Enjoying the Journey
Posts Tagged ‘words’
7 Ways to Show Kindness Today
Rush Limbaugh died today. He was one of the most loved and hated men in America, like so many who hold strong positions on anything. As I scrolled through the posts about his passing I was struck, not by the many tributes, but by the vitriolic and even violent comments about his death. When “Satan,” “hell,” and other unprintable words are used about any man’s death it reveals more about their heart than his. I could weep as I read the bitter and vile sentiments. No one who knows the love of God or understand the evil of the Devil could post such things. What has happened to our society that people laugh and joke about things sobering and sad.…
Read MoreOne Word Can Make A World Of Difference – Helps for Bible Study
I remember well the first Bible word study I ever did. It was an easy word. I already knew what it meant…or at least I thought I did. On that day one word opened up one of the greatest principles in Scripture to me. The word is found in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” A world of truth is found in that verse. A world of truth is found in one word: confess. I imagined as a very young man that confess meant to plead with God, to convince the Lord that I was sorry, to beg for His forgiveness. But…
Read MorePut Up Your Sword
Our world and our churches are full of hurting people. Far too often those hurts have come from those who are supposed to be fighting in the same army. Friendly fire. The sword of another brother in arms. There is a spiritual sword that we are commanded in Scripture to use. “The sword of the Spirit” is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17). This sword is not to be admired and held – it is to be used! We use the sword of the Spirit on the enemy as Christ did when tempted by the Devil. And, yes, the Spirit uses it on us (Hebrews 4:12). It cuts deeply, severing from us those things that do not honor God. This…
Read MoreCliche Christianity
So much of our Christianity has become trite and cliche. Words often overused and under-appreciated are common place. Do we even think about the things we are saying? I hear this cliche Christianity in my own prayers. It is easy to criticize the “vain repetition” of other groups and false religions, but what about MY vain repetition? The same words used again and again. Without heart. Without thought. Without meaning. I hear this cliche Christianity in so much preaching. All of us who speak frequently are guilty of it. We fall back on words and fillers that are comfortable. Easy. But are they true? Do they express God’s meaning to the hearers? I hear this cliche Christianity in every day…
Read MoreA Word for 2018
There is power in one word from God. I hold a personal conviction that the very words and every word of Scripture are given by inspiration of God. They have been preserved for us. Every word. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable…” (2 Timothy 3:16). “…It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word the proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). One word from God’s Word is so full of power and potential that if understood and applied it can change a person forever. Many words have been used by the Holy Spirit in this way in my life. From time to time God puts one word on…
Read MoreCan You Go One Day Without It?
Relax. I’m not going to ask you to give up something important like chocolate or coffee. I want to ask you to give up something far more destructive. A few days ago I started to say something in casual conversation to a family member. It was a thoughtless comment. A negative word about someone I did not even know. At that moment the Holy Spirit convicted me. Now, as a general rule, I am a fairly positive person. But those who know me best would tell you that when I get overly tired I can also get irritable. We all must guard ourselves at such times. One careless, critical word can do such damage. And so back to my story……
Read MoreThe Power of One Kind Word
The other day I wrote a short post about how the devil loves to use our words to tear others down. Permit me to share the positive side of this truth: the Lord desires to use our words to build others up! The Scripture says, “Speak not evil one of another, brethren” (James 4:11). But it also declares, “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.” (Ephesians 4:29). Yes, we are to withhold unkind and hurtful words. Yet how many days we sin against others by withholding kind and helpful words! It is not enough that we do not criticize or accuse.…
Read MoreThe Devil Doesn’t Need Our Help!
Dr. Lee Roberson used to say, “It takes no size to criticize.” Indeed one of the smallest things a man can do is to tear someone else down. Christ always sought to build men up – it is the devil who seeks to devour. There are many names used in Scripture for Satan. One of the last ones reveals one of his lasting strategies. In the Revelation of Jesus Christ, chapter twelve, and verse ten, we read: And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day…
Read More3 Things I Am Praying for My Words
Words are powerful things. Spoken, written, typed, or texted – they are vehicles of communication that tend to last. If not on paper, in the hearts and minds of others. With our words we build up, and with our words we tear down. Solomon declared, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21). James said that with the same tongue we “bless” and “curse” (James 3:19-20). Many a marriage bears the wounds of a word that never should have been spoken. Children carry the powerful words of their parents with them their entire life. Churches are often divided, fellow children of God alienated from one another, because of senseless words. There are three things I have…
Read MoreThink First!
As children we were always instructed to think before we speak. Now, with children of my own, I realize that this is good advice for adults too. This simple rule would transform relationships and the very atmosphere in most homes! God’s Book of Wisdom cautions us not to be “hasty” with our words (Prov. 29:20). In the Proverbs of the New Testament the Holy Spirit counsels us to be “slow to speak” (James 1:19). We are all too quick to share our mind before we truly examine it! My dad has said through the years that there is a difference in responding and reacting. When we react we are operating in the flesh. When we respond with grace we are operating…
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