HEART TALK - Scars

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Some years ago on a hot summer day in South Florida a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house. In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went. He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake an alligator was swimming toward the shore. His mother in the house was looking out the window and saw the two as they got closer together. In utter fear she ran toward the water yelling to her son as loudly as she could.
Hearing her voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his mother. It was too late. Just as he reached her, the alligator reached him. From the dock, the mother grabbed her little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the mother but the mother was much too passionate to let go.
A farmer happened to drive by, heard the screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator.
Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital the little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal. And, on his arms were deep scratches where his mother’s fingernails dug into his flesh in her effort to hang on to the son she loved.
The newspaper reporter who interviewed the boy after the trauma asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. And then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, “But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms too. I have them because my Mom wouldn’t let go.”
You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars too. They are not from an alligator, but are the scars of a painful past. Some of those scars are unsightly and have caused us deep regret. But, some wounds, my friend, are because God has refused to let go. In the midst of your struggle, He’s been there holding on to you.
The Scriptures teach us that God loves you. You are a child of God. He wants to protect you and provide for you in every way. But sometimes we foolishly wade into dangerous situations, not knowing what lies ahead. The swimming hole of life is filled with peril – and we forget that the enemy is waiting to attack. That’s when the tug-of-war begins – and if you have the scars of His love on your arms, be very, very grateful. He did not, and will not, ever let you go.

Never judge another person’s scars because you don’t know how they got them.

IF YOU HAVE BEEN BLESSED BY THIS HEART TALK, PLEASE LET DR. JONES HEAR FROM YOU. IF YOU NEED PRAYER OF COUNSEL, PLEASE CONTACT DR. JONES. HIS HEART BEATS AS ONE WITH YOURS.

Post Office Box 6986
Burbank, California 91510-6986
his2u@charter.net

COURAGE

March 5, 2008

Dr. David Hernandez, DBS

It is a mystery to me why there seems to be such a shyness on the part of Christians to stand their ground in dealing with the political correctness gone amuck craziness that permeates our society. There was one man who stood up to be counted. The man I speak about did not rant, he did not rave, and he did not back down from the truth of God’s Word. If you have a minute, I would like to share that story with you and pray it will encourage you to stand firm, stand strong, and stand sturdy in Christ.

One of the great American myths is that we are all a bunch of rugged individualists. We would like to think that, but it simply is not true. There are some exceptions, of course, but for the majority it is not that way at all. Chuck Mcillhenny, pastor of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church in the Sunset District of San Francisco for over twenty years, has written a book titled When the Wicked Seize the City. Many expect to find this man in a chrome helmet with loaded weapons all around him and double bars on the door. Here is a man whose home has been fire-bombed, whose bedroom for the children is built like a bunker so his children can survive as he stands actively for Christ. He is now ministering a great deal in hospitals to those dying of AIDS, but standing firm for the truth, that the only hope beyond this life is a faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!

He told a wonderful story of how he was sitting, reading the newspaper one day. And there was a council meeting being held the next day in San Francisco, and he thought he would go to the city council and hear this particular issue. It was a homosexual rights issue. He thought, I can’t just sit here and let that pass. He didn’t take anyone with him. He didn’t take any placards. He didn’t march against them, like many of them march against him. It is not uncommon for his services to be interrupted by lesbians and homosexuals. He just went to the city-council meeting.

He sat there and heard the legislation. The council was about to take a vote. The chairman said, “Is there anyone who has anything to say?” He walked to the platform, stated his name, that he was a citizen residing in the Sunset District, San Francisco. “What would you like to say?” He replied, “Well, I would like to say nothing for myself, but I would like to quote three individuals that I have respected for years.” In addition, he read to them from Moses in Leviticus, from one of the psalms by David, and from Paul in Romans 1. He did not preach, did not scream, and did not sermonize-just closed it.

They said, “Wait. Before you sit down, who are those people-Moses and David and Paul?” And someone said, “You are reading from the Bible, aren’t you?” “Yes,” he said, “I am.” And one of the council members then said, “I vote no,” and another and another. And it did not pass. He sat down. That is straight thinking and courage.

One man made a difference because he stood up and with courage and conviction let God’s Word speak for itself. I would encourage you to stand firm, stand strong, and stand sturdy in Christ.

Let me share with you the words of a man named Paul that I have admired for many years. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” (Romans 1:16)

MAY GOD RICHLY BLESS YOU AS YOU APPLY THIS TRUTH!