SMACK@#$!@%

I remember seeing a cartoon picture on a book, some 10 years ago. It had a pretty smiling face of a boy in his early 20s. Like an angel, he has a halo around his head. He has a big grin, kind loving eyes, cheerful cheek and a pleasant, gentle handsome face.

In the next picture, there is a hammer on his head which has ‘TEST’ written on it. SMACK! The impact of the hammer on his head makes him scowl. SMACK! SMACK! You can see the pain in his eyes. SMACK! He is yelling now. A big smack at that I guess.

The third and final picture, shows the same boy, but his face is dark. With eyes glaring, and eyebrows hostile, gritting his teeth, and fumes from his ears. His hair stands straight out. His face seems bellowing from the picture.

Transition from Beulah to Meulah I guess. Will Beulah survive the test?

I corithians 9:26,27
Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Flint Stones

I love Flintstones! Fred, Barney and especially Wilma.

Just last week, I came across a phrase 'their hearts were hard as flint' and that's when I looked it up. Flint is hard, much harder than bronze that they used it as knives in olden days.

I always thought hard hearts are those which are ARROGANT, PROUD and STUBBORN. ohhhh...Not me. I am not like that.

But you know what, sometimes hard hearts are slowly formed. It takes lot of time. When you don't get your way, you could be silent, and composed, but if you don't treat it, it slowly makes your heart hard. Hard as flint. Once harder, it is difficult to penetrate, melt or break. You get it?

The struggle to keep it soft, simple and light is difficult. You should forgive instantly, forget immediately, you should not pile it up, but instantly remove it from your mind. Its kinda funny. You can't take instant decision, and neither can u process it for too long. The former would be reckless, the latter could end up being vengeful, which is worse.

What did Jesus do? Did anyone encourage him, love him, thanked him, understood him ( for the right reasons?) He came to serve and not to be served. That stops the loose talk.

To 'die to self' everyday, every moment is hard, but it is important not to pile up regrets, anger or fear. Remember you are one step closer to becoming a flint. FlintStone :)

Remembering the sufferings on the cross, helps. 'Don't let your heart be hardened.. Don't let your love grow cold... May it always stay so childlike - may it never grow too old... ' Love this Petra song :)

Zechariah 7:11,12 “But they refused to pay attention; stubbornly they turned their backs and stopped up their ears. 12 They made their hearts as hard as flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the LORD Almighty had sent by his Spirit through the earlier prophets. So the LORD Almighty was very angry.