THE SHELVES=OF OUR HEART
Many companies=of all
SHAPES and sizes=perform
A physical inventory EVERY YEAR
ONE YEAR=my dad showed up
With two shoes on=by accident
You just HAD TO KNOW=my dad
His boss=the very next day
HAD all the guys and gals
Show up=with TWO DIFFERENT SHOES ON
My dad was the ONLY ONE
With matching shoes
But seriously MY FRIENDS
We all have to take
INVENTORY=of our very own hearts
Every so often
Are we FILLING THEM UP
With the right things=of
THE SPIRIT OF GOD?
“The foolish ones
When taking their lamps-
BROUGHT NO OIL with them
But the WISE=brought flasks
Of oil with their lamps”
Matthew 25:3-4
I think this PASSAGE
Really challenges us=to take
A LOOK
AT THE SHELVES=OF OUR HEART
Are we filling ourselves up
With love?=are we living with
PATINCE-compassion-and wisdom?
Do we restock ourselves
With the SPIRIT OF GOD=
On a daily basis?=Are we bearing fruit?
“That person
Is like a tree=planted
By streams of water
Which yield ITS FRUIT
In season=and whose leaf
Does not wither-------
Whatever they do prospers”
Psalm 1:3
“BY THEIR FRUIT=you will recognize them
Do people pick grapes=from thornbushes=
Or figs from thistles?”
Matthew 7:16
“But the FRUIT=of the Spirit
Is love=joy=peace=forbearance=
Kindness=goodness=faithfulness
Gentleness=and self-control
Against such things=there is no law”
Galatians 5:22
I appeal to you
To READ the bible every day
And to read the=WORD OF GOD
Every day
If you do=WHEN you take stock
Of your shelves=you will find
You are living
With the FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT
RESTORE your spirituality=from time to time
And throw in
A little SENSE OF HUMOR
When we RELY on ourselves
We sometimes find ourselves
To be SPIRITUALLY DEPLETED
And floundering in the dark
“He cuts off every branch
In me=that bears NO FRUIT
While every branch-
That DOES BEAR FRUIT=he prunes
So that it will be=EVEN MORE FRUITFUL!”
John 15:2
Dear Lord=our GOD of wisdom
Help us to take root
In you=and TAKE STOCK
OF THE SHELVES OF OUR HEART!
In Jesus’ name=and in the name=of our EVER FRUITFUL=Holy
Father God!
Robert P. Wallman
8-25-2022
Ps INSPIRED=by
an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE=by Claire McGarry
