Praise Ye The Lord

Acts 16:23-26 

 ²³And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:  ²⁴Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.  ²⁵And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.  ²⁶And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.

We all know this Bible story and how that it begins with the unjust arrest of Paul and Silas.  They were arrested after casting a spirit of divination out of a girl.  They were then beaten by these Phillippian authorities and thrown into a jail cell.  Not only did they have the trauma from the beating but they were fastened in stocks which clamped their arms and legs in an immobile position.  This caused cramps and loss of circulation, Im sure.  The atmosphere there was no doubt depressing.  A jail in those days was more like a dungeon, not a hotel room.  It was a dark, damp, stinky place with no waste facilities, no pillow top mattresses, no down comforters, no heat, no air condition, no color cable tv, no weight rooms, no 3 course meals.  It was what jail was intended to be. 

Yet, in spite of the disheartening atmosphere and the pain in their bodies, at midnight Paul and Silas began to praise the Lord.  (And by the way, can you imagine what nuts the other prisoners must have thought those two were?)  Then, suddenly, the earth began to shake creating what my husband often refers to as the original “Jail House Rock.”   The doors flung open and the stocks that bound Paul and Silas were broken, releasing them and all of the other prisoners.  (Amazing how our praise can help those around us, huh?)  What do you think could have caused such an amazing discharge of power?

Paul and Silas knew the secret of how to lift their hearts above their troubles and enter into Gods presence and power.  Thru worship and praise, their hearts provided God a channel to operate in their circumstances.

The Bible says in Psalm 22:3 that God inhabits in the praises of Israel.  In other words, God dwells in the atmosphere of His praise.  So this means that praise is not just a reaction from coming into His presence, but it is actually the action that gets us into His presence.  It is the gate-pass that allows us to enter the sacredness of His glory.  The psalmist wrote “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful to Him and bless His name.”  

 Some think that worship is a response after the Holy Spirit moves upon them.  However, it’s the other way around.  Gods presence responds when we move upon Him with worship.  Lifting up praises to God provokes Him to send His sweet spirit by to bless and comfort us. 

So what is praise?  It is an expression of lifting up and glorifying the Lord.  It is an expression of humbling ourselves and centering our attention upon the Lord.  There are many actions that can be involved with praising God including singing, playing instruments, shouting, or lifting our hands.  But true praise to God is no just merely going thru any of these motions.  We are not to be like the Pharisees and worship only as an outward show.  Genuine praise to Him is a matter of humility and sincere devotion to the the Lord from within.

He delights in the love and devotion of His children.  He eagerly awaits the “fragrance” of our affections toward Him, so that he can manifest His sweet presence to us.

Praise to God is a lifestyle.  All to often we leave our praise at church.  It is an event that we only allow to happen when we come together with other Christians.  However, it should be part of a believers lifestyle that is inter-mingled as a part of our daily prayer life.  At work, in the car, at home in the bed, or anywhere; praise to the Lord brings a refreshing of the Lords presence, along with His power and anointing.  “I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Psalm 34:1

Praise is an expression of faith and a declaration of victory.  It declares that we believe God is with us and that He is in control of the outcome of all of our circumstance.  (Rom 8:28)   Praise is a sacrifice.  Something that we offer Him sacrificially, not just because we feel like it, but because we believe in Him and want to please Him.  “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”  Hebrews 13:15

Since praise manifests Gods presence, we realize that praise must send the enemy running.  An atmosphere that is filled with sincere worship to God by humble and contrite hearts, is disgusting to the devil.  He fears the power that is in the name “Jesus” and he has to flee. 

When the children of Judah found themselves outnumbered by the hostile armies of Ammon, Moab, and mount Sier; King Jehoshopat and all the people sought the Lord for His help.  The Lord assured the people that this would be His battle.  He told them to go out against them and He would do the fighting for them.  So what did the people do?  Being the people of praise (Judah means praise) and knowing that God manifest himself thru praise, they sent their army, led by the praisers, against their enemies.  So on they went, ahead of the army.  “And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.”  II Chronicles 20:22

When Gods people praise Him, their enemy will flee.  That, alone, is worth us praising Him.  The absence of our enemy, the devil, is worth shouting from now until the Lords return.  I know how he can ruin my day with one simple thought.  Let alone if I give him half the day to play inside my mind. 

So even tho half the church is against you, your bills aren’t paid, your children are mean, your hubby has had a bad day, your boss woke up on the wrong side of the bed, your laundry is piled up, your car refuses to pass a gas station without stopping….. Praise ye the Lord!!!!  When we get to where we can praise Him in the bad times, our praise during the good times will be sweeter than ever.  That is just one more of Gods promises that we can rely on, His presence in response to our worship!

Our MIssion ~ Soul Winning

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:19-20

Think of how much you love your children, your parents, your spouse, your siblings.  Well everyone you come in contact with is that to someone.  Somebody loves them the way you love your family.  I would hate to think that someone wouldn’t witness to one of my lost loved ones because of how they dress or how much money they have, or what kind of car they drive, or where they work, or even because they are a “mean or rude”  individual.  Lately I have been burdened about lost people.  Things that used to enrage me, now break my heart.  I began to realize that I was somewhat like a Pharisee after a certain incident took place in a grocery store checkout line.  Landon and I were waiting in line to check out when a boy, that looked to be the same age as Landon, was acting out toward and lashing out to his mother.  The child was really causing a scene and using profanity all over being told to “come back and help put the groceries up here.”  The people finally got their items loaded and paid for and left.  Landon and I put our things up on the belt and paid and proceeded to the car.  Once we got outside, we saw and heard the mother and son in the parking lot.  They were still fussing and going on.  I looked and noticed that he was teary eyed.  I leaned over to him and was just going to remind him that it would never be a good idea for him to talk to me or treat me like that and to tell him what I would do to that kid if he were mine.  Before I could get my declaration out, the tears started streaming down his little face.  He looked up and me and said, “Momma, he just needs to be saved.  I could have been like him but God gave me a momma and daddy that took me to church and I got saved.  I don’t think his mom takes him to church, so he doesn’t know about God or how much He loves him.”  Of course, I felt like a terrible person. But I am so thankful for the events of that day.  God used that to help me regain a burden for lost people.

We each have different gifts, but God has given us all the same mission. "Go...make disciples." That's the great commission, not the great suggestion! And it's not just for pastors and missionaries, it's for you! And it's mandatory, binding and urgent. Listen: “When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.”  Ezekiel 3:18

"But I'm not good with words," you say. So what? If you can interview for a job, apply for a loan, or propose to your husband or wife, surely you can say something on behalf of Christ. Can you imagine having a cure for cancer and keeping it to yourself? Sharing the greatest news is the greatest kindness you can show to anyone.

One problem long-term Christians have is they forget how hopeless it felt to be without Christ. Another problem is they mix so much with church folks that they forget how to communicate with non-church folks. No matter how contented or successful the people around you appear to be, without Christ they're empty and lost - eternally lost!

You are the only Christian somebody knows; there are people that only you can reach because of where you live and what God has made you to be. If just one person is in heaven because of you, your life will have made a difference. So, start looking around at your personal mission field and begin to pray: "God, who have You put in my life today that needs to know about Jesus?"
Today there's a growing interest in the Second Coming of Christ. Before He ascended, Jesus' disciples asked Him about it. His response? “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth..” Acts 1:8.   When the disciples wanted to talk about prophesy, Jesus switched the conversation to soul winning. He told them that the details of My return aren't your business. Your business is winning the lost. Focus on that!  That is what we should focus on. 

Speculating on the timing of Christ's return is futile because Jesus said: "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only." Matt 24:36. Now if Jesus didn't know the day of His return, why are you trying to figure it out? What we do know for sure is: Jesus will not return until everyone God wants to hear the good news has heard it. So if you want Jesus to come back sooner, get busy and start winning souls.

Soul winning isn't something you "fit into your life".  It should be your life's purpose! Instead of praying: "God I want You to bless what I do," we should pray, "God help me to do what You're blessing."  I’m convinced that there's almost nothing God won't do for the one who's committed to bringing others into His kingdom!

Dealing With Past Hurts & Unforgiveness

Being deeply hurt or mistreated by a friend or an enemy, past emotional, mental or physical abuse, can cause so many inner problems. I have had my share of such experiences. Bitterness, anger and unforgiveness are typical responses to such injustices suffered, but as these reactions hinder our walk with Christ, the Bible gives us ample instructions on how to overcome them.



Keep No Record of Wrongs
Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.  Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. (Isaiah 43:18-19)

This passage provides a vivid description of a life damaged by past hurts – a life that has become a wasteland, a desert. Dwelling upon a record of wrongs weighs us down and heavily burdens us. But the Lord’s instructions to forget those former things and not dwell on them, comes with a beautiful promise. Letting them go releases streams of living water into our life and enables God to do a new work in us.

One of the greatest new works Christ does in our lives is to bring us to a place where we can forgive those who have hurt us. This is such an important aspect of our daily Christian walk that Jesus included it as part of the Lord’s prayer. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. (Luke 11:4)

Instead of dwelling on past hurts, we can let go of those memories and forgive the person that hurt us. Although we cannot make ourselves forget the memories, if we stop clinging to them the painful associations will fade significantly.
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,  Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; (I Cor 13:4-5)

I would like to share something practical that helped me to forget such things. I had been hurt so deeply by someone very dear to me that for a long time I was unable to let go of the pain and associated anger. Then one day I wrote onto a piece of paper a list of the things that they had done to hurt me. Then I folded the paper in two (restricting my access to it) and put it in a box that I couldn’t easily get to, under my bed. Once I had that written memoir of those wrongs, I no longer felt a need to keep a mental record of them. I let that folded page carry those memories instead of my mind. After a while the anger faded away and I was able to forgive that person, and as time passed those memories became void, along with the pain that was associated with them.


“But it is Part of Who I am…”

One reason I had trouble letting go of past hurts was because they had become part of my identity. “I am this way because of how that person mistreated me,” was an excuse I believed. I feared that if I let go of the anger and record of wrongs and forgave the person who had hurt me, I would lose a part of myself, part of my very individuality.

However, Jesus taught me that such fears were unfounded, that I did not have to hold onto past hurts in order to maintain my identity. He showed me that there was another option - to allow His love and forgiveness to flow from me towards the person who hurt me. And when I did this, instead of anger and the record of past wrongs being part of who I was, Christ’s love and forgiveness became part of my identity.

If someone were to meet me and hear my testimony now, they would not hear me say, “I am this way because of how that person mistreated me.” Instead, they would see that I have forgiven the person who wounded me, and in fact love them so dearly, still. If they were to ask me how this could be, I would answer, “I am this way because of Christ’s work of love and forgiveness in my life.”

When we let Christ's love and forgiveness become part of who we are, we change and become more like Christ. And is that not our goal, to become more like Him?   Galatians 2:20 says “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

As we learn to surrender our lives to Christ, He can give us such a powerful revelation of His love for us that we can view others through His loving gaze rather than through our own eyes. I have experienced this very powerfully in my life.

If we could learn to all be like Steven was when he was wrongly being stoned to death.  His unforgiving spirit overshadows how horrific his death was.

What a wonderful testimony this is to the power of God’s love. When others see us forgive - even love - those who have hurt us, they see the power of God’s kingdom in action, and their lives are changed too.


Harboring Unforgiveness Hurts Ourselves

If we have been deeply hurt by someone in the past, we earnestly desire to flee that pain and be set free from the wounds. A thought that I would like us to bear in mind is that by consciously or unconsciously harboring anger, bitterness, and unforgiveness towards that person, we unwittingly participate in keeping those wounds fresh and unable to heal. That is one reason that Jesus spoke so often of the importance of forgiving those who have wronged us. By not forgiving them, we hurt ourselves even further.


To Forgive Others, Reflect On How Much God Has Forgiven Us

The most liberating Biblical truth that helps us to forgive those who have treated us unjustly is to recognize the depths to which God has forgiven us.

Why does the Bible say, ^“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you” in  Matthew 6:14? It is because for us to refuse to forgive others after God has forgiven our massive debts towards Him, shows a lack of appreciation of how much God has forgiven us.

We all know of the parable in Matthew 18:21-35, where a servant who owed millions of dollars to a king, had that debt cancelled when he asked for mercy. The servant then went on to throw a fellow servant that owed him a few dollars into prison, because he had not paused to reflect on the mercy the king had extended towards him.

This is the key to forgiving others. Although it is a perfectly understandable reaction to say about someone who hurt us very deeply, "I can't ever forgive them for what they did to me!" However, as we reflect on just how much God has forgiven us, which is heaps, then it becomes easier for us to forgive others, regardless of what they did to us.

So, regardless of how much we have been hurt by others, let us forgive them. If God forgives us of our numerous sins towards Him, we can forgive others of their (comparatively) lesser sins towards us.

And then we will be sons and daughters of God, revealing His nature to a hurting world, as it shows us in Luke 6:35-36 “But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.  Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.”

I've Missed Out

  Being the preacher’s wife, I’m sure you have heard about “how much you miss out on.”  I have heard one too many times about what all I miss in life because of my “religion.”  Sadly, it has often times come from family.  They have told me that I live way too strict and that I don’t enjoy the finer things of life.  They say that I miss out on a lot of good times because I won’t join them for a birthday party or bachelorette party, because I know what the choice beverage will be. 

  Well, I will have to say that I agree with them.  I have missed out.

  I’ve missed out on a life filled with sin.  I’ve missed out on chasing my husband around begging him to come home or lying in bed wondering where he was or who he was with.  I have missed out on worrying about who the father of my child may be.  I have missed out on the extreme headaches and nausea that follows the night of flooding my body with alcohol.  I have missed out on the broken home that is a result of loose living.  I have missed out on my children being ripped away from my home because of a drug addiction that I can’t control.   Wow, they are right, I’ve really missed out.  

  Don’t get me wrong, I’m not belittling those who have suffered some of these side effects of these sins.  I am completely aware that it is only the grace of God that has kept me sheltered from these things.  I am also aware that everything could completely change tomorrow.  But for now I will praise God for the precious years behind me that have been sheltered by His grace.

  The world we live in continues to promote sin as though it is liberating and glorious. We are bombarded with magazines, television shows, movies, and songs that attempt to promote sin as the source of real happiness. The true products of sin are pain, further separation from the things that bring us true joy, and ultimately death. The world’s biggest excuse for not coming to church is “I do what I want to do,” or “I’m my own person,” because they don’t want to be a slave to the church or to Christ. The Bible tells us differently.  We all have a master and it is either Christ or Satan.  So, the world is full of slaves to sin. People are enslaved to sexual immorality, alcohol, drugs, the internet, etc., to such an extent that they sometimes cannot go more than a few hours without being overwhelmed by self-destructive urges. 

  In his letter to the Romans, Paul described the power sin has to enslave us. What the unbeliever must realize is that accepting Christ does not lead to a life of “do nots.” Simply put, sin life is negative, while life under the power of Christ is positive. God wants to free us and heal us from the control that our earthly bodies have over us. Paul says, “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” (Romans 6.6)  By accepting the grace of Jesus, we begin the attack on our old sin lives. Through Jesus alone we break our earthly bondage to sin and the power it has over our actions. Without the influence of our flesh we can be led by the Holy Spirit and for the first time, see a clear picture of what we should and should not do to have abundant life (John 10:10).

  The Christ follower is not missing out on the things of the world, but is instead freed to pursue the joy and fulfillment we were designed to enjoy. The joy of a successful marriage far outweighs spending nights in smoky bars, talking over bad music. Through the truth of Jesus, we see that a life without alcohol far outweighs having countless hours and financial resources consumed in alcohol abuse. The most sinister aspect of sin is its ability to convince us that we are happy, while it clutches us and drags us down. As Christ followers, we must be aware that the non-believer may not know they are enslaved or even want to be freed (John 8:34). Still, we must bring them to Jesus, so the Holy Spirit can open their eyes to the destructive power of sin and they can know the joy of His eternal love.

  Be thankful for the things that you have missed and pray for someone who has been less fortunate. 

The "Little Member" With Big Problems

Ladies, it's time for James chapter 3!

As you well know, this is the Bible's classic sermon on the "tongue!"  After seeing, lately,  the hurt that one small tongue can cause so many people, I thought it would be helpful to remind us all of what the Bible says about our wicked ole tongues.

Our chapter only has 18 verses ... but they are "power packed!"
I have noticed that James describes our tongues by using  9 different "word pictures!"

Let me show you what I mean.

§         The tongue is like a "bit" in a big strong horse's mouth!  That little "bit" can guide and direct that big old horse any direction the rider decides!  So can the tongue give direction to our lives.  It can literally steer a day toward praise ... or grumbling!  It is the "bit" that points our "moods" (our very "attitudes") in whatever direction we go!

                                           

§         Secondly the tongue is like a "rudder" on a large ocean-going vessel!  Here the idea is not "direction" as much as overcoming opposing winds and following a determined course!  One's tongue can become so influential in life that it guides you ... even when other things would get you detracted!  Profanity can become such a habit ... that even on good days the filth still flows!  (Gossip or slander, other "sins" of the tongue, can also take over and successfully oppose God's good breezes of blessing!)

§         Thirdly the tongue is called a little "member" of one's body!  One's "leg" can give him or her trouble!  So can one's gall bladder or heart.  They are all members of the body too.  BUT perhaps the tongue leads the pack!  We often hear of "eye" trouble ... but seldom of "tongue" trouble!  It's common for folks to get their "hearing" checked ... but "tongue" checks are rare indeed!

§         Fourthly the tongue is like a fire!  Fires burn!  Fires spread!  Fires have some source!  The tongue burns fiercely ... and spreads its destruction rapidly ... and has a source too, Hell itself!

§         Fifthly, the tongue is a "world" of iniquity!  Let me explain.  There is a "world" of sin!  (San Francisco!  Las Vegas!  New York!  Atlanta!)  There is a world of science! (Georgia Tech, NASA, MIT, The Creation Research Society)  There is a world of Christianity!  (The Bible, Church, the Holy Spirit)  And the tongue also has a world of its very own!  (Jealousy, Slander, Gossip, Lying, Exaggeration) 

§         Sixthly, it is a pollutant!  It "defileth" the whole body!  It spots and stains everything it touches with its filth!  The picture is that of a "slop" jar (a portable clay pot that has served as one's commode during the night) that is spilled on someone's freshly cleaned white robe (toga)!  A sinful wicked tongue spreads pollution everywhere!

§         Seventhly, the tongue is an untamed beast!  (Birds can be tamed!  So can snakes, sea creatures, lions and tigers too!)  But no man can tame the tongue!  Watch it carefully!  It can attack when you least expect!  Keep it caged!  Don't trust it!  And please don't turn your back on it!

§         Eighthly, the tongue is a poison!  ("A deadly poison" says James!)  Many have died through history due to wagging tongues!  Paul uses the same word as "poison" here for the venom of a cobra snake in Romans 3!

§         Lastly the tongue is an inconsistent performer!  It can do strange things.  In the same conversation ... it can bless and curse!  (Do wells send forth both sweet water and bitter?  No!  Do fig trees bear olives?  No!  Then tongues should not bless God on Sundays and curse God on Fridays!)  Is your tongue that unpredictable? 

BUT even after all that bad news ... James does not leave us hopeless!  He gives us the answer to the "tongue" issue!
Who CAN tame the tongue?

God the Holy Spirit can!

He is often in Scripture either called Wisdom or compared to Wisdom!

James uses the Wisdom motif here. 

Watch.

Verse 13:  "Who is a wise man?"
Verse 15:  "Earthly wisdom is devilish and filled with confusion, envy and strife! (That's exactly the tongue he has been describing!)
Verse 17:  "BUT the Wisdom that is from above is ... first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy."  He is describing the Holy Spirit ladies!

He is the Solution to the tongue problem!

How about that!  Once again, the Holy Spirit comes in for the win!

The solution to the tongue (pictured by all sorts of wild beasts) is the precious Holy Spirit (pictured by a little white pure dove)!

And the Dove tames the beasts!  Glory to God!

Hospitality, When There's No One To Impress

And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. Use hospitality one to another without grudging I Peter 4:8-9

If you were to ask me the top five things I struggle with in my life patience would definitely rank in the top five. I am not sure why, but I definitely struggle with patience. Although, with that said, I can see a difference in the amount of patience I have now in comparison with only a few years ago. Things like my children teach me patience.  Things like my husband teach me patience (I'm smiling on the inside).

On my way home yesterday, I turned the radio on and caught the end of a little devotional that one of the lady deejays does and she was saying, “OK ladies, now go home and be friendly to your families.”

Ouch! Had she been in my home just a few hours earlier? “Friendly” was far from the way I had acted toward my brood. Unkind? Yes. Snippy? Certainly. Even caustic and cutting? Well, if I were honest, I’d have to give a resounding yes.

Just what made this Jesus-professing mama behave in such an un-Christ-like manner earlier that day? Had someone acted rudely toward me? Did my kids disrespect me or my husband utter something hurtful? Just what pushed my interior emotional buttons and sent me verbally over the edge?

Soiled socks. Smeared strawberry jam. Trailing bread crumbs. Dirty silverware and plates. And notebooks.

Oh, it wasn’t just the presence of these items that sent ugly words soaring out of my mouth. It was the fact that, just moments earlier, I had spent vast time and great effort getting our house spic-and-span clean. That meant a living room free of clutter, kitchen counters and tables wiped, all floors swept and surfaces dusted. I wanted the house tidied up so my husband, kids, and I could just relax when we all got back home.

Then, in the short time it took to get dressed, fix my hair, apply a dab of make-up and grab my purse, my kiddos had, in my eyes, completely undone all my hard work! They’d whipped off their pj’s, made toast slathered with strawberry jam and strewn their old homework and Sunday school lessons all over the place. It made my mama blood boil and resulted in feisty, not friendly words.

I was working on a blog on hospitality at the time and had been unpacking today’s key verse for my readers. I wanted to drive home the fact that hospitality—using our homes and lives as avenues of God’s care for others—and love—the sacrificial placing of another human being above yourself—are closely connected. And, the most important element, we must both love and offer hospitality to others without grumbling. You know, be friendly!

Now, for the most part, aren’t we able to do that when we have guests in our home? We smile and serve and really don’t get upset at crumbs and such. We happily wipe them up. Why is this so? And on a grander scale, why do we find it much easier to be friendly to complete strangers than to our own flesh and blood? Do our tempers stay in check with the grocery store cashier or even the dentist?

Why is it so easy to snap at our kids, give our husbands the cold shoulder, or roll our eyes at a dear family member, but remain gracious with those we meet in public, even when they do something that really grinds us?

I fear that many of us live the same contradiction in our daily lives. And just what lasting pictures are our cherished children depositing into their memory banks? “Mom held it together when the dry cleaners completely ruined her favorite sweater, but she yelled at me for accidentally spilling grape juice on the floor.” That is one of my worst fears.  I never wont my babies to be able to say that I lived two different lives.  I’ve recently witnessed the heartache, that this kind of lifestyle, can cause to children, no matter how old they get. 

Perhaps it is time to offer some friendly hospitality to the members of our own home; to keep our tempers in check and our grumbling at bay; to let perfect love wash over a multitude of sins. Not the jelly-smeared, crumb-laden kind, but the hideous-word-hurling, mama-mouthed variety.

May we Jesus-lovin’ women choose to hesitate before we hurl. Rather than feisty, may we be friendly instead.

Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another  Romans 12:9-10

Dont Worry, Be Happy

There are people who will build you up but there are also people who have a natural ability to pull people down.

Psalm 144:15 

 Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.

     I love being happy!  I know this is a random statement as everyone (besides the sadists in our midst) love to be happy.  There just isn't anything quite like being around people that make you laugh, they build you up and they help you feel truly positive when you're around them.  The Bible mentions often “their hearts were glad.”  It's like saying the core of their inner being will be happy.  It's that kind of happiness that can spread to the people around you.  Just like in Zechariah Chapter 10:7, the gladness of the mighty men spread out to their children who could also rejoice after seeing the joy of their fathers.  

     Our emotions are contagious.  We all have the ability to pull other people down or bring them up.  I'm sure you could fairly quickly identify a few people in your life that you love being around because they bring you up and their positive attitudes are uplifting.  And then there are the people that you know you need to put boundaries on their time as it then allows you the space to re-energize between visits.

     While we need to be aware of the people that are around us, we also need to be aware of the impact we have on other people.  Our hearts can not always be in a constant state of 'gladness' and God never expects that from us.  However, we must be aware of how we make others feel and the impact our emotions have on the people around us.

     Just a short and sweet reminder today.  You dont want to be known as one of those that has the natural ability of bringing people down.  Put on a happy face! Don’t worry, be happy!  Gods got it all under control anyway.