-/\/\-----------------------------------------------------------------
\ / HEARTLIGHT(R) Magazine -- http://www.heartlight.org/
--\/------------------------------------------------------------------
March 18, 2009
|-- This Week's Bestsellers at ChristianBook.com: ---------|
Find the bestselling Christian books at Christianbook.com.
Updated every week! Just click the links below:
Bestsellers: http://ads.heartlight.org/email/168/
Just Added: http://ads.heartlight.org/email/169/
Christianbook.com: http://ads.heartlight.org/email/170/
|------------------------------------------------------------|
=========================== TODAY'S ARTICLE ==========================
Splinters, by Tim Archer
When I was a kid, I hated splinters. Not that I enjoy them now, but I
really hated them then. Not just because of the pain splinters caused
when they lodged themselves in my fingers, but because of what came
after that. I would have to go to my mom, get the prognosis on my
condition and hear the recommendations for treatment. The best case
scenario was that mere tweezers could remove the tiny invader. The
worst case, of course, was when surgery was involved: she would have to
take a needle and dig the splinter out. She was amazingly good at doing
that without pain, but just the sight of her approaching my finger,
needle in hand, caused me great anguish.
One time, one of my friends casually commented that if you left a
splinter in place, your body would expel it on its own. When you're
eight years old, you know that children your age are the best source
for medical advice, so I tried to follow his approach the next time I
got a splinter. Unfortunately, it didn't work. The area around the
splinter grew more and more inflamed, and the extraction process ended
up taking more time and causing more pain than if I had dealt with the
problem sooner.
Sin is like that. It's like a splinter in our soul. When we do
something wrong, there's a voice that says, "Just leave it alone. Let
it be. It will work itself out." But it doesn't. The longer we hide our
mistakes and carry the guilt around with us, the more they fester and
grow. In the Bible, in the book of Psalms, the writer says:
When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all
day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my
strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged
my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will
confess my transgressions to the Lord" -- and you forgave the guilt
of my sin (Psalm 32:3-5).
Confession is good for the soul
We can't just hide the things we've done wrong. We have to get them
out, or they will continue to torment us. If not, our conscience will
not let us rest. When we go to God, seeking His forgiveness, He is
quick to give it. He wants to forgive. He knows that what we most need
is to confess that sin, to get it out of our being, so that healing may
take place.
James, in his letter, writes: "Come near to God and he will come near
to you" (James 4:8). Go to Him, and show Him the splinter, confess to
Him the sin that is weighing you down. He wants to ease your burden. If
you don't know how to approach God, I want to help you. Write me at
tim@hopeforlife.org or leave a comment on our blog at
www.hopeforlife.org.
(Expressed written consent must be obtained prior to republishing,
retransmitting or otherwise reusing the content of this article.
Contact us at info@hopeforlife.org)
Are you presently experiencing a new life? God's word says, "if anyone
is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has
come!"
This new life is a free gift of God through faith in Jesus Christ. If
you want to know more about this life that only Jesus can give you,
sign up for one of our Bible courses. Wherever you are in life,
whatever you've done, you can begin again.
You may also contact us at info@hopeforlife.org if you have questions
about becoming a new creation.
---------
(c) 2009 Herald of Truth
RELATED LINKS:
* Dropped Passes
http://www.hopeforlife.org/blog/entry.asp?ENTRY_ID=57
* The Hatchet
http://www.hopeforlife.org/blog/entry.asp?ENTRY_ID=53
* The Healing
http://www.hopeforlife.org/blog/entry.asp?ENTRY_ID=32
* HopeForLife
http://www.hopeforlife.org
This article can be found on the web at:
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200903/20090318_splinters.html
=========================== FEATURED PRODUCT =========================
CELEBRATION OF DISCIPLINE: THE PATH TO SPIRITUAL GROWTH, by Richard J. Foster
Hailed by many as the best modern book on Christian spirituality,
"Celebration of Discipline" explores the "classic Disciplines," or
central spiritual practices, of the Christian faith.
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?260
Find more great books, CDs and videos at the Heartlight store! With
each purchase you make, you're helping to support Heartlight's
ministry. Thanks SO MUCH for your help!
HEARTLIGHT DAILY EMAIL /\/\
===============================================================\ /===
http://www.heartlight.org/ \/
Visit HEARTLIGHT on the web for even more articles, plus music,
devotionals and more for your Christian walk!
ABOUT HEARTLIGHT:
Heartlight, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) religious non-profit organization.
Donations are welcome and tax-deductible! Find out how to help!
http://www.heartlight.org/support
EDITOR: Phil Ware, phil@heartlight.org
HOW DO I SUBSCRIBE?
It's FREE! To subscribe send a blank email to:
join-heartlight@maillists.heartlight.org
HOW DO I LEAVE?
To unsubscribe send a blank email to:
heartlight-unsub@maillists.heartlight.org
STILL HAVING TROUBLE?
If our automated unsubscribe system isn't working for you,
send an email to mailmaster@heartlight.org and let us know
what list you would like to leave. We'll take care of you.
======================================================================
