Category: James

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Tell Me Bout the Good Old Days

We have friends visiting with us for the weekend. They have served the Lord for many years as pastors, missionaries, Bible study leaders and Mom and Dad.

Yesterday, we spent a good portion of the afternoon and evening talking about God’s faithfulness. They shared stories with us of times that things seemed hopeless and desperate. And we shared similar times with them. Each and every time we were able to share with each other had the Lord had moved miraculously and how He provided for all our needs.

God is faithful!

There were stories of the Lord providing financially, others where He brought physical healings and some where the Lord filled our lives with peace and direction. How great is our God!!

We were able to agree that God’s word was always a source of comfort and direction. It brought us strength when we had felt weak and searching for answers. We have seen the Lord provide for us from His goodness and also seen His hand reaching out to our children and our grandchildren.

The stories were testimony to God’s goodness and His love! It’s so important that we look back and recall how it used to be – the good and the bad – because in this we can see God’s faithfulness and His provision. Moses told the children of Israel to retell the stories of how God provided for them from the deliverance out of Egypt to arriving at the Promised Land.

“Listen, Israel! The Lord our God is the only true God! 5 So love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength. 6 Memorize his laws 7 and tell them to your children over and over again. Talk about them all the time, whether you’re at home or walking along the road or going to bed at night, or getting up in the morning.” Deuteronomy 6:6-8 CEV

We need to be storytellers of God’s goodness.

“My friends, be glad, even if you have a lot of trouble. 3 You know that you learn to endure by having your faith tested. 4 But you must learn to endure everything, so that you will be completely mature and not lacking in anything.5 If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God, and it will be given to you. God is generous and won’t correct you for asking. ” James 1:2-5 CEV

Last night we had joy as we recalled the wonderful things the Lord had done and continues to do. The things we faced as mountains were removed when we trusted God and His word. It’s important that we retell these stories so that others will know of God’s faithfulness.

I had the words of a country song come to mind this morning as I was thinking on last night’s conversation.

“Grandpa (Grandma), tell me bout the good old days
Sometimes it feels like
This world’s gone crazy
Grandpa, take me back to yesterday
When the line between right and wrong
Didn’t seem so hazy

Did lovers really fall in love to stay
And stand beside each other, come what may?
Was a promise really something people kept
Not just something they would say?
Did families really bow their heads to pray?
Did daddies really never go away?
Oh, Grandpa, tell me ’bout the good old days” The Judds

Let’s take the time to tell our grandkids ’bout the good ol days and the faithfulness of our God!

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So Many Questions

How many times a day do you answer questions? If you live with a toddler you might say that your entire day is spent that way. Honest questions are a search for knowledge and understanding. Others are asked to avoid the obvious and still some are poised to incite argument and confrontation. It’s not always easy to determine which are which.

Solomon, who the Bible says was the wisest man, told us to answer aggravating questions like this.

“A kind answer soothes angry feelings, but harsh words stir them up. 2 Words of wisdom come from the wise, but fools speak foolishness.” Proverbs 15:1-2 CEV

And James, who is best known for his teaching on controlling the tongue, gives us this instruction for contention.

“Where there is jealousy and selfishness, there will be confusion and every kind of evil. 17 But the wisdom that comes from God is like this: First, it is pure. It is also peaceful, gentle, and easy to please. This wisdom is always ready to help people who have trouble and to do good for others. This wisdom is always fair and honest. 18 People who work for peace in a peaceful way get the blessings that come from right living.” James 3:16-18 ERV

This is good advice when dealing with someone who is simply asking questions to stir up anger and division. It’s best to answer softly and peaceably. But what about those honest questions that we ask ourselves and those that we ask God? It’s vitally important that we know how to ask and how to receive the wisdom we need.

When I’m needing answers to some questions that are past my knowledge I don’t want to be held back because of my ignorance. I seek the Father and His wisdom.

One thing that has been proven over the years, not just in my lifet but throughout time, is God is faithful and His word is true. When He tells us to ask for wisdom and that He will give it, He does! When He says ask and it shall be given, seek and you will find, knock and the door will open, if we do and He does!

When we call – He answers!

“Moreover, the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the second time, while he was still shut up in the court of the guard, saying, 2 Thus says the Lord Who made [the earth], the Lord Who formed it to establish it—the Lord is His name: 3 Call to Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, fenced in and hidden, which you do not know (do not distinguish and recognize, have knowledge of and understand).” Jeremiah 33:1-3 AMP

When it seems like we are in prison, the prison of our circumstances or the one caused by our limited knowledge or even an actual physical prison, He reminds us of who He is, His power and His willingness to help.

Call on Me and I WILL answer and I’ll show you the things that were hidden, the things that you don’t recognize or understand. CALL! After we call, be still and listen. It’s hard to hear correctly if we don’t stop talking.

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! 11 The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge.” Psalm 46:10-11 NKJV

I would encourage you to write the questions down and leave space to also fill in the answer when God gives it to you. When we ask in faith and sincerity God is always ready to provide the answers. In fact, the wonderful work of the Holy Spirit is to teach us.

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:26-27 NKJV

I started my morning asking the Lord some questions of my own. Now I must take my leave – be still and listen!

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Put A Little Love in Your Heart

A few days back I was sharing with you on kindness. The simple act of being polite is monumental.

This morning in my reading I came to these verses in I Peter.

“So all of you should live together in peace. Try to understand each other. Love each other like brothers and sisters. Be kind and humble. 9 Don’t do wrong to anyone to pay them back for doing wrong to you. Or don’t insult anyone to pay them back for insulting you. But ask God to bless them. Do this because you yourselves were chosen to receive a blessing. 10 The Scriptures say,

“If you want to enjoy true life and have only good days, then avoid saying anything hurtful, and never let a lie come out of your mouth. 11 Stop doing what is wrong, and do good. Look for peace, and do all you can to help people live peacefully. 12 The Lord watches over those who do what is right, and he listens to their prayers. But he is against those who do evil.” I Peter 3:8-12 ERV

Basically – enough said!

If we would just follow this instruction on a daily basis our lives would be honoring to the Lord and our relationship with others would be enhanced.

Jesus told his disciples that our words are like seeds that cause fruit to grow in our lives. Either good fruit or bad, the choice is ours. Solomon said the same thing in Proverbs and James said if we learn to control our tongues we are mature people.

“I tell you that everyone will have to answer for all the careless things they have said. This will happen on the day of judgment. 37 Your words will be used to judge you. What you have said will show whether you are right or whether you are guilty.” Matthew 12:36-38 ERV (Jesus words)

“Make your words good— you will be glad you did. 21 Words can bring death or life!
 Talk too much, and you will eat everything you say.” Proverbs 18:20-21 CEV (Solomon’s words)

“It is the same with our tongue. It is a small part of the body, but it can boast about doing great things.

A big forest fire can be started with only a little flame. 6 The tongue is like a fire. It is a world of evil among the parts of our body. It spreads its evil through our whole body and starts a fire that influences all of life. It gets this fire from hell.

7 Humans have control over every kind of wild animal, bird, reptile, and fish, and they have controlled all these things. 8 But no one can control the tongue. It is wild and evil, full of deadly poison. 9 We use our tongues to praise our Lord and Father, but then we curse people who were created in God’s likeness. 10 These praises and curses come from the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, this should not happen. 11 Do good water and bad water flow from the same spring? Of course not. 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree make olives? Or can a grapevine make figs? No, and a well full of salty water cannot give good water.

13 Are there any among you who are really wise and understanding? Then you should show your wisdom by living right. You should do what is good with humility. A wise person does not boast.” James 3:5-13 ERV

Scripture is pretty tough when it comes to the words we speak!

We are to be examples of Jesus so let’s stop and think before we speak. Let’s cultivate good fruit for our lives. Let’s speak words of kindness, things that will build others up and not tear them down.

Let’s be kind!

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Please and Thank You

Yesterday we had a very pleasant experience. We stayed at a Raddison Hotel in Yuma. Everyone we dealt with was very kind and polite. This was such a pleasant change to what we so often experience.

Is it just me or have the rest of you noticed that a large portion of society has forgotten how to be polite? Good manners aren’t archaic; they aren’t old fashion; they should be as en vogue today as they were 100 years ago. Saying please and thank you should be as natural as breathing; showing respect to parents, elders, teachers and those in authority is a sign of good upbringing. We shouldn’t demand, we should ask.

“You can be certain that in the last days there will be some very hard times. 2 People will love only themselves and money. They will be proud, stuck-up, rude, and disobedient to their parents. They will also be ungrateful, godless, 3 heartless, and hateful. Their words will be cruel, and they will have no self-control or pity. These people will hate everything that is good. 4 They will be sneaky, reckless, and puffed up with pride. Instead of loving God, they will love pleasure. 5 Even though they will make a show of being religious, their religion won’t be real. Don’t have anything to do with such people.” II Timothy 3:1-5 ERV

These verses were written almost 2000 years ago and yet they sound like the reports on the evening news. We need to raise our children and influence our grandchildren to avoid such characteristics as are listed above. It’s not our words that will influence and teach, it’s by our actions. Do you see anything in those verses that would point out areas of correction to you? If so, repent and change. Live a life that will be a walking example to those around you.

Make sure you are thankful to God as well. He and He alone is worthy of all honor and praise and glory!

“Offer praise to God our Savior because of our Lord Jesus Christ! Only God can keep you from falling and make you pure and joyful in his glorious presence. Before time began and now and forevermore, God is worthy of glory, honor, power, and authority. Amen.” Jude 24-25

Gratitude is a heart condition. Too often we fail to appreciate the kindnesses of others. It’s important that we don’t adopt the attitude that much of society is preaching – entitlement. When we feel we are “owed” something, we’re entitled to it for one reason or another, we often become demanding and rude. We really need to guard against this mindset.

“My dear brothers and sisters, don’t be fooled about this. Everything good comes from God. Every perfect gift is from him. These good gifts come down from the Father who made all the lights in the sky. But God never changes like the shadows from those lights. He is always the same. God decided to give us life through the true message he sent to us. He wanted us to be the most important of all that he created.” James 1:16-18 ERV

Every good gift we receive comes from our heavenly Father. It may bring it through the hands of an employer, a friend or loved one but ultimately He was the source.

Let’s show our gratitude but expressing sincere appreciation for the likenesses we receive. That way we can be an example of the Father.

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How Much Do We Owe?

Many people are working on their taxes at this time of year. Most are hoping they will get a refund; some just hope they won’t owe too much. Not sure which category you are in but I want to talk to you this morning about how much we owe.

Most people have a goal of being debt free; we don’t want to owe anyone – not the bank, the mortgage company, the credit card issuers, the Department of Education or the auto industry. But try as we might there is always debt. We’re looking at the bottom line – got to have a good profit/loss statement.

“Now Kristi, I just paid off my house last year. My cars are free and clear. I have no student debt and I pay the full balance on my credit cards every month. I don’t owe anyone, anything.”

Aww, but you do. We all do!

“Give everyone what you owe them. If you owe them any kind of tax, then pay it. Show respect to those you should respect. And show honor to those you should honor.

8 You should owe nothing to anyone, except that you will always owe love to each other. The person who loves others has done all that the law commands. 9 The law says, “You must not commit adultery, you must not murder anyone, you must not steal, you must not want what belongs to someone else.” All these commands and all other commands are really only one rule: “Love your neighbor the same as you love yourself.” 10 Love doesn’t hurt others. So loving is the same as obeying all the law.” Romans 13:7-10 ERV

We owe a debt of love!

First and foremost we owe that debt to our heavenly Father and to Jesus Christ, our Savior. Jesus told a lawyer who was trying to entrap Him that the greatest commandment was to love the Lord our God. (Lawyers haven’t changed much in the last 2000 years, have they?)

We owe this debt of love because He first loved us. That’s pretty basic. God loved us so much that He wanted to us be a part of His family. He wanted to adopt us and make us His own. But there was a price to be paid. It would cost Him the life of His Son, Jesus.

Imagine this – God was willing to pay the price, as high as it was, because He wanted to bring us into His family! Yes, I would say we owe Him a debt of love.

“We love because God loved us first. 20 But if we say we love God and don’t love each other, we are liars. We cannot see God. So how can we love God, if we don’t love the people we can see? 21 The commandment that God has given us is: “Love God and love each other!” I John 4:19-21 CEV

“We use our tongues to praise our Lord and Father, but then we curse people who were created in God’s likeness. 10 These praises and curses come from the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, this should not happen. 11 Do good water and bad water flow from the same spring? Of course not.” James 3:9-11 ERV

God has forgiven each one of us so very much. We all have multiple failings and shortcomings. We act ugly, we become self-righteous and critical. Because our Father and our God forgives us of these things He commands us to be forgiving of others! The price He paid for every individual was the same; no one is of greater or lesser value to the Father.

Let’s not be like the religious man in the story that Jesus told to some of his followers. They were dealing with the issues of self-importance and condemnation of others.

“There were some people who thought they were very good and looked down on everyone else. Jesus used this story to teach them: 10 “One time there was a Pharisee and a tax collector. One day they both went to the Temple to pray. 11 The Pharisee stood alone, away from the tax collector. When the Pharisee prayed, he said, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not as bad as other people. I am not like men who steal, cheat, or commit adultery. I thank you that I am better than this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week, and I give a tenth of everything I get!’

13 “The tax collector stood alone too. But when he prayed, he would not even look up to heaven. He felt very humble before God. He said, ‘O God, have mercy on me. I am a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, when this man finished his prayer and went home, he was right with God. But the Pharisee, who felt that he was better than others, was not right with God. People who make themselves important will be made humble. But those who make themselves humble will be made important.” Luke 18:9-14 ERV

So I will ask again what I asked at the beginning. How much do we owe?

Lord, let me always keep the “debt of love” forefront in my mind. Let me love others with an open heart that’s willing to forgive when wronged and not harbor any bitterness. Let me see and love others the way that You do! This is a debt that I will gladly pay.

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Happy Dance

Not too many things bring a bigger smile and lots of spontaneous giggles than a group of children dancing. It’s just pure joy and delight!

That’s how I feel this morning. My heart is filled with joy. All night long I would hear myself singing the chorus from a song I remember hearing on the Bill Gaither Gospel Reunions. It was sung by Ivan Parker and then he’d be joined by the whole chorus. Here are the words to the chorus that filled my heart and my head, “When I Get Carried Away”.

“I’m gonna let the glory roll when the roll is called in glory
I’ll get beside of myself when I get beside the king that day
I’m gonna have the time of my life when the time of my life is over
I’m gonna get carried away when I get carried away”

I accepted Christ as my Saviour when I was very young. I remember realizing my need for forgiveness, walking the aisle Sunday night at church and the sweet Christian lady who talked with me to make sure I understood salvation and then prayed with me. At that tender age, I knew Christ had died for me and had forgiven me and I wanted to give Him my life.

Now that I’m older, I’m amazed by God’s goodness, mercy and grace. His unconditional love paid the price of sin for everyone through Jesus sacrifice. Every sin ever committed from the beginning of time until this earth passes away was forgiven in that one act of sacrifice! God had not only forgiven the sins I had committed up to the day I asked Jesus to be my Saviour but He had forgiven everyone of them since that day.

“My children, I am writing this so that you won’t sin. But if you do sin, Jesus Christ always does the right thing, and he will speak to the Father for us. 2 Christ is the sacrifice that takes away our sins and the sins of all the world’s people.” I John 2:1-2 CEV

Whether my sins were great or small, it didnt matter – I still needed a Saviour. The Apostle James wrote that “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offends in one point, he is guilty of all.” James 2:10

It’s a like a picture window; if you throw a rock through it, it’s broken; if you put a beebee through it, it’s still broken. The size of the hole doesn’t matter, the glass is broken. So whether you’re Hilter or a small girl in Yuma, Az, sin is sin and it requires a Saviour and the same sacrifice was necessary for both of us.

Please understand this, we won’t be judged for the right and wrong we do; we are given new life because we accept Jesus’ sacrifice for us. Jesus told his disciples that the Holy Spirit would come and convict us of sin. That sin was not believing in Jesus.

“Let me assure you, it is better for you that I go away. I say this because when I go away I will send the Helper to you. But if I did not go, the Helper would not come. 8 “When the Helper comes, he will show the people of the world how wrong they are about sin, about being right with God, and about judgment. 9 He will prove that they are guilty of sin, because they don’t believe in me.” John 16: 7-9 ERV

God’s love is unconditional. If we are the most base sinner who ever lived or the most self-righteous His love is the same. Each day I realized where I could have been without Jesus and I am so grateful and thankful that I am not without Him and that He chose me, He adopted me and made me a new creation.

I will close this glorious Sunday morning with an example from Jesus himself.

“A Pharisee invited Jesus to have dinner with him. So Jesus went to the Pharisee’s home and got ready to eat. 37 When a sinful woman in that town found out that Jesus was there, she bought an expensive bottle of perfume. 38 Then she came and stood behind Jesus. She cried and started washing his feet with her tears and drying them with her hair. The woman kissed his feet and poured the perfume on them.
39 The Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this and said to himself, “If this man really were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him! He would know that she is a sinner.”
40 Jesus said to the Pharisee, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”
“Teacher, what is it?” Simon replied.
41 Jesus told him, “Two people were in debt to a moneylender. One of them owed him five hundred silver coins, and the other owed him fifty. 42 Since neither of them could pay him back, the moneylender said that they didn’t have to pay him anything. Which one of them will like him more?”
43 Simon answered, “I suppose it would be the one who had owed more and didn’t have to pay it back.”
“You are right,” Jesus said.
44 He turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Have you noticed this woman? When I came into your home, you didn’t give me any water so I could wash my feet. But she has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. 45 You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You didn’t even pour olive oil on my head, but she has poured expensive perfume on my feet. 47 So I tell you that all her sins are forgiven, and that is why she has shown great love. But anyone who has been forgiven for only a little will show only a little love.”
48 Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49 Some other guests started saying to one another, “Who is this who dares to forgive sins?”
50 But Jesus told the woman, “Because of your faith, you are now saved. May God give you peace!” Luke 7:36-50 ERV

I get carried away when I dwell on how much God loves me and the depth of His forgiveness. I invite you to join me in my happy dance this morning, let’s get carried away together!

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Where Am I Going? How Do I Get There?

Confusion is not from the Lord. Absolutely not!

He has always done everything in an orderly and well planned fashion. He created light and the dry land before He created the animals and plants. He put the grasses on earth before He created the cows, deer and elk.

He foretold the birth of Jesus thousands of years before the event and when it came time for Jesus’ earthly entry everything was in place. The wise men even followed the information Daniel had written hundreds of years before.

The crucifixion was orchestrated down to the words that were spoken on the cross. Every detail had been foretold and everything came to pass without deviation. God does things orderly. Even now, heaven is being prepared for us. Every desire and detail that will make heaven, heaven, is being fashioned as we live and breathe.

When we look at a situation or circumstance and try to plan our path or gain understanding and our minds are spinning, it’s time to call on the Lord for order and wisdom. From His vantage point He can see the details, the delays and the detours.

“If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God, and it will be given to you. God is generous and won’t correct you for asking. 6 But when you ask for something, you must have faith and not doubt. Anyone who doubts is like an ocean wave tossed around in a storm. 7-8 If you are that kind of person, you can’t make up your mind, and you surely can’t be trusted. So don’t expect the Lord to give you anything at all.” James 1:5-8 CEV

Once we’ve asked for wisdom we need to wait for it.

Expect God to show up with a game plan. Don’t become impatient or we will be tossed back and forth in our storm of indecision and misinformation. We can trust God to provide when we ask.

The Apostle Paul says that we battle in our minds, but the way we emerge victorious is to bring every thought “captive”. Rein it in, bring it under control but not a control of our own making, we bring it under the control that comes from knowledge in Christ.

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” II Corinthians 10:3-5

So when confusion comes and it does, it’s our duty to cast it down, take it captive and renew our minds to God’s way of thinking.

Ask for wisdom and then be still and listen for God’s voice on the matter.

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Super Bowl Stars

Super Bowl Sunday!! Only a few days away.

I know this has millions of people’s attention. I’m not a big football fan and I must admit I know very little about the two teams playing. I couldn’t name one player on either team.

I do appreciate good sportsmanship, the talent of the players and good strategy. So I may watch part of it. However, it does remind me that each one of us is in a much more important game. The game of our lives. We are each starring in our own Super Bowl. And the choice of who wins is ours.

“Today I am giving you a choice of two ways. And I ask heaven and earth to be witnesses of your choice. You can choose life or death. The first choice will bring a blessing. The other choice will bring a curse. So choose life! Then you and your children will live.” Deuteronomy 30:19 ERV

We’ve got the best coach and He will give us game winning plays; we just need to tune in to His directions.

“Always remember what is written in that book of law. Speak about that book and study it day and night. Then you can be sure to obey what is written there. If you do this, you will be wise and successful in everything you do. 9 Remember, I commanded you to be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid, because the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:8-9 ERV

Our quarterback has never lost a game. He’s been bloody in battle but He played through the pain and came out the victor when the final gun was fired.

“We must never stop looking to Jesus. He is the leader of our faith, and he is the one who makes our faith complete. He suffered death on a cross. But he accepted the shame of the cross as if it were nothing because of the joy he could see waiting for him. And now he is sitting at the right side of God’s throne. 3 Think about Jesus. He patiently endured the angry insults that sinful people were shouting at him. Think about him so that you won’t get discouraged and stop trying.” Hebrews 12:2-3 ERV

So here’s to winning the big game and receiving the crown of victory!

“Then I heard a voice from heaven shout, ‘Our God has shown his saving power, and his kingdom has come. God’s own Chosen One has shown his authority. Satan accused our people in the presence of God day and night. Now he has been thrown out!

11 Our people defeated Satan because of the blood of the Lamb and the message of God. They were willing to give up their lives.” Revelation 12:10-11 CEV

“The man who does not give up when tests come is happy. After the test is over, he will receive the crown of life. God has promised this to those who love Him.” James 1:12 NLV

WE WIN!!!!

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This Shouldn’t Be

For the last week I have been reading about the way the Lord delivered the Israelites from Egyptian slavery. The miracles that God did are amazing. Each time I read this account I am absolutely confounded by the hard-hearted stubbornness of the Pharaoh. He was more willing to see his entire nation suffer than release the Israelites.

The Lord sent ten disastrous events before Pharaoh agreed to their departure and then after they had been gone a couple days, he went after them with soldiers and chariots. The Lord placed a protective cloud between the Israelites and Egyptians. Moses was able to lead them to safety and the Egyptians drown.

It didn’t take more than a few days for the Israelites to start complaining. They had just experienced a miraculous deliverance and now they were disgruntled by the conditions they encountered in the desert and were very vocal about it. Are you kidding me? God just moved heaven and earth to take them out of bondage and all they could do was complain. I think what they meant to say was “thank you”.

“Humans have control over every kind of wild animal, bird, reptile, and fish, and they have controlled all these things. 8 But no one can control the tongue. It is wild and evil, full of deadly poison. 9 We use our tongues to praise our Lord and Father, but then we curse people who were created in God’s likeness. 10 These praises and curses come from the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, this should not happen.” James 3:7-10 ERV

We would never do anything like this right? They complained about the water; they griped about being in the desert; they murmured because there was no bread or meat. Each time they complained Moses would pray, God would provide but they were never really grateful. At the least little inconvenience they would complain again.

“The people had complained and tested the Lord by asking, “Is the Lord really with us?” So Moses named that place Massah, which means “testing” and Meribah, which means “complaining.” Exodus 17:7 CEV

Ok. So let’s get personal. We can criticize the Israelites for their complaining but what about us? “Grocery prices are too high; Washington is all messed up; it’s too hot/too cold; if one thing breaks, watch out cuz there’ll be two or three more before its over.” As a friend of mine says some people will complain because their ice cream is cold! True enough.

We get so caught up in what’s happening in this very second that we forget the blessings and provisions of the Lord from yesterday or last week. Maybe we don’t use these words but our attitude can be very similar to the Israelites when they said, “Is the Lord really with us?”.

In yesterday’s teaching I asked you to choose joy. Did you? Were you able to find things to be happy about and grateful for or did you complain? The Israelites ended up wandering around in the desert for forty years because of their complaining. We should learn from them.

“Always be filled with joy in the Lord. I will say it again. Be filled with joy.” Philippians 4:4 ERV

It takes discipline but with the Lord’s help we can tame our tongue. We can control the words that come out of our mouths. When a complaint starts to rise, replace it with words of praise. Be thankful.

“Yes, it is God who is working in you. He helps you want to do what pleases him, and he gives you the power to do it.

14 Do everything without complaining or arguing 15 so that you will be blameless and pure, children of God without any fault. But you are living with evil people all around you, who have lost their sense of what is right. Among those people you shine like lights in a dark world,” Philippians 2:13-15 ERV

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Gentle Gentle

I must admit that I’m not very good at this taking it easy stuff. It’s hard for me to sit and do nothing. I got up early as I normally do but went back to bed very shortly. Needed more rest.

Dave is doing a great job of taking care of me and making sure I don’t do too much. I’ve been told that I need to walk as much as I can so we took a long, slow walk around the block. Dave kept Glory on her leash and he let me walk at a pace that was comfortable to me. It was painstaking slow. Those of you that know Dave and I know we like to walk a brisk pace. We don’t do slow but today we did!

He’s so kind.

That little walk brought me thoughts on gentleness. I have shared some of these with you before but today seemed the perfect time for a refresher course.

What comes to mind when you think of gentleness? The dictionary defines gentleness as the quality or state of being gentle. Not much help is it? So what does it mean to be gentle?

1 : having or showing a kind and quiet nature : not harsh or violent
2 : not hard or forceful
3 : not strong or harsh in effect or quality

Over the last several decades the quality of gentleness has begun to disappear from our society. Men who act like “gentlemen” have been branded as sexist. What was once considered polite and considerate has been tagged as demeaning. May I say, I enjoy having doors opened for me; I like the fact that my husband walks on street side when we’re out. I like being called Ma’am and having someone remove his hat when introduced. I appreciate a gentle man.

And ladies, what is wrong with having someone treat us with respect? Offering to help when something seems too big, too heavy or too dangerous for us to handle. I’m not insulted but instead I feel complimented. When we display ourselves as being able to handle it all, we will be given that opportunity. And then we have no one to blame but ourselves when we feel like no one cares.

We teach children to be gentle with the new puppy or kitten, the new baby brother or sister and then later they become criticizes for being too sensitive. I remember saying to our kids, “Gentle, gentle” when they were wanting to touch something fragile.

When I think of Biblical gentleness I think of the Good Samaritan. He didn’t have to help the man from Jerusalem. The priest walked by the injured man, ignoring him. So did the CEO of the local religious ministry. But the Samaritan went out of his way, dressed the man’s wounds, took him to the local BnB and saw that his needs were attended too. He took money out of his pocket to cover the expense of his stay and then promised to come back and pay for any additional expenses.

I don’t think the man who was rescued ever even knew the name of his benefactor. The Samaritan wasn’t motivated out of a need to be recognized for his philanthropic efforts. In fact, there was racial conflict between the Jews and the people of Samaria. He was just a gentle man.

“A man stood up who knew the Law and tried to trap Jesus. He said, “Teacher, what must I do to have life that lasts forever?” 26 Jesus said to him, “What is written in the Law? What does the Law say?” 27 The man said, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart. You must love Him with all your soul. You must love Him with all your strength. You must love Him with all your mind. You must love your neighbor as you love yourself.” 28 Jesus said to him, “You have said the right thing. Do this and you will have life.” 29 The man tried to make himself look good. He asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?”

30 Jesus said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to the city of Jericho. Robbers came out after him. They took his clothes off and beat him. Then they went away, leaving him almost dead. 31 A religious leader was walking down that road and saw the man. But he went by on the other side. 32 In the same way, a man from the family group of Levi was walking down that road. When he saw the man who was hurt, he came near to him but kept on going on the other side of the road. 33 Then a man from the country of Samaria came by. He went up to the man. As he saw him, he had loving-pity on him. 34 He got down and put oil and wine on the places where he was hurt and put cloth around them. Then the man from Samaria put this man on his own donkey. He took him to a place where people stay for the night and cared for him. 35 The next day the man from Samaria was ready to leave. He gave the owner of that place two pieces of money to care for him. He said to him, ‘Take care of this man. If you use more than this, I will give it to you when I come again.’

36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who was beaten by the robbers?” 37 The man who knew the Law said, “The one who showed loving-pity on him.” Then Jesus said, “Go and do the same.” Luke 10:25-37 NLV

Jesus said that this man was the kind who would receive eternal life. This man loved the Lord with all his heart, soul and mind and he loved his neighbor as well.

Seeds of gentleness are tiny and go unnoticed. They come from speaking a kind word to a new mother or a hurting child. Gestures of gentleness are found in a smile, a hug, the pat of a hand. Gentleness is walking slow when it is completely contrary to your nature. Gentleness grows in a heart filled with love and a desire to help those that are hurting, alone, scared or even angry.

“Where there is jealousy and selfishness, there will be confusion and every kind of evil. 17 But the wisdom that comes from God is like this: First, it is pure. It is also peaceful, gentle, and easy to please. This wisdom is always ready to help people who have trouble and to do good for others. This wisdom is always fair and honest. 18 People who work for peace in a peaceful way get the blessings that come from right living.” James 3:16-18 ERV

Take a look around you, I’m sure you will see someone who needs your touch and you will hear the Holy Spirit say, “Gentle, gentle…”

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