Skip to main content

Congestive Heart Failure

Congestive heart failure or CHF, which can be caused by years of hypertension, occurs when the heart muscle is weakened and can no longer pump blood like it should. It causes fluid to back up in the lungs and is overall very bad for your system. Left untreated, it can lead to death.

Why do I know this? My (sainted) father was diagnosed with CHF this past weekend after being rushed to the hospital while on vacation. I love my dad VERY much and I was dismayed (to say  the least) at the news. Thank God he is doing much better. Jehovah Rophe is still in the healing business. Hallelujah!!

Of course, I began thinking about CHF in spiritual terms. Are we letting our spiritual heart muscles get weak to the point of failure? Are we, AM I, being ever vigilant about my spiritual heart? Do I have the heart of Christ? Do I have a pure heart? A heart that follows hard after the Lord?

 My dad knew he was hypertensive. He'd seen several doctors and was on medication long-term, to the point where the medication was of none effect. So while he thought he was treating himself, in fact, nothing was happening.

Has your Bible reading/study become mundane? Do you still have that song of praise in your Spirit? Do you remember to give God the glory first for any and all of your achievements?

This is the inconvenience of Christianity. We can become so complacent in our "Chrisitian" routine, that the things we are doing are ineffectual when we think they are keeping our hearts in check. Maybe it's time we ask the Holy Spirit to do a spiritual EKG to see if our spiritual treatment regimen is still being effective. If not, perhaps it's time for a change before we end up with spiritual CHF.

Comments

  1. Faith Fitness and NutritionJune 1, 2012 at 8:32 AM

    So happy to hear your dad is doing better. I'll keep in my prayers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Josie JamesJune 1, 2012 at 10:13 AM

      thanx dear. he should be out of the hospital today.

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ride or Die

I love this phrase. There are quite a few subtle variations on the meaning, but it is an urban colloquialism that means loyalty, no matter what. I thank God that I have been blessed with a few people that have that kind of loyalty to me and I to them. It's a rich blessing that have true friends. They are with me and in my corner no matter what (or "regardless of what" as one of them would say). This week we had Vacation Bible School at my church and I was privileged to be a teacher. The first lesson was taken from Daniel chapter three. The very well known story of the three Hebrew boys: Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego. It is a wonderful story of faith, but something jumped out at me so profoundly that it almost knocked me over. We always focus on the deliverance. But the Hebrew boys did not. Their focus was on God and Him alone. They were ride or die for the Lord. Literally. If you read the story, they never once pray for deliverance. They talk about God's a
2 comments
Read more

Rocks, Gravel, Sand and Water

Let me first start by saying that I cannot take credit for the following example, as I did not originate it. In fact, I was listening to Turning Point with Dr. David Jeremiah and I was so touched by what he shared that I thought I would share it with all of you. Let's say I have a large, empty 5-gallon jar. If I place fist sized rocks into the jar until no more can fit, is it full? Before you answer, let me say that after I place the rocks in the jar, I pick up a bag of gravel and begin to pour that into the jar. Where does the gravel go? In between the spaces left by the rocks. After I fill the jar to the brim with gravel, is it full? Before you answer, consider this: I pour a bag of sand into the jar. Where does the sand go? Into the spaces left by the gravel, of course. After filling the jar to the brim with sand, is it full? Before you answer, consider this: I pour a pitcher of water into the same jar. Where does the water go? Into the spaces between the grains of sa
2 comments
Read more

Simple Mathematics

If you're like me, you're probably thinking there is no such thing as "simple" mathematics... and the picture above does not help! For some of us, even the simplest calculations require technological assistance. But don't lose heart, loved one! The equation I am about to give you is so simple even a pre-school student can understand it (I think!). So here it is, in the form of an "if/then" statement: If a=b, then b=a Simple, right? Of course it is because it is logical. The equal sign ("=") means that whatever is on either side of that sign is the same. So even if you reverse the order in which you list the items on either side of that equal sign, they are still equal. So then, how does this simple premise, simple equation apply to this inconvenient Christian journey. Here it is: Christian = Christ follower, Christ follower = Christian.  Again, simple, no? Or is it? It seems to me that we as Christians do not always act like Christ
4 comments
Read more