Posted on June 18, 2023 Posted By: HCCCategories: journey
Heartland Community Church
THE JOURNEY
Guarding Your Heart
By Chris Woodward
Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers out there! Raising kids is a great responsibility that requires us to set an example and sometimes sacrifice our time and youth. In today’s teaching, we were reminded to guard our hearts. If we don’t discipline ourselves to do so, we may lose our purpose, plan, and power and become someone we don’t want to be – often hardened, scared, or hurried. As followers of Jesus, this discipline is part of our maturation process, allowing us to develop a deeper and more constant relationship with him. My heart swells with joy when my child whispers, "Daddy, I love you," or when my wife does the same. It motivates me to do better for them and myself.
Another time my heart jumps is when we go fishing, and the bobber starts to twitch and pull. Fishing has become a new tradition for my family in the past three years. We spend about three hours a week, when we can, bonding over worms, fish, and giggles in the sun. Fishing can be frustrating, especially with a young child, but it’s worth it. Handing a fishing pole with a sharp hook to a young child and asking them not to fall in, watch the bobber, and avoid hooking mommy and daddy can be challenging. I was constantly on guard, watching my words, reactions, and frustration levels. But it’s a joy when, after three years, that child casts the line like a pro. We can now enjoy the beauty of nature around us, like the sky, the sun dancing on the water and the creation surrounding us. As we refine our skills and become closer as a family, our day turns from constant instruction to conversation about flowers, butterflies, hawks, and snakes.
Guarding our hearts becomes a discipline that we can develop and grow in ourselves and others. We may never perfect it, but we can keep showing up, casting our line, and being present. As we move towards a common goal and encourage each other with each fish reeled in, we deepen our relationship with each other and Jesus. We see the dangers coming and know how to move out of the way. We see the hook in the water and know the pain that temptation would bring. It’s like moving from learning to living and from an activity to a hobby.
The Journey through Proverbs
What is the book of Proverbs about? Watch as our friends from the Bible Project explain its major themes and gain a deeper understanding of its place in the biblical story through these two brief videos.
Read the chapter of the day 2-3 times, and take note of what stands out to you. Ponder the words of wisdom throughout the day, and answer these questions:
What picture or instruction does God give me about building a great life?
Is there anything I notice here that runs contrary to my normal daily life?
What do I want to remember or work on . . . write it on a card or add a note to your phone to remind you.
CLICK HERE to visit The Bible Project site and explore their super simple, super informative Bible videos (and other resources). You can also download The Bible Project App HERE.
CLICK HERE to get the Read Scripture App, from our friends at The Bible Project.
CLICK HERE for more on how to use the observe-reflect-apply approach to getting the most out of your Bible reading.
The Bible App Get the free YouVersion Bible for your phone, tablet, or computer. Experience the Bible anywhere, with options to highlight, save notes, and share what you are reading with others.
The Bible App For Kids YouVersion partnered with OneHope to develop the Bible App for Kids, designing it specifically to engage children with Bible stories on an age-appropriate level. The Bible App for Kids is a free app for Android, Apple, and Kindle devices, available in over 60 languages.
Bible Gateway Provides advanced Bible searching capabilities, which allow readers to find passages in scripture based on keywords, phrases, or scripture reference.
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