This military veteran and maximum-security prison guard suffered 3 unrelated traumatic occurrences in his life where he could have died. These life experiences caused layers of self-centered and independent toughness to form in Gary’s spirit heart.
Nearing retirement age, Gary settled in Pigeon Forge, TN. He filled his workshop with the tools and toys he loved, including his motorcycle, Lionel trains and comic book collection. After several years of dating a church-going woman, he even considered marriage. Gary always refused her gentle invitations to join her at church.
Enjoying the things he cared deeply for came to an end within weeks. With tears in his eyes, Gary watched his workshop, with its beloved contents, burn to the ground. Shortly afterward, the kind, church-going woman broke off her relationship with Gary.
Deeply grieved, lonely and depressed, Gary attended church services with his cousin, hoping to find repair for his broken heart. At one of these services, Gary responded to an altar call, weeping and crying out to God for help.
Several joined him at the altar and prayed for him. When he rose to his feet, an unexplainable relief and calmness replaced the despair and grief he had been experiencing. He shared with his cousin, “I knew then I was going to be OK. I felt the love of the Lord come into me and I knew I would never be alone again.”
Gary had read the Bible in the past but never could comprehend its message. Now, he found himself reading and absorbing the words of the Bible like a giant sponge at the base of the Niagara Falls.
One morning he woke with a sorrow for those who didn’t have the love and presence of the Lord in their lives. Gary was remembering how empty his past life was compared with the contentment he now experienced. Gary asked the Lord, “What do you want me to do?”
He sensed the Lord saying, “Do that, that I have done for you.” Gary remembered the Pastor saying in a recent message, “Pay attention when God talks to you.”
His thoughts were drawn to the remembrance of the small wooden heart his deceased father had carried in his pocket most of his adult years. On it was inscribed the reference Ezekiel 36:26 – And I will give you a new heart with new and right desires, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony heart of sin and give you a new, obedient heart. (NLT: Ezekiel 36: 26)
The fond thought of his father and that little heart caused Gary to investigate the possibility of making wooden hearts with scripture references to help others find hope and salvation in the Lord.
With the Lord’s guidance, the ministry, “Lord’s Words in Motion”, was born and received a Facebook page. Each little wooden heart was stamped with a scripture reference on one side and “Lord’s Words in Motion” on the other side.
Starting locally, these hearts found their way into the hands of wait staff, retail clerks and folks he met around town. One waiter randomly received the Psalm 23:4 wooden heart. He emotionally shared this verse was tattooed on his back as a constant reminder of God’s presence.
In the past 2 years, these little wooden hearts have found their way into hands throughout the United States as well as Africa, Philippines, Korea, Ireland and Mexico. Mostly, these hearts are received with smiles. Sometimes with frowns and rebuffs.
Gary shares, “We don’t need to be perfect in what He calls us for, just do as He asks. No matter how it falls, the Lord has a way to fulfill His desires; if you are willing to follow Him and do His will.”
God gives us a love for Himself and then He gives us a love for others. What’s your fiery heart story or is it waiting to be known and told?
Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given complete authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (NLT: Matthew 28: 18 – 21)