Ann and I went to a birthday party the other day. I saw a man who’s an excellent carpenter. I wanted to ask him about installing laminate flooring on a curved wall. As it turned out, not only did he tell me how he’d install around the curve, this gentleman also shared some neat spiritual truths with me.
Two things he said really touched me in a special way. He said he’d been injured when he fell about a year ago and went through a few weeks of deep depression that caused him to cry out to the Lord for help. The Lord brought him out of the depression and he knew he was a different man having more compassion, and sensitivity to the things of God.
He told me he never used to cry but that he’d recently had an experience with the Lord when he found himself sobbing about some things the Lord wanted to help him with. God wants to help us. Isn’t that wonderful?
God was showing this man how to meet his wife’s needs and how he could be more gentle and loving with her. I really like it when I get to meet other men who mention that the Lord speaks to them about loving their wives more and how to better meet their emotional needs. For instance, my (Mark) wife doesn’t like to be teased so I refrain from teasing her. She also wants me to listen to her more with a genuine interest so I can help her resolve matters that she needs my help with, and to be gentle with her when talking to her and interacting with her. She loves it when I guard her heart.
The other thing this man said was that the Lord wanted us to think more about Philippians 4:8 and to live praising God and being thankful all the time. God was telling this gentle man to change his thinking so that it lined up more with the following:
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Philippians 4:8
I hadn’t seen this man in years and I was really thankful God had us talk together at the birthday party. What a blessing…
That evening as Annie and I were getting ready for bed, the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart. He said, “Do you know why I want you to practice Philippians 4:8? It’s because that’s how Eden was. God wants you (all of us) to come back to Eden, back to His loving, liberating thinking and thoughts.” (All it takes is a willing heart.) Wow, that was beautiful, encouraging, merciful, and so loving.
What a great God we have. Such an incredible source of comfort and our ever-watchful Prince of Peace.
God bless,
Mark