Gossip

A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much. Proverbs 20:19

A talebearer revealeth secrets; but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter. Proverbs 11:13

The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man’s most inmost parts. Proverbs 18:8

…and a gossip separates close friends. Prov 16:28

Gossip is dangerous… it’s hurtful and harmful to all involved.

If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. James 1:26

Sin Interferes with Progress

Doesn’t sin have a consequence that wears heavily on us?!  We lose opportunities to grow, be blessed, and help others.  Instead we place huge obstacles in front of us that cause us and others only to struggle, as well as hurt God again and again.

It’s been a while since I’ve posted a blog and this is what God has put on my heart this morning.  I am here because I continue to “lose track” of time.  Here, God has created a world for His children – for us to care for, replenish and fill, and share His truth to those who’ve not yet heard – and I don’t take hold of the authority He’s given me in Christ Jesus over my life.  I allow myself to hold onto temporary emotions that harbor only resentment, bitterness, and in some cases a deep rage that comes out on unsuspecting and innocent bystanders.

I have forgotten that I am stronger than temptation… I’ve been saying for so long that I “can”  and yet I don’t.  I have heard this said from smokers, drunkards, and the like – I “can” stop, I just “choose” not to.  I have found I use this EXACT phrase that has annoyed me to no end in the past.  Ugh.

Here I am to share with you because the struggles shared by others helps me and so I hope this helps you.  How have I allowed myself to neglect the very things that are important.  I haven’t done my devotions or my journaling in a long time.  When I have gotten into the Word, I’ve not allowed it to take it’s deeper place in me but instead have used it temporarily.  I’ve changed slightly over these past months but not as much as I know I would have – and have in the past – had I been in the Word as I should be.

I haven’t taken the time to train my children in areas that I know is important for them as children of God.  I haven’t taken time to play and be silly with them, nor pray and carry their burdens with them.  Even more important than all of that, I haven’t taken time to teach through my actions and through talking of the love of God nearly as often as I should be.

Thankfully God is SO great… and I know I can stop what I’ve been doing and start doing what I’m supposed to be doing – all the time – by faith, with Him.

I go back to remembering that feelings are temporary and truth is eternal… and God’s Word says “Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” (Proverbs 16:3) As we do this we can be confident in the fact that, “he who began a good work in [us] will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)

So I commit to doing as the Lord asks, knowing that He’s promised success.  And I go forth ready for the in’s and out’s of life, standing on this truth – that the work He’s doing in me is good and He’ll carry it on, transforming me to His likeness until the day of Christ!  Praise God!

I pray that you be blessed on this glorious day!  Enjoy Him, get in His Word, and Pray.

The Journey Ahead…

The Lord is moving and though I can’t quite explain it, I feel a change ocurring in me.  Over the last couple of years, I’ve become angry and so angry that a recent prayer was that the Lord would give me the compassion I once had – once prayed to remove because of the hurt that comes with it.  With compassion comes tears – with empathy comes torment – but with it comes emotion and love.  Anger feels like the removal of care.  It was a harboring of indifference and emptiness.  I longed to care but couldn’t and that was more frightening than the overwhelming compassion I once felt that broke my heart so many times.

The Lord knows what He’s doing, and I am so thankful that He’s shown me why He made me who I am.  He’s softening my heart again after it’s been hard for a long time.  It’s vulnerable and delicate and fragile right now, but strong at the same time.  I know why it’s that way now and I don’t want to change that for anything.  With love comes hurts, but without love … it’s just plain lonely.

Anger can overpower the very thing God made to set us apart from others.  My compassion for the unlovable people in the world that has often left me feeling lonely and sad is not a weakness but a strength that makes me more Christ-like.

He wept.  Now I understand.

Thank You, Lord, for who You’ve made me.  It’s been hard accepting what I’ve perceived to be weakness but it’s the very thing in me that you’ve used to reveal YOUR love through.  It’s not about me, Lord.  Thank you… thank You that I’m not alone in this and that You speak to me and are here.  I can’t do any of this without You.  It’s impossible.  Continue to be with me and don’t leave my side.  Thank You.  Thank You. Father… Daddy – thank You.

But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. Psalm 86:15

My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. James 1:19-21

You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:7-17

Get In Your Place!

Satan is charming, convincing, and very clever.  When speaking with Eve in the garden located in the east of Eden, he spoke through insinuation.  He seduced her with the draw of a vuluptuous fruit from the forbidden tree and convinced her by the wandering thoughts he produced when questioning God’s motives.

God does not do this.  God is open with His intentions and He reveals Himself to us.  Sometimes, our measly little brains don’t fully comprehend His vastness, but He does not pretend to be something He is not.  He doesn’t hide the truth!

Satan enjoys stealing, killing, and destroying what is precious to God.  He hides this in his attempts – but his argument sounds lovely… on the surface.  “Your eyes will be opened” he delights.  He conspires and plants doubt: “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”

“I can be like God?” One could consider… perhaps Eve did just that.  Did she forget that God said that she would surely die if she ate the fruit?  Didn’t she hear?  A little taste is all it took… a simple act of disobedience because of doubt and greed.

God says it plainly and doesn’t seduce and charm us to Him.  He is a God of love and wrath, mercy and judgment, forgiveness and contempt!  Voddie Baucham stated it well – we shouldn’t be asking why bad things happen if God is so good and powerful, what we should be asking is why, after what we’ve done today and yesterday, hasn’t He killed us in our sleep!  Are we greater than God?!

“Do you know the ordinances of the heavens?  Can you set their dominion over the earth?  “Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, That an abundance of water may cover you?   Can you send out lightnings, that they may go, And say to you, ‘Here we are!’?” (Job 38:33-35)

No!  It is God who is mighty – NOT MAN!  We are created in HIS image, not the other way around.  He is perfect in His love and perfect in His wrath!  He is not greedy or selfish!  His love is not like our love and His wrath unlike ours!  He is righteous and holy and it is by HIM we are made holy – not by anything we have done or been or thought or hoped for.  HE is holy and in our feeble attempt to be a blessing to Him, HE makes an unworthy man WORTHY and HOLY and RIGHTEOUS.  It is not for us or because of us… it is a testament to the God that He IS!

God is holy.  We must get off our our home-made pedestals and realize we are NOTHING without Him.  He is waiting for us… how much longer must He wait?  How much longer?

Lord, God!  Forgive our selfish and ignorant ways!  Look on our affliction and forgive our sinful ways!  May we take down our idols and worship YOU.  Humble our arrogance!  Break down our pride!  Reveal to us our weakness!  Send Your Spirit and enable us to fall at Your feet – it is our unintelligence that causes us to believe we are greater than the almighty… may we see the truth!  Oh I cry out for Your truth over us!  In the authority of Christ’s precious name I pray, Lord God!

Consider the Cost

When Jesus began his ministry, he didn’t flippantly choose who his disciples would be.  He looked hard and told them to do the same – to consider the cost and that they shouldn’t start if they weren’t willing to finish (Matthew 10:37).  The cost is high and includes our ego – by submitting to Christ and to the call on our lives rather than chasing after selfish ambitions.

Stumbling and fumbling along the way, eleven out of the twelve disciples counted the cost and eventually paid the price – Peter denied Jesus and hid during the beatings and horrific happenings against Jesus; Judas betrayed Christ and never found his way back.

Father, I pray that I’d be serious in following You, but I am useless.  I pray I would be aware of the Philip in my own life – that I would not betray you.  Lay your hand upon me and be with me, because without you, sinning I will continue to do – but with you all things are possible.  In Jesus name I pray!  Amen!

Leading By Example

The kings of the earth, and all inhabitants of the world, would not have believed that the adversary and the enemy could enter the gates of Jerusalem— because of the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests, who shed in her midst the blood of the just.  They wandered blind in the streets; they have defiled themselves with blood, so that no one would touch their garments.  They cried out to them, “ Go away, unclean!  Go away, go away, do not touch us!”  When they fled and wandered, those among the nations said, “ They shall no longer dwell here.” The face of the LORD scattered them; He no longer regards them.
The people do not respect the priests nor show favor to the elders. Lamentations 4:12-16

This should be a strong warning to all of us who lead, whether it’s our families or a nation.  When God’s people are judged due to the sins of their leaders, God’s people will even lose respect for legitimate leadership.  The influence, as faithful leaders, could be lost.

Additionally it fuels the fire for those who choose to ridicule and scorn the church.  Our influence goes beyond those under our leadership but in fact effects each life around us.  For some, how we live, will be the only Bible they read.  Because of this, we have a responsibility to serve God’s people by honoring Him with our lives.