Words Do Matter

Watch this video and then read the Scripture. Think on these things.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Hzgzim5m7oU



Matthew 12:35-37
35 "The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil. 36 But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”


I realize this now...I didn't when I was younger.  Friends, words do matter.  You are the only person who can control what you say and that is a huge responsibility. Do not take it lightly.

In my life I have tended to be harsh.  I now realize that this was an act that I used for defense and because of how I was brought up...not an excuse, just the truth. Instead it became and offense,  Not that I intended that to be sure, but nonetheless it was.  How hard it is to break bad habits! It is better to never have started them in the first place.  So please examine yourselves.  If correction is needed, start NOW. Do not wait.  Damage will result.

The good news is that Jesus can help.  Examine His words! Read His Word! Live His Word!  Jesus spoke harshly when needed, but if you read carefully, He spoke many more words of encouragement and healing than He spoke words of condemnation.

Lord, I pray that everyone who read this will examine their own words and correct them if necessary before it is too late to repair damaged relations and hurt souls. Bring them a word of knowledge and wisdom in dealing with this and turn their eyes upon You, the Author and Perfecter of our faith.

Amen!

Blessings All!

Playing the Game

Hebrews 13:5-65 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” 6 so that we confidently say,“The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid.What will man do to me?”

When I was in middle school, we had a coach for an after-school athletic club called ‘Township League’.  In the summer we used to gather to play baseball and in the winter we played basketball.  The coach was there to teach us and mentor us.  He volunteered his time because he loved kids and because he was a great guy.  Harold Torro was his name and I shall never forget him or the lessons he taught us.

I remember particularly this one incident when I was playing basketball. Mind you, I was about 5 feet 4 inches at the time...not much shorter than I am now, and I was terribly overweight.  I have been practically all my life.  Not very good at a game like basketball which requires speed and agility.  But I had a desire to be part of the team.   Coach would send me in for a quarter or so every game and I loved it.

This one time as I was on defense, I fouled a player. Coach called me on it correctly and quickly and sent me to the bench.  I was heartbroken.  Here I was, a small, over-weight 7th grader trying to play with the big guys and I wasn’t doing too well and I felt badly because I really did not want to foul anyone...it was that I was just too slow.

Coach came up to me after I was sulking a while and he put his arm around me and said, “LaGrew, if you don’t foul every now and again, you’re just not playing the game. Now go in there LaGrew and give it all you got.”

I never forgot that lesson and I never forgot those words he said to me that night.  It encouraged me and taught me a lesson that I have taken and used through my entire life.

Jesus taught his Disciples the same lesson.  He never required them to be perfect and never to make mistakes.  He encouraged them and taught them that doing something for the Kingdom may indeed lead to mistakes, but that even in the midst of failure and heartbreak, He would be there for them.  Not just once, but every time and all the time

Christians, I have heard it said, shoot their wounded. We are all wounded in one way or another.  Every one of us have committed fouls in the game.  Everyone of us have done things we may not be proud of, yet Christ has not forsaken us.  He, like my Coach so many years ago, points out where we have gone wrong, but then, He puts his arm around us, hugs us and says, “Go back out there and give it all you’ve got.”

This year, make that commitment.  Do not give up even though you may fall short.  We all. in some way, contribute to the building up of the Kingdom of God.  Let us encourage one another and build each other up in love.  Let us all get back in the game. Let us all win for Christ!

Blessings!

©2013

Worthy to be Praised

A Psalm of Praise.

117 Praise the Lord, all nations;
Laud Him, all peoples!
² For His lovingkindness s great toward us,
And the truth of the Lord is everlasting.
Praise the Lord!

This Psalm is the shortest in the Bible, but it packs one of the biggest meanings.

This year, instead of focusing on our shortcomings, our circumstances and our problems, let us instead be the few who Praise the Lord!

This is my goal...no matter is any follow. Will you join me? Yes?

Let us all Praise the Lord!

Blessings!