A Merry Heart is Good Medicine

The email in my inbox was titled, "The Dangers of Not Smiling". It was an odd title for an email from a shoe company, so I opened it. The title made reference to a Scientific American article about the benefits of smiling. 

As it turns out, when we frown, it triggers a series of chemical reactions in our body that makes us feel bad. (That's an extremely simplified version of the biochemistry involved.) 

When we smile, it makes us feel better.

What caught my eye is that, when people saw something disgusting, but held a pen in their mouths so that they couldn't make a disgusted expression, they felt less disgust. 

What we do affects how we feel, including what we do with our faces.

No matter how bad our circumstances are, when we smile, it gives our hearts a little lift. 

Today, let's smile. Regardless of how our bodies feel. Regardless of our circumstances. Regardless of the sorrow and distress flooding our world.

Just smile. 

Before you know it, you'll feel better, too.

"A joyful heart is good medicine..." Proverbs 17:22 esv

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In case you missed it, here are the links to the Orlando series:

After Orlando

After Orlando: Lowering the Flag

After Orlando: Gratitude

#smile #merryheart #joy #disciple

Saving America

Not everything you read on the internet is true, especially about Memorial Day. Today, I intended to check the date of the first Memorial Day and was astounded by the number of places that claimed to have started the day of remembrance. According to Wikipedia (admittedly, not always a bastion of truth), there is documentation to support the claim that, in 1862, women in Savannah, Ga. decorated the graves of Confederate soldiers.

That may be true, but here's what I know for sure. After the Civil War, there were mothers who grieved for their sons. Sisters who grieved for their brothers. Daughters who grieved for their fathers. Wives who grieved for their husbands. 

In the South, we visit the graves of those we love. We decorate those graves with flowers, if we can. It's a kind of "sprucing up" that makes the grave seem less cold and barren.

If there was a mother with a son in the ground, that grave was visited and, probably, decorated. She grieved for that son. She remembered him, and not just because some government mandate proclaimed the day. 

She remembered him every single day. She missed her boy as long as she drew breath. Nothing about that grief has changed today. Mothers still grieve for their sons and daughters who die in battle. 

We all grieve for our lost ones.

On Memorial Day, we remember and honor the soldiers who died while in service. What's easy to forget is that every solider who has fought and killed the enemy in battle leaves a part of themselves on the battlefield. Every soldier who kills, although righteously, has a little death of their own.

I know about it firsthand because my daddy fought, and was wounded, in World War II. He came home with the scars to prove it. Because he wasn't wounded in battle, he turned down the Purple Heart. It was one of our own soldiers that shot him. That wound, and his time in service, left scars deep inside that plagued him for the rest of his life.

We have lots of veterans who've lost a piece of themselves in service, and, because of my daddy, I see Memorial Day as a chance to remember them all. To honor them all.  A day to pray that our God, who will one day wipe away every tear and heal every hurt, will do that for the men and women who have served our nation.

They bought our freedom with their hearts and with their blood, and we have accepted their sacrifice with such casualness in recent years that I'm ashamed of us. Ashamed of myself for not doing something to bring about a change. But I'm not in charge of changing hearts, though I sometimes wish I were. 

We were a great nation, built and preserved by men and women willing to die for us to stay free. We, as a people, have chased a dream that cannot satisfy, abandoned our solid foundation of truth, and become shallow and foolish in the process. 

The men and women who died for us didn't die so that we could have big houses and fancy cars and decadent lifestyles.

They fought and died so that we could have freedom of religion, speech, and press. Freedom to bear arms. Freedom from search and seizure. Fair trials by a jury of our peers. Freedom from excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment. Freedom from excessive federal intervention in our lives (States' rights). 

In case you didn't recognize them, those are the freedoms guaranteed in our Bill of Rights. Those rights are our foundation and the cornerstone of these United States.

They are worth preserving because the kind of freedom we've had is rare and precious. If you don't believe me, look around at the nations of the world. Our freedoms are evaporating like dew on a hot morning, and change is coming. We won't like it. I promise you that.

We will have exchanged true freedom for a tawdry sham of freedom, and we will grieve what we've lost. If we have the sense to recognize it.

The people of God CAN make a difference. If we will. But we cannot do it with boycotts and harsh words. I know those things make us feel like we're doing something, and they have their place, but there is nothing in scripture about doing a boycott to change a nation.

What God says about changing a nation, about saving a nation that's dying, is this:

If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 nasb

If the people of God do not do what must be done, our nation will perish. 

If the nation doesn't hold us responsible, they should. 

We can save our nation, if we will. But we cannot save America if we continue to be complacent about our own personal sin, arrogant about our supposed righteousness, and halfhearted about our commitment to our Lord. 

It is past time for those who claim to be the people of God to step up to the plate, hit their knees, repent, turn, and pray. We're the only ones who can save America, but we will have to do it on our knees. 

On this day of remembrance, let's honor those who've died for us, but let's also take time to remember the reason they died and what we've lost as a nation. On this day, let's make a start to save this once-great country. 

It's too big a job for us, but I'm confident of one truth. Saving America is not too big for our God.

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In case you missed it, here's the link to yesterday's post: Wholehearted Living

And here's the link to the snake story: Sam the Snake Handler

#MemorialDay #savingAmerica #ifmypeople #linesfromleanna

Sharing Secrets With God

You, like me, probably have lots of acquaintances, in addition to a few very close friends. My closest friends and I can pick up where we left off weeks ago without a hitch because we have years of history between us. Years of proven trust.

Because we have shared so much over the years, we know we can trust each other with the secrets of our heart, without fear of betrayal. That's one of the important differences between an acquaintance and a friend. Proven trust and intimacy.

King David had that kind of relationship with the Lord. He spent time in His presence and found that, over the years, a deep intimacy developed between them. In Psalm 25, he wrote about sharing secrets with God.

"The secret of the Lord is for those who fear Him, 

And He will make them known His covenant. 

Psalm 25:14 nasb 

The word translated as "secret" is cowd and can mean "secret" in the traditional sense of the word but, in this verse, also means the close, intimate conversation of long-time best friends. 

The word translated as "fear" is yare' and it indicates a reverential fear, awe, respect of God, rather than the abject terror we might expect.

Putting it all together, we learn that those who enter His presence with a deep and awe-filled respect for God can develop such intimacy with Him that their relationship becomes that of best friends. They can share the kind of close conversation that Moses had with God. Friend with friend. 

That kind of relationship was not reserved only for Enoch, Moses, or David. That kind of relationship is available to us, as well, but only if we are willing to spend time in God's Word, listening to what He has to say, and in His presence, worshipping at His feet.

What we can't do is live like the world and have that secret-sharing kind of intimacy with the Most High God. If we want it, we'll have to relinquish the way of the world and choose to be like Him.

I can't imagine choosing the way of the world over such intimacy with God. Over knowing His heart and His mind. Over having hints about what He plans, what He will do.

I'm reminded of the song we learned as children. "My best friend is Jesus. Love Him, love Him. My best friend is Jesus. I love Him."

There's no better friend than Jesus, so let us live in such a way that we, too, can share secrets with God.

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If you're participating in the Hosea study, the second lesson is posted on the website. and the link is below. It's a lot of work, but it'll be worth it in the end. God bless your efforts.

Here's the link to Chapter 2 of the Hosea Bible study  (http://lessonsindiscipleship.blogspot.com/2016/05/hosea-chapter-2-entire-chapter.html)

Here's the link to Friday Night with Friends by Jon Ginn. Golden, Medicinal Words (http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2016/05/golden-medicinal-words.html)

Here's the link to yesterday's post: 
What Does God Want? (http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2016/05/what-does-god-want.html)
#secrets #intimacywithGod 

Good Advice for a Son

I read a passage a few days ago that was so profound, I marked it so I could write about it later. 

Here's the setting: 
King David called all the officials of Israel to Jerusalem, along with the princes of the tribes and the military commanders. He brought all the civil, religious, and military leaders together for one gigantic meeting. 

He rose to his feet to make an announcement. He wanted to build a permanent house for God and had made preparations to build it. When David said he had made preparations, it was a classic understatement. He had drawn the plans, assembled the building materials, hired the builders. He'd done everything that was in his heart, not to get the people's accolades, but because He loved the Lord with his whole heart. 

It must have been a terrible blow to him when God said David was not to build His house. "You're a man of war and blood shed." If I'd been David, I'd have argued. "You're the One who made me a man of war. I was a shepherd before You got me started with warring." David, however, was a better follower than I. He just said, "Yes, Sir."

I might have tried to hide the blow from the leaders, or cushion it at bit, but not David. He said, "I wanted to do this, but God said I wasn't fit for the job." 

As God always does, He offered a "nevertheless". (this is the Leanna paraphrase coming up.) "I'm not going to let you build the temple, David, because you're a man of war. I need a man of rest to build it, so I'm going to let your son, Solomon, build it." 

As a parent, there is no greater joy than to see my son blessed, to see the favor of God rest on him. I imagine David was the same. 

David made his announcement. Solomon would build the temple. People probably gasped. Solomon was young for such a big project. 

David turned to Solomon and, with everyone listening, he gave words of wisdom to his son. If Solomon had heeded them, things in Israel would have turned out much differently.

"As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve him with a whole heart and a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him..." 1 Chronicles 28:9 nasb

David didn't give Solomon building advice, management suggestions, or tips for bringing such a project in on time.

He gave Solomon advice about his heart, his faith, his integrity.

A relationship with God was not too hard to have. Seek and find. That's all that's required to know God. 

If you seek Him, He'll let you find Him. 

In my mind's eye, I see a boy looking for God. When he least expects it, God steps out, laughing, and says, "Here I am!" Arms open wide, He welcomes the boy to the One he most desires. Right when the boy least expects it. Right when the boy thinks he won't find the object of his search. "Here I am!" God says when he lets the boy find Him.

Maybe the boy realizes it, or maybe he doesn't, but that seeking had a purpose. It solidified his resolve to find God. It pushed his desire. It made him value both the search and the finding. It might've been hard, but it was worth it.

David's relationship with God wouldn't do for Solomon. He had to find and build a relationship of his own. He had to own his faith.

Solomon was to seek and find God first, but when he did, David had a bit of wisdom for that, too. He'd learned from experience.

Get to know God. If you get to know Him, you'll want to serve Him.

Serve Him with your whole heart and a willing mind.

Decide to serve God, and do it because you know Him and want to serve Him. Not because of something He might do for you.

It's good wisdom for us, too. Get to know God. If you seek Him, He'll let you find Him. When He does, you'll be so blown away by His goodness, His majesty, His personal love for you, that you'll want to serve Him.

What about us? Do we need to do a little seeking? Press a little harder to have a deeper relationship? 

Maybe what we need is a willing mind or an unfettered heart. 

If we seek Him, He will let us find Him. It's good news in a world that's filled with me.

Seek. Find. Love. Serve. Good words for a good life.

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Check back tonight for Friday Night with Friends. Coach Jon Ginn is our guest blogger.

Studying God's Word is a good way to seek Him. Join us as we study Hosea in depth. Visit http//lessonsindiscipleship.blogspot.com and get started today!

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Here's the link to yesterday's post: A Story in Six Words
http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2016/05/a-story-in-six-words.html

#goodadvice #GoodFriday #seekGod

Zebulun's Undivided Heart Helped Change a Nation

When King David was at Ziklag, mighty men of valor came to help him. They were remarkable men, but my personal favorites are the men of Issachar and the men of Zebulun.

There were two hundred men from Issachar who understood the times and knew what Israel should do. What's amazing to me is that their kinsmen knew they understood the times, too, so they followed them. Think about that for a minute. 

The men of Issachar knew what was right to do. People knew they understood what was right, so they followed along and did the right thing, too. 

Oh, that we would be so concerned with doing right!

The men of Zebulun were awesome men. Here's what Scripture said about them:

"Of Zebulun, there were 50,000 men who went out in the army, who could draw up in battle formation with all kinds of weapons of war and helped David with an undivided heart." 1 Chronicles 12:33 nasb

The men of Zebulun were disciplined.

They were diversified and multi-talented.

They recognized authority and submitted to it.

They had singleness of purpose and allowed no distractions.

Imagine 50,000 talented, skilled, and disciplined people who were submitted wholly to a common cause.

We've seen what that kind of dedication can do from those who have submitted wholly to the cause of ISIS. It's remarkable. And terrible.

But what if the body of Christ in this country finally said, "We've played at fake church long enough? Let's get totally real and follow Christ with every fiber of our being." 

What if we understood the authority of Jesus Christ and submitted wholly to it? 

What if we had one goal: loving the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and our neighbor as ourselves?

What if nothing deterred us from following Christ?

I told my son about some people from my church recently and he said, "Wow. They sound like adventurers. That must be so fun." 

He was right. If we understood the adventure of following Christ and were willing to embrace that adventure with an undivided heart, our walk of faith would be fun, too. Maybe hard, but definitely worth it.

Our country is in a mess, and, though we'd like to blame the lost people for our problems, Scripture suggests a different root cause. 

It's the people of God who influence a nation. When we aren't light in the darkness, the darkness increases. And that's what's happened. 

We have tried to shine our light from dirty lamps, and it's not working.

So, people of God, arise! Let us become more like the men of Zebulun. They submitted undivided hearts to their King and they helped to change the direction of a nation.

We can do that, too. If we will.

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In case you missed it, here's the link to yesterday's post: God wants a bride

If you're interested in the Hosea Bible study, here's the link to the Hosea Introduction.

#undividedheart #letyourlightshine #Jesus #linesfromleanna

The Grumbling Blogger Repents

I had signed up to help with a project at church. I didn't have a direction from God. I didn't feel called.  I wasn't even sure I wanted to help, but it seemed there was a need I could meet. 

My first meeting was last night, and, from the beginning, I wanted to quit. There was nothing wrong with the project, the project leader, or the project participants. People were eager to please God with the project, and everyone was trying hard to do a good job, but it's not an easy project.

It was harder than I thought it would be. It wasn't what I had expected. It would take more time than I wanted to give. 

I'm ashamed to admit this, but after writing about the perils of grumbling yesterday, I found myself grumbling up a storm last night. 

You name it, I grumbled about it. I wanted to quit, and spoke my intention to the person sitting next to me. "You've only been here thirty minutes. Give it a little time. It won't always be hard. You'll like this." I smiled and pressed on, but I doubted I would ever like it. 

Very few of my grumbles were out loud, but God heard every single one

My friend who sat next to me heard a little of my grumbling.  "I'm gonna pray for you," she told me. This morning, her prayers have already been answered.

As I was driving home, I remembered my blog post from yesterday and thought, "I've joined in with the rabble." I repented all the way home and have continued to repent this morning.  

When it was time to start the blog for today, I was wordless and praying for something that would be helpful. After flipping back through more than 1,300 previous blog posts, I found one of the "least read" posts from 2013. It was about the importance of words and based on the preaching of John the Baptizer. Exactly what I needed to read.

"So with many other exhortations he preached the gospel to the people." (Luke 3:18 NASB)

The Message paraphrases that verse this way: "There was a lot more of this—words that gave strength to the people, words that put heart in them." The Message (Luke 3:18 MSG)

When John preached, he spoke words that strengthened the people and put heart in them. 

"He helped them find their way through the early days of this remarkably personal faith they had embraced. John spoke with words that they could remember, that they could hold to and use during the difficult days." (LH, 2013)

I read my own words, written more than two years ago, and was filled with sorrow. My words (spoken and unspoken) had not been exhortations that strengthened those around me or put heart into my fellow servants. They had been grumblings that only served to discourage the ones sitting next to me.

I'm so sorry for grumbling.

This morning, I've listened to the rolling thunder and repented. The project is one that will glorify God and give Him great pleasure, but not if I undertake it with a grumbly heart. 

I've decided to embrace it. With a heart of joy and love for the One who first loved me. God loves a cheerful giver, and I'm committing myself to giving this gift of service, time, and talent with a cheerful heart. Even if it's hard and takes a lot more time than I  wanted to give.

If you have a tendency toward grumbling, take a hint from me. It's not worth it.

Let's be sure our words, our actions, and our attitudes give strength to those around us and put heart in them. Let's use the words of our mouths (and the meditations of our hearts) to encourage those who serve, not discourage them.

Serve with a cheerful heart. It's the kind of gift God loves best.

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Be sure to check the updated Prayer List 

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In case you missed one of the past week's posts, here are the links: The Turning Point: A Grateful Heart, You are Greatly Loved, A Little Taste of Heaven: Body of Christ, Friday Night with Friends: Food and Faith, The Priest Job, Telling the Good News,  When Good People Run Things: Considering the Presidential Candidates and Deciding How to Vote, Sharing the Blessings of God, Grumbling with the Rabble and Getting What We Want

#thegrumblingbloggerrepents #godlovesacheerfulgiver #JesusChrist #linesfromleanna #LeannaHollis