Always Good!

Some things are always good. Things like crispy fried chicken, cold sweet watermelon, a juicy steak cooked to perfection and for me, a peanut butter & honey sandwich.

A few of you may be familiar with my recipe for the perfect PBH but for those who aren’t I’m going to share it.

When I was a kid I loved to eat peanut butter and honey sandwiches but they had to be made right. I mean you couldn’t just butter the bread and smear peanut butter and honey on it – there was a process.

First the butter had to be soft. Put a rounded teaspoon of butter in a dish, then add a big spoon of peanut butter and finally top it with a rounded teaspoon of honey. Now here’s the important part, stir until creamy and smooth and then spread it on the bread. Oh my, now that was a sandwich.

This was generally what I called supper on Sunday evening. You see, we would have our big dinner at noon after coming home from church and before we would head back for evening service we needed to grab something quick to eat and mine would be the sandwich described above.

Delicious! and I still enjoy them to this day. Some things are always good.

When I read these verses in Psalms and Proverbs this is what comes to mind.

“Honey is good for you my children, and it tastes sweet. 14 Wisdom is like honey for your life—if you find it, your future is bright.” Proverbs 24:13-14 CEV

Wisdom is like honey…sweet and delicious. Wisdom makes life better with fewer regrets and more joy.

“Eat honey, dear child—it’s good for you—and delicacies that melt in your mouth. Likewise knowledge, and wisdom for your soul—Get that and your future’s secured, your hope is on solid rock.” Proverbs 24:13-14 MSG

When our lives are guided by wisdom, Godly wisdom, we are building that solid foundation we were talking about in yesterday’s blog. The foundation of God’s word that won’t be shaken by life’s storms. Wisdom builds hope and when we hope in the Lord we will never be ashamed.

 The fear of the Lord is pure, lasting forever. The Lord is always true and right in how He judges. 10 The Word of the Lord is worth more than gold, even more than much fine gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey straight from the comb.” Psalm 19:9-10 NLV

God’s word is more precious than gold and sweeter than honey…somethings are always good!

Get out your spoon and scoop up a big helping of honey. It’s good for you physically and spiritually.

(If you want a real treat – go make a peanut butter honey sandwich as described above. I just did and I call it breakfast.)

Wah, Wah, Wah, Wah, Wah

Today’s thoughts go hand-in-hand with yesterday. God’s word never fails so why do we put such little value in the words we speak?

Do you remember the old saying, “My word is my bond”? People used to give value to what they say, to the words they used. Words had importance, value and meaning and now it seems it has just become so much noise like the words of Charlie Brown’s teacher.

We turn on the TV and words come spilling out bringing unrest, frustration, fear and even anger. Words do have power.

To God, words are important. With them He framed the world and all that is in it. “And God said, light be and there was light”. When God promised Abraham a son, we’re told that Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as right standing with God. David wrote the longest chapter in the Bible, Psalm 119, about God’s word and the importance of it.

Jesus was referred to as the Word. What He said had value and power! People were healed when he spoke a word; his words cursed a fig tree and caused it to die from the roots up; those words turned the water into wine and raised the dead.

Jesus told the Pharisees in Matthew 12 that out of the abundance or fullness of their hearts, the mouth speaks and that by their words they would be justified or condemned. He went on to say that they would be judged for every idle word that came from their mouths.

Jesus wasn’t referring to profanity although those aren’t good words. He was pointing out their words of judgement and criticism, gossip, religious error and jealousy.

The Pharisees had been plotting against Jesus earlier in this chapter and even went so far as to say that the works Jesus was doing were of the devil. They were trying to stir up the people against Jesus using their words and Jesus wanted them to know that those words would come back to judge them.

King Solomon, the wisest man to ever live, wrote these words: “Your words can be as satisfying as fruit, as pleasing as the food that fills your stomach. 21 The tongue can speak words that bring life or death. Those who love to talk must be ready to accept what it brings.” Proverbs 18:20-21 CEV

Let’s make our words bring life. Life to us and our situations, life to our mate & children, life to our colleagues, words of life, peace, health, prosperity and salvation.

“People cannot see their own mistakes, so don’t let me commit secret sins. 13 Don’t let me do what I know is wrong. Don’t let sin control me. If you help me, I can be pure and free from sin 14 May my words and thoughts please you. LORD, you are my Rock—the one who rescues me.” Psalm 19:12-14

Thoughts – Pleasing Thoughts

It was windy last night and there was something popping outside. I thought that we had possibly left a storage door open or something of that nature, so I ventured outside to see if I could figure it out.

Everything was buttoned up tight. I came back in, it was 2:30 am and I knew there was no going back to sleep. It was time to pray. I began to meditate on God’s goodness…what a wonderful, comforting and strengthening thing that is to do.

A verse from my childhood Sunday School memorization came to mind.

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, Oh Lord, my strength and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:14 KJV

I will be honest with you – my thoughts at 2 am were “this is going to be a long day” and if I would have continued to think on that I know by mid-day I would be worn out and somewhat grumpy. Not an acceptable meditation.

So, I opened my Bible to read the entire chapter of Psalm 19. When we ask the Lord to redirect our thoughts, He will.

“The Law of the Lord is perfect, giving new strength to the soul. The Law He has made known is sure, making the child-like wiseThe Laws of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The Word of the Lord is pure, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, lasting forever. The Lord is always true and right in how He judges. 10 The Word of the Lord is worth more than gold, even more than much fine gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey straight from the comb. 11 And by them Your servant is told to be careful. In obeying them there is great reward.

12 Who can see his own mistakes? Forgive my sins that I do not see. 13 And keep Your servant from sinning by going my own way. Do not let these sins rule over me. Then I will be without blame. And I will not be found guilty of big sins. 14 Let the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing in Your eyes, O Lord, my Rock and the One Who saves me.” Psalm 19:7-14 NLV

I have a choice today – so do you. We can meditate (think on continually) how tired we are, how little sleep we’ve had, how little strength and joy we have, how we are misunderstood and mistreated, or we can choose to make the thoughts of our heart centered on God’s Word.

His word will give us strength and make us wise. His word will give us joy and understanding. His word will never fail but instead will last forever. His word is more valuable than gold and sweeter than honey.

If we insist on going our own way and following our own thinking we can be led astray and possibly into sin – the sin of worry, self-pity, anxiousness and frustration.

We have a choice! I choose to make my thoughts and my words pleasing to the Lord!