I wonder what to do to keep my heart. What to do to curb a crack. Make no room, perchance a scratch. Emotional investment, returns a loss. I need not sing the “Lonely” song.

How far is too far with the heart? At what point calls a back-up, reverse and turn-tail? How to trust a mere man enough to hand this heart? Must I even? A measure given per a measure received? Give more? To what profit? Perhaps hold back, thus, not disadvantaged?

Too many questions? Yet a lifelong reality I must protect. After all, little less given, little less lost. For history has testified man’s expertise as an unreliable custodian of even a speck of dust. In God alone we can trust. Must I indulge in the foolishness of repeating grim history? Many greats have fallen for such unequal treaties.

But, I may miss out if I never give the full measure. How will I know how far I can throw if I swing not with the fullness of strength? How will I know the depths of the waters if I do not dive? How will I know the expanse of the galaxies if I do not fly? Ball in hand. Safe at shore. Knowing one atmosphere.

I may never know because I quake to hand over my all. The risk is great. The wound is deep. The fall is fatal. But a combination of it all is the lack luster pallor of safety and self preservation. No step of faith, no leap into grace.

The greatest risk, is never knowing possible greatness.

A great loss is possible but also a greater win.

Circles in sight. Turning wheels. Ticking clocks. The forward chime. Time may not be mine.

Have I an answer? A great wish is that.

Yet here I sit and still wondering. Why should I invest my heart?

I wrote this at a confusing period in my life where I tipped the concept of a romantic relationship out the cup of my mind. I have a different story now. Epiphany you might say. Here it goes.

I see not as yet why to invest my heart. For in man no heart is safe at last. His tendency to fail is his unconscious ailment. To place such high demand will yield no supply.

Perhaps my heart belongs elsewhere. The safest account. A trusted manager. His name is Christ. In Him I trust. With Him an investment yields a definite return.

Over and beyond the best expectations. A heart goes in, love comes out. Perfection from heaven. Not a doubt. Enough for me and everyone without.

So I seek not man to invest this heart. I seek man rather to spend the profits of my love. I place no high expectations on any flesh. I rather rely on the place divine.

Thus, disquieted the tables have turned. My question now, have I invested this heart? For where and why my question answered. But whether executed I stand to defend.

The profit of love from my heart’s investment. Freely received for free giving.

What matters then is whom this profit spend? The man deserving or one of naught? One which must receive, this I merit. Christ did lead my love I wholeheartedly accept. My fears begone, no more forlorn. By the horns, brave new world! Here I come.

Failure. Disappointment. Out of the one I may see. Without surprise, I take in stride. My profit be over, exceeding, abundant, beyond the multiple expected debit.

Clarity in sight. Turning wheels. Ticking clocks. The forward chime. Time is mine.

Have I an answer? As I wished.

Sit I in sound divine conclusion. I’m certain I should invest this heart.

Notes

I just want to say quickly that too many times we fail to see the relevance of God in relationships. We fail to see that He plays such a major role in it. He is the author of relationships. This poem does not seek to replace man with God or vice versa. Jesus definitely sits in a class of His own. Incomparable. I simply learned that once I make Him the first point of call, His grace changes my perspective. I am no more afraid that my expectations shall not be met by any significant other neither am I held back by the concept of a failed relationship. He constantly refreshes me with what I need to succeed. I seek by His grace to be a giver of what I have received.

The heart of man or woman belongs in no other hands but God’s.

Awaken.

I twirled my hair to tangles yet I could not figure out this time a song to go with the post. Any suggestions please?

Edit: I got some really great song suggestions which I am updating on this post. Thank you Bervlyn, Yingsongti, Kay O and Phyllis.

https://www.deezer.com/us/album/167167212 to listen to Eyes of My Heart by Christ for Youth International.

The post The Heart Investment (…the dilemma of making one of life’s crucial decisions) first appeared on .

Jesus friend of sinners, open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers.

Let our hearts be led by mercy.

Help us see with open hearts and open doors.

Jesus friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours.

Why is the human race so prone to hypocrisy? Have you ever been a hypocrite? Are you mulling over whether you have been one or not? Because the answer is, “You have!” Wait. Are you saying no in your mind? Because then you would add “lying” to the fact that you actually have been hypocritical at a certain time in your life.

Every one of us has been a hypocrite in one way or another, or at a particular time in our lives. We expect others to meet a standard that we are ourselves lacking. We expect people to be moral when we are unable to be moral, we don’t want people gossiping about us even though we gossip about others. We expect people to be fair when we are unfair.

Classic example straight out of the good, no, best book. Specifically, John chapter 8. A bunch of Pharisees (who have become synonymous with hypocrisy) throw a woman at Jesus’ mercy. They are ready to crush her head into brain putty with rocks and stones. All they require is the bang of the gavel from Jesus. But Jesus does what He does that makes me love Him so much. He bends down and writes in the sand. (which isn’t what I’m speaking of. lol). He makes one of the most poignant statements I have ever heard in human history. “Alright, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!”

Silence!

Now that Jesus has silenced us, let us try to understand the reasons why like the Pharisees who had the embarrassment of their lives, we throw people to the ground ready to stone them. Mind you, I believe we have each also been thrown to the ground at the end of someone else’s rock.

You see, like the Pharisees, we do it because it fuels our self-importance and self-approval. It’s a subtle ego booster. The more we magnify someone else’s flaws, the less we see ours. Maybe no one will get to see how we’re messing up in our own lives. We put on a show for the imaginary crowd. Maybe we sincerely believe we have it all together. But no. That is where we are wrong. Understand this, if we are going to hold someone to a certain standard, then we must ourselves appraise our lives by the same measure. And the truth is that we fall short!

That is why Jesus asked in Matthew 7, why are you so concerned with the speck in your brother’s eye when you haven’t taken out the plank in yours. Deal with yours first before you can deal with another’s. (paraphrased). According to Jesus, the more you magnify your neighbor’s flaws, there’s an automatic magnification of yours. If you can’t see your own glaring flaws, how can you see someone else’s flaws clearly. Jesus in those words simply communicates to us that we not the best judges of ourselves. Do you know why? We usually judge others by our own standards (which is sub-standard at best). I mean consider the scenario of the accused woman. It takes two to tango, yet somehow, only one dance partner showed up at the trial. Smh. (Sub-standard Human Standard).

Pastor Mike Novotny explains the same text (Matthew 7) in such a beautiful way. Once we take a look at the plank in our eyes and try to deal with it, we realize how difficult it is to change or discipline ourselves. We discover our helplessness. We realize even more how much of grace we need.

You see, once we humbly approach the giver of grace, Jesus Christ, we receive grace to overcome. And by this, we are better positioned to approach that other person; be it a bro or sis, friend or family who has the speck, with the same grace we have received. At this point, we are truly helpful to that person. Wonderful right?

So instead of hurting those around us with the eye plank which blinds us to the right way to take out their  speck, let us take time to experience God’s grace to heal our flaws so that we can extend that same grace to others. In the same vein, others will extend grace to us. 

Remember, Jesus was perfect. He had no plank in His eye. And no one extended grace to the imperfect or sinful more than He did. 

See this, if each of us is working on taking out the planks in our eyes, discovering grace and extending grace to each other, won’t we be better built up? Loving each other. Getting better and better together.

There are many theories regarding what Jesus may have written in the sand that day. Most theories point to this action as an act of grace toward the woman and judgement toward her accusers. I would like to believe that as accusations were thrown at the helpless woman from left, right and center, he probably wrote grace and mercy in the dust for that lady (I really wish the disciples had taken a peek and told us though).

Notwithstanding, until we have been at the end of a killing stone and received of Jesus’ mercy, we will hold that stone in our hand and be at His judgement.

Remember, when we are not blinded by our self-righteousness, we see with compassion and grace.

Awaken.

If you would like to comment. The comment tab is located at the bottom of the page.

A very good one. Do y’all listen to the songs I post. (just wondering)

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I have a Father
He calls me His own
He’ll never leave me
No matter where I go

He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
And He hears me when I call

I woke up this morning, very late by the way, gave my dad a very unusual gift which he loved and hated at the same time. Lol.

Anyway, I sat back on my bed in my room and these very words came to my lips, “Happy Father’s Day God.” At that moment, I had the writer’s eureka moment. Your fingers start to itch, ideas begin flowing, adrenaline is pulsing and you feel like you’re high. “The weed of inspiration.” (Disclaimer: I am by no means promoting weed). Mind you, I had been tossing and turning trying to figure out what to share today. I actually gave up. But this Father of mine is full of surprises. All I had to do was wish Him happy Fathers day. Lol.

Have you ever wished God a Happy Father’s day? Of course we should celebrate our heavenly Father every day of our lives. Yet on this special day set aside for fathers, do we also remember the benefits of the truest and best of all Fathers that were, are and will ever come. The incomparable Father.

So today, on this special day, please join me remember why He is such a dad so fab.

*clearing throat”

Happy Father’s day God. See what great love [You] have lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! 1 John 3:1 (paraphrased). God of love. I am so proud to be Your child and I believe anyone reading this is too.

Father of the fatherless (Psalm 68:5). You adopt those without a home to shelter and protect them.

When I consider all that I have, I am glad to have You as a Father, because I know that every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. (James 1:17)

When I require the best counsel regarding anything or can’t seem to figure out an issue, or if anyone lacks wisdom, [we] ask [You], who gives generously to all without finding fault, and [it is] given to [us].” (James 1:5)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our Father as well. You are the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by [You]. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).  I have never felt like I have to deal with anything on my own. You are always there.

Just like every child, I make so many mistakes, I don’t always listen to what you say and I don’t always do what you ask. The very things You don’t want me doing, that is exactly what I do yet, when we confess our sins, [You are] faithful and just and forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (John 1:9). There are times that You have chosen to discipline me, but I am learning not to despise [Your] discipline, and not resent [Your] rebuke, because [You] discipline those [You] love, as a father the son [and daughter] He delights in. (Proverbs 3:11-12) and even though it is not pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for [me] those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:11)

All these have made me a strong and confident woman. I know that You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I am celebrating You today and I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful [Father], I know that full well. (Psalm 139:13-14). [You have] not given [me] a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7). Not only that, but I have this confidence before [You]: Whenever [I] ask anything according to [Your] will, [You] hear me. And [knowing] that [You] hear whatever [I] ask, [I] know that [I] have what [I] have asked Him for. (1 John 5:14). I really cannot ask for anything better than this.

I could honestly go on and on about You, but like John, considering the things that are great about you, were I to say them all, all the books and every blog space in the world definitely cannot contain them. However, as I end I need to boast a little about what a super duper mind blowing Person You are in Yourself in spite of my relationship with You.

*clearing clearing clearing throat*

In my Father’s own words, “I am the first and I am the last; apart from Me there is no God. Who then is like Me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and lay out before Me what has happened since I established My ancient people, and what is yet to come—yes, let them foretell what will come. Do not tremble, do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago? You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides Me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one.” (Isaiah 44:7-8). Wow right?

Now in David’s words, “For the word of the Lord is right and true He is faithful in all He does. The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of His unfailing love. By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of His mouth. He gathers the waters of the sea into jars; He puts the deep into storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere him. For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm. The Lord foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; the people He chose for His inheritance. From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; from His dwelling place He watches all who live on earth—He who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do. No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name. May your unfailing love be with us, [Father], even as we put our hope in You. (Psalm 33)

I told you in my previous post that David can spit some super rhymes.

My Father in Heaven is a super-unbelievably-wonderful-beats-my-mind-and-Imagination-I-can’t-begin-to comprehend-how-awesome-He-is-God. And that is why I say “Happy Fathers Day God”.

If you don’t know this Father and you want to have a personal relationship with Him, it is possible. Believe in His Son whom He sent. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCVTqFetqT8). 

He knows our names. Check it out.  

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