1 Peter 5:6ff, " So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith... In
his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of
Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will
restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm
foundation. All power to him forever! Amen."
I am so proud of my team. Most all of you are young, (early 20's at best ;). Look at how you are focused. Look at the gigantic event you are putting together. Look at how God brought all of you together at just the right time for this particular part He has designed just for you! I want to encourage you to keep it up. Don't give up right here at the end. If Satan can keep this Kick Off from happening, then he has won by default, before the fight even began.
Lions. Your enemy roams around like a roaring lion, but this enemy is like Scar in "The Lion King". Scar, he had a group of very crocked followers. Remember, how he used Simba's wants and his uncontrolled imagination to trick him into going to the elephants grave yard. Then right after Simba was caught in his disobedience to his father, how did Scar trick him? Guilt! Look at what you did, look at how you failed.... run, run far away. Everyone knows you, you have no business being up there now do you. But the focus was never about Scar, he was a lion who tried to get everyone sidetracked. He tried to come in and by using smoke and mirrors, he had them fooled. "Look over here. Focus on this and you can't see that you are starving...."
Aslan, another lion. When you see and think of Narnia, what do you remember? "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe," the question is raised about
whether Aslan is `safe.' The reply is "No, he is
not safe, but he is good." I loved this line. He is Not safe. He is good. There is a certain fear that comes with trusting God. What if, all of the what if's come into place. There is a great amount of the unknown, but aren't you a generation that says they want the challenge! You do not want to just sit around in front of the computer and watch someone else live. You want to step out and experience this life for yourself. Aslan is not safe, but he is good. Look at the adventure in front of you. Can you see that it is not safe? I know you can. Can you see that it is good... So Good!!!
There are references all over the bible about lions. It is our choice on which one we listen to. Scar, he has a mighty roar, but it is one that is trying to trick you and make you weak. He comes in sly and under the cover of darkness, when he can get you all alone and make you see all of your faults. Then the focus is changed from the father to yourself. All that you can hear is your voice and the doubt that travels through your heart. Aslan, a true lion. He never comes in to trick or hurt, but he is not safe. We will all have times of fear and times when we feel alone on this journey, but if you keep your eyes upon the target, at just the right time you will know He is walking with you through the forest.
We follow the Lion of Judah. Judah and Benjamin were the smallest and seemingly weakest tribes in all of Israel. But from these seemingly small tribes came a power that changed the world. Genesis 49:9, "Judah, my son, is a young lion that has finished eating its prey. Like a lion he crouches and lies down; like a lioness—who dares to rouse him?" We are from this pride of lions. We are followers of the true King. We are small, but our voice will be heard!
I want to encourage you to keep in the fight and to Not give up. You may do things that make you feel you shouldn't be up there. You may feel like your role is not valued enough. You may have other offers that seem better and entice you to go join their group. You may feel like this is not for you, but I want to encourage you to continue. Philippians 3:14, " I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us." Press on through the challenges. Press on and keep the end in sight. Press on and lets do this thing!
"But as soon as we do totally surrender, abandoning ourselves to Jesus,
the Holy Spirit gives us a taste of His joy. The ultimate goal of
self-sacrifice is to lay down our lives for our Friend (see John 15:13-14).
When the Holy Spirit comes into our lives, our greatest desire is to
lay down our lives for Jesus. Yet the thought of self-sacrifice never
even crosses our minds, because sacrifice is the Holy Spirit’s ultimate
expression of love." (Oswald Chambers) Sacrifice and Friendship
Look around you. Who is in your pride? Who is counting on you, in your seemingly small part? This is your place. Are you going to keep your focus on God and listen to His voice? We can all be led astray by listening to "Scar's" whispers. This is the time to shake off the temptations to give up and press on. The last few miles are the hardest, but once you press through God will give you a second burst of energy. You can do this. I know you can!! For I did not choose you for this job. Think about it.... You were chosen by God Himself!
Showing posts with label Words. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Words. Show all posts
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Idle Words
Matthew 12:35-37, "A good person produces good words from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil words from the treasury of an evil heart. And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.”
The power of words, but it is not just the words that we are meaning to say. You know, the words that we say when we are angry and trying to hurt someone. This passage does not stop with those words. It goes further to the idle words. Idle words are those words we say when we have put our spirit to sleep and we are running on habit. Idle words are those words that just come out of our mouth with no thought, or effort in thinking, on our part.
God never told me to rest where He is concerned. He calls us to live to a higher standard. He wants us to be in control of everything we do and our mouth is a very big part of that. (James 1-3), "Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls... So whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law that sets you free... But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself."
Words have been resonating in my heart lately. It seems like everywhere I go, God is telling me to check my words. Every idle word that I speak counts. Its not just the ones that seem "big" to us, but everything that lazily comes out of my mouth. Why wouldn't He consider words to be a very big deal for He calls Himself the Word. John 1:1, "In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through Him, and nothing was created except through Him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone." I say that I am a Christ follower. If my words do not reflect the Word, then what is really in my heart! Each time I say anything, my heart is speaking. And if my heart is speaking, I better check to see whose reflection is in the mirror. "In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God." Are my words, His word? Every idle word...
Ephesians 4:17-32, "Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, He has identified you as His own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption." After everything that Christ has done for me, after everything, I feel great remorse to think that I am bringing Him more grief, just by being lazy with my words. He is my lover, my friend, my redeemer, and my desire is to bring Him joy. Not sorrow.
Oswald Chambers, "'We make it our aim...to be well pleasing to Him' —2 Corinthians 5:9. 'We make it our aim...' It requires a conscious decision and effort to keep our primary goal constantly in front of us. It means holding ourselves to the highest priority year in and year out; not making our first priority to win souls, or to establish churches, or to have revivals, but seeking only 'to be well pleasing to Him.' It is not a lack of spiritual experience that leads to failure, but a lack of working to keep our eyes focused and on the right goal. At least once a week examine yourself before God to see if your life is measuring up to the standard He has for you. Paul was like a musician who gives no thought to audience approval, if he can only catch a look of approval from his Conductor."
The power of words, but it is not just the words that we are meaning to say. You know, the words that we say when we are angry and trying to hurt someone. This passage does not stop with those words. It goes further to the idle words. Idle words are those words we say when we have put our spirit to sleep and we are running on habit. Idle words are those words that just come out of our mouth with no thought, or effort in thinking, on our part.
God never told me to rest where He is concerned. He calls us to live to a higher standard. He wants us to be in control of everything we do and our mouth is a very big part of that. (James 1-3), "Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls... So whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law that sets you free... But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself."
Words have been resonating in my heart lately. It seems like everywhere I go, God is telling me to check my words. Every idle word that I speak counts. Its not just the ones that seem "big" to us, but everything that lazily comes out of my mouth. Why wouldn't He consider words to be a very big deal for He calls Himself the Word. John 1:1, "In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through Him, and nothing was created except through Him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone." I say that I am a Christ follower. If my words do not reflect the Word, then what is really in my heart! Each time I say anything, my heart is speaking. And if my heart is speaking, I better check to see whose reflection is in the mirror. "In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God." Are my words, His word? Every idle word...
Ephesians 4:17-32, "Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, He has identified you as His own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption." After everything that Christ has done for me, after everything, I feel great remorse to think that I am bringing Him more grief, just by being lazy with my words. He is my lover, my friend, my redeemer, and my desire is to bring Him joy. Not sorrow.
Oswald Chambers, "'We make it our aim...to be well pleasing to Him' —2 Corinthians 5:9. 'We make it our aim...' It requires a conscious decision and effort to keep our primary goal constantly in front of us. It means holding ourselves to the highest priority year in and year out; not making our first priority to win souls, or to establish churches, or to have revivals, but seeking only 'to be well pleasing to Him.' It is not a lack of spiritual experience that leads to failure, but a lack of working to keep our eyes focused and on the right goal. At least once a week examine yourself before God to see if your life is measuring up to the standard He has for you. Paul was like a musician who gives no thought to audience approval, if he can only catch a look of approval from his Conductor."
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Foolish Words
James 3:1-12, "Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way. We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself. People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring."
When I think of all of the evil and wrong things that I have ever done, my words are the worst. My sexual sin with my ex husband, started with words. My words to him were turned into poison, as they fed his sin, my heart was being trained for even more evil. Prov 5:3, "For the lips of an immoral woman are as sweet as honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil. But in the end she is as bitter as poison, as dangerous as a double-edged sword." I once went fishing for men. My body was the bait, but my words were the hook that kept them coming back to the same trap. If there ever was a woman that knew the power of words, it is me. The hard part is turning my words from death to life.
Prov 4:23-24, "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech. Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil." Some people probably think that I am over doing everything, or that I am a prude. But, do you see how far I fell. I know what is out there, for I walked down that dark road before. Now I must guard my heart. I must guard my eyes. I have to, for I no longer want to be counted with the fools who never learn their lessons and keep repeating the same mistake over and over. Prov 9:6, "Leave your foolish ways behind, and begin to live; learn to use good judgment.” The crude joking; the movies that are very funny, but you would never let your children watch; all things like this, none of them are good for your heart. Why would I ever want to go there again! I must guard myself, for I know how easily I can be swept away by the world. I know how easy it is for me to join in and turn the whole thing bad.
We are told many times in the Bible to take each day, moment by moment. We are never told to live just for the future triumphs. We are not encouraged to only look at the past. We are told to take hold of today and strengthen ourselves for this moment, for this is all we can handle. If I can control my tongue today and not loose my head in the heat of the battle, then this battle today can be won. If I can not loose my temper and allow my thoughts to come flowing out of my mouth; If I can direct my words, so they bring encouragement to those who are struggling; if I can keep my eyes focused on Christ, then this day will be marked down as a triumphal victory. It is a foolish person that cannot control their mouth. Please God, help me to not be that person again, today.
When I think of all of the evil and wrong things that I have ever done, my words are the worst. My sexual sin with my ex husband, started with words. My words to him were turned into poison, as they fed his sin, my heart was being trained for even more evil. Prov 5:3, "For the lips of an immoral woman are as sweet as honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil. But in the end she is as bitter as poison, as dangerous as a double-edged sword." I once went fishing for men. My body was the bait, but my words were the hook that kept them coming back to the same trap. If there ever was a woman that knew the power of words, it is me. The hard part is turning my words from death to life.
Prov 4:23-24, "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech. Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil." Some people probably think that I am over doing everything, or that I am a prude. But, do you see how far I fell. I know what is out there, for I walked down that dark road before. Now I must guard my heart. I must guard my eyes. I have to, for I no longer want to be counted with the fools who never learn their lessons and keep repeating the same mistake over and over. Prov 9:6, "Leave your foolish ways behind, and begin to live; learn to use good judgment.” The crude joking; the movies that are very funny, but you would never let your children watch; all things like this, none of them are good for your heart. Why would I ever want to go there again! I must guard myself, for I know how easily I can be swept away by the world. I know how easy it is for me to join in and turn the whole thing bad.
We are told many times in the Bible to take each day, moment by moment. We are never told to live just for the future triumphs. We are not encouraged to only look at the past. We are told to take hold of today and strengthen ourselves for this moment, for this is all we can handle. If I can control my tongue today and not loose my head in the heat of the battle, then this battle today can be won. If I can not loose my temper and allow my thoughts to come flowing out of my mouth; If I can direct my words, so they bring encouragement to those who are struggling; if I can keep my eyes focused on Christ, then this day will be marked down as a triumphal victory. It is a foolish person that cannot control their mouth. Please God, help me to not be that person again, today.
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