God's grace is a matter of the heart

My husband and I sat outside our house to watch the beautiful sun bidding her goodbye for the day. It's always a good time to talk and reminisce God's blessings to our family. In the course of our intimate conversation, I have asked my husband this question, "Are you happy now that we are here in Australia?" He replied with a big, "YES". He threw the question back to me but I was surprised that I couldn't wholehearted reply the same answer. Instead, I heard me saying, "Hhhhmmm, I don't know. Not really." What was going on? What was bothering me? What is going on with my heart? It was time to take a "heart-check and survey". Our world today is dominated by "rules". Countries around the world are set with legislations of law and order and for these systems to work, people under it are subject to these laws and are expected to obey, no matter what, including giving away our hard-earned income to absurd taxes! Not fair, isn't it? I confess I am a "rule" person and I live by them. Most often I outdo my own. Give me a list of it to follow and I’m happy. I can follow rules like nobody’s business. My left-brain dominated thinking likes order and routine, blanketed with no surprises. There’s some comfort, I guess, in being able to assess my performance according to a set standard. If I’m obeying the rules, I must be doing okay. Right? There’s one big problem with that line of thinking and realized I have been too hard on myself. I make a list of excuses saying, "That's just me" or "So what, I'm a good person and I follow rules" or "I'm just tired." But really, it redirects my focus from what really matters: the condition of my heart. It seems God continually brings me to the end of my endurance, both emotionally and physically, to reveal the truth about my heart. What’s revealed in those moments of pressure is usually something that needs addressing: like selfishness, insecurity, jealousy or bitterness. Getting split apart isn’t pleasant. In fact, it’s often painful and embarrassing. Yet, it’s required if I want to become a true follower of Christ. I somehow relate this to the most controversial global economic issue. Here's a good article my good friend forwarded to me today. It says, "When debt is fraudulent, debt forgiveness is the logical and only remedy." This is the opening line from a website article dealing with Debt Forgiveness, that channels such as Quinsy and Nidle have spoken of repeatedly, not forgetting NESARA. This mail crossed my desk today and is linked to a second article dealing with the same subject. "Finally serious economists are considering a position I have been maintaining and writing about since the 2008 financial meltdown. Whatever its name— erasure, repudiation, abolishment, cancellation, jubilee—debt forgiveness, will have to eventually emerge forefront in global efforts to solve an ongoing systemic financial crisis." The above article is boiled down to one word and one word alone. GRACE. The condition of my heart and God's grace, How do they operate together? How is this connected to my present predicament? If I operate in Grace, I wouldn't have to be so concerned about power play just to gain respect and not having to live like a robot , like a wind tossed to and fro going nowhere empty. If I breath Grace, and with each breath is a reminder of the gift of life paid on the cross. If I serve in Grace, with each opportunity, is to give and serve done with joy and rejoicing at the pleasure of sharing my love and time and material goods. If I parent in Grace, I share the wisdom and knowledge gained through this life in a loving way to my children. If I listen with Grace, I honor and nurture the still small voice that comes from deep within and to honor the wisdom of those placed in my life to teach me. And lastly, if I live by Grace, I open my heart in each moment and let grace flow through and from me. I often blame my plight of issues with the government: (If they’d lower the tax rates, I could have more savings) and hold them liable for the global crisis and suffering of this world. And if United Nations and the Central Bank simply apply Debt Forgiveness to Washington, the world would be a little less chaotic. Many a time, too, I point at fingers at people that take advantage of others' goodness and thoughtfulness and not considering goodness is freely given and freely received. If I think of these things, I'll just tire myself to bits. Today, I said David's prayer, “Create in me a new heart, O God . . .” I am reminded that Real Change is an inside job. I could alter things a day or two with money, rules, and systems, but the heart of the matter is and always will be, the matter of the heart. Once resolved, a new perspective begins. God's grace is made more evident in our lives. Have you had a "heart-check and survey" lately? May you have a blissful week, dear friends!