Sound Speech, Sound Thoughts

I've been impressed over and over through the years with the necessity for "sound speech which cannot be condemned" (Titus 2:8). 

I've been careful not to use unnecessary words, knowing that "every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment." (Matthew 12:36)

I believe that "The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell." (James 3:6) 

I have guarded my words and intend for them to fit into one of these categories: "edification, and exhortation, and comfort." (1Corinthians 14:3) 

However, I have not always been as guarded, or careful with my thoughts. 

I have, over the course of the last several years, allowed my thoughts to "run a-muck". When I was feeling disgruntled about a situation or disappointed about a person, I allowed myself to grumble to God about it, in my mind. Those kind of unhappy thoughts led to muttering under my breath. No one heard. I figured it was simply a harmless emotional release on my part.  Now, I'm not referring to obscenities, cursing and foul language. Sometimes, it was something sarcastic, like,"I'll believe it when I see it." Or, just plain negative: "I'm sick and tired of this!"

Was this "harmless"?  What does the Bible say? 

"Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

(Philippians 4:8)

"A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but in his heart he harbors deceit. Though his speech is charming, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart."

(Proverbs 26:24,25)

"For as he thinks in his heart, so is he..." (Proverbs 23:7)

"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

(Hebrews 4:12)

God actually woke me up very early one morning, convicting me of the danger of my negative thoughts. It isn't enough to have sound speech, I must also have sound thoughts. 

"Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;"

(2 Corinthians 10:5)

Remember these monkeys?... "Hear no evil, See no evil, Speak no evil"???

Well, I propose that there ought to be a fourth monkey, representing THINK NO EVIL.

One more section of verse, in conclusion, and it just happens to come before the well-known Philippians 4:8..(see above).  It is Philippians 4:4-7:

"Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."  

Some translations say "IN Christ Jesus". That's where I want to be.

Prepare to Share

My moments of greatest blessing have been those in which I had something to share. The truth is:

"In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" (Acts 20:35)


As I reflect upon my own missed opportunities to share, I see several requirements...

Our hearts must be prepared to share. We must reckon with the fact that everything we have is from God, rather than something we have earned or deserve. "Freely you received, freely give."  (Matthew 10:8) " What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?" (1 Corinthians 4:7)  "If there is a poor man with you, one of your brothers, in any of your towns in your land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand from your poor brother;"(Deuteronomy 15:7)

Of course, this includes our talents, our gifts, not just our material possessions.
 
We must also seek opportunity. "So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith." (Galatians 6:10) " Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share..."(1 Timothy 6:18) "Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you." ( Matthew 5:42) "And he would answer and say to them, "The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise." (Luke 3:11)

If we fail to plan to provide, not only for ourselves, but for others, when those opportunities present themselves, we will not be prepared. "He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need." (Ephesians 4:28) 

Still, we cannot share that which we do not possess. "But Peter said, "I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you:..."(Acts 3:6)  This reminds me of another post I wrote some time ago, entitled "She Hath Done What She Could" 

Which brings me to the last and most important point. The gospel of Jesus Christ,with the joy of His salvation, the blessed hope of eternal life and His peace that passes human understanding that it brings, is surely our most valuable treasure . It is the most important gift we can share with others.  This, also, requires preparation...time spent with Him, in His Word, in prayer, with His saints.  "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:" (1 Peter 3:15)

The First Step

This is an overdue testimony of how my relationship with God began.  It was prompted by a friends' recent inquiry.

Illegitimate, I was adopted by well-meaning, but heathen parents.  (Ps.27:10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me, But the LORD will take me up.)  Ten months after doing so, they divorced, only to remarry one another 5 years later. My adoptive mother and I were very close friends, as I had no siblings, and her relationship with my father was stressful, at best. I was allowed to attend various churches with friends, intermittently; but my parents never did. And, we moved a lot, so there was no consistency. I had and asked many honest, searching questions about God as I grew up; but, wasn't given proper answers. I finally decided that God was for the weak of mind and body and that my mother was my god. (I actually said that!)
In 1975, when I was 18, my mother died fairly suddenly. I remember, crying out in anger and  agony to a "higher power" that I felt was responsible for taking her from me. In my heart I heard Him say, "Find out Who I Am".
That began my search for God...at first, in anger...but, I was determined to know Him. (Ps. 27:8 When You said, "Seek My face," my heart said to You, "Your face, O LORD, I shall seek.")
I was soon married, and my husband and I sought after Truth together, visiting many kinds of churches, and being disappointed in most. Near the addition of our first child, I responded at an altar call at a friend's Baptist church...I truly think I would have died of a heart attack, if I hadn't gone forward, so compelling was the Holy Spirit upon me! Unfortunately, there was no discipleship and I was left "fruitless" for quite some time. It was in 1986, and four children later, that our real growth and zeal increased, as we dug deeper into the Word of God. (Isaiah 30:21 Your ears will hear a word behind you, "This is the way, walk in it," whenever you turn to the right or to the left.) Our journey had included many churches and many people...Lutheran, Lutheran Brethren, Baptist, etc...all important stepping stones! But, when we made the decision to home-school our children, we wanted a curriculum that was based (written from the ground up!) on the Bible. We found Rod & Staff Publishers to fit that requirement. And, they are a Mennonite Publisher. Well, that brought a whole new onslaught of spiritual questions that needed to be answered!
To make a long story short(er), we have been associated with "Mennonite" ever since, although we prefer to simply be "Christian". 
Personally, I don't think that any one denomination has all the "right" answers...it's like each one has a piece of the "pie". (1 Cor. 13:12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.)
I continue to seek His face. (2 Tim. 1:12 ... I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.) Currently, our family is growing in our faith and enjoying fellowship with the believers at Cleburne Christian Fellowship.
http://www.cleburnechristianfellowship.org/ 

Plain and Simple

A friend of mine recently asked the question, "What does it mean to live a "plain and simple" life?"

The answer to this question is as varied as people and circumstances are unique. Therefore, I can only answer for myself. Right away, I think of the words "uncomplicated" and "frugal" and "uncluttered". But, there is so much more than that! It is a life which is quiet and unhurried enough to truly walk with God , so that "Your ears will hear a word behind you, "This is the way, walk in it," whenever you turn to the right or to the left." (Isaiah 30:21)

A plain and simple life begins with a mindset, not a list of "do's & don'ts". It is not doing away with all modern devices; but rather using the things of this world as tools for serving God and our fellow man. On the other hand, I have noticed that although we have employed many "time and labor-saving" devices (also known as conveniences) , they have not actually contributed to a simpler life, as I defined it for myself, above. People, in general, are more hurried and harried than ever. Personally, I would enjoy a treadle sewing machine; but, I'm sure I would not be as efficient at my sewing projects as I can be with an electric. Therefore, it is simpler to use the electric sewing machine. I like to grind my own wheat; but, am hindered by arthritis. Therefore, the more practical choice is to have someone grind it for me, or use store- bought flour. I'm just using these as examples of when the "plain and simple" life isn't simple. It doesn't automatically translate into everyone having a garden, baking their own bread, milking goats and churning their own butter. While adopting a church prescribed uniform may bring simplicity to our wardrobe choices, that in itself does not constitute a "plain and simple life".

In fact, if all our thoughts and efforts center around being as "plain and simple" as we can be, we have missed the point. (Similar to a dieting person who can think of nothing else but food)

For me, the "plain and simple life" is one that allows me to best serve and love my Lord. The way that I order my life, my priorities, and my choices in order to accomplish that supreme goal, may be considerably different that the way any one else does. Each of us must take the gifts , and the time and place in which He has positioned us, and use what God has given to us to be the best, God-glorifying stewards that we can possibly be in that realm.

A plain and simple life has purpose and direction...simple goals, plain principles, simple solutions, plain prayers, and clear priorities.

Teach me your way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, (Psalm 27:11)

FREE!

It has been said that the best things in life are free. This would not include that free soft drink with your fast food hamburger, since carbonated sugar water is not "best".

But, here's what IS "best" AND "free":

1. Light
2. Air
3. Water (although, technically, most of us pay for water, one way or another) (rain is free, though!)

This morning I was up long before the sun, and didn't know what a bright and beautiful day it would become. I was overjoyed to see the sunshine pouring through my window a few hours later, and feel its warmth. Truly, a blessing, undeserved, un-purchased and underestimated.

John 8:12 "Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life."" John 9:5 "While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world." John 12:46 ""I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness." John 1:4 "In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men." Matthew 5:45 "He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."

At the happy appearance of the sun, I closed my eyes to pray and took a long, deep breath...instantly realizing, that it, too, was a free gift of God. It felt so good to be able to fill my lungs thoroughly and oxygenate my brain and my whole being - for free!

Genesis 2:7 "Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being." Job 33:4 "The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life." Acts 17:25 "He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things."

The first thing I put to my lips this morning was a glass of water. I used water for a long-awaited and refreshing shower. And, I have laundered our clothing in water. How readily we take water for granted, until it isn't available. We know we cannot live but a few days without it. Jesus uses the illustration of water to help us understand His gift to us.

John 4:13-14 “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” John 6:35 "Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will not be hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty."

In conclusion, we all acknowledge that we must have light, air and water in order to continue living. We accept these free gifts without hesitation or compensation. Today, I am reminded to appropriate and more fully appreciate the free gift of God, provided by the Lord Jesus Christ, that leads to life eternal.

Romans 5:15-18 "But the free gift isn't like the trespass. For if by the trespass of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God, and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many. The gift is not as through one who sinned: for the judgment came by one to condemnation, but the free gift came of many trespasses to justification. For if by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; so much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ. Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. "

Ephesians 2:8 "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; "

IDENTITY

"...the fact of being who a person is..."

I am...an Earthling, a middle-aged female, Caucasian American, living in the 21st Century. Currently, a Texan.

Is that identifying enough? Is that who I am?


I am...an adopted daughter, wife of one man, mother to eight, grandmother to two, half-sister, aunt, and a friend to many.

Is that enough to identify me?

Upon what do we base our identity? Is it by what others think of us or expect of us? Or, by comparing ourselves among ourselves? (not wise, the Bible says) Do we base who we think we are on what we do or don't do? For instance, "I'm a church-goer." "I'm not a thief." Perhaps, our identity is based upon our gifts or talents, strengths or weaknesses of character and personality, or physical attributes and abilities or disabilities. Often we are known for our work or our avocations. Our ethnic, religious or cultural connections, as well as our financial status are also identifying factors.

But, do they define who we really are?

"For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known." (1 Corinthians 13:12)


"I AM WHO I AM" (Exodus 3:14)

"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." (Revelation 1:8)

"HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME." (Revelation 4:8)

The great I AM is the only One truly qualified to identify me.
I have come to believe that the only accurate reflection of our true identity is to be found in God Himself, His Word, His Holy Spirit.
I want to see myself as the great I AM sees me.
All the other means by which we size ourselves up are nothing more than shifting sand. We cannot make one hair white or black, or add a single cubit to our stature. Our perceptions of our identity can change, do change.
So, what is God's perspective of us?

"And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise." (Galatians 3:29)

If we can say:
"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me." (Galatians 2:20)
Then,we are:
His sheep,(John 10:27), children of light (John 12:36), His disciples (John 13:35), aliens, strangers, pilgrims (1 Peter 2:11), (Hebrews 11:13), a holy people, a peculiar people, (Deuteronomy 7:6), a peculiar treasure (Malachi 3:17), children of God, heirs, co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17), children of promise (Galatians 4:28), redeemed (1 Corinthians 6:20, 1 Corinthians 7:23), and a living and holy sacrifice (Romans 12:1)

Consider these words from Romans 12:

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 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."
In other words,
"As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." (1 Peter 4:10)

Perhaps, it seems I've deviated from the original premise of my treatise. Allow me to summarize my thinking with these verses:

"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." (2 Corinthians 5:17)

..." and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth." (Ephesians 4:24)
"For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ."(Galatians 3:27)

There's our identity!

IN CHRIST!

Serving and glorifying Christ Jesus, Our Lord, with the unique gifts that He has created in us,
is the only identity that will survive an eternity.

I am a daughter of the King! (Psalm 45:13)

Be Still and Know That I Am God

I can almost still feel it . The quiet. The stillness. The solitude. It was refreshing, healing, and rejuvenating; and incredibly overdue.

Mark 6:31 says "And He said to them, 'Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while.' (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.)"

My daughter invited me to use her living-room as a "secluded place" one day last week. I made sure that things were in order at my house and chores set in motion before gathering up my Bible, notebook, pencils, devotional book, and rag rug bag. Oh, yes, I had a tray of healthy drinks and snacks, too. (I left my phone behind, on purpose.) Before settling comfortably into my old rocking chair and nursing stool, I opened the front door to take advantage of the cool-ish morning breeze. At first it felt strange, not to be beckoned by the dishes, laundry, vacuuming and life that comes with mothering four boys. Then, I remembered and rejoiced that I wasn't just alone, I was alone with God!

Because it was so incredibly quiet, I could not only hear my own breathing and heartbeat, I could hear His!

I heard Him in the soft breeze, humming bugs, and joyful birds. I saw Him in the drifting clouds, waving grass, verdant trees and especially in the courageous bright orange Cosmos blooming near the steps. I felt Him in the air that touched my skin and entered my lungs. As I strained to listen to the void, my own thoughts and my own heartbeat became evident.

And, then He spoke. Nothing in audible words, mind you. He spoke to my heart. It was His Holy Spirit soothing the heartaches, calming the fears, smoothing the frettings, organizing my thoughts of duty, enlarging the love-chambers of my heart, and bringing understanding to my soul.

The time spent in prayer, Bible-reading, note-taking, thinking, eating, drinking and rag-rugging was not measured in minutes. I have no idea how long I was there. Eventually, I knew it was time to return to the fray; but indulging myself in His presence gave me strength.
His grace is sufficient.

Perhaps we take the Psalmists' verse out of context. Nevertheless, I plan to repeat the experience of "being still and knowing that He is God" more often.