(Don't) Follow your Heart

I recently moved.  Got a new roommate, which came with a dog.  My life is exponentially more exciting than when I lived alone and petless.  None of that really matters, however.  The point here is my roomie loves all things girly:  glitter, sparkles, dressing up, fashion.  As a result, her ministry heart is really teenage girls. She works in the advertising/marketing world, even interning with a big magazine in NYC, and has noticed a lack of "girly" resources for teenage girls.  We remember growing up with a magazine for Christian girls put out by a famous ministry which was supposed to be the Christian-friendly version of Seventeen or Teen Vogue.  That magazine no longer exists.  So, my roommate has started her own.  It's in the very beginning stages, but I have such high hopes for its success!  Being my roommate she is obligated to let me write for it (I put it on the lease conditions!), and being her roommate, I am trying to garner support for it.  So, today I am giving you a sneak peek into the first article I have written for Etching Hearts.  And, when I say sneak peek I mean it; this article hasn't even been published yet and the site probably won't even go completely live until January! 

(Don’t)

Admittedly I am a little old for the neon, graphic, loose fitting tank top craze that seemingly swept the nation this summer.  I may or may not have had a neon tank top with matching scrunchie and slap bracelet circa 1989.  My friend Cathy has a rule, if you wore it the first time it was popular, you can’t wear it when everything old is new again.  So, I abstain.  However, unless you live under a rock, I am sure you have taken notice of these tanks.  One of the cliché catch phrases I see faux spray painted on glowing yellow is “Follow your Heart.”  You know the one I am talking about, right?  It seems to be a pretty popular sentiment that our culture begins teaching girls at a young age.  Disney’s Pocahantas tells us to “Listen with your heart, and you will understand.”  Cinderella II’s theme song is entitled, “Follow your Heart.”  The Land Before Time, not even a princess movie, tells kids, “Let your heart guide you.  It whispers, so listen closely.”  I found this on pinterest:

Funny, right?  But perhaps more than funny, the joke is actually on to something.  Is following your heart the answer to all of your dreams coming true?  (Okay, if there were dark chocolate brownies and vanilla gelato in that fridge, well, it may have led me to the fulfillment of all of my wishes!)  Have you seen those “Caution: Danger Ahead” road signs?   I really want to carry a few of those around to covertly slap on the back of the “Follow your Heart” tanks…you know, like the mean kids always did with “kick me” signs in elementary school.  Because really, here’s the truth girls:  You CANNOT trust your hearts!

As believers we should always test the advice we are given against the Word of God.  Don’t let anyone tell you there are no absolute truths in this world, because God’s Word is just that…absolute truth.  It can absolutely be trusted, in every situation, for all time!  The Bible has a lot to say about our hearts.  Perhaps the most relevant to our current fashion discussion is one found in the book of Jeremiah.  Jeremiah was a prophet writing to the nation of Judah, God’s chosen people, warning them of the dangers of turning from God, but also reminding them of the promised blessings if they would follow Him.  Not to mention, following God, obedience, faithfulness, that was always for Judah’s own good anyway.  As a Christ follower, YOU are God’s chosen daughter.  Following God with your whole heart, obedience, faithfulness, will always be for your own good.  So, listen carefully to the words in Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked; who can know it?”  Hmmm, how much trust do you place in someone described as deceitful above all things and desperately wicked??  How far would you be willing to follow that person?  I wouldn’t follow a person like that as far as I could throw him. 

There are many Christian traditions that begin their prayer services with a general prayer of confession found in the Book of Common Prayer.  Part of the confession is as follows, “We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts.  We have offended against Thy holy laws.”  See the progression?  Following the devices and desires of our own deceitful hearts often leads us to offending God’s holy laws.  

Thankfully, God did not leave us without anything to follow.   Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to, “…lean not on your OWN understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and HE shall direct your steps.”  (emphasis mine)  Our road map is the Word of God.  It is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness according to II Timothy 3:16.  When we fill our hearts and our minds with the Word of God, with His absolute truth, then we can trust HIM.  I know back to school time is super busy…no really, I know, because I am a teacher!  All of that work you are doing, well I am grading it, times twenty students.  However, you cannot afford to get so busy that you neglect the Word of God.  If you already have a set aside time each day to spend alone with God and His Word, let this be an encouragement to you to continue.  If you don’t, I hope this encourages you to start.  Find a good devotional podcast to download and listen to as you ride the bus or drive to school.  Get up ten minutes earlier and spend some time reading the Word and singing some praise songs.  Write down a Scripture verse on a notecard, tape it to your bathroom mirror, and commit to memorize it during the week.  Do SOMETHING to infiltrate your heart and mind DAILY with God’s Word.  Your heart may lead you on a path to the fridge, or worse, but “all the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and His testimonies.” (Psalm 25:10)

Resources:

Jeremiah 17:9 and Proverbs 3:5-6 taken from NKJV

II Timothy 3:16 taken from the NIV

Psalm 25:10 taken from the ESV

Book of Common Prayer (not copyrighted and can be freely reproduced)

   

My New Essentials

I absolutely love fall in Virginia.  I am close enough to the Blue Ridge Parkway to witness the beauty of the blue ridges turning golden hued.  The air is crisp and the humidity, ever so active in the summer, takes its own vacation each fall.  The earth, turning on its axis, places our little Virginia town at a perfect angle for blazing citrus sunsets and cotton-candy-pink sunrises.  It is as near to perfect as this broken earth can be.  And yet, fall for this girl means awful, horrendous, horrific, terrible, allergies.  I have suffered from allergies as long as I can remember: runny nose, itchy eyes, and worst of all, sinus headaches that often progress into migraines.

About two weeks ago I found myself on day 3 of a horrible sinus migraine.  I had tried all of my normal remedies: over the counter medication, saline sinus rinse, menthol rub, nose sprays-nothing, and I mean NOTHING, was touching this one.  It was to the point of nausea and an aura from the headache and I was barely functioning.  The sinus headache was the culmination of about two weeks of suffering from a full fledged allergy attack.  I was miserable.  

I am an avid Pinterest user.  I kept coming across all of these things on Pinterest about essential oils.  I knew my friend Jessi, who suffered from horrible migraines for years, had found great success using essential oils.  (This was after trying LOTS of prescription meds, chiropractors, acupuncturist, etc.)  So, I contacted her.  Turns out, she had so much success that she now places monthly orders and allows her friends and family, and even friend-in-laws ( you know friends of friends who are essentially strangers to you) order on her order.  So, I ordered a Young Living blend called "Raven" which is supposed to support your sinuses and respiratory system.

 For good measure, I also ordered Young Living "Lavender" which supports any number of things!

 Thankfully she had some samples so I was able to get my hands on the oil before the order came in and ya'll, I am not lying when I tell you I had almost IMMEDIATE relief for my head.  She showed me the vita flex points for sinuses (on your hands and feet) and I rubbed the blend of raven and lavender on my sinuses and those vita flex points, and within 30 minutes my sinus headache/migraine was GONE.  It gets better....I have continued to use the Lavender daily, usually morning and night, and it has supported my sinuses and respiratory system so well, I have needed no other support.  Nor have I had bad allergies, at all, since I started using the oil.  And, we have kept the windows open all day and night at my humble abode.  (Bonus: lavender is also supposed to be supportive of the endocrine system, helping hair grow longer and healthier...here's hoping!)

Nothing is perfect, and I will admit to one slight problem I have with the oils.  There are SO many and Jessi is so good about researching the different uses for me, that I now want to order no less than 20.  My plan is to add an oil a month to my collection. 

In my (very) limited and novice experience I would recommend starting with lavender if you are new to oils.  It has so many beneficial uses.  What about you?  Have any of you had great success with essential oils?  How do you take them?  Topically or in capsules?  Do you use the vita flex points or just slap 'em on wherever you're ailing?  Any secret tricks or combinations you have discovered?  Please share in the comments section.  I am always looking for more natural ways to help my body.  

Also, if you want to jump on this miracle oil band wagon, contact Jessi Walker at bwalk7@hotmail.com or find her on facebook at BuckandJessi Walker.  

I am not Happy

Ya'll, I am not happy.  I haven’t been happy in a really long time.  There have been moments of happiness-highlights, memories, delight, but as a collective whole-I’m wholly unhappy.   I read Ann Voskamp.  I learned how to make eloquent lists of things to be thankful for, although, in full disclosure, chasing the moon never made my list.  I still wasn’t happy.  I shopped.  A lot.  I have a pretty cute wardrobe these days, I mean if I do say so myself.  Still unhappy.  I ate.  Then I exercised.  Endorphins, chocolate or exercise induced, didn’t matter.  Nothing changed.  Still not happy.  I won’t go into a whole lot of detail, but as far as I’m concerned, my circumstances kind of stink.  I don’t care for them.  In the least.  And no amount of counting my blessings, shopping, eating, or exercising is going to change my circumstances.  So, I remain unhappy. 

I know, what a Debbie Downer I am today.  I mean, we are mere months away from the “most wonderful time of the year.”  And for heaven’s sake, football season is in full swing and there is a college play -off this year…I mean, how can I not be happy?  Because, happiness is completely dependent upon my circumstances, dependent upon (most) things that I have absolutely no control over-and remember, those circumstances?  Yea, they stink.  But, thank heavens, (no really, thank heavens!)  my joy has absolutely nothing  to do with my circumstances.     In an ironic twist of Sovereignty, our women’s Bible study at my church this fall has a one word, monosyllabic title: Joy.  I have been reminded that joy, most often in the Bible is an action; it’s a verb.  It is less often an emotion or feeling, because JOY, has NOTHING to do with my situation and EVERYTHING to do with my eternity.  Joy is a choice, an action, based solely on my eternal hope and my inward salvation.  Joy comes from a right relationship with my Lord and Savior.  And here’s the truth that I really didn’t want to be reminded of: my circumstances are God-ordained.  Those outward situations that are making me less than happy, those are all part of God’s great-big, gospel purpose in my life and quite possibly, hopefully, in others’ lives. 

The apostle Paul writes all about joy and rejoicing in Philippians, and as a quick reminder, he was writing that book from prison.  Talk about less than ideal circumstances.  It was Philippians 1: 29 that got me, “ For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him…”  My belief in my Savior is a grace gift, but ummm, my suffering is also a grace gift?  A gift ON BEHALF OF CHRIST.  Given for His glory, His honor, His fame.  Because while I can’t choose my circumstances, I sure can choose my response to those circumstances.  And since God’s grace is sufficient and since He promises to bear my burdens and since He has already given me His great comforter (the Holy Spirit), and a body of believers that loves and encourages me, I can choose to respond with joy and thanksgiving that God’s gospel is being advanced and He has chosen me to be a part of that. 

So, no, I am not happy.   But, I am choosing to be joyful.  My circumstances could change tomorrow (a girl can dream), but my God is never changing and He has gifted me belief AND suffering.  They’re a package deal.  My belief makes the suffering possible, worthwhile, endurable.  My suffering, and the Lord’s goodness, faithfulness, and comfort through my suffering, increases my belief.  See? Package deal.  {#choosejoy}  In spite of today’s stinky circumstances, choose joy in light of eternity.