Heartbeat The Salvation Army Soundcast

Research shows that we get a “lift” from giving. In fact, MRI studies show that providing for other people activates the brain’s ventral striatum, the region that lights up in response to pleasurable experiences such as seeing an attractive person or winning a prize. Scientists are finding that helping others may be as primal or basic a human pleasure as food.
In the book of Acts, the Apostle Paul remembers the words of our Savior. He said;
“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’
Well, it turns, He’s right! Do you need a lift today? Why not follow Jesus’ wisdom and give of yourself to someone who is in need?

What quotes do you often hear that people claim are scripture yet you know otherwise?
One that I can’t stand is, “God helps those who help themselves.” Many are surprised to learn that nowhere in the Bible does that appear. In fact, God doesn’t want you to be a solely independent spirit.
            God often sends others into our lives to help- and… us to help them. In the Bible, 2nd Corinthians, chapter 11, Paul had to depend on others to lower him in a basket to escape outside the city wall. And I imagine it must have been tough for Paul to find enough humility to depend on others.
Maybe you have a hard time asking for help. But, God rarely asks us to fly solo.
            You can depend on others, and more importantly, you can depend on Him!
 

Our sun gives off more energy in one second than all mankind has produced since creation began. With a diameter of approximately 860,000 miles, the sun could hold one million planets the size of the Earth. The rate at which its energy is emitted is equivalent to the energy coming from a furnace at a temperature of about 10,340 degrees Fahrenheit.
This is one magnificent creation that truly, points to an all-powerful Creator God! And friends, His incomparably great power is at work in you! So know this today: if you have the Son spelled with an ‘O,’ you have far more power than the sun that spelled with a ‘U!’
 

In the Bible, we find these words written by the Apostle Paul,
“…Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven.”
Too often the Christian life is seen as a passive existence, but these words show that it’s quite the opposite. Our faith should lead us to not just believe but “do”. How is your community better because you’re in it?
The old saying that “you may be the only Bible some people read” is still so true. So, let this be an encouragement to find opportunities around you to volunteer, to help your neighbor and be the hands and feet of our Savior as we strain to reach the end of the race.
 
 

When Bose introduced their Acoustic Wave Music System in 1984, Sound & Vision Magazine said that it delivered “possibly the best reproduced sound many people have ever heard.” Since then, we now have companies like Sonos, Denon, and of course Apple, who are constantly striving for the best possible audio.
Sound has a tremendous effect on people.  This is why in the Bible, in 1st Corinthians 14:7, the Apostle Paul says that we who are Christians are like musical instruments. If we don’t make the right sounds no one will understand what they mean. 
If you’re a Christian today, you’re announcers, instruments, and sound systems for the Kingdom. Is God happy with the quality of your sound?
 

I was at my friend’s house this weekend for dinner. They now have a very cute, 6-month-old puppy named Lucy and they were showing off her tricks. My friend would say sit- and she sat. Lay, and she laid. My friend turned to me and said, “we’ve been working on this one”. He turned back to Lucy and said “roll over!”. But Lucy just gave him a blank stare. He shrugged and said, “Well. I guess she hasn’t learned that one yet”.
My friend wasn’t upset with her for not rolling over. He just accepted that there’s still more to learn.
Just like Lucy- we’re constantly in the process of growing up in Christ. We don’t know it all yet and that’s ok. Mistakes are likely but we have a God of grace and love who will be patient with us.
The next time you’re going through a confusing and hard time, remember that you’re a work in progress. Maybe God is in the middle of teaching you something you have yet to learn.