That's Life

Thus says the LORD: I will prove the holiness of my great name, profaned among the nations, in whose midst you have profaned it. Thus, the nations shall know that I am the LORD, says the Lord GOD, when in their sight I prove my holiness through you. For I will take you away from among the nations, gather you from all the foreign lands, and bring you back to your own land. I will sprinkle clean water upon you to cleanse you from all your impurities, and from all your idols I will cleanse you.

I will give you a new heart and place a new spirit within you, taking from your bodies your stony hearts and giving you natural hearts. I will put my spirit within you and make you live by my statutes, careful to observe my decrees. You shall live in the land I gave your ancestors; you shall be my people, and I will be your God. (Ezekiel 36:23-28)

How many of us need new hearts because the one we have has grown cold and stony?  How many of us have become spiritless and shot down? Life can do that to us as tragedies and sorrows weigh us down and make us disenchanted with what we thought would be a good and prosperous life.  Here’s where Frank Sinatra can help:

That's life (that's life) that's what people say

You're riding high in April

Shot down in May

But I know I'm gonna change that tune

When I'm back on top, back on top in June

I said, that's life (that's life) and as funny as it may seem

Some people get their kicks

Stompin' on a dream

But I don't let it, let it get me down

'Cause this fine old world it keeps spinnin' around

I've been a puppet, a pauper, a pirate

A poet, a pawn and a king

I've been up and down and over and out

And I know one thing

Each time I find myself flat on my face

I pick myself up and get back in the race

That's life (that's life) I tell ya, I can't deny it

I thought of quitting, baby

But my heart just ain't gonna buy it

And if I didn't think it was worth one single try

I'd jump right on a big bird and then I'd fly

I've been a puppet, a pauper, a pirate

A poet, a pawn and a king

I've been up and down and over and out

And I know one thing

Each time I find myself layin' flat on my face

I just pick myself up and get back in the race

That's life (that's life) that's life

And I can't deny it

Many times I thought of cuttin' out but my heart won't buy it

But if there's nothing shakin' come here this July

I'm gonna roll myself up in a big ball and die

My, my

So, let’s avoid rolling ourselves up in a big ball by picking ourselves up and getting back in the race.  We may think about quitting [baby], but our hearts just shouldn’t buy it.  Let’s consider Ezekiel and ask God for a new heart and a new spirit taking from our bodies our stony hearts and giving us natural hearts.

Deacon David Pierce