The Rhino in my Heart

When I worked for the phone company, I went to school at least once a year, usually in Dallas. Then in 1995 I joined a traveling crew, going all over the state. I left on Monday morning and returned on Thursday night.

Last night I dreamed of finding a bulging suitcase from one of my trips. It was full of neatly pressed blue jeans and work blouses. Mixed in were snack cakes that were spoiled and moldy, melted chocolate, and gooey unrecognizable mildewed stuff all over everything.

Then a friendly rhinoceros that seemed to be a pet rushed down the hall, and I made my way behind him to let him go out to potty, but it was obvious from the condition of the living room that he wasn’t very well potty-trained.

All of us have forgotten baggage and wild dangerous pets living in our hearts. Keeping things inside allows them to spoil, mold, mildew, melt, and get all over our hearts. Holding onto junk from the past ruins the good stuff in our lives today. These things are like wild animals that defile us, ruin our relationships, and stink up everything around us.

Peter told us in I Peter 5:7-8 Amplified, “Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all,] on Him (Jesus), for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully…be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring, seeking someone to seize upon and devour.”

Even Christians hold onto old grudges, dislikes, anger, hatred, or prejudices that defile our hearts, leaving us prey to the enemy of our souls, the devil.

Satan loves to sneak around looking for those who have hidden baggage that he can take advantage of. He wants to destroy our lives, our homes, our families, our churches, and all our relationships.

We need to examine our hearts and ask the Lord to reveal to us those things in our hearts so we give them to Him, because He lovingly cares for and watches over us.

No Bother for the Master

Jesus was on His way to Jairus’ house to heal Jairus’ daughter, but He was stopped along the way by the woman who touched the hem of His garment and was healed. As Jesus was talking to that woman, Jairus’ servant arrived with sad news. “Don’t bother the master anymore. Your daughter is dead.” Luke 8:49.

Jesus, hearing what the servant said, immediately turned to Jairus and said, “Fear not; only believe.” Then Jesus raised his daughter from the dead.

“Don’t bother the master anymore.” Has someone told you that lately? Some people in this world believe in a God that created the universe and set it in motion, but is not actively involved in the lives of people today. They believe He just sits up there in the clouds somewhere watching what’s going on. They believe that ‘what will be will be’ (que sera sera) and there is no use to pray over each and every circumstance of life; life is up to you, not God.

However Jesus was involved in the day-to-day lives of people all around him. He wanted to be “bothered.” He cared for the hurting and sick, the weak and crippled. He hurt when fathers came to Him for healing for their little daughters. He cried when He stood at the tomb of Lazarus, loving his dear friend who was taken from him. These were all works of the evil one: sickness, disease, death.

Jesus was sent for this very purpose. I John 3:3 says “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” Not only did He care, but He did something about it.

Jesus cares. Bring all your troubles, your sickness, your pains, your problems to Jesus, because He cares for you lovingly. Fear not; only believe.

I Peter 5:7, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

It still isn’t any bother for the Master.

Laying Up Treasure

One of the banks in our town advertises that it is “the oldest national bank in the state of Oklahoma still operating under its original charter,” a safe place to keep your money in troubled times.

Most of us have lost 1/3 or more of our savings and retirement funds in the last two years. Stocks are down; unemployment is up. Costs have risen.

I haven’t been doing very well at saving money or cutting expenses. I have continued spending for groceries and household items just as I always have. However when I find myself running low on cash toward the end of the month, I just quit spending, make do with what I have on hand, and trust the Lord to supply what I need.

Jesus said, in Matthew 6:19-21 NKJV, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven……for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

I have been laying up treasure in heaven for many years. Heaven is a real place, and that is where my heart is, since the Lord revealed heaven to me several years ago.

Now I store up treasures by giving to the local church and certain charities. I give of my free time to volunteer with good service organizations. I give hugs all around and spread the love of Jesus everywhere I go.

We won’t need our treasures when we get to heaven. I believe the purpose of laying up our treasures in the Bank of Heaven is so that we will have it available when we need it here on this earth.

I use my Bank in Vinita for day-to-day expenses, but my Bank in Heaven is where I keep my savings, so that in times of trouble, I can write a check signed by Jesus to meet my needs.