I hope you are all doing well. I am.

I made an interesting decision before the end of the year. It wasn’t really a New Year’s resolution like we’re used to; but I believe it was a true resolution, true resolve.

It says in Proverbs 4:23

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

I heard a preacher talking about this and he said the Hebrew word for wellspring there had something to do with the boundaries of your life.

I’ve spent a lot of time thinking and meditating on that.

People are limited by what they believe in their hearts. Their belief systems flow from their heart and those same belief systems free or bind them; empower them or confound them.

So, I was sitting at this restaurant waiting for an old friend to show up for dinner. I was in a corner booth, lights were low, I had asked the waitress for a scrap piece of paper, she gave me some tore up half-menu. It was one of those uncomfortable settings where the wait staff keeps coming back wondering why your dinner partner is late. I had real peace on me though; a contemplative moment. I was thinking about the boundaries of my heart, wondering what they were, but seeing the boundaries or limitations in my life. You know, you can’t see the wind, but you can see it’s effect. Just so, you can’t see the boundaries of your heart, but you can see their effects.

Well in looking around at the limitations of my life I didn’t like what I saw. I saw a lot of hopes and expectations dashed or delayed. I saw failure to follow through and run allllllll tttthhheee waaaayyyy to the finish line. Satisfying myself with the thought of I know I could have if I really wanted to. But this mediocrity is getting to me. I’m getting real tired of it. I’m ready to see my heart’s desires fulfilled not just dreamed or fantasized.

But I really don’t feel like its selfish this time. This time the results of my ineffectiveness are getting to me. God has called me to more. More means more people touched, more people blessed, more people changed.

I want to answer His call. I don’t want the limitations of my heart to stand in the way of His dreams.

So, sitting in that corner booth waiting for my friend I made a decision. My top priority in 2010 is to move the boundaries of my heart. Move these limitations out of the way. This heart must be changed.

But, my friend, heart change is not always easy. Heart change is a deep process, in order for it to happen you have to invite the Lord to go deep in you and correct you and change you.

This may affect you emotionally, because when God starts working you can feel it.

I love the Lord and I know He’s at work in me. I trust Him and I know that He is giving me the desires of my heart.

I’m looking forward to the end result. God is faithful.

Love you all

I hope this helped.

Joe

I was speaking with a missionary friend of mine yesterday about what to speak on when I go on the mission field this year. He said, “I really recommend you give your testimony about journaling and hearing God’s voice. That is very powerful. Since I heard you share that I’ve shared that testimony in many places.”

A few years ago I went to help a friend who was planting a church in San Antonio. While we were standing in the airport I was sharing with him about what I was planning to teach at his church. Somehow I mentioned something that the Lord had spoken to me and he said, “You should teach that!” “What?” I asked. He said, “You should teach the people down here about hearing God’s voice. That would really help.” I did end up speaking on that and my friend said it was one of the best messages he’d heard. It was very practical.

But to me these things are normal. Talking to God and hearing Him speak to me in my heart is the way Christianity is supposed to work.