Words

Words are such little things that come out of our mouths, sometimes they're funny, sometimes they're sarcastic and sometimes they are mean and are meant to hurt somebody.  Why do we do this - especially to fellow Christians? 

"I really don't like the way you sing, you sounded much better before you took voice lessons.  But keep on singing."  As if that last part lessons the sting of the meanness.

"I think that flower arrangement at the pulpit looks like a funeral arrangement."  Really??  I'm doing my best, I'm sorry it isn't good enough for you.

Yes, these were actually said to me or to Mr. Handsome, and yes I will forgive the individuals who said them.  But the words have left their mark and have scarred my heart.

And if it makes me sad, imagine how our Heavenly Father must feel when He looks down from Heaven and sees all the squabbling that's going on.  Whatever happened to being supportive and giving each other an encouraging word?

"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another."  John 13:34

No, she's not the best singer, but she is singing for the Lord.

No, she's not the best decorator, but she is doing it for the Lord.

"But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.  Therewith bless we God, even the Father and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.  Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing.  My brethren, these things ought not so to be.  Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?  Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries?  either a vine, figs?  so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh."  James 3:8-12

Since we are members of the same body of Christ, let's make sure only nice things come from our mouths.  Remember what we were told as children, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all."

So while you need a thick skin to be a Christian church worker or even a volunteer, unkind words still hurt.

The Blame Game

Why is it that we don't like to take responsibility for our own actions?  Actually, I know the answer - it's Pride.

I know a girl - a friend of a friend - whose marriage is falling apart.  But it isn't her fault - it's her husband's fault, the preacher's fault, the church's fault.  She isn't taking ownership of anything.  A marriage doesn't dissolve overnight.  When you first start becoming out of tune with your spouse is the time you need to seek help.  We don't want to admit that we are flawed and need help.  With this particular girl, what people think of her - how she dresses, and what possessions she owns - is the most important thing.  It's more important that we set our focus on what God thinks of us.

We don't turn to God for help because we think we can handle things on our own, and then we just end up making a huge mess.  There's that pride thing again.  "Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord:  though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished."  Wow, those are strong words.  An abomination.  A proud person will not go unpunished.  Sometimes the punishment will be a lack of God's blessings in our lives.  Sometimes it could be a failed marriage.

I'm not saying that this is why my friend's friend is suffering.  I'm not God and I don't know all things.  I do know that there are two sides to every story and somewhere in the middle is the truth.  But I've also experienced plenty of blessings from above and plenty of chastening (I'm a slow learner). 

The answer is to humble our hearts.  This goes against everything that the world preaches at us every day.  I need to take care of me first.  What about me?  I need to do this for me.  It is a daily struggle to die to self.  But it is so important.  "But he giveth more grace.  Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up."  James 4:6, 10.  I don't know about you, but those verses scare me.  If I don't have a humble heart, God won't be in my corner.  I won't be in His perfect will; I won't be receiving all the blessings I could; I'll have a lot more heartache.

It's sad to watch people suffer.  Even more sad is when the solution is as simple as getting rid of pride and humbling your heart before Almighty God.

The Road From Grumpdom

I don't know why we have angry days, but we do.  At least I do.  A day that's just ordinary, yet one little thing can send you over the edge into Grumpdom.  Or maybe it's a whole bunch of little things piling up and that last little thing is the proverbial straw.  That is me today.  I'm generally a positive person; my cup is half-full and I tend to see the good in every situation.  But some days I feel like Charlie Brown on the pitcher's mound and it is raining on my head.  Thankfully, those days don't come very often.  But I've had two days in a row of visiting the land of Grumpdom and I'm ready to visit a happier place.

I could list you off everything that's been irritating me, but that won't solve anything.  Let's just say that today I am looking forward to the day the Hubs and I are empty-nesters and retired.  Work is for the birds.  It seems that whenever I have a deadline (like today) and I'm behind in my work (like today), I procrastinate and waste time.  Which reminds me, I still have a counter full of dirty dishes from supper...

I'm also an emotional eater and tonight I want to drown my mood in a big bag of chips.  Number One is getting married in January so I have to watch my waistline.  There is a reason I no longer buy snacks and hide them in secret stashes, although when those moments come and I'm looking for a secret stash long forgotten and it is not found, I'm angry for having willpower at the grocery store not to buy such snacks.  Doesn't make much sense, I know.

So it's time to turn this frown upside-down.  I am choosing to be happy whether I want to be or not.  "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." (Isaiah 29:11)  An expected end.  That truly is a comforting thought - nothing lasts forever, there will be an end.  I just need to be patient and put my trust in God that there will be an end to this mood soon.  "Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.  And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." (Isaiah 29:12-13)  It brings me a sense of peace to know that whenever I call upon God with all my heart (for he wants all of me, not just part of me), He will hear and answer my prayers.  Not always the answers I want, but He loves me and He knows what's best.  God is good all the time.