Words of Grace

Just an observation on words: (You can scroll on away if you don't want my observation...no worries)

Several times in the past few weeks, I have had encouraging notes or phone calls or conversations from various friends, acquaintances, and even some strangers. Encouraging words are fuel for the journey and have been very welcomed. However, may I be honest enough to tell you...I did not take all of them to heart?

Here's why:

From a few (very few thankfully) came the encouragement, then within a short while came also gossip, slander, words rooted in jealousy or fear. That duplicity gives me pause to consider motives and sincerity.

Feeling so awkward and not really ready to commit to "whoa Nelly (or Nelson) you are a two faced -gossipy-hurtful-and double minded- scaredy cat judge and jury who needs to stop this mess right now"... I think I just look away or try to end the conversation, making a mental note to guard my heart in the future. I realize...that is not enough!

My reason for posting this is the following:

DO I DO THAT? DO YOU? Do we:
 Vent (even if somehow justified in the emotions) to others about another person? Allow old hurts or wounds to sneak into a conversation and slam someone not present?

YUCK! EEWWW! Blech!!!

What motivates us to harm others with our words? Some say, “I'm not gossiping, it's true!” That does not mean it is not slander or gossip. If it is not yours to share...don't share! (Previous post covered that)

The spirit that lived in the jealous heart's of Cain toward Abel, and Saul toward David, still lurks around looking to squelch the work Our Lord has for us to do and make our offering an offense. We all need encouragement in our lives. Look for what God has for you to do and stop minding other people's business.

Speak life! We need to trust the heart and motives of those who speak life to us.

Jealousy is looking around at other people's lives and deciding they don't deserve who or what they have in their lives, so we begin to tear down. This is sin...confess it as such!

STOP LOOKING AT OTHER PEOPLE'S PAPER! In this life, we have our OWN test to worry about.

Build up...or..shut up! (Yes I am very aware we don't say shut up at my house!)

I am very thankful for the people prompted by the Spirit of God who have left wonderful notes of encouragement to me personally or to the Ministry of A Gentle Answer Ministries ...Thank you, deeply!

For those who have used their words to tear down, I challenge you to ask yourself WHY AM I DOING THIS? Who do I serve? What does God have for me to do and do well? Who can I encourage and do so with a sincere heart?
Who do you/I need to apologize too? Do you/I have a tendency towards jealousy or envy that leads you/me to fear which causes you/me to stop trusting God? Have your/my words harmed any one's career, personal life, ministry, friendships or character? If so, then do you/I need to make amends? Tell the truth? Ask forgiveness?Repent of this behavior?

Ask yourself again...WHY DO I DO THAT?

Proverbs 16:28 

A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.

Psalms 41:7

All who hate me whisper together about me; they imagine the worst for me.

2 Corinthians 12:20 

For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder.

Titus 2:2-3

Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good...

I am going to:

-Strive to use my words for good...Words of Grace

-Guard my heart against known gossips or jealous minded people

-Change the subject when one tries to include me in gossip or slander

-Confront those who have harmed me  with gossip and seek to forgive

-Ask God to show me any error in my heart regarding this topic (jealousy, envy, strife, gossip) and seek forgiveness when needed

How about You?

1 Thessalonians 5:11 - Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

Hebrews 10:25 - Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Hebrews 3:13 - But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

1 Corinthians 3:13 - Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

Ephesians 4:29 - Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

Just Thinkin',

Kathy

Get Out of The Drawer

It was just okay. I thought it was odd. Why weren’t there two of them? It didn’t match anything in my kitchen. I just smiled and took the weird little oven mitt and said thank you. For the past 7 years I’ve been burning my hand when I use this thin little mitt. So mainly, I just left it in the drawer and ignored it. I mean, after all…its blue…and checkered…and well, a little bit of an eyesore. Once in awhile when my mom is in town, I will get it out and use it. After all, she gave it to me and I don’t mean to be ungrateful. I just know there are other pot holders or oven mitts that would have suited my taste better. You know; something non-injurious and maybe a little more contemporary or classic but not that dreaded country kitchen “little house on the prairie” look. I’ve thought about pitching it a few times. I started to put it in a neighborhood garage sale two years ago only to be convinced to bring it back in the house when one of my children asked me if that wasn’t the stocking stuffer from grandma. I just shoved it in the back of the drawer with the other randomly neglected kitchen items.

I didn’t think about it much, that goofy little pot holder. I guess I just took it for granted. I wasn’t very thankful for it. I barely acknowledged receiving it in the first place. Well, last summer, my folks came to visit. So of course, I took it out and set it on the table to hold a hot dish. That’s when my mom asked me why I’ve never used it for what it was intended. To which I replied, “But I do”. She responded by asking, “When?” I said, “Well…now for example.” My mom giggled a little and walked over to the potato bin, picked up a potato opened the end of the little blue checkered pot holder/oven mitt, put the potato inside and put it in the microwave for 6 minutes.

As she smiled and sat back down it became so obvious to me that the weird little oven mitt had an actual function and purpose. It was created to bake potatoes. I was trying to turn it into something less than it was made to be.

I wonder how many of us are just stuffed into the back of a spiritual drawer. How many are just settling in to a "lessor" role than that which you were created to fill? I realized that there was a time in my life when I did not even seek to find out what God created me to do. I simply existed in my own little plan and in my own little comfort zone.
He tells us clearly in His word that we are made with a purpose. That we are made in HIS image. We are called to serve. We are each given gifts to use for HIS glory. We are called to tell people about the good news of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19-20)

Each of us, as Christians, has been created to serve the body of Christ. If you have the gift of teaching and sit in the back of a room and never teach…you are stuck in the drawer.
If you have been called to use your singing voice to glorify God and only sing to yourself in the car…you have been shoving yourself in the back of the drawer. Who among you has the ability to give financially to serve the body of Christ or help a neighbor and yet you keep your money for yourself or for a rainy day? Get out of the spiritual drawer and serve...meet a need, share a meal, pay a bill, encourage someone.

Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully (Romans 12:4-8).

Are you fulfilling the purpose that God created you to fulfill?
Don’t miss your chance to bless others and to be blessed by the creator.
Get out of the drawer!

Just thinkin’,
Kathy

NAP...OR HELP WITH THE DISHES?

As the mother of four chldren, I found it possible to allow my children to help me in such a way that helped them feel part of our household as they were growing and learning. I would often ask a cranky or sleepy 4 year old if they would like a Nap or to help me with the dishes. The idea of sleeping and missing out on any activity was simply unthinkable to most of my children. H-m-m-m-m...go take a nap or play in the water in the kitchen with Mommy??? I usually had a handy little dish dryer waiting to avoid the much dreaded NAP!! NOW...Fast forward to this afternoon, Sunday, and me asking my seventeen year old son...NAP...OR HELP WITH THE DISHES? Without even answering, I think I actually saw smoke fly from the bottom of his shoes as he ran to the couch to assume the Napping position.
I think I do this spiritually from time to time with GOD. When I was a new Christian I could not wait to be part of the activity of the Body of Christ. I did not want to miss anything. Staying away from service, or classes or fellowship was unthinkable to me. I still love the Church and the privilege to worship and fellowship with other believers, however sometimes I feel spiritually lazy. I want to run to the sofa and hide from the work involved in being a believer in The Body Of Christ. It is hard to love other people unconditionally. It is exhausting trying to take every decision I make to the foot of the cross to see if it fits who I am as a Christian. It is difficult to notice the needs of others and offer to help when I feel tired and under equipped. Sometimes I don't even have the resources my own family needs, how will I give to others? When I am walking in the flesh and not in the Spirit of God it is so easy to justify my lack of effort to serve. How about you?
When the work (service) points to ourselves as individuals we seem to jump at the chance to serve. So why is it hard to quietly step into service that may go unnoticed by others, or seem insignificant in the overall scheme of "CHURCH" things? Why is it so hard to fill the nursery workers positions but the choir loft seems plenty full? Don't misquote me here, I LOVE THOSE WHO SERVE IN THE CHOIR. But surely someone in the churches across our country can help in the nursery or clean up after church functions. Stacking chairs is a beautiful ministry!!!
I am reminded of Henny Penny and her not so loyal friends: "Who will help me bake the bread?", she would ask. "Not I!", said everyone she asked.
But the response was so different when it came time to eat wasn't it?
I used to read this story to my children and we would discuss the value of helping each other and enjoying the end product. GUESS WHAT?
My children bought me a bread machine for Christmas! So I guess, they will help me bake the bread...and enjoy eating it too!

Whether you feel called to simply help in your own family more or serve in the Body Of Christ, join me in seeing if there has been an area of your life you are napping right through.

Meanwhile,
I better go do the dishes.

Just Thinkin'

Kathy

RUN FORREST RUN...

We often complain as Christians how tough it is to have victory over our sin. Paul in Romans gives us clear instruction on this!

Romans 13:11-14
11And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

1)Wake up! 2)Put on Christ! 3)Live for HIM!

WAKE UP! Don't doze off spiritually. Don't go places and be with people that take you into sinful mode. If you are an addict don't hang out with addicts! If you are an alcoholic don't go to bars! If you are a gossip,,,shut up and don't hang out with gossips! (Yes again I know we don't say shut up at my house!)If you are a foodie struggling with weight...stay away from the doughnut shop!

Dr. David Jeremiah tells a story of a man dealing with his weight. The man said to his counselor ,"I have trouble getting the victory over Doughnuts." He told the counselor that there was a doughnut shop right on his way to work. Every morning he found himself eating one...then another...maybe another etc.. So the counselor told the man to find another route to work. (DUH) So the man took the alley behind the doughnut shop to work with great success for about 2 months. Then one day he had a great craving for a doughnut. So he prayed, "Lord, I am going to go around the block and if there is a parking spot right in front of the door to the shop, I will consider it okay to go in." And sure enough...the man did find a spot right up front...ON THE EIGHTH TIME AROUND THE BLOCK!!!!

Do you do that with your area of temptation? WELL STOP IT! Don't give yourself a set up to fail.

PUT ON CHRIST the same way you put on your clothes in the morning. You get dressed so you can present yourself before others without shame. If you put on Christ you will not be as ready to take him to the places and around the people that enable you to fail.
NOW LIVE FOR HIM...

Maybe Jenny had it right with her advice to Forrest Gump. She was a good enough friend to see trouble running at her friend and said...

"RUN FORREST RUN!"

I'll work on this...won't you?

Just Thinkin'

Kathy