"O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things?  For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth 
speaketh.  A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things:  and an evil man out of the evil 
treasure bringeth forth evil things." - Matthew 12:34-35

INTRODUCTION
I was asked to speak at the annual Men's Day at my church last year, and was lead of the Lord to share my testimony.  I entitled the message, "It Seemed Like An Eternity."  During the next ten devotionals, I am going to share that message with you.  Each message is self-contained in that it has an important "stand alone" truth, but is also part of the greater message that you will be exposed to in devotional #10.  

It Seemed Like an Eternity - Plague #1

It seems like an eternity since I was saved by the grace of our Lord.  When I was fourteen years old, Brad Parrish, Ronnie Dye and Jamey Carter invited me to go to church camp.  At the time, I was somewhat shy and insecure.  I was a little hesitant about going to church camp, but finally decided to go.  The first night came and went, as did the second night.  Neither brought any life changing events.  BUT, on Wednesday night of the camp, the last night, I felt convicted of my sins and went forth and accepted Christ into my life.  When I left that altar I knew something was different.  I felt renewed.  I felt like a great burden had been lifted.

But something bad happened the next day and the next month and the next year after I was saved.  The church that took me to the camp never followed up on me.  No one called to say, "I heard the great news that you got saved!"  There wasn't a postcard inviting me to come to Sunday school.  Not one person came by the house to instruct me on how to live as a new Christian.  I had no teaching or instruction at all.  So, for the next five years, I lived the only way I knew how...which is to say I wasn't living like a Christian.

Fast forward with me to the year 1988, the year I graduated.  It was then that God said, "Enough is enough."  God was about to teach me how to live as one of His Children.  I didn't know it at the time, but I was about to become a modern day version of an Old Testament character.

Unfortunately for me, that character was Pharaoh.

What I am going to share with you over the next ten devotionals is what I have kind of affectionately dubbed, "The Ten Plagues."  And, as you will see, God can teach you a lot through adversity.

Everything started shortly after I graduated high school.  The first plague came into my life...a rapid heartbeat.  My heart would be uncontrollably, often well in excess of 150 beats per minute (normal is 60-80).  I was really scared.

The doctors told me that it was no big deal, that I'd grow out of it.  But, that brought me little comfort.  I kept thinking, "I'm only 18.  What if I die?"  I started having a lot of trouble sleeping at night.  I would lie in bed for hours, afraid to go to sleep for fear of dying.  I began to have anxiety attacks, often several times a day and like clockwork around bedtime.  Each night I thought I would die.  I began to have trouble concentrating during the day time because of a lack of sleep.  The things that I enjoyed doing, like playing tennis, were avoided for fear of overexerting myself.  IT SEEMED LIKE AN ETERNITY each night as I lay there struggling for a breath, with my heart pounding in my chest and scared for my life.  Everything in my life was affected.

Then, after about five months, the problem stopped as quickly as it started.  My normal routine was restored.  The doctors were right, I had grown out of it.

Through it all, I found that God was teaching me something.  "If you've got a heart problem, you've got a life problem."  Spiritually speaking, the same thing applies.  Jesus said in Matthew 12:34-35, "O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things?  For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.  A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things:  and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things."

God taught me this, "What's in your heart is going to be revealed in your life...and your whole life will be affected."  If you have a love for sports in your heart, then that is going to be revealed in your words and actions, in how you spend your time.  If you have a love for possessions or fame or power or yourself, then that is going to be revealed in your life.

And if you really have a love for Him, that's going to override everything else.  If you really have a love for Him, then it will show in the things you say and do, the places you go, the activities you participate in, how you spend your time...in general, how you live your life.