Guard Your Heart

Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life. -Proverbs 4:23

This is a verse we hear often but one that is oftentimes a struggle for many. This verse tells us that guarding our heart is so important because it is the SOURCE of life and everything flows through it. Since this is the case, it is no question as to why Satan makes our heart his main target. When we realize the importance of having a healthy heart, we make it a priority to protect it.

Guarding our heart looks like protecting, defending, and keeping it out of harm's way. So what does this look like in our life? It looks like being careful about what you watch, what kind of music you turn on, the people that you are surrounded by and that are pouring into you daily.

Are these things that bring you closer to the Lord or further from Him? We must anchor our hearts to the word of God. Psalm 119:11 says,

Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.

To guard our heart from evil, we must cover our heart in the truth. We must guard our hearts with much intent because from it flows everything. What steps are you actively taking in guarding your heart this week?

My Three Dads

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. -John 15:9

My dad is Rick Shurtz or “Kingfish!” My other, soon to be dad is Randy Johnston or “Pop!” And there’s my Heavenly Father or “Big Guns!” When my dad and Randy met, they hit it off! Talking about the Cardinals, watching the game, talking about life, laughing, and shaking their heads at me for doing something or saying something dumb!

Growing up I never wanted “that look” from my dad. The look of,” I’m not mad, I’m just disappointed.” Nor do I want that look from the other two! We have all felt that and hopefully none of us ever got that look! How often have we wondered what God thinks about the things we do? When we get to Heaven will we get that look we have long feared? Or will we stand tall and say, “I have fought the good fight and I have finished the race!”

The thing is none of us can really do that ourselves nor do we deserve to have God’s love or forgiveness, but he gives it to us willingly and freely! My dad could have written me off after times I disappointed him! My soon to be father-in-law could have not given me his blessing. God could have never given me those thousands of second chances! But my Dad has never wrote me off, Pop believes in me, and God has never quit on me!

So, with Father’s Day quickly approaching let the dads you have in your life know that you are blessed to be their son, their son-in-law, and their child!  Happy Father’s Day Kingfish, Pop, and Big Guns!

Love and Honor

A few weeks back I was giving my 7-year-old nephew a ride home after church. We were stopped in traffic next to a cemetery where a large family group was gathered decorating graves. My nephew asked what all the people were doing in the graveyard. I explained they were putting flowers out to show love and honor for their family.

He thought about that for a minute. Then he said, “Well, that’s weird. They are already dead.” He paused a moment, then added, “They should have done that before they were dead!” Ahh, the wisdom of a child! It doesn’t cost a thing to honor others with our words, to show love with our actions.

Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. -Romans 12:10, NIV

Take it from a 7-year-old, there is no better time than right now to tell someone you love them or to show some respect for a job well and faithfully done. In closing, I want you all to know it’s an honor to share my thoughts with you. Thank you for that privilege. Go show some love today! Honor God and make Him smile!

Forgiven Much, Love Much

I want you to remember the words of Jesus from Luke 7:47 (ESV),

But he who is forgiven little, loves little.

We can't know what it means to truly love God until we first understand what it means to fear Him. It is a proper awareness of our own sin that allows us to begin to grasp the depths of God's grace. As long we think we've been forgiven little, we will love little. Do we really understand what has been done for us?

Jesus didn't just do us a solid. He paid the ultimate price to save hell deserving sinners from impending wrath. He laid down His life to love us and reconcile us to God. We didn't deserve grace. Jesus didn't deserve wrath. God made an exchange though. Jesus took on our suffering so we could receive His salvation. Jesus didn't just come to give us some morals. He came to give us life. Make the choice today to love God like you're a dead man brought back to life, a prisoner who has been set free, and a prodigal receiving the warm embrace of a father. Your sin wasn't little, and neither was His grace.

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. -Romans 5:8, ESV