The speaker spoke about our 'overflow'. I learned through my reading and my past experiences in my life of what the bible says about what's in the heart and mind.
For instance, if a man (or woman) lusts after another woman (or man) with their heart and mind, they are in effect, committing adultery. I know this sounds silly...But, if a man where to go to his wife and say, "YES, you caught me. I was planning to be with her. I had set the date in my mind, and planned how I would do it, how I would cover my tracks and how I would cheat. BUT, I didn't go through with it! You can't be angry with me because I changed my mind, I didn't actually DO it."
I'll put it another way. If a man were to go to his wife and say, "YES, I admit it. I planned to kill you. I planned how and when and by what method. I thought about it everyday and knew how I could get away with it. I set the actions in motion, BUT, I didn't go through with it! You can't be angry with me, just because I planned it!"
UM, YES, I can. So you see how matters of the heart and mind, well, matter.
Let's take another spin on it. The bible says that what the heart and mind contain, the mouth overflows. It also talks about our love overflowing for each other.
I thought this was interesting. I'm a visual person, so I saw myself and what might be in my heart and mind at different points in my life, and how I responded or reacted to those around me.
When my heart and my thoughts were focused my pain, I overflowed with rage, profanity, anger and accusations (even if not warranted), vocalized to those closest to me. When I was focused on those that betrayed me, on the acts that were traumatizing to me and my family, to the hurtful words put in my direction, I was filled with them, in my heart and mind. I acted out. My overflow was a direct reflection of this.
To take it a step down, when my heart and mind were filled with the stress of my job, finances, marriage tension, I remember my overflow. I was short with my words toward my kids, I shut off from anyone and retreated into myself. I ignored what was going on around me. I remember actually saying, "Can't I just go somewhere and not have to help someone or wind up getting hurt, can't I just BE?"
Let's flip it. I remember when my son was saved, it was just two summers ago. I was beyond proud and thankful, my heart was literally brimming with my love for him, and my love for Christ and for the grace he had given my son. On the day of his baptism, I stood beside him up in the baptistery, which is miked. I'm sure the whole crowd heard my sobs and sounds of joy I couldn't suppress. My heart overflowed.
Lately I've feeling a new kind of overflow. I've been doing my best to get in the Word daily, even if it's online, or through a past bible study book. I've been writing music and playing my guitar in worship, I've been studying to write this blog and preparing myself for Young Life through prayer. Because of this, I'm starting to see my new overflow. I'm desiring to be more involved with my kids, not just playing, but teaching them about what I'm learning. I'm more gracious to my husband and my children with my words. I'm realizing how much I complain! Yuck! And I'm doing my best to fix it. I'm slower to anger. I'm becoming more patient. I'm finding my heart softening. I'm not a person who generally cries. I've found that my heart has hardened because of my past, and because I've been trying to protect myself. Lately, I'm not able to keep my emotions of love, joy, pride, etc, so shut off. My overflow has again changed.
Of course I have to keep myself in check daily. What is in my heart and mind? What is my overflow?
Verses to ponder:
Luke 6:43-45 (The Message)
"You don't get wormy apples off a healthy tree, nor good apples off a diseased tree. The health of the apple tells the health of the tree. You must begin with your own life-giving lives. It's who you are, not what you say and do, that counts. Your true being brims over into true words and deeds.
1 Thessalonians 3:12 (NIV)
May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.
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