Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Pride
I am done with great things and big plans, great institutions and big success. I am for those tiny, invisible loving human forces that work from individual to individual, creeping through the crannies of the world like so many rootlets, or like the capillary oozing of water, which, if given time, will rend the hardest monuments of pride.
William James 1842-1910, American Psychologist, Professor, Author
2 Cor 5:12-15
We are not again commending ourselves to you but are giving you an occasion to be proud of us, so that you will have an answer for those who take pride in appearance and not in heart. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. NASU
Big things make big impressions on us. Big ships, big houses, and yes even big churches, but what really is the power of size. The power of size is only powerful in that it can unite small things, big is a lot of little that is put together. It is organized and has purpose, and that is what makes it “Big.”
Many Christians desire to do big things for God, and big is where they desire to start. Big is really nice to look at, but what really moves big is the power of those that take control of the small things in their lives. If we would desire to do big things for Him in our lives it means that we must take control of those little things and use them for the Glory of God. We must get rid of little things that prevent the Holy Spirit from doing the little things in us that must begin before God will give us bigger things to do.
For Big to work right and to remain upright and true, the little things must be aligned and in order, and that is what God is doing in us daily. Now the amazing thing about these little things that we allow to happen in us is that they begin the big things of God and start within us the growth process that God intended for us all along. Those little streams of pure and unstained love that flow from us begin to break down the big things in our lives that have defeated us all along.
When that happens people come to share and watch those little things come from you and I, little beams of light that become a “Great Light” for all the world to see, and little streams of water that become a might rushing stream that will move mountains for God. So lets you and I pay more attention to the little things, in us and gather them together…to see the Great Things, only God can do…God Bless.
Pastor William
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Thursday, April 17, 2008
How to Stay Young
Age and Aging
When a noble life has prepared old age, it is not decline that it reveals, but the first days of immortality.
Germaine De Stael 1766-1817, French-Swiss Novelist
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. NASU
Robert Browning said, “Grow old with me the best is yet to come.” What I firmly believe is that age is an attitude more than it is a measure of time. The attitude that we carry really shows in our lives, and more so on our faces. I say that sad faces have more wrinkles, but wrinkled faces have more smiles. The young will be old, and the worst thing that we can do as we grow older is to wish to be young again.
I have heard wrinkles described in different ways, and one advantage I have heard that comes with wrinkles is that they hide the scars. The one place we need to keep the wrinkles out of though is our hearts, Thomas Aldrich said it this way, “To keep the heart unwrinkled, to be hopeful, kindly, cheerful, reverent that is to triumph over old age.” In other words we don’t have to have wrinkled hearts.
I was looking at a recent picture of my dad the other day, and he said this, “I never think of myself as that old until I see a picture of myself, and then I am reminded of my age. Now that is good evidence of an unwrinkled heart. But, how do we keep our hearts in this unwrinkled condition? We do it by remembering that the best is yet to come. God has promised us that and it is something that we need to remind ourselves of everyday of our existence.
If we really believe that then we will have fond memories, but not long to live them again. We will still have an earnest hope and excitement about our tomorrows at ninety as we did at nineteen. Thomas Carlyle the Scottish Philosopher said this about aging, “The outer passes away; the innermost is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” You see that is what my dad was saying, inside I am still the same as I was at nineteen, and the outside of me does not reflect who I am within.
Is this true of you this morning, are you feeling your age, or are you timeless? It seems we all want to live long but, we never want to grow old. Well, there is only one place I know of where that can happen, and I’m getting closer to it everyday. I’m going to remember that, what about you…God Bless.
Pastor William
When a noble life has prepared old age, it is not decline that it reveals, but the first days of immortality.
Germaine De Stael 1766-1817, French-Swiss Novelist
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. NASU
Robert Browning said, “Grow old with me the best is yet to come.” What I firmly believe is that age is an attitude more than it is a measure of time. The attitude that we carry really shows in our lives, and more so on our faces. I say that sad faces have more wrinkles, but wrinkled faces have more smiles. The young will be old, and the worst thing that we can do as we grow older is to wish to be young again.
I have heard wrinkles described in different ways, and one advantage I have heard that comes with wrinkles is that they hide the scars. The one place we need to keep the wrinkles out of though is our hearts, Thomas Aldrich said it this way, “To keep the heart unwrinkled, to be hopeful, kindly, cheerful, reverent that is to triumph over old age.” In other words we don’t have to have wrinkled hearts.
I was looking at a recent picture of my dad the other day, and he said this, “I never think of myself as that old until I see a picture of myself, and then I am reminded of my age. Now that is good evidence of an unwrinkled heart. But, how do we keep our hearts in this unwrinkled condition? We do it by remembering that the best is yet to come. God has promised us that and it is something that we need to remind ourselves of everyday of our existence.
If we really believe that then we will have fond memories, but not long to live them again. We will still have an earnest hope and excitement about our tomorrows at ninety as we did at nineteen. Thomas Carlyle the Scottish Philosopher said this about aging, “The outer passes away; the innermost is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” You see that is what my dad was saying, inside I am still the same as I was at nineteen, and the outside of me does not reflect who I am within.
Is this true of you this morning, are you feeling your age, or are you timeless? It seems we all want to live long but, we never want to grow old. Well, there is only one place I know of where that can happen, and I’m getting closer to it everyday. I’m going to remember that, what about you…God Bless.
Pastor William
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
A Picture of Your Soul?
Soul
It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll; I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.
William Ernest Henley 1849-1903, British Poet, Critic, Editor
Ps 19:7-10
The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. NASU
We are complicated creations, we are fearfully and wonderfully made, it says in God’s Word. St. Augustine, the famed Theologian of 354-430, once said this of the soul that stirs within each of us; “Who can map out the various forces at play in one soul? Man is a great depth, O Lord. The hairs of his head are easier by far to count than his feeling, the movements of his heart.”
How are you feeling this morning, how well does your soul rest within you? I love that old hymn, It Is Well With My Soul,” it was written in a time of wrenching pain and loss, by a man that had lost the dearest possessions he had, his family. Yet, there was in the midst of those feelings, peace in his soul. The religious reformer Molinos wrote, “Thou are never at any time nearer to God than when under tribulation; which he permits for the purifications and beautifying of thy soul.
The soul, just as the body lives by what it feeds on, and it is as St John of the Cross said, destined to death if it is tied by any tether at all, whether by chain or thread, to the things of this world. It is delicate, and most importantly it is reserved wholly for the Lord. There need not be disturbances in our soul, if, we cling to The Law of The Lord, then it will be, as is stated in His word, the restorer of our soul. When we are weak, and when we are weary, and when feelings are beyond words, His Word is the healing and protecting ointment of our very existence.
Aristotle said, the soul never thinks without a picture, and that is true. We must realize that we as individuals have been given souls, and we are individually responsible to God for their health. Picture this day the condition of your soul, is it healthy? Have you fed it well? Is it resilient to stand up in heat of tribulation, and rest anchored in the hands of God? If not cut loose the contaminating presence of this world, and let it feast again of the pure things of God, purer than gold, sweeter than honey, is the respect and fear of the commandments of our LORD, He makes things simple again…God Bless.
Pastor William
It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll; I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.
William Ernest Henley 1849-1903, British Poet, Critic, Editor
Ps 19:7-10
The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. NASU
We are complicated creations, we are fearfully and wonderfully made, it says in God’s Word. St. Augustine, the famed Theologian of 354-430, once said this of the soul that stirs within each of us; “Who can map out the various forces at play in one soul? Man is a great depth, O Lord. The hairs of his head are easier by far to count than his feeling, the movements of his heart.”
How are you feeling this morning, how well does your soul rest within you? I love that old hymn, It Is Well With My Soul,” it was written in a time of wrenching pain and loss, by a man that had lost the dearest possessions he had, his family. Yet, there was in the midst of those feelings, peace in his soul. The religious reformer Molinos wrote, “Thou are never at any time nearer to God than when under tribulation; which he permits for the purifications and beautifying of thy soul.
The soul, just as the body lives by what it feeds on, and it is as St John of the Cross said, destined to death if it is tied by any tether at all, whether by chain or thread, to the things of this world. It is delicate, and most importantly it is reserved wholly for the Lord. There need not be disturbances in our soul, if, we cling to The Law of The Lord, then it will be, as is stated in His word, the restorer of our soul. When we are weak, and when we are weary, and when feelings are beyond words, His Word is the healing and protecting ointment of our very existence.
Aristotle said, the soul never thinks without a picture, and that is true. We must realize that we as individuals have been given souls, and we are individually responsible to God for their health. Picture this day the condition of your soul, is it healthy? Have you fed it well? Is it resilient to stand up in heat of tribulation, and rest anchored in the hands of God? If not cut loose the contaminating presence of this world, and let it feast again of the pure things of God, purer than gold, sweeter than honey, is the respect and fear of the commandments of our LORD, He makes things simple again…God Bless.
Pastor William
Monday, April 14, 2008
Quick Thinking
Things and Little Things
What we call little things are merely the causes of great things; they are the beginning, the embryo, and it is the point of departure which, generally speaking, decides the whole future of an existence. One single black speck may be the beginning of a gangrene, of a storm, of a revolution.
Henri Frederic Amiel 1821-1881, Swiss Philosopher, Poet, Critic
Heb 3:13-14
But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end,
NASU
One prayer that we should ask of our Lord is to finish well. That is that this life that He has blessed me with, shall at its end, bring Glory and Honor to His name. That is a culmination of many things, all of the small decisions that are made in my life will, in the end say something large and undeniable. It will be written maybe on a tombstone, but how much better would be to be written on the hearts of God’s children.
Some of the decisions that we make daily in our lives that seem so small to us, in the end, bring consequences for us and others, but how much time do we take in making these decisions. Are there really any small things? We may find upon examination that it was something small that led us to a large and unfortunate decision, because we did not take the time to pray and seek the Lord’s face on these things.
Deceit is something that we let settle on us, we let it linger and then we accept an untruth in our life that can have drastic consequences. The devil is not always the one with the tail sitting on the shoulder, not the one with a bottle of liquor in his hand, sometimes he comes disguised in what would seen pleasant and good to us. This is what would prevent us from finishing well, to be fooled or deceived into making a quick decision on something that must take time.
What we let into our lives can make big differences in how well we finish. If we are to succeed as Christians the everyday decisions that come before us should first go before The Throne. He will answer, there is one problem though, He may tell us something that we may not want to hear, or command us to do something that we might not want to do…and that is our problem isn’t it? It is not hard to listen when God tells us to go to the beach, but it is hard for some when He tells them to labor in the minds and hearts of this world for the souls of hardhearted men…God Bless
Pastor William
What we call little things are merely the causes of great things; they are the beginning, the embryo, and it is the point of departure which, generally speaking, decides the whole future of an existence. One single black speck may be the beginning of a gangrene, of a storm, of a revolution.
Henri Frederic Amiel 1821-1881, Swiss Philosopher, Poet, Critic
Heb 3:13-14
But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end,
NASU
One prayer that we should ask of our Lord is to finish well. That is that this life that He has blessed me with, shall at its end, bring Glory and Honor to His name. That is a culmination of many things, all of the small decisions that are made in my life will, in the end say something large and undeniable. It will be written maybe on a tombstone, but how much better would be to be written on the hearts of God’s children.
Some of the decisions that we make daily in our lives that seem so small to us, in the end, bring consequences for us and others, but how much time do we take in making these decisions. Are there really any small things? We may find upon examination that it was something small that led us to a large and unfortunate decision, because we did not take the time to pray and seek the Lord’s face on these things.
Deceit is something that we let settle on us, we let it linger and then we accept an untruth in our life that can have drastic consequences. The devil is not always the one with the tail sitting on the shoulder, not the one with a bottle of liquor in his hand, sometimes he comes disguised in what would seen pleasant and good to us. This is what would prevent us from finishing well, to be fooled or deceived into making a quick decision on something that must take time.
What we let into our lives can make big differences in how well we finish. If we are to succeed as Christians the everyday decisions that come before us should first go before The Throne. He will answer, there is one problem though, He may tell us something that we may not want to hear, or command us to do something that we might not want to do…and that is our problem isn’t it? It is not hard to listen when God tells us to go to the beach, but it is hard for some when He tells them to labor in the minds and hearts of this world for the souls of hardhearted men…God Bless
Pastor William
Friday, April 11, 2008
The Cross Is Purpose
Purpose
The first principle of ethical power is Purpose. By purpose, I don't mean your objective or intention-something toward which you are always striving. Purpose is something bigger. It is the picture you have of yourself-the kind of person you want to be or the kind of life you want to lead.
Ken Blanchard American Business Lecturer, Author
Phil 1:27
Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
NASU
Listen to the words of Gita Bellin, they can speaks volumes to us today. We as Christians need to return to the holy paths and to the sacred practices of our faith. I don’t know if she is a Christian, but it is good advice for the Christian living in today’s world; “Never be afraid to tread the path alone. Know which is your path and follow it wherever it may lead you; do not feel you have to follow in someone else's footsteps.
Everyday in American the united voice of humanism is speaking loudly, and it beacons to every Christian to follow. It disguises itself in the robes of self righteousness and declares that we are gods, and entices us all to follow. Opra Winfrey has swallowed it hook line and sinker and the world is following the prestige and popularity of movie stars rather than the Living Word of God.
Preachers of this religion are quickly establishing footholds in our society, and make no mistake; it is a warning bell for the Christian church. It says, abandon doctrine and sound teaching and go with your feelings, it says your feelings matter more that truth, and that truth was just a way for you to find yourself. Listen, the truth is a defined and narrow way that God placed here on this earth for you and I that shows us how to become less, and Him become more in us.
Purpose then becomes important to us all, and that purpose is not one that we designed, but one designed for us by God Himself. We all have a plan and a purpose in this world that was prepared for us even before we were born, (Psalms 139:16.) Our focus must be on God for us to be successful and fruitful travelers through this temporary realm that we find ourselves in at this time.
How do we do keep focus? By keeping our eyes on the “Bigger Picture,” and allowing God to lead us daily by seeking to be in His presence. It’s like the old song says, “I must needs go home by the way of the Cross, there’s no other way but this.” We must stand firm in one spirit, striving for the Gospel of Christ…God Bless.
Pastor William
The first principle of ethical power is Purpose. By purpose, I don't mean your objective or intention-something toward which you are always striving. Purpose is something bigger. It is the picture you have of yourself-the kind of person you want to be or the kind of life you want to lead.
Ken Blanchard American Business Lecturer, Author
Phil 1:27
Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
NASU
Listen to the words of Gita Bellin, they can speaks volumes to us today. We as Christians need to return to the holy paths and to the sacred practices of our faith. I don’t know if she is a Christian, but it is good advice for the Christian living in today’s world; “Never be afraid to tread the path alone. Know which is your path and follow it wherever it may lead you; do not feel you have to follow in someone else's footsteps.
Everyday in American the united voice of humanism is speaking loudly, and it beacons to every Christian to follow. It disguises itself in the robes of self righteousness and declares that we are gods, and entices us all to follow. Opra Winfrey has swallowed it hook line and sinker and the world is following the prestige and popularity of movie stars rather than the Living Word of God.
Preachers of this religion are quickly establishing footholds in our society, and make no mistake; it is a warning bell for the Christian church. It says, abandon doctrine and sound teaching and go with your feelings, it says your feelings matter more that truth, and that truth was just a way for you to find yourself. Listen, the truth is a defined and narrow way that God placed here on this earth for you and I that shows us how to become less, and Him become more in us.
Purpose then becomes important to us all, and that purpose is not one that we designed, but one designed for us by God Himself. We all have a plan and a purpose in this world that was prepared for us even before we were born, (Psalms 139:16.) Our focus must be on God for us to be successful and fruitful travelers through this temporary realm that we find ourselves in at this time.
How do we do keep focus? By keeping our eyes on the “Bigger Picture,” and allowing God to lead us daily by seeking to be in His presence. It’s like the old song says, “I must needs go home by the way of the Cross, there’s no other way but this.” We must stand firm in one spirit, striving for the Gospel of Christ…God Bless.
Pastor William
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Peace in Purpose
Life and Living
A light heart lives long.
Proverb
Ps 16:8-11
I have set the LORD continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will dwell securely. For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay. You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever. NASU
What is the weight of your heart? In today’s society weight is a subject of many conversations, but hardly do we discuss the weight of the burdens that so many carry from day to day. A dear friend sent me a picture that was to determine the amount of stress that we all carry, two dolphins leaping out of the water, and the more differences you saw between the dolphins, the greater the stress. When you scroll down you actually see a dolphin and a cow, side by side, leaping from the sea.
The Theologian St. Augustine said this of the burdens we carry, “I have read in Plato and Cicero sayings that are wise and very beautiful; but I have never read in either of them: Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden.'' Christ came to share our burdens and he was looking for others that may have burdens so as to share their burden with them? Today not many Christians seek to share others burdens, they have so many burdens themselves that many Christians are barely keeping their head above water.
What is it that gives us rest? Dwelling with our Lord, and the reason that so many Christians are falling out in the streets is their lack of time with their Master and Savior, their King and Restorer. David declares in the Psalms, I am “Secure” no matter what winds and trials assail me, and then he shouts at the natural decaying world around him, “I Shall Live forever, I will not decay. Now that’s what I’m talking about, bold living, for the Glory of God. Listen to the joy he experiences when he is before The Lord, he declares that the mystery of life is not a problem; his God will reveal the right and safe paths for him.
He also acknowledges that those paths prepared for him will lead him into fullness. What is that? It is a feeling of satisfaction, a peace within that comes from knowing that you are on track. Now from that the Christian can find joy in the journey and a peace that will have others seeking what they have, and are they asking you about your joy? Has anyone questioned you lately? I hope so, because if they have, you have found the secret to success and the joy of the journey, dwelling in His Presence…God Bless.
Pastor William
A light heart lives long.
Proverb
Ps 16:8-11
I have set the LORD continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will dwell securely. For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay. You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever. NASU
What is the weight of your heart? In today’s society weight is a subject of many conversations, but hardly do we discuss the weight of the burdens that so many carry from day to day. A dear friend sent me a picture that was to determine the amount of stress that we all carry, two dolphins leaping out of the water, and the more differences you saw between the dolphins, the greater the stress. When you scroll down you actually see a dolphin and a cow, side by side, leaping from the sea.
The Theologian St. Augustine said this of the burdens we carry, “I have read in Plato and Cicero sayings that are wise and very beautiful; but I have never read in either of them: Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden.'' Christ came to share our burdens and he was looking for others that may have burdens so as to share their burden with them? Today not many Christians seek to share others burdens, they have so many burdens themselves that many Christians are barely keeping their head above water.
What is it that gives us rest? Dwelling with our Lord, and the reason that so many Christians are falling out in the streets is their lack of time with their Master and Savior, their King and Restorer. David declares in the Psalms, I am “Secure” no matter what winds and trials assail me, and then he shouts at the natural decaying world around him, “I Shall Live forever, I will not decay. Now that’s what I’m talking about, bold living, for the Glory of God. Listen to the joy he experiences when he is before The Lord, he declares that the mystery of life is not a problem; his God will reveal the right and safe paths for him.
He also acknowledges that those paths prepared for him will lead him into fullness. What is that? It is a feeling of satisfaction, a peace within that comes from knowing that you are on track. Now from that the Christian can find joy in the journey and a peace that will have others seeking what they have, and are they asking you about your joy? Has anyone questioned you lately? I hope so, because if they have, you have found the secret to success and the joy of the journey, dwelling in His Presence…God Bless.
Pastor William
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
The Fruit of The Lips
Words
Abuse of words has been the great instrument of sophistry and chicanery, of party, faction, and division of society.
John Adams 1735-1826, Second President of the USA
Prov 18:19-21
A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city, And contentions are like the bars of a citadel. With the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach will be satisfied; He will be satisfied with the product of his lips. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. NASU
Orson Scott Card, an American Author, has shared with all one of his most treasured possessions, and it is a treasure that we all have the ability to possess. Let us hear these words well today, “Among my most prized possessions are words that I have never spoken.” Isn’t this true, and shouldn’t we all have a closet full of these prized and most valuable treasures?
The fact is that there is a fruit that is produced by our tongue, and there is a product of the lips that is shared with those around us that also impacts our own lives, as well as theirs. The fruit that is produced by the tongue is often one that we like to cast on others, but one that we hardly think of being something that we will have to partake, and eating our own words has a bitter taste. I concur with the statement of a friend who told me, “I like to eat my crow while it is still warm.”
I think that there are so many contentions around us today. Disagreements and bitterness that we carry from year to year are robbing us of the freshness of life, and keeping many in the bars of a citadel, and away from the freedom of walking in a fresh peace that can be a product that we may produce within ourselves. Aristophanes, the Greek Satirist, left us these words, “By words the mind is winged.”
What am I saying? I am saying that the same lips that cause scars can also heal them, if we will be humbled and allow our lips to produce the healing fruit of mercy, and forgiveness. The Word of God says to us in Proverbs 15:4 “A soothing tongue is a tree of life, But perversion in it crushes the spirit.” There are so many crushed spirits in our families and churches today, and most are the product of harsh and bitter, judgmental tongues.
If you have not started a closet of words not spoken, start one today, and if your closet is not very full, start adding more to your collection. I am sure that we all need more of this treasure to be able to experience the freedom of The Lord, and to be able to escape the bars our tongues can place us behind… God Bless.
Pastor William
Abuse of words has been the great instrument of sophistry and chicanery, of party, faction, and division of society.
John Adams 1735-1826, Second President of the USA
Prov 18:19-21
A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city, And contentions are like the bars of a citadel. With the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach will be satisfied; He will be satisfied with the product of his lips. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. NASU
Orson Scott Card, an American Author, has shared with all one of his most treasured possessions, and it is a treasure that we all have the ability to possess. Let us hear these words well today, “Among my most prized possessions are words that I have never spoken.” Isn’t this true, and shouldn’t we all have a closet full of these prized and most valuable treasures?
The fact is that there is a fruit that is produced by our tongue, and there is a product of the lips that is shared with those around us that also impacts our own lives, as well as theirs. The fruit that is produced by the tongue is often one that we like to cast on others, but one that we hardly think of being something that we will have to partake, and eating our own words has a bitter taste. I concur with the statement of a friend who told me, “I like to eat my crow while it is still warm.”
I think that there are so many contentions around us today. Disagreements and bitterness that we carry from year to year are robbing us of the freshness of life, and keeping many in the bars of a citadel, and away from the freedom of walking in a fresh peace that can be a product that we may produce within ourselves. Aristophanes, the Greek Satirist, left us these words, “By words the mind is winged.”
What am I saying? I am saying that the same lips that cause scars can also heal them, if we will be humbled and allow our lips to produce the healing fruit of mercy, and forgiveness. The Word of God says to us in Proverbs 15:4 “A soothing tongue is a tree of life, But perversion in it crushes the spirit.” There are so many crushed spirits in our families and churches today, and most are the product of harsh and bitter, judgmental tongues.
If you have not started a closet of words not spoken, start one today, and if your closet is not very full, start adding more to your collection. I am sure that we all need more of this treasure to be able to experience the freedom of The Lord, and to be able to escape the bars our tongues can place us behind… God Bless.
Pastor William
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Pastor William
- Pastor William F Burroughs
- Gainesville, Fl, United States
- Pray for God to move greatly in "Journey of The Word Church".