Fonder or Farther

If absence makes the heart grow fonder, why do people often fight during and after separation? Ask people in a long distance relationships - they fight on phones - it's crazy! Ask most military couples about their trans itions. Most of them will say adjusting to being back together, having to share control and get used to each other all over again is difficult and chaotic.

This is because we humans settle easily into the comfort and convenience of self-indulgences - in other words - when we never have to answer to anyone and can just do whatever the heck we want, when we want, we adopt the false impression that life is simpler, less complicated, therefore better and safe. Actually, this does feel good - for a time at least.

In reality however, most often, absence causes hearts to grow farther apart rather than fonder.

For the Christian - this is absolutely true. Absence from the daily intimacies of relationship with Jesus Christ leads to distance from God and eventually indifference towards God and others.

Intentional absence from His word is like choosing starvation and death, while before you a spectacular banqueting table awaits to satisfy your gnawing hunger.

Ignoring the promptings of the Holy Spirit is like deciding to allow dehydration and unslakable thirst to dominate, while a flowing stream of refreshment and cleansing is calling you to renewal.

Selfishness, pride and self-will rule humanity – Jesus Christ showed us humility when He, being God, took on human form, died in our place, rose from the dead and saved us from the sting of sin and death. Phil 2:5-8

We must not allow our hearts to grow farther from God – we must intentionally grow fonder of Him by daily following the fundamental ‘rules of relationship’ with Him. You can’t be in a healthy relationship with someone you don’t know or don’t choose to know.

King David was passionate about relationship with God. He repeated a phrase often in Psalm 119 “with my whole heart.” I think David understood the principle of love and division and his choice was always to know God, to serve Him, to follow Him, to plead for help in keeping His commands, etc.

Love is to be chosen and cultivated and not necessarily by separation. Jesus affirmed that a whole heart, one that is knit to His own, is necessary to enter into vibrant relationship with God. He said, “a house divided against itself cannot stand, you cannot serve God and money, if anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.” He commended Mary, the sister of Martha, for choosing to sit at his feet and hear Him instead of busying herself with much activity “the one thing is needed – Mary has chosen that good part which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:42 references Ps 27:4, “One thing I have desired of the LORD, that will I seek; That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in His temple.”

Time invested at the feet of Jesus or beholding the beauty of the LORD and inquiring at His temple is time well spent – and Jesus said – in the case of Mary – it will not be taken away from her. This speaks of a lasting benefit springing from a momentary choice. She chose not to do the dishes or heed her sister Martha in that moment – she chose to hear the Master. Hearing Jesus Christ, whether it is through reading His word, through quiet prayer and meditation, through listening to a Bible study is always a needed choice, a better choice and a lasting choice. His word feeds us, His Holy Spirit fills us and our hearts grower fonder, dearer, more in love with Him; as we understand more of who HE is and what HE has done on our behalf.

So, the question; Is my heart whole or divided, am I growing fonder or farther? Only the inner meter of my intimacy with Him can answer correctly. An intimate relationship with Jesus Christ is not necessarily defined by the externals that everyone sees, but rather by the internal condition, the hidden person, of my spiritual heart. My heart chooses everyday - truth or lie, union or division, fonder or farther…

Psalm 119:30-32
I have chosen the way of truth;
Your judgments I have laid before me.
I cling to Your testimonies;
O LORD, do not put me to shame!
I will run in the way of your commandments,
For you shall enlarge my heart. (set my heart free / cause my heart to swell with joy)

Psalm 119:2
Blessed are those who keep His testimonies,
Who seek Him with the whole heart!

Psalm 119:10
With my whole heart I have sought You;
Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!

Sweet Dreams

Ever have trouble sleeping? Me too!
Like Sleeping Beauty, sleep often seems like a waste of time to me. I think that if I didn't have to do it, I would get so much more done in life. Other times, I admit, it's nice and there's nothing better than to fall asleep near a warm fire, in my favorite chair in the middle of the afternoon. I guess I like sleep best when I can choose it, not when it is forced upon me like an evil spell. So, even though I and others might view sleep as an inconvenience, it is good for humans to sleep and therefore, we must choose it and allow ourselves to receive its benefits.

In the same way, spiritually speaking, a vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ is the best choice (and really the only choice) that is good for us as well - because HE is good! We must choose Him and allow ourselves to bask in His goodness, receiving the benefits of relationship with Him.

In being Christian, we can choose to be 'selective nappers' as it were, and still feel warmth and refreshment in those times when we nap, but clearly the benefits to those on a 'consistent sleep schedule' are superior. Sleep is proven to prolong your life and promote good health. A vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ has physical and spiritual benefits – ultimately - forgiveness, eternal life and intimate knowledge of the Father. But also, Jesus promised us rest from worry, peace in difficulty, companionship in solitude and more. In Luke 24:44-53 Christ clearly stated that the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms spoke of Him. As God – His story and benefits begin in Genesis and end in Revelation. We are talking about the same God – One God - the God of the Holy Bible. This section from the Old Testament Psalms is one of my personal favorites…

Psalm 103 NLT various verses

"Praise the Lord, I tell myself, with my whole heart. I will praise His holy name. Praise the Lord, I tell myself, and never forget the good things He does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my disease. He ransoms me from death and surrounds me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s….The Lord is merciful and gracious; He is slow to get angry and full of unfailing love…The Lord is like a father to His children, tender and compassionate…the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear Him. His salvation extends to the children’s children…

Psalm 103 NKJ same various verses for your poetic types

“Bless the Lord, O my soul: And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits. Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s … The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in mercy … As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him… But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him. And His righteousness to children’s children…”

We should not slack on sleep and we must not slack on our relationship with Jesus Christ. He is God and with Him there are many lasting benefits.
See Also: John 14 / Matthew 11:28-30 / Mark 3:28-29.

I wrote this poem long ago as one suggestion for a solution to lack of sleep.

Sleep
by Carmen E. Richards
For Fellow Insomniacs: The only cure for sleeplessness is to dream of the One who is LOVE

Sleep would be sweet
If I could spend it
Dreaming of You

Time would stand still
And age not slowly kill
My desire for You

Not even "true love's" first kiss
From a slumber like this
Could awaken dozing me

Back into the harsh reality
Of languishing days spent
Without You - In sweet sleep

I'm singing and dancing
Summer, spring romancing
Every season's enchanting

In endless repose
Eyes forever closed
Divinely adrift

Asleep
And dreaming of You

Sweet Dreams!
In His Love,
Carmen

For more on sleep benies and sleep deprivation visit:
http://www.fi.edu/brain/sleep.htm
http://www.englander.com/BenefitsOfSleep.htm

What do you do when you can't sleep?

It's All About the LOVE!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I'm not a huge St. Valentine follower, but I always appreciate this holiday for the opportunity to celebrate true Love. (no Princess Bride Quote today - although it fits!)

1 John 4:10 (King James version is best here)
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Herein - this is it - here it is - look no further - the one and only genuine article
LOVE - This is what true love is - God loved us first - its not selfish, selfconsumed or selfabsorbed or selfserving etc.- its others centered
God showed us what true love is by FIRST loving us in such a way that was neccessary for us and unique to HIS capabilities - God loved us by sending His only Son to be the...
Propitiation - sacrifice - for our sins - There was only one way to offer payment for the sin of mankind - only One person could pay that debt - God Himself - He handled it for you, for me, for all of us. Isn't that a wonderful beginning ....

God loves you and has a good plan for your life here and in eternity.
Love Him back.

Happy Love Day!
Carmen

Jump the Heart

Pulse One: 2.11.06
Jump Your Heart

Who are you, who am I and why are you reading this page? Through this means, what will we ever really know about each other - except for what we are honestly willing to risk and reveal. As I thought about the first posting to this page - the hook - as it were – I was immobilized - caught in the net of fear. Then, last night I realized – this page doesn't have to be genius or even interesting - but it should be real and honest at the very least; unafraid and not too wordy perhaps. Shaa Right - like that could ever happen. Anyway…

Referenced above, as the definitive for this page, is Matthew 6:19-21 (from the Holy Bible /NLT/ in case some of you are wondering) because it talks about treasure, heart and thoughts. Those are the peanut butter and jelly sandwich with ice-cold milk of the human spirit and soul. If I'm loving something and it’s precious to me - then my thoughts are revolving around it 24/7. Some people refer to that as obsessive or Gollum like behavior; whatever. I refer to it as inspired and insightful. Jesus spoke these words because He understood our human nature was to obsess about the stuff we could see, feel, hear, smell, taste and touch – that’s right 6 senses. He also understood that all that stuff - anything that relates to earthly time and space - is deteriorating. It doesn't last. So, He said, "Hey don’t invest your energy in stuff that turns rusty or gets eaten by moths or stolen by thieves, rather invest your energy in stuff that remains, that can’t be taken away and doesn’t rot. Wherever your investment is, there is where your heart and your thoughts will be also." (my paraphrase)

Think about it now. In what are we heavily invested? What is precious to us? What consumes our time in thought, feeling and action?

Last night, my 17-year-old accidentally swerved his tires into a muddy bank; they were quickly captured by the ‘demon’ mud dragging his four-wheel drive deeper and deeper into the ditch, which eventually flipped his truck on its passenger side and slid it along for approximately 15 feet toward a waiting, well established Douglas Fir. Fortunately, “something” stopped the Nissan bullet before hitting its target….and who knows…exploding! I naturally thought about it a lot last night.

I stood at the scene on this deserted back road, freezing, on a beautiful, clear moonlit night, with tow truck lights creating an eerie silhouette around the darkened figure of my baby boy realizing, through that incident and in an instant, he could have been taken from this life and me. A thin line separates all of us from the eternal; a hairline fracture in space and time between the finite and the infinite. I was as thankful that he wasn't taken as I am confident in what is his eternal destiny.

Jesus said – don’t make the finite your focus people – focus on the infinite. Anyone of us can be taken in the next instant.

Earlier this week, I heard about another friend who crossed the great-divide while on the tennis court. His heart had a massive attack. He was only 60. He was a generous man, an excellent doctor of dentistry who loved children and gave his time and resources to the neediest through our mission-www.cotni.org. He crossed over while doing something he loved. That was a nice way to go. At his memorial, people gave to orphaned kids, instead of sending flowers. To me, that’s a great illustration of loving and eternal investment.

Most people will never speculate here. They may never figure out the eternal perspective. They will only be concerned with what is in front of them at the moment. I believe those of us who do contemplate eternity and understand the truth about it - must tell.

Ergo this page begins: For those of you who stop by and don’t fully understand, let me explain. I believe there is only one-way to jumpstart the heart into eternity. That is, to know intimately the One from whom eternity stems. That One is God – eternal, almighty and sovereign – Jesus Christ who Himself is LOVE incarnate. You have to make a decision to know Him first and then you can find out what’s important to Him; and what you should be investing in.

It’s not difficult to know Him. He wrote the book about Himself through men inspired by Himself….so you just have to read about Him in the book – the Holy Bible – my latest favorite is the New Living Translation – check it out! Fine Print Warning:you won’t find the real Him in the book of mormon or the watchtower magazine; and you won’t necessarily find out what is really eternal investment by watching tv-evangelists. Billy Graham is an exception – he doesn’t want your money – he only wants you to give your heart away to Jesus Christ – the only true SON of God – God Himself incarnate– opposite of what the formerly mentioned believe.

Anyway, after you know Him, you can ask the question; In what does He say I must invest? I believe you will find the answer in His own words; Matthew 6:33 "...make the Kingdom of God your primary concern."

Finally... (Random Movie Quote)
“lemme splain – no its too much – lemme sum up; Buttercup is marrying Humperdink in little less than half an hour…” Name that film: ____________ !

...Our natural state is fragile, deplorable and declining. Our eternal state is dependent upon our investment while here on earth. Will we invest in eternity – by becoming intimate with God and making His Kingdom our primary concern or will we continue the senseless stockpiling of stuff, tangible and ‘un’ that is eventually to expire?

I want to jump my heart into eternity – everyday. I want my heart and thoughts to be consumed by eternal treasure that is non-corruptible….and again to be clear, I’m not talking about silver, gold, health, wealth and prosperity. I’m talking about endless time and relationship with the One who said – "Hey, I’m going to prepare a place for you and I’m coming back to take you there so that you can be there with ME where I am." (my paraphrase again) I’m talking about fulfilling my highest purpose for existence - 'to know God and enjoy Him forever'.

Jump in and let me know what you think….

end Pulse One

Love,
Carmen