"Keep thy heart with all diligence;
for out of it are the issues of life."
- Proverbs 4:23

I've got to be honest with you...

...it hasn't been the best 24 hours of my life.

For starters, after I continued to have difficulties with my heart, I went to my doctor only to find out that there is a possibility that I may need a pacemaker implanted...

...not what this 30 year old wanted to hear!  

We decided to eliminate one of the medicines that I have been taking, hoping the side effects of it will wear off...

     ...of course, now my blood pressure has skyrocketed to somewhere out in the galaxy near the moon!  

     My heart has been skipping beats.  I've had a splitting headache. 
(withdrawals from the lack of medicine?) My energy is gone and I feel like I've spent three hours in the spin cycle of my washing machine.

BUT, you know what?  I'll tell you the same thing that I shared at church tonight...

...God is sooooooooooooo good to me!  

Praise God, He is the same God He was a month ago when I felt great.  God hasn't changed.  He's still loving and caring and great and mighty!  He still loves me as much as He always has.  I don't need perfect health to praise my God.  My heart may skip beats, but you better believe that my mouth is still in great working order and I'm going to praise Him!

Yes, my physical heart is on the blink...but my spiritual heart is healthy and fit!  Am I worried about that blood pressure?  No way, it is well with my soul!  My energy may be a little less than spectacular tonight, but I've got a zeal and desire and excitement about Jesus inside of me!

You see, satan can buffet me, he can beat on me and afflict me and try whatever he wants to...

...but he can't take away my joy.  He can't destroy my peace.  No sir, he can't shake my faith. Nothing he can do can ever separate me from the love of Jesus!  My redeemer is faithful and true.  He promised to never leave or forsake me...

...and I believe Him!  He's never failed me.

So, my Christian friend, I'll offer you the same advice that I have offered myself so many times.  When you look around and see a set of circumstances that are unpleasant and difficult, when you look around and see hardships and problems, when you look around and see burdens that seem too much to bear...

...it's time to start looking up!

"Tho' satan should buffet, tho' trials should come, let this blest 
assurance control, that Christ has regarded my helpless estate, and 
hath shed His own blood for my soul.  It is well, with my soul.  It is 
well with my soul.  It is well, it is well with my soul."
 
Have a "Wonderful DAY in Christ,"
Jimmy D. Brown
\o/ Praise Jesus!