Thoughts for Life

Sunday, August 3, 2014

Tenderhearted

Ginny Merritt - "I banged my coffee mug down on the kitchen counter, pressing my left hand on its moist rim, my right hand on the cold enamel surface of the drain board.

Tears welled in my eyes. Words spoken at breakfast to my husband had been as hard and jarring as the sound of my stoneware cup striking the counter.

I allowed anger from another strained relationship to spill over to him. I was sorry and I needed to apologize.

Pushing myself away from the sink, I walked across the red linoleum floor carrying my empty mug with me.

Quietly, I stepped onto the living room carpet. He sat in his beige recliner with his Bible on his lap, eyes closed in prayer. He sensed my presence and opened his eyes.

Unsure of myself, I remained on the edge of the carpet. It was hard to get the words out.

I took a breath and stared out the window while he waited.

'I’m sorry,' I offered.

'I shouldn't have let my words hurt you.'

He bent forward in his chair and smiled, lines wrinkled around his brown eyes.

Like so many times before, he was ready to forgive. 'It’s okay. I know you’re having a hard time.'

I nodded, releasing a deep breath. He picked up his blue mug, stood, and said, Let’s go fill our cups again.'

Ephesians tells us to 'be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ forgave you.'

Saying “I’m sorry” is humbling and difficult, but it is the oil provided by the Holy Spirit to keep our relationships functioning.

Is there someone in your life, in your day, you have been harsh with? Now is a fine time to ask God’s help to restore the relationship. You will be glad you did it.

You might even want to carry your empty mug with you, ready for a friendly cup of fresh coffee.

Let kindness and compassion fill your cup."

"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ forgave you." Ephesians 4:32 (RSV)

Tenderhearted - Ginny Merritt

Photo courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net and Grant Cochrane.

While Ginny Merritt is first a homemaker and pastor's wife, writing is woven into every facet of her life.

She has been writing primarily to enrich her ministry for years through Bible studies, curriculum, and drama.

Her early-reader chapter book, A Ram for Isaac, was published four years ago, and a children’s novel, The Window in the Wall, is coming out in November, both through Journeyforth, a division of BJU Press.

Read Ginny's devotions.

Receive a daily devotion on your Kindle!

Used by permission www.christiandevotions.us
and Ginny Merritt

Let’s pray:

Father, when we find we
need one of those "humbling"
experiences, may we be quick
to heed Your prompting.

Help us to not say words
that hurt someone, especially
those we love.

Open my eyes to times that I'm apt to speak out of turn, and when I could hurt someone by what I'm thinking I should say.

May I be slow to speak, and carefully choosing my words wisely each day.

In the Name of Jesus I pray for help. Amen.

Today’s Bible verse: Lam. 3:40 "Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD."

Today’s quote: Our Daily Bread “One act of kindness may teach more about the love of God than many sermons.”

Some thoughts today: We're not to presume things will go smoothly and not experience problems. Follow and live for Christ through every situation.

- What you're going through may very well be a spiritual assault
against your place in Christ.

- We miss opportunities to have fellowship with God, by not reading the Bible. We need to be stirred up!

Praying together helps
days go more smoothly

5th- Tuesday's post: #107 Avoid the Dangers
C. Peter Wagner

7th- Thursday’s post: #108 Spiritual Dependency
C. Peter Wagner

9th- Saturday's post: Behind the Song: In the Garden
Diana Leagh Mathews

10th- Sunday's post: Doubt vs. Faith
Jean Oathout

A popular post: Under the Juniper Tree Mary Southerland - “Elijah is a great example of a man in need of rest. One day he was the conquering hero, the next we find him sitting under a Juniper tree, wallowing in self-pity – and begging God to let him die.

jowildflowers@gmail.com

Samples of Jean's crafts

http://twitter.com/jeanoathout

http://facebook.com/jean.oathout

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Where authors and readers come together!

Granny's Guide to Marriage in Verse

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Wisdom for Brides (Christian Marriage,

Counseling, & Help) (Volume 1)

Granny's Guide to Marriage in Verse

My book in paperback $7.95

Walking Through Dark Valleys

Dr. Charles F. Stanley shares with
us today about walking through dark
valleys:
"As a teenager, Joseph lost almost
everything.

His family, his position as the favored son, his home, and his freedom were abruptly taken from him. (Google image).

How stunned he must have been by the hatred of his siblings and
such over-whelming loss.

But one thing he did take with him was his faith in God.

Life is like that at times for every one of us.

Sudden changes in health or finances, the unexpected death of a loved one, or abandonment by a good friend can bring us into a dark season.

We do not understand why the Lord has allowed the trial or lets the pain continue. Joseph probably wondered the same things, but he managed to hold fast to his faith.

Even as a slave in a foreign land, he experienced the blessing of God's presence. And recognizing that the Lord was with this young captive, his Egyptian master showed him favor (Gen. 39:2-3).

One of the keys to walking through dark valleys —those times when life seems to be crumbling and the future's looking grim—is to embrace the reality of the Lord's presence with us.

At the moment of salvation, the Holy Spirit comes to live permanently within the new Christian and seals him or her as belonging to God forever.

Google image

Because of the indwelling Spirit, we're never apart from God.

No circumstance, suffering, or loss
can separate us from Him or his love
(Rom. 8:35, 38-39).

Take a few minutes each day and
reflect on Jesus' promise to be with us always (Matt. 28:20).

The result will be that this truth becomes planted deep within
your soul to sustain you in hard times."

InTouch magazine, August '14 Page 50 of Daily devotions
from the sermons of Charles F. Stanley

Used by permission customercare@intouch.org

(Google images added)

When I Go to Heaven

"When I go to heaven

When this body is no more

I'll meet my loving savior

He'll greet me at the door.

He'll put his arms around me

He'll look me in the eye

He'll tell me that He loves me

And I will start to cry.

What did I do to earn this?

Why do you love me so?

You know that I'm not perfect

But You've never let me go.

My child, it's cuz you know me

Your faith was always there

You never gave up trying

You never ceased to care.

But Lord I did have dark times

I almost did give up

It was so hard at times Lord

At times it was so rough.

I know it wasn't easy

It's not supposed to be

I had to mold you into

The child that I now see.

So welcome home my daughter

Come here greet everyone

Come share in all the laughter

Come join in all the song.

Your trials are far behind you

You've earned a heavenly seat

Your tears are turned to laughter

Your joy is now complete."

Debbie McEwen

tmcewen91@yahoo.com

(Jean added color to Christ's

answers, with permission).

Post-Cancer Nutrition Changes

By JillSavage on Jul 21, 2014

"When I met with my oncologist after my last treatment he told me that I now have three jobs:

1) Exercise Regularly
2) Eat Right
3) Keep my weight down

As he explained, lifestyle changes can make a difference in “turning on” the cancer cells in our body. There’s nothing we can do that will 100% remove the cancer risk, but there are things we can do to lower the risk as much as possible.

So I’m changing the way I’m shopping, how we’re eating, and my exercise plan. I’m determined to do what I can do to stay cancer-free..."

(I hope you'll check out Jill's message, and forward it to anyone who's standing against cancer from recurring.)

Let’s pray:

Father, may we remember Your call
today: be quick to come to You with whatever we're dealing with.
Help us remember folks like Joseph
who kept his faith through every hurtful circumstance.
When life seems to be crumbling and the future's looking grim—help me to embrace the reality of Your presence with me.
I ask for grace to look to You, no matter what. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.

Today’s Bible verse:

(1 Kings 8:48 a) "And so return unto thee with all their heart, and with all their soul, in the land of their enemies, which led them away captive."

Today’s quote:

Cindy Sproles – “God never fully releases us from His grip until there is absolute denial. And if we’ve known Him and called out, the Father dunks us in His grace and mercy and washes all the stains away . . . again. He is a God of second chances. The man who stands tall in pride sinks to his knees in humility when his time approaches.”

Some thoughts today:

- The error of all religions: DO what is necessary to live good enough to please God. God was in Christ Jesus, and He was the one Who did what was necessary to please the Father!

- We're to live for Christ, and to walk a life that's honoring Him. He wants to be involved with everything that concerns you. Even in a tragedy, He will offer His comfort to you.

- Wherever you are, and in whatever situation you find yourself in, Jesus will be faithful to help you walk through it with the right attitude and spirit that honors Him.

3rd- evening's post: Tenderhearted
Ginny Merritt

5th- Tuesday's post: #107 Avoid the Dangers
C. Peter Wagner

7th- Thursday's post: #108 Spiritual Dependency
C. Peter Wagner

9th- Saturday's post: Behind the song: In the Garden
Diana Leagh Mathews

A helpful post:

After Surrender, What?

From DEVOTIONS for MORNING and
EVENING, with Oswald Chambers
“The whole of life after surrender is an aspiration for unbroken communion with God.”

One of the Wonders of Creation!
God loves us, every one

Samples of Jean's crafts
http://twitter.com/jeanoathout
http://facebook.com/jean.oathout

Granny's Guide to Marriage in Verse

Wisdom for Brides (Christian
Marriage, Counseling, & Help)

Saturday, August 2, 2014

Discernment vs. Criticism Part 2

Jean Oathout continues with thoughts on Criticism today:

It is rather easy to see other people's faults and weaknesses.

Criticism, we find, can become a negative
of discernment.

That is why there is so much responsibility in moving in any of the discernments we may have.

When any part of these thoughts go to the extreme, alas, the
negative shows up as Criticism. Sometimes, things we say may
hurt people.

If you see weakness in someone's life that doesn't affect their ministry to others and the purposes of God, then just love them.

Criticism takes place when we voice our opinion in a demeaning way. Our attitude plays a large part in our sharing what we've "discerned."

When you've heard something disturbing about someone, pray for God's guidance to know if you should go to the person spoken about, to find out the truth.

If it's a lie, you may need to tract down the lie, and face the guilty one spreading the "criticism," and get the truth. Put the devil under foot!

Negative thinking and speaking does not honor God, nor edify anyone. It tends to cause us to hold something that we've discerned against someone.

We build a wall that keeps us, and them, from any hope of change. It causes a blockage to blessing, too.

Sometimes it's hard to tell which is which:

Am I hearing from the Holy Spirit, or am I simply dealing

with my not-always-kind-and-compassionate soul?

Some folks may need to be careful how they respond, when they've come out of a critical spirit themselves. We all can make a cutting comment that can hurt another person.

Think through what you're about to say, and ask yourself these questions:

Is this edifying? Will this build the person up, or will it hurt

them? Am I in a relationship with them, that I have some

authority to even say anything about what I see?

If you do, pray and ask God to give you the ability to help them
see what concerns you, and then give you a strategy to help them overcome the flaw. Matt. 18:15 {go to them in private first}.

(An example of this would be, every time you get together with a friend of yours, you find them talking badly about other people.)

You'll show your spiritual growth when you can look at someone's "flaw", and share it only with them, or who may have a specific need to know.

A good rule:

If, after you've gone to the individual involved, and they

won't hear you, go "up-line" with concerns you may have

about something. Go to your pastor, elder, husband, father,

or employer/supervisor for advice. {Refer to Matt. 18:15-17}.

It would be helpful to say:

"_______, here's something I'm sensing... I haven't

mentioned it to anyone. I wanted to bring it to you

to see if you had any recommendations. Do I simply

pray about it? Do I tell anyone? Is there any action

you think I should take?"

Leave it there, and allow the leader to "take it from there."

You've done your part.

Your having said, "I haven't mentioned it to anyone" is very

important, as otherwise, it could just become gossip. It can

also cause the person you're sharing it with to have doubts

about the person mentioned, and cause further hurt.

When we give our critical opinion to someone, there remains

an awkwardness between them and us, though forgiveness

may have taken place.

We seem to think that we'll "help" them

by calling attention to what we're noticing.

It's not a good idea, unless we're asked to give it. In other words, this is to be avoided.

What's in our hearts?

The Bible says that what's in there comes out our mouths... Luke 6:45 tells us either good or evil will come from our hearts, {depending on it's spiritual condition.}

The temptation we'll face:

What if the person doesn't think this is from God

and doesn't do anything?

How big is your God?

Trust Him to handle it, and go right on praying.

Another aspect in understanding Criticism is, when

you're the one being criticized. Examine what was said,

and find any truth in it, so you can benefit by it in some

way.

Whether the person thinks well of you, or is simply

finding fault with you, be careful not to retaliate with

harsh words.

It's difficult to take criticism humbly and graciously,

and to seek to learn something from it.

Remember: Not every negative thought is necessarily a

signal that we need to change our behavior.

A gentle and gracious answer should always be the

standard response from a child of God. Prov. 15:1

"gentle answer."

We should also consider that what we have taken as

hurtful, may not

have been intended that way at all.

Hopefully, what I've shared on the subject of Criticism, today, will help us think more seriously about criticizing others. I'm thankful for what my pastor shared with me,

as well as some helpful suggestions from friends.

I had a recent experience of receiving some critical thoughts, while reading Discernment vs. Criticism Part 1

and today's post, to my writer friends at our meeting.

I was thinking that I had done a poor job, and that I'd

have to re-write it the whole time I was reading to them!

I can now see that the evil one tried to discourage and

hinder me from using what I'd written. It must be, the Lord's

planning on using them to help His people! I trust so.

Thankfully, a friend spoke encouragement to me immediately

after the meeting, that what I'd read really helped him.

Is. 59:19b "The LORD will lift up a standard."

As a result, I'm working on another draft, scheduled for the

10th of August, called Doubt vs. Faith. I believe the Lord

wants that subject covered, too.

As some of you may have noticed, the original posting

disappeared today! Fortunately, I'd copied it into a Word

document, so I've had to recreate the entire post for you.

God is Good to have helped me in this, as I'm sure it is

and important message.

Let’s pray:

Father, it is my desire to do what is
pleasing to You. May my thoughts be
ones that honor You, as well as the
others I come in contact with each day.
I understand that what I say, as well
as what I think, does matter to You.
My words can hurt others, if spoken in
a demeaning, critical way.
I ask that You set a watch at the door of my mouth, that
I not sin. I ask this in Jesus' Name. Amen.

Today’s Bible verse: Is. 45:2a "I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight."

Today’s quote: Mary Southerland – “We live in a broken world and life is filled with pain, challenges, dark times and trials, but today can still be a day of thanksgiving and praise because praise and thanksgiving have little to do with our circumstances and everything to do with our inner attitude toward God. It really doesn’t matter how much we lose here, [my friend]. I have read the Book and we win … for all of eternity! We just need to take the time to remember … and give thanks.”

Some thoughts today: God will battle for you, until you can battle. Submit yourself to God. He will enable you to speak His truth to your lost friends.

- It's not by your might, but God's! His Spirit will move through you, and in them.

- Let this day be the answer to the crossroad of your life. Seek God, and follow what He directs.

3rd- Sunday’s post: Walking Through Dark Valleys

Charles F. Stanley

3rd- evening's post: Tenderhearted

Ginny Merritt

5th- Tuesday's post: #107 Avoid the Dangers

C. Peter Wagner

7th- Thursday's post: #108 Spiritual Dependency

C. Peter Wagner

A popular post: Thoughts and Temptations Dutch
Sheets tells us, “Considering the third aspect of stronghold,
{found in 1 Cor. 10:3-5}, the Lord tells us we can “Take
every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”