"My Heart is Bothering Me"

Seth was out of school yesterday and today!! What a way to start the first week of school! He didn't mind though! We have had fun because we have been very busy around the house doing some much needed cleaning and re-modeling--or as Seth says "Making a huge mess!" I guess it all depends on your perspective.

Seth is a great helper around the house. He loves to build, tear-up, tear-down, create, explore, invent and play anything in his imagination! Right now he is a lion who is prowling all over the house. Sometimes Lucy doesn't know what to do with his animal impressions! Oh, there is never a dull moment around here! If we could just get him to love cleaning up as much as he does all the rest we would be in good shape!! Maybe that happens after the magical 7th birthday!! I can atleast wish, right?

Greg was out late last night at the hospital with Andy Jelsik who had a heart attack and had to have emergency surgery due to some complications from a heart cath. We are so thankful that God protected him during surgery and he pulled through miraculously!! Please keep Andy in your prayers as the Dr.'s continue to address the blockages in his heart. Pray that God will grant him a speedy recovery.

Also Greg's dad Barry will be going in for a heart cath next Tuesday, please keep him in your prayers as well. Seth is very sensitive to people who are hurting or who have physical issues, but he is still not quite sure how to respond to them or the situation sometimes. So the other day, Greg and Seth had gone out to run some errands and I needed to call Greg for something and Seth answered the phone. I said, "Hey, bud, how are you?" To which he responded, "Not good Mom." When I asked him why he said, "My heart is bothering me." We think this is his way of being concerned about his Pop-Pop right now. When I asked more questions about his comment he quickly handed the phone to Daddy. I am so thankful for his sensitivity, even if he hasn't quite figured out how to express it! That will come one day! I also pray that the Lord will continue to cause his "heart to bother him." Seth continues to ask questions about Jesus. This is not something we have ever rushed with him. We want Seth to truly understand what it means to be a Christ follower. But, I couldn't help but think that maybe the Holy Spirit is tugging on his heart also and he is just not quite sure how to respond. We pray regularly with Seth that he would have a heart that seeks to follow after God.

I know there are also somedays that I feel my heart is "bothering me." Days when it is heavy due to cares, concerns, emotional pain, the effect of sin (even though I don't want to admit it), or that gentle tug of the Holy Spirit (that I am guilty of ignoring sometimes). I am so thankful that I have a Heavenly Father who cares about the matters of the heart and that He is the only true Healer of the Heart! He also doesn't give up on me and promises me if I "seek Him with all my heart...I will find Him!!" What a promise for a healthy heart!! Thank you Father!

Psalm 28:7
"The LORD is my strength and my shield;My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped;Therefore my heart exults,And with my song I shall thank Him."

Psalm 51:10
"Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me."

Psalm 103:2-4
" Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, 4 Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies."

Psalm 147:3
"He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds."

Thank you Father for being our Healer - the Healer of broken, wounded hearts!