Respect

However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband? Ephesians 5:33

Both Ephesians chapter 5 and 1 Peter Chapter 3 have allot to say about marriage between a husband and a wife. Not meaning to leave single people out, these chapters are good for all of us to read and take to heart. The foundations are love and respect among other things. But love and respect are also needed in our world in general.

Respect is defined by Bing online dictionary as "esteem: a feeling or attitude of admiration and deference toward somebody or something."  Some husbands may not be kind verbally to their wives but with God's help those ladies can master respect. Always remember to love unconditionally. Respect will get you a long way. 

Your job today and everyday is to show love to others and be respectful regardless. Go change your world. 

PRAYER: Lord Jesus I want to show respect not only to my spouse but to those around me. I want your live to flow through me like a mighty ocean. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

WHATEVER!!

The title above is a one word reply often used showing sarcasm or disgust with what someone has said. It actually is rude and shows disrespect. I am sure we have all heard this comment or maybe uttered it ourselves. Ouch! 

Do you consider yourself a kind person? Do you often speak poorly of others when they are not in your presence or judge them? Words are so important whether you are using sarcasm to express disgust or saying something uplifting, it is critical to insure that whatever you utter would be exactly what you would say if Jesus were in your presence. 

Sometimes a person can speak nicer to a family pet than to a human. Do the words you say lift Jesus higher? Something to think about. 

  The following are some scripture verses to perhaps "hide in your heart" to help you get control of your mouth in 2014.

³ 'A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride, but the lips of the wise protect them.' Proverbs 14:3(NIV)

'Sin is not ended by multiplying words,but the prudent holds their tongues.' Proverbs 10:19(NIV) 

'The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even tempered.' Proverbs 17:27(NIV)

'A dream comes when there are many cares, and many words mark the speech of a fool.' Ecclesiastes 5:3(NIV)

'My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.' James 1:19(NIV).

Today why not read each of those verses aloud and ask God to direct the words you say and resist the urge to be hateful, rude, angry, gossipy, or unkind with your tongue.

PRAYER: Each and every day I need your help Lord to watch what comes out of my mouth. Words can build up or tear down and I want mine to glorify you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

HONORABLE MENTION

 Do you consider yourself an honorable person? Honor is a pretty important personality charactistic to have in order to succeed in the world around us. Cheats, liars, and dishonorable people may get ahead for a while but it is those who have honor that will truly shine.

Think of the word honor. At place I like to hike in nearby Huntsville, Alabama, at the entrance to this state park, called Monte Sano, there is an "Honor Box" to place you entrance fee into. If the attendant is off duty they would expect you to do the right thing and place your money in the box and not try to sneak in. Think of another situation which involves honor. Let's say you go to see one movie and pay for only one movie but after it is over you casually sneak into another one. Is that honorable? Is it honorable to keep the change if a clerk gives you too much money back? You can probably add your own scenarios as well.

In the military there is what is called an "Honorable Discharge" where upon having served honorably with nothing bad on your military record you are awarded this certificate to proudly display at home or wherever you choose. The other two discharges will not help in getting you far in life and they are the "General Discharge" and the "Dishonorable Discharge". Honor is pretty important to those serving in the Armed Forces. Also the "Honor Guard" present at military funerals to pay tribute to one who served his or her country honorably.

How many of you have seen a road side stand with home grown produce on it and next to it is a box on the table with a sign that reads "Honor System" to place the money for the vegetables you are buying? Even if a person steals it is God who knows. It does not pay to be less than honorable.

The Bible speaks of honor in many places. One I like is in the Ten Commandments where it says to "Honor your father and your mother" and how important that is. Even into their aging years to hold them in high regard and in high esteem. In wedding vows the couple often repeat they will "love,honor, and cherish as long as they both shall live" but then how many just forget that and end up doing their own thing resulting many times in divorces. If you are married pray for God to give you the ability to do what your vows said.

1 Peter 2:17(NKJV) says to 'Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.' The Bing online dictionary defines honor as personal integrity: strong moral character or strength, and adherence to ethical principles. We see today that many in leadership in the United States do not have strong moral character and it is harder to honor and respect someone like that. We are to keep praying for them. Romans 12:10 says 'Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.'

Honor system, honor box, honorable discharge, honor code, no matter what, honor is very important in the life of a believer and of a respectable citizen. It shows integrity and courage.

Are you an honorable person? Proverbs 21:21(ESV) is a good scripture to end on and it says 'Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.'

PRAYER: Lord today I choose to show honor to those who it is due. I honor you above all Lord. I thank you Lord for parents that raised me to be honorable. Help me to walk with honor and integrity everywhere I go. In Jesus' name. Amen.

LOVE MEANS NEVER HAVING TO SAY YOUR SORRY....HUH!!

 

This may make a great movie line from the seventies but is has no bearing in real life relationships. If you have hurt somone you love, be it a spouse, girlfriend or boyfriend, or friend you need to admit it and go to the person and restore this relationship. Sometimes people mess up and some people have trouble asking forgiveness and saying they are sorry. If you are the one who has been hurt by someone you are close to, you can choose to dwell on it or you can move on. True, it is not right when someone has done something and will not admit they have hurt you, but to dwell on it only causes a huge divide. Eventually if it happens to be in a marriage relationship you may need counseling for this issue as it can not continue to be buried if there is an underlying cause.

If you know you have hurt someone and you claim to be a Christian ask yourself what would Jesus do? We all know the answer to that. He would admit his mistake and seek to heal the relatioship before it was wounded any more. Many fights in marriages could be avoided if the couples truly prayed together and read their Bibles together and would admit it when they were wrong. The real culprit in all arguments and misunderstandings is the enemy Satan trying to divide and destroy because that is his specialty.

Sometimes you may have hurt a friend and they refuse to want to be your friend anymore. You have to move on. Pray for the person. Try to love them regardless of how they feel about you.

Most all types of relationships could be wonderful and happy and strong if people did not always try to get their own way. If all of us who claim to love Jesus and follow Him would stop each day and pick up that instruction manual, otherwise known as the Bible, there would be much less conflict. If husbands would treat their wives like Christ treated the church, there would be a much lower divorce rate. If people would put the other person first all the time and think of nice things to do, that would help as well. If you are just starting out a new marriage, begin the right way and make it a point to not take each other for granted, ever! Read the instruction manual and read it together. Take time and read Ephesians Chapter 6 and 1 Corinthians 13. Choose to love and choose to forgive.

If you are reading this and some type relationship you are in seems to be a one way battle all you can really do is pray. Keep seeking Christ. Keep reading your Bible. Try to control the urge to fight or yell as then Satan has you right where he wants you . Overcome evil with good it says in Romans 12:21. As hard as it is sometimes when you are hurt you have to throw off anger. Just think of this as spiritual warfare. Satan is the author of lies, deception, hate, confusion and every evil work. God is all about love, peace, forgiveness, kindness, gentleness, mercy, self control and grace. Satan is out to kill, steal, and destroy. We have a choice. We can choose to love and forgive or we can choose to be angry, hateful, vindictive and give Satan more power in our lives.

What is your choice today? Joy, love. peace, forgiveness and moving on or hatred, anger and bitterness? Matthew 5:44(NIV) simply says 'But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.' Now just go and do it with God's strength!

PRAYER:Lord Jesus I know you made me to love and show mercy to others. I know in life people may hurt me but I can choose to fight and be angry or I can choose to let it go and move on. I can choose to harbor hate and anger or choose to be kind to those who may want to mistreat me. It is hard, so I need your strength Lord. I know Lord we are in a battle between God and the devil. Fighting is not a fruit of the holy spirit but love is. I choose to love, regardless. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Click on link below for a powerful song to get your weekend started off right.

http://youtu.be/GsjJmk7tdk4

DON'T BE UGLY BACK

Does anyone ever do something mean, disrespectful, or ugly to you and you say to yourself, "I'll show them!?"  Humanly people can really get to us if we let them. But the godly response to someone being mean or ugly is to turn the other cheek and not repay evil for evil. If more people did this there would be a lot less court battles today and fewer broken homes as well. As a believer we are supposed to be different and not be reacting to things like people in the world. You are to be an example for the kingdom no matter where you are.

You can let the most minor things start to get you mad if you let them.Let's say for instance that your husband or wife takes off an article of clothing and inconsiderately just throws it in the middle of the floor. You would think any grown person taught by a half way decent mom would know the socks and other articles of clothes do not go in the middle of the floor, right? You can treat the person like a child and say "pick that up now" , or  "I'm not the maid" or you can simply let it go, pray, and pick it up without saying anything or rubbing it in their face. Pretty hard to do perhaps with an adult that needs to know better. You have a choice to make. Keep the argument going by making an issue of it or just letting it go. I say choose to give it up and move on and pray. Give it to God. Only He can make the other person change. No amount of scolding or nagging will.

Whatever is going on with someone mistreating you sometimes you have to be the bigger more mature person and choose to give it up. You can keep beating this to death, so to speak ,or move on and go get your Bible and read and pray. Of course Satan would love you to keep stoking the flames of an argumentative spirit that wants to be in control and wants to have your own way and sort of be the 'winner' of the little battle.

 If the person being ugly is a spouse, first of all, shame on them, and if a Christian spouse that is worse. You may want to lash back, but for husbands and wives two verses are vitally important the first being Ephesians 4:26 which tells us "In your anger do not sin and do not let the sun go down while you are still angry." Now you may be staying up a while but it is better than sleeping on the seam of the mattress or leaving the room. Also in James 1:19 it gives a bit of wisdom good in marriages and all relationships as well and it says " My dear brothers and sisters,   take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak   and slow to become angry." This could apply while shopping if you get mad at an inconsiderate employee or even apply this at your own job.

For those of you applying this in a marriage situation and if you are a 'lone ranger' or in other words maybe the only one in the marriage who attempts to stay close to God  and  your spouse is still being ugly, restrain yourself from wanting to fight just pray to yourself instead and do not repay evil. This is in the Bible in both 1 Peter 3:9 and in Romans 12:17 where it tells us to not return evil. That is human nature to keep fighting and to get the last word but that kind of conduct does not please the Lord but Satan loves it.

So where are you today? Are you able to let things go and move on and move closer to God and away from this offense? I will leave you with this verse out of 1 Peter 3:11 which says " He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it."

PRAYER:Lord I confess to you I sometimes get upset when people are not acting nice and want to pay them back. I know for a believer that is not the correct response but it is to be kind and gracious and speak to others like I would want spoken to. Help me Lord as I seek to lead a life pleasing to you. In Jesus Name. Amen.



Let me leave you with a wonderful song of praise and worship to lift your spirits if you are feeling angry. Click on link below and worship the Lord.
http://youtu.be/Tg1erjHNfCE