A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Proverbs 15:1 (NIV)
How we respond to people is very important. Often times we tend to have an emotional response because as women, we are full of feeling. We are passionate, sensitive and prudent. This is especially true when we feel we are right about something. Being emotional is not necessarily a bad thing. The right emotions can drive us to pursue our passions and accomplish the desires and dreams we have. However, when we allow our emotions to dictate our actions then it becomes problematic. How we interact with the people in our lives is so relevant to God that He continually addresses the issue within the Bible.
In Proverbs chapter 15 the writer starts out by instructing us to speak to people with gentleness. In the heat of the moment that is not always easy. However, God's desire for us is to be God driven, not emotion driven. When someone says or does something that crushes us, it's in that moment that the true test of virtue takes place. Do we respond with ear shattering words that wound and destroy that individual? On the other hand, do we respond with love and kindness? Our emotions would dictate to fight fire with fire. Say what you feel, do what you want. How we react is a true test of what we really stand for and believe in.
Through it all we always need to remember that God is observing us. Each moment we live, we are given a chance to react with God-like character or temporal emotions. We as women have the power to bring healing or destruction with our tongues. How awesome would it be to move beyond what we feel and say and behave according to the way God desires us to? Ladies, let us remember that women of wisdom build their houses up, but foolish women tear their houses down.
And that's from the heart...
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Friday, March 26, 2010
Everyday Miracles
Proverbs 3: 5-6 tells us "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His Will in all you do, and He will direct your path"
Most often as humans, we see our world as a very limited time and space - but God's power is limitless, it has no boundaries. The Bible is filled with miracles where God made His power known. Miracles are easy to spot...but what about our everyday lives?? He takes the ordinary every day things and uses them in His masterpiece - which is the life we were given when we accepted Him as our Lord and Savior.
Just because we can't see God, doesn't mean He isn't there. Sometimes we don't recognize Him - especially when we let the world get in the way! God is constantly at work in us, preparing us to do what He created us to do. When we accept that God puts every circumstance in our path, it is easier to push through, knowing what we're going through is part of His master plan. We all know it's east to trust Him when things are going well, but the true test of our faith comes to the surface in the middle of a crisis! That's when we really show what's inside our hearts. What we do shows what we believe about God, and His power!
Romans 8:28 "We know that in everything God works for the good of those who love Him. They are the people He called, because that was His plan" Even disasters are intended for good. Next time you're faced with a challenge, step back and think of it this way...a "dis-appointment is really His appointment." God uses our mistakes as a test, and He doesn't waste a single one to teach us the lessons He has for us. God is in control, the same as yesterday, today and every tomorrow!
Pray with me...
Father, we want to thank You for Your presence, even when we can't tell You are here, we know You are with us. Help us see and feel Your mighty hand at work, even when it doesn't make sense or isn't what we think is best. Teach us to be women who are willing to trust everything in our lives to You. Open our minds to the lessons You have for us to learn so that we can become better servants, just as You planned from the very beginning of time.
It's in Jesus precious name I pray, Amen.
Most often as humans, we see our world as a very limited time and space - but God's power is limitless, it has no boundaries. The Bible is filled with miracles where God made His power known. Miracles are easy to spot...but what about our everyday lives?? He takes the ordinary every day things and uses them in His masterpiece - which is the life we were given when we accepted Him as our Lord and Savior.
Just because we can't see God, doesn't mean He isn't there. Sometimes we don't recognize Him - especially when we let the world get in the way! God is constantly at work in us, preparing us to do what He created us to do. When we accept that God puts every circumstance in our path, it is easier to push through, knowing what we're going through is part of His master plan. We all know it's east to trust Him when things are going well, but the true test of our faith comes to the surface in the middle of a crisis! That's when we really show what's inside our hearts. What we do shows what we believe about God, and His power!
Romans 8:28 "We know that in everything God works for the good of those who love Him. They are the people He called, because that was His plan" Even disasters are intended for good. Next time you're faced with a challenge, step back and think of it this way...a "dis-appointment is really His appointment." God uses our mistakes as a test, and He doesn't waste a single one to teach us the lessons He has for us. God is in control, the same as yesterday, today and every tomorrow!
Pray with me...
Father, we want to thank You for Your presence, even when we can't tell You are here, we know You are with us. Help us see and feel Your mighty hand at work, even when it doesn't make sense or isn't what we think is best. Teach us to be women who are willing to trust everything in our lives to You. Open our minds to the lessons You have for us to learn so that we can become better servants, just as You planned from the very beginning of time.
It's in Jesus precious name I pray, Amen.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Strengthen and Encourage
But David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord his God. 1 Samuel 30: 6
When we are down and out it is not always easy to put on a happy go lucky face. Many times our circumstances are forecasting that we are going to be swallowed up by what we are going through. Our faith rises to say that we are going to come out on top. Through it all it is a continual warfare to look past what we see and trust what God said.
In 1 Samuel chapter 30 a young man named David found that while he was away from home his wives and children had been captured. In addition to that, the town he lived in had been destroyed by fire. The Bible records David as being down and deeply distressed. David's men were in distress too for their wives and children had been taken as well. David and his men cried for they were heartbroken. The men spoke of killing David because this tragedy had occurred. Despite all this, the Bible says that David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord.
So how is it possible to encourage yourself when everything seems hopeless and things have gone awry? This can only happen by completely trusting and depending in God. There comes a time where we have to learn to encourage ourselves. It is because of the faith and relationship that David had with God that he was able to encourage himself. It is imperative that we have a relationship with God, so we won't faint when adversity happens. David knew that even though things looked bad, it wasn't over. He encouraged himself by remembering all the times God rescued him.
After David encouraged himself, he prayed to God. God told David to go after the men who had stolen their families. He assured David complete victory and recovery of all their families. In order to hear clearly from God, we have to have the proper mindset. Our mindset has to be full of encouraging declarations from within; knowing that God is continually with us no matter how bad it looks. The Bible goes on to tell us that David and his men recovered everything that God said he would. Had David not encouraged himself with the proper mindset, he may have never even sought God for the answer.
Ladies, God wants us to have our hope, faith and trust in him. When we do this, we will hear clearly from God. In doing this, we will be strengthened and encouraged from within.
When we are down and out it is not always easy to put on a happy go lucky face. Many times our circumstances are forecasting that we are going to be swallowed up by what we are going through. Our faith rises to say that we are going to come out on top. Through it all it is a continual warfare to look past what we see and trust what God said.
In 1 Samuel chapter 30 a young man named David found that while he was away from home his wives and children had been captured. In addition to that, the town he lived in had been destroyed by fire. The Bible records David as being down and deeply distressed. David's men were in distress too for their wives and children had been taken as well. David and his men cried for they were heartbroken. The men spoke of killing David because this tragedy had occurred. Despite all this, the Bible says that David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord.
So how is it possible to encourage yourself when everything seems hopeless and things have gone awry? This can only happen by completely trusting and depending in God. There comes a time where we have to learn to encourage ourselves. It is because of the faith and relationship that David had with God that he was able to encourage himself. It is imperative that we have a relationship with God, so we won't faint when adversity happens. David knew that even though things looked bad, it wasn't over. He encouraged himself by remembering all the times God rescued him.
After David encouraged himself, he prayed to God. God told David to go after the men who had stolen their families. He assured David complete victory and recovery of all their families. In order to hear clearly from God, we have to have the proper mindset. Our mindset has to be full of encouraging declarations from within; knowing that God is continually with us no matter how bad it looks. The Bible goes on to tell us that David and his men recovered everything that God said he would. Had David not encouraged himself with the proper mindset, he may have never even sought God for the answer.
Ladies, God wants us to have our hope, faith and trust in him. When we do this, we will hear clearly from God. In doing this, we will be strengthened and encouraged from within.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Playing nicely with Others
God's Playground Rule #1 - Don't throw stones...
This comes from Jesus' example in John 8. He was very clear that there will be no stone throwing at other people. He reminded each person in the story that we are all in need of grace, no matter how blameless we feel, and instead of knocking people to the ground to humiliate them, we need to be looking for ways to build them up. One thing I love about this story is that Jesus rescued the woman twice. Not only does he save her from the condemnation of others and the inevitable stoning, he saves her for a life that is now a clean slate. He saves her so she can choose to make her life more in tune with God's love, and in keeping with what God had in mind for her. I like that about Jesus. As a friend of mine used to say, "God saves us from and saves us for..."So let's look for ways to pick each other up and dust each other off this week. No stone throwing. It hurts too much, and "the world" does enough of it - so let's not do it to ourselves or each other!
...and that's from the heart
This comes from Jesus' example in John 8. He was very clear that there will be no stone throwing at other people. He reminded each person in the story that we are all in need of grace, no matter how blameless we feel, and instead of knocking people to the ground to humiliate them, we need to be looking for ways to build them up. One thing I love about this story is that Jesus rescued the woman twice. Not only does he save her from the condemnation of others and the inevitable stoning, he saves her for a life that is now a clean slate. He saves her so she can choose to make her life more in tune with God's love, and in keeping with what God had in mind for her. I like that about Jesus. As a friend of mine used to say, "God saves us from and saves us for..."So let's look for ways to pick each other up and dust each other off this week. No stone throwing. It hurts too much, and "the world" does enough of it - so let's not do it to ourselves or each other!
...and that's from the heart
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