Don’t Do It!

The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one's life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. James 3:6

The mouth is a powerful weapon. It can bruise people or cheer them up. Many times you may want to say something to someone and have not thought it through and bingo it backfires. 

Just as today’s verse says it can set a forest ablaze, figuratively. Loose lips sink ships was the saying in World War 2. Words can really mess up people and relationships if not used properly. 

Try to let your words be few. This word concept applies to texts and emails as well. Certain personality types may have more of a struggle than others but really try to think before you speak. 

PRAYER: “Ouch” is the phrase I use when I have been beat up by words from others used hastily or not thought out. I choose to forgive those who may not ask for forgiveness and to be careful with my own mouth. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Thanks For Your Patience

Learn to be patient, so you will please God and be given what he has promised. Hebrews 10:36

Humans can sure be an impatient bunch. Fast food not fast enough. Instant potatoes not instant enough. High speed internet doesn’t connect quick enough. Disrupted air travel maybe makes you want to scream.

Patience and being able to be calm and wait is a good character trait  to develop.  Every minute of every day does not have to have a schedule of activities. Being able to sit still on a park bench and watch squirrels would be a good thing to work on.

When you get impatient try to remember you may be being watched so try to remember who it is you serve. Chill, be still, be grateful.

PRAYER: Sometimes when traffic is slow, or my TV satellite signal has to be ‘reacquired’ during a storm I can get antsy. I choose now to practice not getting flustered. I know the more I do it the more like you I will become. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

News Media Darkness

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But  if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:5-7

What do you do first thing in morning? Run for the newspaper? Turn on the morning show? Drive to work listening to secular talk shows?

Darkness is all over America now and the media is continuing to perpetuate lies and fear. As a believer if you choose to start your day this way what does it do to your spirit? Maybe it is a learned habit and needs to be nipped in the bud.

Why is it necessary to hear about tragedies, political infighting, murders and the like? Does doing so strengthen your spirit? The answer of course is a no. Why not wake up, grab some coffee, get your Bible and read some Psalms. Say a prayer and go on a media fast to keep God’s truth flowing through you. Give it a try!

PRAYER: Lord you are beautiful. Your face is all I truly seek yet when I succumb to earthly fears and propaganda driven by our media I become agitated and angry. Help me break this stronghold and break it in the lives of those I know who do it more out of a developed habit.In Jesus’ name. Amen.

In God We Trust

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.Proverbs 3:5-6

Oklahoma has some pretty exciting weather the week we arrived in Tulsa to attend my great niece Rylee high school graduation. Tornados are common there but this was stormageddon so to speak. 

As I lay in bed with Rylee talking early one morning sirens were blaring outside and storms were raging but as long as we did not hear the proverbial ‘train sound’ all was well. Rylee simply said “In God we trust Aunt Becky” and let it go at that. 

Fear is taught and you can be sensible and safe but you don’t have to freak out. With non stop tornado warning sirens blowing most the night we watched the Weather Channel and stayed peaceful. But Rylee’s comment put it in a nutshell. Trust God period. An anxiety outburst doesn’t achieve anything. Be still and lean on God. 

PRAYER: Lord Jesus I thank you for protection from both physical storms as well as the ‘storms of life’ and I know in you I can achieve and maintain perfect peace. I ask that strongholds of fear be broken. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Respect...Shouldn’t Be Lost

 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:13

As I sit at Fox Army Pharmacy waiting for prescriptions many of the retired men don caps saying “World War 2..Proudly Served” or “Vietnam Vet” or “US Marine Corps”. There are many more. It makes me proud first to be part of the Armed Forces community but makes me smile to see these individuals who have no doubt endured combat and lived to be able to wear the cap.

If you are a parent of a young school student be sure to instill in them respect for their elders but especially respect for those who served our nation so we could enjoy freedom. The past several years we have lived as spoiled brats with no real hardship like some of our parents endured in The Great Depression. We are only one generation away from losing our freedom if not vigilant to elect the right leaders and keep a strong military.

Instead of going out to buy a new mattress at a Memorial Day sale why not stop and pay your respects to our fallen. Think about what freedom really means and if possible visit a military cemetery to pay your respects. Freedom is truly not free.

PRAYER: Father I am grateful for those who made the ultimate sacrifice and are often disrespected and ridiculed even by those in our own nation. Help parents teach their children what this day is all about. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Shine Brighter

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. John 1:5

The world around you may seem very dark to believers right now. If all you do is saturate yourself with the changing cultural tide nightly news or the desensitization happening on TV, movies, schools, and cartoons you could get in a real tizzy.

Relax. God has this. Your job is to keep your light shining for the kingdom and get it back to a roaring flame if it is only an ember. Turn off negative news feeds, tv shows and the like that cast doubt as to whether God is in charge. Schedule daily Bible reading and quiet time. Also don’t speak evil of enemies(see Proverbs 24:17) but pray for them as they are under a cloud of satanic deception and may not even want to acknowledge  it due to endearment to a life long political party that has them tricked and held captive.

Today your job is to light the world around you. In your family, your workplace, your church, your recreation endeavors, your grocery shopping, and your night at the restaurant or movies. Don’t be ‘holier than thou’ or self righteous but pray that God will use you to light up the paths around you. Get rid of negativity and look up!

PRAYER: I know it is easy to let Satan make me feel all hope is lost and my beloved nation is going down the tubes but IT IS NOT so help me squish negative thinking and mediate only good from your word. In Jesus’ name. Amen.  

36000 Feet

You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?Galatians 5:7

For the beauty of the earth, for the glory of the skies. Fly up high especially at sunrise or sunset and with a window seat you can marvel at God’s creation. 

How can someone be an atheist? Satan wants people as far from God as possible and works in the minds of those in false religions, with political loyalty, enamored by socialism or communism, gender confused, propaganda tools, and much more to mess up hearts and minds and create immense division. The enemy comes to kill, steal, and destroy. 

If you are reading this you may know of people in your family captured by society worldview over God’s worldview. Don’t beat them over the head with the Bible but keep praying for the truth to set them free. 

PRAYER: Father I pray for those whose minds are so politically correct they cannot recognize Satan’s lies and influence over them. I cover America with the blood of Jesus and pray for those people who are being used by the devil to destroy a Christian nation. In Jesus’ name. Amen.