Thursday, January 27, 2011

Mixed Messages

What message are you sending out with the words you speak? Do the words you speak tell others you are a Christian, and that you extend grace and mercy because you have received grace and mercy? Or, do the words you speak make others think you are filled with an evil spirit...one that is quick to anger and uses her words to hurt others?

Sometimes we send mixed messages with the words we speak. Proverbs 11:22 says "A beautiful woman who lacks discretion is like a gold ring in a pig's snout." Now, that's a picture for you. There's nothing about a gold ring in a pig's snout that is appealing to me, and I will guess that you will agree to that. But as women, that's what we look like when we don't act with discretion. We should have discretion not only with our actions but with our words.

James 3 in the Bible talks about how hard it is to control our tongues, and how evil our tongues can be when they are not under control. But it's not our control that we need to place our tongues under. It's the control of the Holy Spirit that our tongues should be placed under. God has given us the gift of His Spirit living inside of us if we have accepted Christ as our Savior. We just need to listen to that Spirit before we speak. Romans 8:8 says "..those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God." In Galatians 5, it says those living by the Spirit will show "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self control".

The last thing I want people to see when they look at me is a pig with a gold ring in it's nose. As a matter of fact, when others look at me I want them to see Jesus. I think I'm going to start thinking more about the words I use.

If you want to hear more on what the Bible says about words, check out James 3:2-9, Proverbs 12:5-8, Proverbs 12: 13-22, and 1 Peter 3:10-11. Ask God to point out how you can improve your words.

Thank you Lord for the gift of YOUR WORD. I love reading the Bible. I know you give me the rules to live by to help me. I know speaking kind words will bring more blessings to me than speaking evil words. Help me to reflect You in my speech. Forgive me when I've failed you and help me to listen to your Holy Spirit. ~ Amen

Friday, January 21, 2011

The Words of a Friend

Proverbs 18:21 "The tongue has the power of life and death.."

My friend, Jennifer, called me. She didn't really say anything important. She didn't really have anything to tell me. She just called me to say hello and to check on me. She knows I've been sick. Her call was good medicine for me. I needed to hear from a friend, and God prompted her to call me. I'm so glad she listened to Him.

You see, I've been sick for about 5 weeks now. I'm getting better, but it's been a tough road. I guess I'm getting all my sick days in the first of the year so the rest of 2011 will be free from illness! At least that's what I'm claiming. While I've been sick, Satan has been attacking me. He's been feeding me bad thoughts. He been telling me how dim my future looks. Now, you know that's not God. God's Word says He has GREAT plans for us....plans not to harm us, but for hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11) So, I know it was the enemy trying to steal my joy. He's been doing a good job of robbing that joy, and might be succeeding if it weren't for my friends and family. They've been God's voice to me.

Have you ever had friends encourage you? Maybe someone has sent you a text at just the right moment. Maybe someone has called you just to pray with you. Maybe you've gotten an email that said, "How are you and how can I help you?".

Or, have you ever encouraged someone through your words? Who can you show the love of Jesus to during their hard times?

Jesus, thank you for Jennifer, Judy, Martha, Mom, Mimi, Dean, Amy, Michelle, Betty, Julie, Manthie, Wyn, Scotty, Leanna, Nate and all of the others that have prayed for me and encouraged me this week. I am so thankful for my family, both my biological family and my family in Christ. I hear your voice through them and I'm listening!