Is there anyone among us who hasn't had their feelings hurt by the words of another?  Maybe you've  been told something that made you squeal in delight?  Maybe something they said made you angry...or grateful. Maybe excited, or scared.   Good and bad.  Positive and negative.  Affirmation and doubt. 

All in the power of words.  A few letters thrown together, and verbalized by someone.  Those words have the power to crush even the strongest of us.  They can also serve as a building block of a tender soul.

[1 John 4:11  Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.]

[I Timothy 4:12(b) .. be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love...]

[Proverbs 12:25 Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad.]

[Ephesians 4:29  Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification.]

It seems as the words from the Bible are clear..our words should reflect God and His work in our life.  He loved us, so we should love one another...and we should be an example in our words.  Corrupt words aren't welcome.  Edification is. 

Are you willing to put this into action?  Pick five people over the next three days, and tell them something that will lift their spirit.  Tell someone how they've impacted your walk with God...or maybe you have someone in your life who is struggling spiritually - share a verse with them, or pray for them (IN THEIR PRESENCE).  If you know someone who is seeking God's path for their life - Psalm 119:105 is a perfect verse to affirm their walk.  Just find a way to encourage and edify those in  your life.  It may be a little uneasy for you at first, but I promise you that it will be worth it and it'll get easier the second time.

The people you run into on a daily basis...those are the ones He meant when he said He loved the world! 

Five people, three days.  Do it!!!  Ready...set... GO!!!!

What does Contentment look like?

I've had this on my mind for the last few weeks or so, and as I've prayed about it and looked for verses that affirm the idea of contentment, I have been convicted about my own guilt in this. It is so easy to see "flaws" in others, but the same "flaw" tends to be a little more difficult to see it in the mirror.  Umm..there may be a Bible verse that refers to that (emphasis added, obviously, is mine)...

• Matthew 7: 3-5:  “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ⁴ How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? ⁵ You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

How often is it that we see the speck in another, but totally ignore the plank in our own eye.  Hmm... the plank seems to be the one that needs most attention, wouldn't you say?  So..this post is my confession and acknowledgement that I'm working on removing the plank from my own eye.

The plank?  Lack of contentment.  Always wanting more, as if God hasn't given me more than too much.

Just a few examples of things that I recognize ...

• Seeing something that I like, and thinking I MUST have it.  Doesn't matter what it is... a ring, a pair of sunglasses, a piece of cookware.  Just because I like it, admire it, whatever, does NOT translate into I MUST HAVE IT!  Sheesh...how much money can I save by remembering that I can admire that dress (or whatever) without buying it.
• Complaining - whether by my words or by my attitude - that someone else has more of anything than I do.  Big flipping deal if my neighbor has a bigger house than I do.  Whoopty do if my coworker went to the East Coast.  La De Da if my sister has a bigger closet that mine.   Am I hungry? No.  Am I homeless?  No.  Am I heaven bound?  Yes.  Did Jesus DIE for me?  Yes.  Really, what else matters? 

The anecdote...

• [Philippians 4:4  Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, rejoice!]
• There's a short little word in there that makes a big impact - "always"  So I will rejoice!

• [1 Timothy 4:12  Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith and your purity.]
• In what I say, and in the way I live... I will say kind things, I will not say things that are whining in nature.  I will live in gratitude.  The way I love will follow suit.

• [Ephesians 4:29  Don’t let unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up.]
• Building others up... I don't believe that my constantly worrying about what others have will allow me the spirit to be able to edify others, but my gratitude will. 

• [Proverbs 15:13  A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, but when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken.]
• Good golly be joyful!!!  We have SO MUCH to be joyful about!  SO MUCH!!!!  

• [Philippians 2:14 - 15  Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.]
• Paying special attention here:  ...ALL things without complaint or dispute...we are shining as lights of the world!   I'll be the first to admit that I'm not always shining as God's light.  Ouch.

A few verses for you... Food for thought, if you will. 

    

[1 John 4:11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.]

[Matthew 22:37  Jesus replied:  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.]

[1 Timothy 6:6-8  Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.  But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.]

[Matthew 6:33  But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.]

[Luke 12:15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.]