As this political season heats up, I can feel my temperature rising. I have never enjoyed election years, but so far, this one takes the cake. The whining and mud-slinging are just plain annoying.
Oh, I'm not talking about the candidates, I'm referring to the voters. There are those that take freedom of speech to new heights. Our so-called freedom of speech is not meant to be a free-for-all of hate and disdain being volleyed back and forth like a shuttlecock.
Christians have a responsibility to share their views in ways that reflect Christ's love at all times. This doesn't mean that we have to be soft on the ideals we hold dear, but we do need to consider our desired end result. We should examine our hearts and motives carefully before jumping on a bad wagon or plastering our car bumpers with political paraphernalia.
Every word that comes out of our mouths has the potential to be a fiery dart. Is it more important to point the lost to Christ or prove a fleeting point? Freedom of speech may be a constitutional right, but is it a God-given right? Scripture gives us many stipulations about the way we speak. We don't have carte blanche.
We should stop deluding ourselves into believing that the world can't see through the thinly veiled hatred behind our words and deeds. As the saying goes, "you catch more flies with honey..." Not that people are flies, but you know what I mean.
So please, before you hop in your car and "eat mor chikin" or post your latest dig at "obamacare" or "r money", please ask God to give you the wisdom to love your neighbors first. We have to make sure that we are not using God as a shield to hurt others or propagate our own twisted opinions. The ultimate goal is to win another to Christ. Let's not lose sight of that.
"Speaking the truth in love..." Ephesians 4:15
Rubies are rare and precious jewels. Every facet is unique. When they are broken, they can only be restored by the Creator.
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Temper-Fire Starter
When I started to ponder gentleness this morning, I wasn't sure what I wanted to write. Then it occurred to me. "A gentle response defuses anger..." (Prov. 15:1 MSG)
I'm not sure why that was the first thing that popped into my head. Well, maybe I am. Maybe it's because I sometimes have a hard time with that; more often than I care to admit.
The problem is that I sometimes flip out when I am hurt or upset or stressed out, and I usually hurt the people I care about the most in the process. Oh, I always feel terrible afterwards, but that doesn't undo the damage I've caused.
I've always been a bit rough around the edges. It's primarily a defense mechanism that's been in place for as long as I can remember. But, the rest of this verse says, "...but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire." Wow. Is that what I've been doing? Perhaps.
So, I don't have any wise advice on this topic today because it's something I'm struggling with right now. What I have is an earnest prayer that God will pluck out the non-gentle responses from me and replace them with words that lift up, inspire and promote peace.
If you sometimes falter in this area, feel free to borrow my little prayer. May God make us all more gentle today. Amen.
I'm not sure why that was the first thing that popped into my head. Well, maybe I am. Maybe it's because I sometimes have a hard time with that; more often than I care to admit.
The problem is that I sometimes flip out when I am hurt or upset or stressed out, and I usually hurt the people I care about the most in the process. Oh, I always feel terrible afterwards, but that doesn't undo the damage I've caused.
I've always been a bit rough around the edges. It's primarily a defense mechanism that's been in place for as long as I can remember. But, the rest of this verse says, "...but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire." Wow. Is that what I've been doing? Perhaps.
So, I don't have any wise advice on this topic today because it's something I'm struggling with right now. What I have is an earnest prayer that God will pluck out the non-gentle responses from me and replace them with words that lift up, inspire and promote peace.
If you sometimes falter in this area, feel free to borrow my little prayer. May God make us all more gentle today. Amen.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
His Goodness, not Mine
Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life. And I will live in the house of the Lord forever. Amen.
While this is a mishmash of several different versions of Psalm 23:6, it's how it flowed out of my heart tonight. I hope you're okay with that.
This is the verse that entered my mind when I was pondering the fruit of the spirit of goodness.
Since I am not good, I thought of God's goodness. We are not born good, nor do we become good. But in God's goodness, He has volunteered to share some of it with us. He shines through us. We are not good in anyway without Him. So any "good" people see in me is His light shining through. I can't take a bit of credit.
I'm just grateful that He's so good to me, even though I don't deserve it.
While this is a mishmash of several different versions of Psalm 23:6, it's how it flowed out of my heart tonight. I hope you're okay with that.
This is the verse that entered my mind when I was pondering the fruit of the spirit of goodness.
Since I am not good, I thought of God's goodness. We are not born good, nor do we become good. But in God's goodness, He has volunteered to share some of it with us. He shines through us. We are not good in anyway without Him. So any "good" people see in me is His light shining through. I can't take a bit of credit.
I'm just grateful that He's so good to me, even though I don't deserve it.
- a joyful journal
- apopiptolepis
- out loud in my head
- by feet or heart
- the ever-changing th...
- the rabbit hold chronicles
- there is beauty in letti...
Monday, June 18, 2012
I'm Not Kind
I once told a friend of mine that I'm not kind. He looked at me with the most peculiar face. He was utterly baffled. He responded in the most incredulous way. "You are too!" he said. I have to chuckle at the memory.
While I don't remember what we were talking about, I do remember meaning what I said. If someone asked me to describe myself, that's not a word that would make my top ten.
Why? I always associate kindness with sweetness. In truth, I'm feisty and a bit rough around the edges. I think I'm compassionate, but not really kind. Is that possible?
I'm not sure, but the fruits of the spirit require kindness, so I have to work on it. I have to embody kindness. I should exude kindness and ooze it all over everyone.
So here is my question: do acts of kindness make you a kind person? If not, why not?
While I don't remember what we were talking about, I do remember meaning what I said. If someone asked me to describe myself, that's not a word that would make my top ten.
Why? I always associate kindness with sweetness. In truth, I'm feisty and a bit rough around the edges. I think I'm compassionate, but not really kind. Is that possible?
I'm not sure, but the fruits of the spirit require kindness, so I have to work on it. I have to embody kindness. I should exude kindness and ooze it all over everyone.
So here is my question: do acts of kindness make you a kind person? If not, why not?
- a joyful journal
- apopiptolepis
- out loud in my head
- by feet or heart
- the ever-changing th...
- the rabbit hold chronicles
- there is beauty in letti...
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Anxiously Waiting Patiently
PATIENCE. I wrote it in caps on purpose. This word screams at me a lot. Does it scream at you, or are you one of those disgustingly patient people who has no problem waiting for anything? I bet you don't have road rage. You never yell at your children. You don't even get mad when you pray for an answer and are met with deadening silence.
That's not me.
I don't typically characterize myself as impatient, unless it's really important. Will I get this job? When will You tell me what direction you want me to go? When will this work day end? You know, that kind of stuff. The big stuff.
So what's the deal with patience? Why is it so hard? The tough thing for me is to accept God's timing. I wanted to know last week, but He's got me scheduled to find out sometime in 2014. What am I supposed to do until then?
WAIT.
Patience is a process. If I am waiting patiently, I am not stressed out with worry and fear. If I am waiting patiently, I am learning to persevere. If I am waiting patiently, my faith is taking wings and building muscle.
It takes courage, but we can rest in knowing God knows the paths we are to follow, and his GPS never causes us to end up in a backyard when we're trying to get to the mall in the next town over. He is infallible. He is unchanging. He is worth waiting patiently for. I love how God reminds me to be patient when I need it the most?
What are you waiting for God to show you today? Are you waiting patiently or biting off your nails?
*Scripture from YouVersion.com NLT
That's not me.
I don't typically characterize myself as impatient, unless it's really important. Will I get this job? When will You tell me what direction you want me to go? When will this work day end? You know, that kind of stuff. The big stuff.
So what's the deal with patience? Why is it so hard? The tough thing for me is to accept God's timing. I wanted to know last week, but He's got me scheduled to find out sometime in 2014. What am I supposed to do until then?
WAIT.
That's what we're expected to do. Wait on Him. Psalm 27:14 says:
Wait patiently for the LORD.
Be brave and courageous.
Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.*
It takes courage, but we can rest in knowing God knows the paths we are to follow, and his GPS never causes us to end up in a backyard when we're trying to get to the mall in the next town over. He is infallible. He is unchanging. He is worth waiting patiently for. I love how God reminds me to be patient when I need it the most?
What are you waiting for God to show you today? Are you waiting patiently or biting off your nails?
*Scripture from YouVersion.com NLT
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Peace Failure
In exploring peace this week, I realized that I was lacking it more times than a few, and that it's nobody's fault but mine. See, God always holds up His end of the bargain. If something isn't working out the way I want it to, I know where the glitch happened. But...just because I know, doesn't mean I fully embrace the idea all the time.
God promises to give me a peace that exceeds understanding (Phil. 4:7). My part of the bargain is to keep my mind fixed on Him instead of my circumstances. I am to be thankful for those things in my life that are good. I am to trust Him instead of myself or my logic. In return, He gives me peace that defies common sense! That's a nice deal!
The problem is, I just can't do it. That's right. I'm a failure at this. When problems are super-sized, the way they have been this week, I lose my focus sometimes. But there's good news: God never fails. Even when I give up on Him, He doesn't give up on me. When I am weak, He is strong. He is right there waiting for me to shift my focus back to Him and stop wallowing.
When my focus is on my salvation instead of my circumstances, I experience peace that no mind can explain. That peace is the kind that allows me to sleep when I should be tossing and turning. It allows me to sing when I should be crying. It allows me to trust when everyone else is doubting me. The peace He gives cannot be found in stores or in the arms of another. His peace is worth more than anything.
I thank Him for this timely reminder tonight when I need it so much. His peace is worth holding onto. Have you grabbed hold of His peace? How do you stay focused on the peace-giver when life weighs you down?
God promises to give me a peace that exceeds understanding (Phil. 4:7). My part of the bargain is to keep my mind fixed on Him instead of my circumstances. I am to be thankful for those things in my life that are good. I am to trust Him instead of myself or my logic. In return, He gives me peace that defies common sense! That's a nice deal!
The problem is, I just can't do it. That's right. I'm a failure at this. When problems are super-sized, the way they have been this week, I lose my focus sometimes. But there's good news: God never fails. Even when I give up on Him, He doesn't give up on me. When I am weak, He is strong. He is right there waiting for me to shift my focus back to Him and stop wallowing.
When my focus is on my salvation instead of my circumstances, I experience peace that no mind can explain. That peace is the kind that allows me to sleep when I should be tossing and turning. It allows me to sing when I should be crying. It allows me to trust when everyone else is doubting me. The peace He gives cannot be found in stores or in the arms of another. His peace is worth more than anything.
I thank Him for this timely reminder tonight when I need it so much. His peace is worth holding onto. Have you grabbed hold of His peace? How do you stay focused on the peace-giver when life weighs you down?
Need more peace? Check out:
There is Beauty in Letting Go: http://beautyintheletgo.
The Rabbit Hole Chronicles: http://
The Ever-changing Thought: http://tecthought.
A Joyful Journal: http://
Out Lout in My Head: http://outloudinmyhead.blogspot.com/
Apopiptolepsis: http://apopiptolepis.wordpress.com/
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Inexpressible Joy
As I walked, a person asked me for directions to the main hospital. Great. I'm lost, and someone needs directions. Oh boy. I told her I wasn't sure, but that I thought it was down the hill. I offered to walk with her until we found it. It was actually down the hill. Yay, me! In the process of walking and talking, I learned that she had recently lost her job and had subsequently become homeless. I was immediately humbled.
We shared lunch together and talked some more. In the process, I learned that I am so blessed. Though we have been hit very hard economically, we are still hanging onto our home by a thread and meals come regularly. Since I had to rush off to a meeting, I didn't have time to stay for long with her. I had intended to come back and meet her at the end of my day, but circumstances precluded it.
I prayed that I would see her again. Yesterday, as I was leaving work walking in a new direction, I saw her again. JOY filled my heart. God had heard my prayers and answered in a way that only He could. And I had NO doubt that it was His work alone. We hugged. We talked. I know I'll see her again, and I know He's taking care of her in ways that I can't. That gave me "inexpressible" joy.
God is the only source of true joy (I Pet. 1:8), and He pours His joy out in unexpected ways. And, though I had to settle that day for a well-made panini over my waffle fries, I got something much better in the end. What filled your heart with unspeakable (inexpressible) joy today?
For more on the Joy Fruit of the Spirit, please visit:
There is Beauty in Letting Go: http://beautyintheletgo.
The Rabbit Hole Chronicles: http://
The Ever-changing Thought: http://tecthought.
A Joyful Journal: http://
Out Lout in My Head: http://outloudinmyhead.blogspot.com/
Out Lout in My Head: http://outloudinmyhead.blogspot.com/
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