“I knew better but I thought” … (classic words said before something stupid happens) … when Mary asked me, “Are the blades sharp?” Yep…I did exactly what you think…I touched my finger to the “sharp” hedge trimmer blade. As Bill Engvall would say, “Here’s Your Sign.”

Growing up on the farm I didn’t wear gloves. After a few years of shoveling in the rice fields, and working on a farm, I didn’t need gloves. My hands were calloused and hard. This cut would never have happened when I was young. But a lot has changed over the years. I’ve learned that I’m just not as “TUFF” as I once thought. Sometimes little things sting…even 3 days later.

This little cut caused me to think about God’s Word. The scripture found in Hebrews 4:12, “For the Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints, and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

When we study His Word…meditate and ponder the scripture He, the Holy Spirit, will do 2 things: 1. Equip you & I for the future. We learn from Ephesians 6:17 to daily put on the “Full Armor of God, “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God” before we begin our day. 2. Cut away & remove the dead tissue of your heart. We cannot self-tenderize our own hearts. This process is like the sting of the cut…it will linger for a time until God does His work. But this pain has a purpose…it is the cleansing Power of Jesus. “He himself bore our sins” in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by His wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:24. Only Jesus can & will transform a hard, calloused heart. But you must ask!

We find in Philippians 2:1,2 “Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.” The closer we get to Jesus, the more we see people as Jesus sees people, and the more people see Jesus in us.

Today, dwell on these words of Jesus. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27

Do you need Peace? Go directly to “The Source of Peace,” Jesus.