My next door neighbor at Wright Patterson AFB in Ohio back in the early 90's used to say to me "Becky ,bloom where you are planted." Sometimes we can tend to want to complain about our "lot in life" not realizing God has a plan and a purpose and can use all things. (See Romans 8:28). You can sit and complain and not 'grow' or you can say to yourself "this is the day the Lord has made I will rejoice and be glad in it. "(Psalm 118:24). It is good advice for anyone to say to them "do not sit there and pity yourself but get up and get going and decide to make a difference in the life of other people." Pity parties are pitiful! "Plant yourself" somewhere where you can make a difference in the lives of others. Do not always be throwing yourself a 'pity party' as no one really wants to come to it. You will be the only guest. Maybe you have been called here "for such a time as this." (See Esther 4:14). God has a plan and a purpose (See Jeremiah 29:11-13) and he wants you to "bloom" in his kingdom and bear fruit for Him. (See Galatians 5:22-23).
In Ephesians 4:1 it says "I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called." Do your roots go down deep in Jesus or are you like a dried up weed that will blow away with the first big gust of wind? God wants our roots to go deep and draw nourishment from the Bible. WIthout strong roots we will blow over at the slightest problems or trials. So sink those roots down deep in Christ and bloom for Him.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus we thank you for those situations in our life that help make us stronger in you. We know we need strong roots so we can withstand the trials of life. Help us Lord to stand strong and bloom whereever in life we are placed or planted. In Jesus Name, Amen!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
ROCK AND ROLL
Rocking and rolling was what I was doing earlier this evening at about 35000 feet altitude. As I sit here and work on my Monday devotion it has been a day of airports and flying for me. I love to fly. I am blessed with the benefits I get from Delta that allow me to go many places. But there are times I have to truly trust God to get me back on the ground. I consider myself a courageous person but when you are sitting in a hollow metal tube at 35000 feet in a pretty severe wind with a storm going on outside the window you are truly feel helpless and can only pray. Also this is where we count on the skills and training of the pilot and the first officer in the cockpit.ALso this is where I say thank goodness for radar and the skills of air traffic controllers as well. Right now I can hear the wind really loud outside my living room door as I am typing. It is still very windy. My weather radio indicates a tornado warning.
Flying is amazing.Those brave men and women who become pilots are amazing. (I have two licensed pilots in my family and one who would if he had time.) Many people are scared to fly. I am not, I love it but I do get a few frightful moments when unable to see outside the window due to clouds or when the plane is bouncing around a bit. I was thinking about this tonight as I thought about God and his creation. He is all powerful. He is the creator of heaven and earth. He is mighty in power and awesome indeed. The sound of the wind was mighty. Wind can be good or it can frighten us depending on if it is hurricane force or not. Deuteronomy 10:17 says " For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes."
The lyrics to the old hymn How Great Thou Art say it well. Here they are. This was written by Carl Boberg.
"O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made, I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed, Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee; How great thou art, how great thou art!"
God truly is all poweful and great. How can people not believe in God when they see the wonders of creation?
PRAYER: Father I thank you for all of your creation and your awesome power. I thank you for your guiding hand in our daily lives. Help those who do not know you Lord look around and see the things you have made on earth for us to enjoy. We are grateful and praise your name. In Jesus name, Amen!
Flying is amazing.Those brave men and women who become pilots are amazing. (I have two licensed pilots in my family and one who would if he had time.) Many people are scared to fly. I am not, I love it but I do get a few frightful moments when unable to see outside the window due to clouds or when the plane is bouncing around a bit. I was thinking about this tonight as I thought about God and his creation. He is all powerful. He is the creator of heaven and earth. He is mighty in power and awesome indeed. The sound of the wind was mighty. Wind can be good or it can frighten us depending on if it is hurricane force or not. Deuteronomy 10:17 says " For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes."
The lyrics to the old hymn How Great Thou Art say it well. Here they are. This was written by Carl Boberg.
"O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made, I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed, Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee; How great thou art, how great thou art!"
God truly is all poweful and great. How can people not believe in God when they see the wonders of creation?
PRAYER: Father I thank you for all of your creation and your awesome power. I thank you for your guiding hand in our daily lives. Help those who do not know you Lord look around and see the things you have made on earth for us to enjoy. We are grateful and praise your name. In Jesus name, Amen!
Monday, November 29, 2010
DO YOU KNOW GOD?
(This is writing number two as I accidentailly deleted my first devotion only minutes ago. )
Do you know God? What does it mean to know God? Well to know a person it means you spend time with him to know them better. You go places, talk on the phone and just truly hang out with them.In John 17:3 it says" And this is life eternal that I might know Him the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent. " You can not know someone you do not take time to know. You have to spend time with God. He does not require a special pass or invitation to know Him. We can not really know a celebrity because body guards may not let us close to them. We think we know them by reading the movie star magazines but we do not because we do not truly know them as their friend. But God is our friend and he wants to spend time with us. How do you do this? It is not just on Sunday but every day of the week he is waiting to have you pray and sit down to read the word of God. If you do not have a Bible the Gideons would be happy to provide one for you. (http://www.gideons.org/)
Challenge yourself to read the Bible as much as you would People magazine.If you do not know where to begin start with the book of John in the New Testament.
1 Corinthians 1:18 says " the preaching of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness but to us who are being saved it is the power of God". 1 Timothy 2"4 says " he desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. "
PRAYER: Lord God I pray that if anyone reading this does not know you as their personal Lord and saviour you will lift the blinders and help them truly come to know you as their Lord and saviour. Help guide them to a good church where they can grow and come to know you better day by day. Forgive us Lord when we fail to get up daily and spend quality time with you. Help us go beyond Sunday and desire to be with you in prayer and reading the Bible each and every day.Help us desire the word of God so we can fight the day to day battles that come our way. Forgive us Lord when we have not taken the time to get to know you better. For those who do not know you as their saviour I pray their eyes will be opened and you will come into their heart. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Reply Forward
Do you know God? What does it mean to know God? Well to know a person it means you spend time with him to know them better. You go places, talk on the phone and just truly hang out with them.In John 17:3 it says" And this is life eternal that I might know Him the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent. " You can not know someone you do not take time to know. You have to spend time with God. He does not require a special pass or invitation to know Him. We can not really know a celebrity because body guards may not let us close to them. We think we know them by reading the movie star magazines but we do not because we do not truly know them as their friend. But God is our friend and he wants to spend time with us. How do you do this? It is not just on Sunday but every day of the week he is waiting to have you pray and sit down to read the word of God. If you do not have a Bible the Gideons would be happy to provide one for you. (http://www.gideons.org/)
Challenge yourself to read the Bible as much as you would People magazine.If you do not know where to begin start with the book of John in the New Testament.
1 Corinthians 1:18 says " the preaching of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness but to us who are being saved it is the power of God". 1 Timothy 2"4 says " he desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. "
PRAYER: Lord God I pray that if anyone reading this does not know you as their personal Lord and saviour you will lift the blinders and help them truly come to know you as their Lord and saviour. Help guide them to a good church where they can grow and come to know you better day by day. Forgive us Lord when we fail to get up daily and spend quality time with you. Help us go beyond Sunday and desire to be with you in prayer and reading the Bible each and every day.Help us desire the word of God so we can fight the day to day battles that come our way. Forgive us Lord when we have not taken the time to get to know you better. For those who do not know you as their saviour I pray their eyes will be opened and you will come into their heart. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Reply Forward
Saturday, November 27, 2010
NO HALLMARK MOMENTS
Around this time of year, depending on how you were raised ,you may get into the mode of trying to make the 'perfect Hallmark moments" and orchestrate in your mind how you hope things will go. Striving for perfection is a dangerous practice to get into because it can lead to discontent. Things need to flow naturally and just because so and so throws a Christmas open house does not mean you need to do likewise. As a matter of fact I think Jesus is thinking "Why are they stressing so much over putting up lights, going to parties,making gingerbread houses and finding the perfect gift?" Do we stop in any of this commotion and realize what Christmas is really about?
I know when I have wanted the perfect Hallmark moments they backfire and I get disappointed. This is not what Jesus wants I am pretty certain. Peace on earth good will to all men is supposed to be the mantra of the Christmas season but we can tend to make it into anything less. Too many obligations, thinking you 'have to' make cookies when no one needs the calories anyway, lighting the house with "Griswold family Christmas style", comparing your humble abode to say the friend with a humongo home, planning parties or caroling. Christmas should be a joy and a pleasure and a time to reflect upon our saviours birth. I for one decided about 4 years ago to not send the traditional Christmas cards in December and , if you are like me and after several military moves, the list can reach upwards of 200 folks. I decided to not stress myself over this and make my cards New Years or Valentines Cards. This was so you can relax over the normally busy season and enjoy family, friends and festivities without the looming chore of sending cards. People tend to appreciate the cards more in January when life has settled back down to semi normalcy. So in January I design a photo New Years card through my local Wal Mart and leisurely send these out.
Added to all this are company parties and school parties if you have children. You have to decide who is Christmas about, Santa or Jesus? When we rush to buy needless gifts that someone does not want it adds to frustration too and gift cards seem so impersonal.When you have small children in the home it is good to start traditions such as making ornaments, attending a live Nativity scene or Christmas play or a Walk Thru Bethlehem, buying gifts for needy families through Angel Tree ministries, donating to Salvation Army or Toys for Tots,sending packages to troops overseas, doing a shoe box ministry,donating a warm coat to a homeless person or giving to food banks. This way the children can take the focus off of 'me' and what they are getting and think of the joy of helping others and giving to others. Putting someone else before yourself in other words. A local Christian radio station here in Huntsville has what they call "Christmas Prayers" where you can put a needy person in for a prayer which is usually a material item they need. " A Wonderful Life" is a great movie to watch each Christmas to show the true joy of giving.
It seems at Christmas we all seem to get nice. People visit nursing homes and take gifts. Meals are donated. Folks help out in soup kitchens. But what happens the other 11 months of the year? The spirit of the Christian Christmas is definitely alive and it does make you feel better to give but why not try to make this giving a year round thing. People still have needs January thru November.
If you sit back and think about it ,who is the author of confusion, comparison and discontent?(See 1 Corinthians 14:33) It is certainly not the Lord Jesus Christ. It is the enemy , Satan who wants us to lose our peace, not feel good enough, put ourselves down, compare our self to others and all the rest. The time of year when we are to be joyfully looking forward to celebrating the Saviours birth should be one filled with love, joy, peace, patience, goodness and self control such as the fruits of the spirit mentioned in Galatians Chapter 5. Be thankful for what you have and find ways to bless others. This is the true meaning of Christmas, not trying to run up credit card bills that take a year to pay off. Luke 6:38 says "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
To read the account of the birth of Jesus go to Luke 2:1-21.
PRAYER: Lord God as Christmas approaches we once again take time to reflect on its true meaning. We know for many this time of year can bring profound sadness and grief due to being alone or having recently lost a family member or friend. For many they have no happy memories of this most important day. Father we ask you bring comfort to those people and help us look around us and see someone who looks like they could use a helping hand, not just at Christmas but throughout the entire year. In Jesus Name.Amen.
I know when I have wanted the perfect Hallmark moments they backfire and I get disappointed. This is not what Jesus wants I am pretty certain. Peace on earth good will to all men is supposed to be the mantra of the Christmas season but we can tend to make it into anything less. Too many obligations, thinking you 'have to' make cookies when no one needs the calories anyway, lighting the house with "Griswold family Christmas style", comparing your humble abode to say the friend with a humongo home, planning parties or caroling. Christmas should be a joy and a pleasure and a time to reflect upon our saviours birth. I for one decided about 4 years ago to not send the traditional Christmas cards in December and , if you are like me and after several military moves, the list can reach upwards of 200 folks. I decided to not stress myself over this and make my cards New Years or Valentines Cards. This was so you can relax over the normally busy season and enjoy family, friends and festivities without the looming chore of sending cards. People tend to appreciate the cards more in January when life has settled back down to semi normalcy. So in January I design a photo New Years card through my local Wal Mart and leisurely send these out.
Added to all this are company parties and school parties if you have children. You have to decide who is Christmas about, Santa or Jesus? When we rush to buy needless gifts that someone does not want it adds to frustration too and gift cards seem so impersonal.When you have small children in the home it is good to start traditions such as making ornaments, attending a live Nativity scene or Christmas play or a Walk Thru Bethlehem, buying gifts for needy families through Angel Tree ministries, donating to Salvation Army or Toys for Tots,sending packages to troops overseas, doing a shoe box ministry,donating a warm coat to a homeless person or giving to food banks. This way the children can take the focus off of 'me' and what they are getting and think of the joy of helping others and giving to others. Putting someone else before yourself in other words. A local Christian radio station here in Huntsville has what they call "Christmas Prayers" where you can put a needy person in for a prayer which is usually a material item they need. " A Wonderful Life" is a great movie to watch each Christmas to show the true joy of giving.
It seems at Christmas we all seem to get nice. People visit nursing homes and take gifts. Meals are donated. Folks help out in soup kitchens. But what happens the other 11 months of the year? The spirit of the Christian Christmas is definitely alive and it does make you feel better to give but why not try to make this giving a year round thing. People still have needs January thru November.
If you sit back and think about it ,who is the author of confusion, comparison and discontent?(See 1 Corinthians 14:33) It is certainly not the Lord Jesus Christ. It is the enemy , Satan who wants us to lose our peace, not feel good enough, put ourselves down, compare our self to others and all the rest. The time of year when we are to be joyfully looking forward to celebrating the Saviours birth should be one filled with love, joy, peace, patience, goodness and self control such as the fruits of the spirit mentioned in Galatians Chapter 5. Be thankful for what you have and find ways to bless others. This is the true meaning of Christmas, not trying to run up credit card bills that take a year to pay off. Luke 6:38 says "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
To read the account of the birth of Jesus go to Luke 2:1-21.
PRAYER: Lord God as Christmas approaches we once again take time to reflect on its true meaning. We know for many this time of year can bring profound sadness and grief due to being alone or having recently lost a family member or friend. For many they have no happy memories of this most important day. Father we ask you bring comfort to those people and help us look around us and see someone who looks like they could use a helping hand, not just at Christmas but throughout the entire year. In Jesus Name.Amen.
Friday, November 26, 2010
HAVE NO FEAR
The world today gives us alot to be scared about. If we sat around and just watched the evening news we could get ourselves into a major panic. The economy, the threat of takeover and loss of precious freedoms at the hands of our own government, and nuclear war are some of the major fear producers that come to mind. God does not want us to fear. He wants us to trust him for all things. He is working behind the scenes in all this because he is still in charge and rules the universe. If you find some Bible verses on not fearing and make it a habit to read them out loud daily and also pray it will help you overcome this area. It is something almost every adult in the USA has dealt with if they were perfectly honest. It is the "what if" game. I am not talking about fears of things like jumping from an airplane, heights or snakes, but fears of losing your job,getting cancer, not having enough money to pay your bills and things like that. I am going to give you a few verses below to read out loud daily to help you if you struggle with this area.
Isaiah 41:10 in the Old Testament says "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Romans 8:31 in the New Testament says "What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?" Basically do not fear man. Love God and he will help you get through these struggles. In Exodus 20:20 it says "Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning." So sometimes things we go through happen for a reason. To grow us sometimes God allows certain things in our life. He does cause these things.
There are instances in the Bible when an angel would appear and say "Fear Not".(See Luke 1:30). When Jesus walked on the water, his disciples were fearful to see this man walk on the stormy lake and thought he was a ghost. (See Mark 6:45-56).Genesis 26:24 says "That night the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham." It takes practice to become courageous. It is not an overnight process. Do not beat up on yourself if you are having trouble dealing with the battle of a fearful spirit. 2 Timothy 1:7 says" For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."
Above all do not curse God if things have not been peachy in your life. I do not have the answers to why destruction happens, why children die of disease, why God does not stop accidents from happening and all the rest. I just know our ultimate goal is to be with Him in heaven. In this world you will have tribulation but rejoice because I have overcome the world. (See John 6:33).
PRAYER: Father God we ask that you comfort those who are struggling with a fearful spirit. Perhaps they are so overwhelmed by things around them they can not focus on you to know you are there. The world may try to remove God but you are not going anywhere. Laws may legislate against the Christian way of life but we know humans can not take you away from us. You are only a prayer away. Give us courage to meet any fear tests that may come our way and confident assurance that you are walking beside us always. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Isaiah 41:10 in the Old Testament says "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Romans 8:31 in the New Testament says "What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?" Basically do not fear man. Love God and he will help you get through these struggles. In Exodus 20:20 it says "Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning." So sometimes things we go through happen for a reason. To grow us sometimes God allows certain things in our life. He does cause these things.
There are instances in the Bible when an angel would appear and say "Fear Not".(See Luke 1:30). When Jesus walked on the water, his disciples were fearful to see this man walk on the stormy lake and thought he was a ghost. (See Mark 6:45-56).Genesis 26:24 says "That night the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham." It takes practice to become courageous. It is not an overnight process. Do not beat up on yourself if you are having trouble dealing with the battle of a fearful spirit. 2 Timothy 1:7 says" For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."
Above all do not curse God if things have not been peachy in your life. I do not have the answers to why destruction happens, why children die of disease, why God does not stop accidents from happening and all the rest. I just know our ultimate goal is to be with Him in heaven. In this world you will have tribulation but rejoice because I have overcome the world. (See John 6:33).
PRAYER: Father God we ask that you comfort those who are struggling with a fearful spirit. Perhaps they are so overwhelmed by things around them they can not focus on you to know you are there. The world may try to remove God but you are not going anywhere. Laws may legislate against the Christian way of life but we know humans can not take you away from us. You are only a prayer away. Give us courage to meet any fear tests that may come our way and confident assurance that you are walking beside us always. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
ARE YOU THANKFUL?
Today is not just a national holiday where friends and family traditionally gather to eat,be merry, watch parades and football, but it is a time of pausing to reflect about the true meaning of this day and what we are truly thankful for as well. In the United States we can tend to take alot for granted until the threat of losing it is imminent. I am thinking of our freedom for one. That is why the Pilgrims came over here in the first place to this new land because they were under religious persecution and wanted to be free to worship God and read their Bibles and be free without threats from their government in Europe.They did not want to be under tyrannical rule of their time. They paid a dear price for this, crossing treacherous seas to an unknown land and huge wilderness. These brave souls endured disease and suffered death and pain. They celebrated their safe passage over here to a new land and their harvest as well. The modern day Thanksgiving was declared a holiday on 3 October 1863 by President Abrham Lincoln although the Pilgrims came to this land in approximately 1619. Sadly today the world has all but forgotten it's Christian roots and turned it into 'turkey day".
Let's not take for granted our food, clothing, shelter, running water, electricity, and living in a free country.Thanks to the military men and women who protect our freedoms in dangerous lands. In 1 Thessalonians 5:18 it says "to give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of Christ Jesus concerning you." Colossians 1:12-13 says" and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves" I am very thankful for friends and family, for good health, for having money to be able to do things we enjoy, for having doctors to go to when we are sick as many countries do not enjoy this luxury and there is so much more. 2 Timothy 3:2 mentions that in 'latter days people will become unthankful and unholy." Perhaps in todays' society we are getting a little bit like that.
So today as you sit down to a feast be thankful not only for the hands that prepared it and the freedom to enjoy it but reflect on thanksgiving as a whole. Do not take for granted what you have. Psalm 100:4-5 says " Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations". Today and everyday pause and say thanks.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus we thankyou for all you have provided. Not just on this Thanksgiving Day but every day of our lives is a true gift from you. Forigve us for when we complain. You have a plan for our lives and a purpose. We thank you for the freedom we have in the United States of America to read our Bibles openly without threat of persecution. Help us not take that for granted as in many countries people are jailed for saying they love Jesus. Father we thankyou for the family and friends you have blessed us with as well. Thankyou for this day we can celebrate with them together. Thanks for giving us life. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Let's not take for granted our food, clothing, shelter, running water, electricity, and living in a free country.Thanks to the military men and women who protect our freedoms in dangerous lands. In 1 Thessalonians 5:18 it says "to give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of Christ Jesus concerning you." Colossians 1:12-13 says" and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves" I am very thankful for friends and family, for good health, for having money to be able to do things we enjoy, for having doctors to go to when we are sick as many countries do not enjoy this luxury and there is so much more. 2 Timothy 3:2 mentions that in 'latter days people will become unthankful and unholy." Perhaps in todays' society we are getting a little bit like that.
So today as you sit down to a feast be thankful not only for the hands that prepared it and the freedom to enjoy it but reflect on thanksgiving as a whole. Do not take for granted what you have. Psalm 100:4-5 says " Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations". Today and everyday pause and say thanks.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus we thankyou for all you have provided. Not just on this Thanksgiving Day but every day of our lives is a true gift from you. Forigve us for when we complain. You have a plan for our lives and a purpose. We thank you for the freedom we have in the United States of America to read our Bibles openly without threat of persecution. Help us not take that for granted as in many countries people are jailed for saying they love Jesus. Father we thankyou for the family and friends you have blessed us with as well. Thankyou for this day we can celebrate with them together. Thanks for giving us life. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
WASH THAT MOUTH OUT WITH SOAP
I am not sure how many of you reading this had the grand discipline as a child of having your mouth washed out with soap. Contrary to the movie "The Christmas Story" it does not cause blindness and can be quite effective. We say things that are not true, hurt people, and a host of others things. So the soap thing is a reminder that inappropriate words need to go and be washed down the drain.
Do you often speak without thinking? I know I do. Struggling to work on it and it is getting a little better but is an ongoing battle. Do you sometimes talk when you should just listen? Ouch to that one to for me. Do we ever gossip, speculate or add our two bits, whatever you want to call it? Probably if all humans were honest the answer would be a resounding yes. But is it right? No. Words can build up or they can hurt. They can bring joy or they can bring sorrow. In James chapter 3 it talks about the dangers of the tongue and says that 'no man can tame it". Isn't that the truth? But with the Lords help and acknowledging we want to change we can in fact try out best to tame the tongue.
A person can not say they love God then spew out hateful words to their brother or sister in the Lord. It does not make much sense.(See 1 John 4:20). James 3:11 says a spring can not bring forth both fresh and bitter water so neither should our tongue be kind to some but hateful to others. It is kind of like not putting a Christian bumper sticker on your car unless you are going to 'act' like a Christian.
Blessing and cursing should not come out of the same mouth. Matthew 12:35-36 says "A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken." Are you ready to tell God why you said hateful things to a friend or spouse or why you told that 'little white lie" or why you gossiped about someone? Proverbs 12:18 says "Reckless words pierce like a sword,but the tongue of the wise brings healing." Proverbs 16:28 says" A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends. " There are so many more verses in God's words dealing with the words we say but I will end on this one. Proverbs 15:1 says "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."
PRAYER: Lord today we thank you for the gift of being able to speak. Forgive us when our words have not been so kind and have hurt someone. If someone has hurt us and not asked for forgiveness help us to try to forgive in your strength anyway so a root of bitterness does not spring up. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Do you often speak without thinking? I know I do. Struggling to work on it and it is getting a little better but is an ongoing battle. Do you sometimes talk when you should just listen? Ouch to that one to for me. Do we ever gossip, speculate or add our two bits, whatever you want to call it? Probably if all humans were honest the answer would be a resounding yes. But is it right? No. Words can build up or they can hurt. They can bring joy or they can bring sorrow. In James chapter 3 it talks about the dangers of the tongue and says that 'no man can tame it". Isn't that the truth? But with the Lords help and acknowledging we want to change we can in fact try out best to tame the tongue.
A person can not say they love God then spew out hateful words to their brother or sister in the Lord. It does not make much sense.(See 1 John 4:20). James 3:11 says a spring can not bring forth both fresh and bitter water so neither should our tongue be kind to some but hateful to others. It is kind of like not putting a Christian bumper sticker on your car unless you are going to 'act' like a Christian.
Blessing and cursing should not come out of the same mouth. Matthew 12:35-36 says "A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken." Are you ready to tell God why you said hateful things to a friend or spouse or why you told that 'little white lie" or why you gossiped about someone? Proverbs 12:18 says "Reckless words pierce like a sword,but the tongue of the wise brings healing." Proverbs 16:28 says" A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends. " There are so many more verses in God's words dealing with the words we say but I will end on this one. Proverbs 15:1 says "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."
PRAYER: Lord today we thank you for the gift of being able to speak. Forgive us when our words have not been so kind and have hurt someone. If someone has hurt us and not asked for forgiveness help us to try to forgive in your strength anyway so a root of bitterness does not spring up. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)