Eating your own Words

Eating the Fruit of your own words

The tongue has the power of life and death,
    and those who love to talk will have to eat their own words. Proverbs 18:27 God’s Word translation.

You are an encourager. You love God. You really care about people and my life has changed because you held me accountable. You show that you care about all people because you take time for them, even those who may seem undesirable. You are concerned enough to ask me about my day. You are adventuresome and love life. You are a blessing to those who know you. The two of you were made for each other and a wonderful gift that the other has been looking for.

These are just some of the comments shared to my nephew and his fiancé at their rehearsal dinner last night.  One of his childhood friends had been talking about the rehearsal with Ben earlier in the day, “You, know this is probably the only time that you will have all of your friends and family gathered together at one time who are gonna share some awesome things about you”.  Ben replied, “Yea, its kinda like being alive for your own funeral.” Lots of laughter in the room as his friend relayed the story.

By the end of all of the sharing we were all encouraged.   There was a consistent theme of the quality and character of both Ben and Kristen. People from all stages of their life were saying some of the same kind remarks. You could sense a roomful of hope.

Why? We were tasting or rather, benefiting from the fruit of blessing.

To be sure, it is much easier to bless when you have kind and caring people to talk about.  But still, the decision to speak a blessing lies within your own will.  You get to choose what comes out of your mouth.  You can be intentional about speaking life giving words over and to your family and friends.  You get to craft the words to be spoken in a way that only you can deliver. Good thoughts are helpful to us to have the right frame of mind, but words of blessing have the power to bring hope, peace and life to those who hear.

Blessing is also reciprocal.  It would be like sharing the aroma of fresh baked bread, everyone in the room enjoys the smell.  When you speak a blessing somehow God lets part of the benefit return to you.  With couples it is very common when one shares “I love you!” for the other to respond, “I love you too.” This idea is reflected in another Bible verse written by King Solomon, “he who refreshes others will also be refreshed.”  This principle implies that we receive what we give to others.  Not at the same moment, but it is like planting blessing seeds with words.  Eventually, you will have a garden full of blessings for you to enjoy for yourself.

However, when you speak cursing it destroys the atmosphere. Consider someone who complains about their job every day.  They don’t like their boss or the working conditions. They complain about the hours and the lack of support.  They don’t like the people they work with and are always criticizing their coworkers. This person just doesn’t enjoy their job and seems for the most part to be miserable. What they speak seems to be like gangrene, slowly killing everything it touches.  Some say misery loves company, and this person will probably have others gathered around that complain about the same things.

Can you bless when you are living in a bad situation?  Yes. Can you speak a blessing when the person you are living with is a real pain? Yes. Can you speak a blessing over someone who is always criticizing you and being argumentative? Yes.

These are difficult experiences that we all share. But speaking a blessing is within the power of choice that God has given you.  Sometimes we start in faith.  That is, we speak of things that are not (now) in a way as though they should be (soon).  This starts with a thankful heart that moves to blessing.  This is a hard principle to learn, but well worth the rewards of the persistence in learning to bless.

So, what kind of words are coming forth out of your mouth?  Does it reflect the blessings that you want for your family and friends?  Have you communicated the love you feel toward you family and friends?

You can do it.  Choose life.  Choose to eat the fruit of your own words.

The alternative isn’t worth eating, so why give it to others?

The Trustworthiness of my Word - A Whisper from Your Father, God

The Trustworthiness of My Word

“Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan,    I will now arise,” says the Lord.    “I will protect them from those who malign them.”⁶ And the words of the Lord are flawless,    like silver purified in a crucible,    like gold^[c] refined seven times.

Psalms 12:5-6

Do you think I do not hear your complaints?  Do you think I close my ears to the troubles that you and others are enduring?  Do you think I don’t care to listen to the injustice that occurs in your life and for those around you?  Do you think I am slow to respond to those who are taken advantage of? Am I so silent from your perspective that I am marginalized as a key component to a rescue?

The challenge my child is to hear what I am saying.  I am speaking.  My words never fail.  I will accomplish that which I have spoken.  Though the answer tarry, wait for it.  Declare my promise to you over and over until we walk in the victory together. My words are not heavy and burdensome, but rather free and life given.  My words bring hope in the darkest situation.

Come, now, let us reason together.  You have not messed up your life so bad, that I am unable to reach you. Rather, I bring order out of chaos. Even your life of shambles can be assembled to reflect the light of my love.  No sin that you are willing to confess remains unforgiven, rather I watch the healing work of my Son on the cross bring wholeness to you once again.

My children, listen to the voice of My Son, their shepherd.  I wanted to speak plainly so that you could understand my love for you.  So, the Word became flesh and dwelt among you.  This Word revealed my heart of grace and truth for you. Ask me to speak.  Then hold on to that which I have spoken.  Write it down.  Share it with others.  Compare it to the “living Word” that you call the Bible.  

If someone were to ask you, “What is God, your Father, saying”?  How would you respond?  My words are tried and true.  The trustworthiness of My words forms the foundation of love and trust between us. I love you and I always will.

Whispers from your Father, God.

Don't miss sharing Jesus

Don’t Miss the Ministry Opportunity!

^13-16 The people brought children to Jesus, hoping he might touch them. The disciples shooed them off. But Jesus was irate and let them know it: “Don’t push these children away. Don’t ever get between them and me. These children are at the very center of life in the kingdom.Mark 10:13-14 (The Message)

Why do we miss ministry opportunities…Why do I miss ministry opportunities?

I had just gotten off work and was driving home.  It had been the warmest day this year and I was thinking of taken a quick nap when I got home. Ugh! Almost out of gas. I was thankful that one of the cheapest stations was on my way home.  I pulled to the inside lane which had the most shade. Got out and started the pump.

A black ford expedition pulled up to the pump on the opposite side of me.  A man got out slowly from the driver’s side, but he did not make his way to the pump.  My thoughts, “with gas going up I bet this is going to take almost $50.00 to fill up.” Another man from the other side of the truck went inside to pay for their gas. My thought, “I wonder how many people still pay cash for their gas?” 

The driver said to me indirectly, “Probably two more years and we will be dead, then we won’t have to worry about this sh’t anymore.”

My thought, “was he talking to me? Was he worried about the gas prices? Was he depending on the other guy for gas money?  His truck is nicer than my vehicle, surely he has what he needs?  I probably should say something spiritual. I just had a birthday and I am in my 50’s, he doesn’t look that much older…what does he mean we are going to die in a couple of years?  Does he know Jesus”…he closed his door and drove away.

Later that night I was attending a city-wide prayer meeting.  The last prayer point was to pray for the salvation of our community. Salvations only occur when the gospel is shared…My prayer was one of repentance. I knew I had missed an opportunity to share the hope that is in Jesus with that man at the gas station.  I had failed. I asked Jesus to forgive me. Oh, how I wished I had the right attitude earlier, but I did pray for the next Christian that the gentleman was around to “make the most of every opportunity to share about the hope we have in Jesus.”

Are there some steps helpful for us to take to keep us prepared to share at any moment?

4 Preparation points to be ready to share the gospel

1.    Youare His witness.  Repent for not taking every opportunity. Repent for your silence. Repent for thinking it is somebody else’s responsibility who is more gifted. Accept the personal responsibility and privilege to be the Ambassador for Christ in your sphere of influence.

2.    Be completely influenced by the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:8 says that we SHALL receive the power from the Holy Spirit to be a witness.  The Holy Spirit empowers each one of us to be the representative to declare what Jesus has done for us. Are you being continually filled with the Holy Spirit’s presence and power?  What can you do to keep in step with the Holy Spirit’s leading?

3.    Pray to God to increase your love for the lost.  When we love someone, we will go out of our way to bless them.  We find opportunities to let them know we are thinking of them.  We send flowers, notes, and find ways to meet them.  Probably, our biggest need of repentance is that we really don’t love the lost people, at least not like Jesus loves them.  He came to seek and to save the lost.  Paul said the love of Christ COMPELLS him to share with others.  Love is a strong motivator and reminder of our mission to share Jesus. Ask God to reveal our lack of love, and then increase our desire to see the lost saved.

4.    Pray to be a worker in the harvest.  Jesus said the harvest is plentiful and the workers are few.  Pray to God for more workers (and for you to be one of those workers) and for the ripe fruit to be harvested.  I have an idea that God just might honor your prayer and send lost people along your path.  People that HE has already primed for the conversation that is within you. Remind the Lord daily with all humility…”Here am I, send me”

Ezekiel placed a heavy load of responsibility on us.  If we see trouble coming and do not blow the warning trumpet, the innocent blood that is shed will be our responsibility.  This generation of lost people (all those who do not know Jesus as their savior) is our responsibility.  If they don’t hear the good news…whose bears the weight? How will they hear and respond to the good news…unless some tells them?

Questions for reflection to discuss with another Christian friend

When was the last time that you turned a conversation intentionally to talk about Jesus?

Do you have the tools ready to share? (Do you know how to share your testimony? Are you prepared to share a gospel presentation? Do you carry gospel tracts? Do you wish you had more training to be proficient in witnessing?)

Do you know how to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit nudging you into a faith conversation?

Have you ever lead someone through a “sinner’s prayer”?  When was the last time?

Feel free to share feedback…silence about the gospel message is not good. Open our mouths LORD.

First Fruits

First Fruits

Honor the LORD from your wealth and from the first of all your produce; So your barns will be filled with plenty And your vats will overflow with new wine. Proverbs 3:9-10 NIV

“Hey Pam, our first strawberry of the season is ripe, it is time to pick it. Wait, why don’t you let Samantha pick it with you?”  I told Pam. Samantha, our 3 year old granddaughter, would be coming over later that night with her brother and dad.

“Great idea”, said Pam.  She and Samantha had been working in the garden recently planting flowers.  They have their own little plant that Samantha helps keep watered.

We took a couple of pictures as Samantha bent down to pick the berry.  Pam showed her how to twist the berry to keep the stem intact so not to damage the top of the berry.  Samantha grabbed the berry and then started to put it directly into her mouth.  She instinctively knew that the best taste sometimes comes straight from the plant.  Pam stopped her quickly and told her that we needed to wash it off first.

We went into the kitchen and washed it, then Pam returned the berry to Samantha.  She did not hesitate, but quickly put the whole berry including the stem into her mouth and began eating. A big smile came across her face as the sweet flavor of a fresh berry swirled around her mouth.  “Can we go outside and pick just ONE… more?”  She looked at her Pammaw with an innocence of belief that Pammaw could make this happen…but that was the only berry ripe at that moment. What to do? What to do?

God loves the intentionality of sharing our first fruits with him.  It’s a reminder to us that he really owns it all anyway.  He gives us the privilege of stewarding His possessions. Sharing opens our heart to the joys of generosity.  Generosity forms a shield against worry because it is an action of trust.  God loves a cheerful giver.  Is the grip of your hand over your “stuff” closed or open?  Freely receive, freely give.  

Shot from the Shadows

Shot from the Shadows

For look, the wicked bend their bows;  they set their arrows against the strings
to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart.³ When the foundations are being destroyed,  what can the righteous do?”Psalms 11:2-3

Our enemy, Satan, does not fight fairly.  If he came to us in a direct assault, we would easily identify his tactics and make some attempts to resist him.  Yet, he shoots us from the shadows.  I offer this poem as a point of identification of both our reaction and our hope.

In the shadows he hides each day

Waiting for the open shot

Unaware what comes my way

My thoughts, he finds the spot

My first response is fear

I wasn’t ready for the attack

Armor was not in gear

Readiness was in lack

He reminded me of failures in my past

There are many too account

Why would God choose me

He shouldn’t, I surmount

Confusion follows next in line

A good direction is lost to me

I remember a simpler time

When I knew just where to be

Somebody stop this merry-go-round

My mind needs a firm place to stand

At last a promise from God I found

A Rock far from the shifting sand

In his refuge is the firm foundation

Fear and confusion must leave

His presence creates the formation

The hope to which I cleave

Take captive every thought

Take it to the cross to see

With His sacrifice He bought

A new creation for us to be

Although there is much in this world to fear and problems are all around us.  Our only hope is found when we center our thoughts back toward Jesus. He promises to never leave us nor forsake us.  Though we will walk through many trials and problems.  Some from our own making and some because we live in a broken world.

Speak His promises OUT LOUD until your faith in the promise is restored.  He will come to you when you seek Him.  He ALWAYS does.  The prince of Peace comes and brings rest.  Rest that comes when we know He is in control of all things…including our mess

Because Jesus Lives

Because He Lives - Bill Gather

God sent His son, they called Him, Jesus;
He came to love, heal and forgive;
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives!

Chorus
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!

Because Jesus is alive...everything is under his feet.  Our view of live is totally transformed when we remember that He rose again from the grave.  Hope arose with Him.

Have a Blessed Easter Day!

Honoring Marriage

Honoring Marriage

4 Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. Hebrews 13:4 NIV

Pam was talking with a lady who had attended our church several times. “Do you have any children?” Pam asked.

“Yes, mam. I have five children.”

“What are their ages and where are they?” Pam inquired.

“The oldest is 14 and she lives with my momma.  She has a little baby now too. The others live with different families. But I gets to see them every now and then.”

“Where you ever married?” Pam

“No mam, I don’t think anyone would ever want to marry me.”

“you know, God’s best design is for a man and a woman to be married and only be with that person all your life.” Pam explained.

“We are not supposed to be with any man who says he likes me?  Mrs. Pam ain’t nobody ever told me that God only wants us to sleep with one man. Do you know anybody who has only slept with one man? I don’t.”

How many people in the church are sexually pure? What does it mean for marriage to be honored by all?

Five ways to honor marriage

1.    Share the original intent – God designed marriage between a man and a woman for a lifetime. Jesus speaking -  Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’  5 and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’?  6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” Matthew 19:4-6 NIV

2.    Speak favorably over marriage – Expect marriages to flourish, don’t speak a curse over a couple wondering how long until they get divorced. 22 He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD. Proverbs 18:22 NIV Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29 NIV

3.    Honor long marriages as a norm instead of a rarity.  Talk often of couples who have loved each other through a lifetime.  Paul Harvey celebrated lifetime couples often in his broadcast.  28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— Ephesians 5:28-29 NIV

4.    Don’t be silent when marriage is ridiculed.  This does not mean that you have to be argumentative or combative. If someone were talking negative about your wife, you would speak up to defend her honor.  God established marriage as the foundation of all social order. When marriage crumbles, society will soon follow.  Healthy marriages establish children with strong character. But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. I Peter 3:15-16 NIV

5.    Divorce is a beginning for restoration, and not a scarlet letter of a subclass Christian.  God hastes divorce, but He also hates all sin. God is into reconciling broken hearts and lives. We plead for God’s mercy to stop the destructive cycle of divorce in our culture. Many people have had wonderful long second marriages.  Others have experienced multiple divorces and decided to live with people instead of marrying again.

May the church recapture the grace message for broken lives. At the same time may we encourage one another to live to the higher standards that bring liberty and freedom to our lives. “Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you Deuteronomy 5:16.

The devil hates marriage which is one reason it is under attack.  The power of unity within a marriage is incredible.  Jesus said that when two agree good things begin to happen. Couples can agree even when things are difficult.  They can pray over their finances, for tough job situations, for children that have gone astray, for wisdom in making decisions about jobs and moving, and about working through their own conflicts. A strong marriage has conflict, but its strength comes from the bonds woven together with the cords of forgiveness, love and preferring one another as more important than themselves.

If the church wishes to gain a strong moral voice in society once again, it will start with a renewed portrayal of honoring marriage.

This is most evident by keeping the marriage bed undefiled or pure, which will be discussed in the next blog.