More Than Words

"Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!"
-- James 3:3-5

How many times do we say things we don't really mean and think nothing of it? If anyone comments, or if we have a little twinge of Spirit-conscience, we immediately follow up with "just kidding"!

As children we used to say "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me". Apparently, James disagrees.

Humbled and Amazed

It's been a while since I've written. I was going through a bit of a storm in my life. For me, that means its time to "hunker down" into the Word and make sure that everything that is going into my soul through the eyes, ears, and being spoken out of my mouth is aligned with the Word of God. 

In order for that to be the case, sometimes its easier to just remain silent. I've found that when I'm in the thick of things, it takes more effort to guard my words (James 3:8 "but the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.") than it takes to just shut up.

Do Others See God's Light In You?

Some people are just so beautiful they take you breath away -- and I've never met anyone who can do that when there isn't an inner beauty to back it up.

Grandma was right when she said "Beauty is only skin deep" -- at least, what the world considers beautiful.

Blessed Be The Name

I like to listen to praise and worship music. In fact, if I'm listening to music at all, it's praise and worship. I used to listen to other kinds of music, but several years ago When I got heavily into the Faith movement, I began to understand the power of words.

Then I began to pay attention to the lyrics of the songs I was listening to and even singing along with. And, I realized that something had to change.

Life Lessons on the Drive to Work

While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.
 -- Genesis 8:22

I had to smile this morning. I came up to an intersection and got into the left turn lane. There was one car in front of me. The light changed. The car behind me must have been in a hurry. Instead of simply waiting for the light to turn green again (in fact, there is a protected left turn before the rest of the traffic can go), he decided to save some time and cut through the parking lot of the business on the corner.

The Effect of Worry on Faith

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
  -- Matthew 6:25

What was Jesus saying?  Was he telling us to live our lives without thought? To just go about our days without planning or thinking about what we are doing?  No, the word "thought" in this scripture is the Greek word merimnao which means "to be anxious about".

This is the day that the Lord has made.

I will rejoice and be glad in it.