hurting hearts and you will be aware of it when you pay attention to what they’re saying.  Don’t be critical of others.  Love them where they’re at.  We all need the hope that is found in Jesus!  Pointing the finger at others is an indicator of where your heart is.

Are your words full of fear, doubt, and unbelief?  Do you find yourself complaining, speaking unkind, mean, hurtful, critical, demeaning, and judgmental words? It’s time to have your heart cleaned and renewed.

Repent and ask the Lord to create a clean heart in you.  Be prepared to see the ugly parts you didn’t realize were there when He gets the Holy Ghost flashlight shining into every aspect of your heart.  It’s a good thing.  Get rid of the fear that has gripped you for years and be filled with faith in Jesus as the way maker in your life.

One way to make your heart strong is by reading the Bible. We live what we believe.  If you want to live as a true believer of Jesus, you need to know what’s in the Book!  You will discover powerful scriptures that will encourage your heart when at its lowest.  How can you stand when you don’t have the word to stand on?  Put it in your heart.  God will bring it back to your remembrance when you need it.

What you think about and listen to will eventually get into your heart and take root if you don’t guard against it.  Think “Happy thoughts!”  Meditate on the word of God!  Let Jesus fill your heart with peace.

How often do you repent and inspect your heart?  As often as it takes. Daily choose Jesus!  You can have a clean heart today!

Proverbs 4:23 (NIV) “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

Jeremiah 17:9 (KJV) “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked:  who can know it?”

Psalm 51:10 (KJV) “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”

Matthew 5:8 (NIV) “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”

Luke 6:45 (NIV) “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart.  For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”

Psalm 19:14 (NKJV) “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.”

PICTURE: Kauai Light House

SONG: Keith Green – Create in Me a Clean Heart  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rv16YUTCp9U

Mahalo,

Cindy Bice

“TIMES OF REFRESHING” Garden Bible Study in Hawaii

Please contact me via my Facebook for more information:

www.facebook.com/cindy.b.bice

HAPPY THOUGHTS

by Cindy Bice

Aloha!

Happy thoughts anyone? Sometimes all you need to do is change your perspective to see the silver lining in the dark clouds.  I hope you have “Happy Thoughts” today and from now on!

I’ve made a mental habit of “looking at the brighter side of life.”  Keeping an optimistic attitude is something everyone can do no matter what you are going through.  You face life square in the face having a God perspective.  You can train yourself by making a mental adjustment every time you are faced with overwhelming odds.

Colonel Chesty Puller encouraged his men during the Korean Conflict when told they were surrounded he said, “That simplifies things.” My husband had met the radio man who said that after they noticed they were surrounded, he got on the radio and said, “Retreat.”  Chesty Puller grabbed him by the front of the shirt and said, “We never retreat.  We are going to advance to the rear.”

Remind yourself of God’s past faithfulness in your life and answered prayers.   God is great and mighty!  Resilience comes from having a living faith in the almighty God and trusting in Jesus with your whole heart.  For the Christian, you will face death one day, but then there’s eternal life.

It can rain on your parade, but are you going to cry or are you going to dance?  You may cry at first, and then you might as well go ahead and dance.

What do you think about?  We all have thoughts everyday all day long.  If you don’t have happy thoughts, you may need to readjust what you are thinking about and change your perspective.

Ask the Lord what you need to change to have happy thoughts.

Take time this week to purposely examine your attitude and decide to think happy thoughts.

Have a great day every day!  “Happy thoughts everyone!”

Philippians 4:8 (NIV) Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

SONG: Great Are You Lord, Casting Crown https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJLi94JztEg

PICTURE: Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa

Mahalo,

Cindy Bice

“TIMES OF REFRESHING” Garden Bible Study in Hawaii

Please contact me via my Facebook for more information:

www.facebook.com/cindy.b.bice

BE KIND

by Cindy Bice

Aloha!

A little bit of kindness goes a long way.

Ephesians 4:32 (NIV) “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

You can have a horrible day and a small kindness can put a smile on your face and let you know there’s still hope for mankind.

Before you rush through your busy day, remind yourself to be kind.  You never know what others are facing and when you purposefully show kindness, you are bringing hope and light to those around you.  This is a powerful, yet simple way, to be the Lord’s hand extended to others.

Be kind to your family, friends, co-workers, church members, and strangers.  Watch their expressions change when you are genuinely kind.

My mama always told me to be sweet. Even though she’s been gone since I was 36, I still remind myself to be sweet.

It feels good to hold a door open for an elderly person or express your appreciation to a sales person.  We all have experienced ugly people who snap, push, and who just aren’t nice.  My flesh cringes and I have to choose how I’m going to react.  You are the boss of your emotions and actions.  You may need to pause and take a breath and then be kind.  Choose the higher road.  It will be beneficial to you and those you are being kind to.

One of the traits I found very desirable in my husband when we were dating was his kindness.  He’s kind and thoughtful to everyone!  His Grandmother shared this scripture with him and it sure worked for me!

Proverbs 19:21 (TLB) “Kindness makes a man attractive.  And it is better to be poor than dishonest.”

Being kind is like sharing a gift without expectations.  Go ahead and make someone’s day by being kind.

SONG: From The Inside Out – Seventh Day Slumberhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCOu0HY0omg

PICTURE: Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa

Mahalo,

Cindy Bice

“TIMES OF REFRESHING” Garden Bible Study in Hawaii

Please contact me via my Facebook for more information:

www.facebook.com/cindy.b.bice

CRY UNCLE

by Cindy Bice

Aloha!

Do you remember, as a child, playing a game called, “Cry Uncle?” When playing the game, an older sibling may have tickled or tortured you until you would feel helpless and the only way for it to stop was to “cry uncle.”

Recently, while working on an outdoor paint project, I was so challenged, I thought of naming this Devotion, “Cry Uncle!”

Real life can seem to crush us so much that we want to “Cry Uncle,” to make it stop.  Life is not a game and we can’t make it stop so what do you do?

Every situation is different.  I’m speaking to those who have prayed and believed God, but the heavens seem like brass and their situations haven’t changed.

The one thing that brought me peace when my mom died was that God is sovereign.  Our days are numbered and when it’s our time to go, the Lord calls us home.

The Lord is with you.  Although we want to rebuke every storm, sometimes they don’t go away. God knows all that you are facing. The Holy Spirit is our comforter. Jesus is our Hope.

Jesus was probably feeling pretty destitute when Peter denied Him, Judas sold him, and He had to bare the cross he was crucified on.

Matthew 6:9-3 (KJV) “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.  Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread.  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:  For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.  Amen.”

When God doesn’t answer the way you want Him to, rather than pull away, draw close to Him.  He cares for you more than you could ever imagine.

SONG: Oceans (where Feet May Fail) – Hillsong United https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBJJJkiRukY

PICTURE:  Waimea Canyon, Kauai with rooster and waterfall

Mahalo,

Cindy Bice

“TIMES OF REFRESHING” Garden Bible Study in Hawaii

Please contact me via my Facebook for more information:

www.facebook.com/cindy.b.bice

RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

by Cindy Bice

Picture the cross.  Our relationship with the Lord (the vertical line) directly affects our relationship with any and everybody else (the horizontal line).

It’s a wonderful blessing to know the creator of the universe personally!  From the beginning of time, God desired relationship with us!  With the fall of Adam and Eve, we all are born into sin.  None of us are worthy.  Our best is as filthy rags.

Thankfully, God saw beyond our sinful nature and never gave up on us!  He sent Jesus to make a way for us to be restored and to be in right relationship with Him.  When you receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, having repented of your sins, the blood of Jesus cleanses you from all unrighteousness and it’s at that moment you are reborn.

It’s a privilege to be a Christian!  We also must be responsible in our walk with God!  I encourage you to put your hand in the hand of the Lord, your Creator.  You’re not alone in this crazy world.  You have a friend in Jesus.  He will never leave or forsake you!  He is with you in the good times and in the bad.

We are created with a void that only Jesus can fill.  When your heart is right with the Lord, and Jesus fills that void, then you will truly be satisfied and content.  No one else can fill or satisfy that empty place in your heart. Only Jesus will satisfy and complete us.

When I was a little girl, my mom would hold my hand when we would cross the street and at other times.  As I grew up, I didn’t have to hold her hand, but still enjoyed walking with her and our relationship grew into adulthood.  She was my confidant.

The Lord is the Good Shepherd and would leave the 99 for one lost sheep.  Turn to Jesus now and let Him fill your heart with His perfect peace.  His arms are open wide and He’s waiting for you to turn to Him.  Simply repent of your sins and receive His forgiveness.  Welcome to the family!

1 Timothy 6:6 (NIV) “But godliness with contentment is great gain.”

John 14:6 (NIV) “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Isaiah 64:6 (NLT) “We are all infected and impure with sin.  When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags.  Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind.”

Romans 3:25-26 (NIV) “God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood – to be received by faith.  He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished-he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.”

SONG: Tell your heart to beat again (Lyrics) by: Danny Gokey https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F77v41jbOYs

PICTURE:  Kilauea Light House on Kauai

Mahalo,

Cindy Bice

“TIMES OF REFRESHING” Garden Bible Study in Hawaii

Please contact me via my Facebook for more information:

www.facebook.com/cindy.b.bice