By Florida Senator John Grant (Retired)
Week Sixteen, 2019
THE HEART
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23
The first organ to form after conception is the heart. It begins to beat in twenty-two days and during a normal span of life, it will beat nearly three billion times. When an embryo is made up of only a very few cells, each cell can get the nutrients it needs directly from its surroundings. But as the cells divide and multiply to form a growing ball, it soon becomes impossible for nutrients to reach all the cells efficiently without help.
The cells also produce waste that they need to get rid of. So the blood and circulatory system, powered by the heart, together form the first organ system to develop. They are essential to carry nutrients and waste around the embryo to keep its cells alive.
Human life begins with the heart and throughout life it is the focal point of human life. As a central part of the circulatory system, the heart is primarily responsible for pumping blood and distributing oxygen and nutrients throughout the body. It reaches each and every part of the body for if parts are unreached with fresh nutrient’s and blood, they will die.
There is a real parallel between the physical heart and the spiritual heart. The word heart appears more than a thousand times in the Bible, because the spiritual heart is as important to spiritual life as the physical heart is to physical life. Physically our heart and arterial peripherals can become hardened. The Bible teaches that our hearts can become spiritually hardened as well. Many people have spiritual heart disease.
The greatest counter to spiritual heart disease is to put Jesus in your heart, by trusting him and admitting that you are a sinner and that you need God’s help. You must be willing to repent, to change your mind and turn from your sin. Believe that Jesus died for you and was buried and rose from the dead. Through prayer, you can invite Jesus into your heart to become your personal Lord and Savior.
To surrender in spirituality and religion means that a believer completely gives up his own will and subjects his thoughts, ideas, and deeds to the will and teachings of Jesus.
If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come (2 Cor 5:17). He will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you (Ez. 36:26).
Human life is all about the human heart. Spiritual life is all about the spiritual heart, one changed forever by the indwelling of the Lord Jesus Christ.
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SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES
HEADLINES FROM THE YEAR 2059
Ozone created by electric cars now killing millions in the seventh largest country in the world, Mexifornia, formerly known as California and Mexico.
White minorities still trying to have English recognized as the third language.
Spotted Owl plague threatens Northwestern United States crops and livestock.
Baby conceived naturally! Scientists stumped.
Couple petitions court to reinstate heterosexual marriage.
Iran still closed off; physicists estimate it will take at least 10 more years before radioactivity decreases to safe levels.
France pleads for global help after being taken over by Jamaica. No other country comes forward to help the beleaguered nation.
Last Castro finally dies at age 112; Cuban cigars can now be imported legally, but President Ocasio-Cortez has banned all smoking.
George Z. Bush says he will run for President in 2060.
Postal Service raises price of first-class stamp to $17.89 and reduces mail delivery to Wednesdays only.
Average weight of Americans drops to 250 lbs.
85-year, $75.8 billion study completed with following findings:
Diet and exercise is the key to weight loss.
Global cooling blamed for citrus crop failure for third consecutive year in Mexifornia and Floruba, formerly known as Florida and Cuba.
Free abortion clinics now available in every High School in United States.
Senate still blocking drilling in ANWR even though gas is selling for 4,532 Pesos per liter and gas stations are only open on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Supreme Court rules any punishment of criminals violates their civil rights.
A Couple Finally Had Sexual Harmony. They had simultaneous Headaches.
Average of NBA players is now nine feet seven inches.
President Ocasio-Cortez signed a New federal law requiring all nail clippers, screwdrivers, fly swatters and rolled-up newspapers must be registered by January 2060.
IRS sets lowest tax rate at 75 percent.
Florida voters still having trouble with voting machines.
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QUOTES YOU CAN USE
The essence of fallen human nature is the enthronement of self. It is seeking what is best for me at the expense of what is best for you. Jim Denison
From cover to cover the Bible is all about personal choices. Bob Sprinkle
Trials never call for an appointment.
If you don’t have problems, check your phone line.
When going through the pains of life don’t throw in the towel. Live through your problems so you can experience the joys He has for you on the other side. Jonathan Evans
How to fix America – Put Jesus back in all the places He has been asked to leave – the home, school, government and the heart.
One of the key pillars in success is building relationships and you can’t do that without being a dedicated listener. No distractions, no interferences, just full attention.