Tag: Discipline

Warrior Words

I think about the word of God. He said let there be,
and it was. And now thousands of years later, it still is.

Then I think of
the Psalms. Most were written by David, before and after he was king. His words
still have power today, thousands of years later, to change and touch lives.

When David was
just a boy tending the family sheep and he would sing songs to Father God, I
don’t think he had any inkling that those very songs would be a witness to
people thousands of years into the future.

I’m willing to bet most biblical characters never
thought Father God would be using things they have said and done to help reproach,
teach, inspire and encourage us today.

Who am I to think my words will somehow go unnoticed?
Maybe Father God intends to use my gossip session as a lesson of what not to
do, a few hundred years from now.

Matthew 15:18-19 NLT — But the words you
speak come from the heart—that’s what defiles you. For from the heart come evil
thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander.

Think of our words as warriors we send out into the
world. They are unstoppable once uttered. Once they are loose there is no way
to change our minds and call them back. These warriors go out with mission and
purpose and they don’t rest or sleep and they never tire. There are two tribes
of warriors we all have available to us in endless numbers. The white warriors
and the gray warriors. Every single word we give voice to and speak out is
activation of either the white warriors or the grey warriors.

Once uttered the white warriors will go out to spread goodness,
kindness, gentleness, peace, patience, joy, forbearance, self-control, faithfulness
and love. The gray warriors will go out spreading gossip, division, hate,
anger, lies, intent on killing, stealing and destroying.

No matter what, one or the other, white or grey, are
attached to every single word we utter or give voice to. The possibility of empty
words containing no warriors at all doesn’t exist. Even empty words we choose
to say that have no emotion or meaning behind them whatsoever, still contain either
white or grey warriors. So no matter what if we choose to speak we release
warriors. We either utter life giving
words or words that will end up being a curse upon somebody else or even
ourselves.

James 1:26 NLT — If you claim to be
religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your
religion is worthless.

Our words are very, very powerful! Although
we are told this over and over in God’s Word, we still speak so carelessly. We
allow words to slip from our lips, choosing to stay blind to what we create for
our own reality, and blessing or hurt we speak over those around us.

Proverbs 29:20 NLT — There is more hope for
a fool than for someone who speaks without thinking.

The enemy deceives us with the lie, “sticks and stones,
may break my bones, but your words can’t ever hurt me.”

Scripture tells us opposite.

The truth is, sticks and stones, have less chance of breaking
my bones, than your words, that are sure to curse me.

I had a few physical fights with girls I went to school
with when I was young. Thinking back, I cannot remember any physical pain or injuries
I may have obtained from those altercations. I can however, remember all the mean things girls in school
would say about me, as if they were just said yesterday.

Words that have emotion behind them, good or bad, gray
or white, have more power to cause what they’re bent out to cause such as, good
or bad, hurt or help, division or unity, destroy or encourage, hate or love.

Proverbs 21:23 NLT — Watch your tongue and
keep your mouth shut, and you will stay out of trouble.

When our words come from reaction to something or
someone, we, by reacting, open a door to the enemy. The enemy then takes over
and manages our reality. As long as the enemy can keep us reactive and speaking
emotionally, we cannot elevate spiritually because our words keep us in
bondage.

If however we choose to practice self-control and decidedly
bite our tongue, choosing not to react, we maintain control of our own reality.
We also, as we hold our tongue and remain self controlled, realize we had the
means of spiritual growth, all along. We also start to see the floodgates of
blessings open up, as we choose our words carefully.

Proverbs
18:20-21 KJV — A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth;
and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled. Death and life are in the
power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

We have to
understand, we don’t get to choose if our words hurt or help others just
because of how we meant them. No matter if we think someone should discern our
meaning or not, wont stop them from feeling the way our words made them feel. We
cant dismiss our responsibility for the effects our words have by saying we
didn’t mean it like that. This includes the words we utter about ourselves. We
say things like, I always lose, I’m just clumsy, I’m not good at that, etc.
Etc. We barely notice we are living the very things we allow ourselves to speak
out. Whether we like it or not our words every single one that comes from our
mouth has power to do either good or harm.

Proverbs 12:13-14 NLT — The wicked are
trapped by their own words, but the godly escape such trouble. Wise words bring
many benefits, and hard work brings rewards.

James 3:5-10 NLT — In the same way, the
tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a
great forest on fire. And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of
wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire,
for it is set on fire by hell itself. People can tame all kinds of animals,
birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and
evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and
sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so
blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers
and sisters, this is not right!

Friends, the words we speak have a power we can’t seem
to truly imagine. None the less whether
we can imagine their power or not, wont
change the power they possess or the consequences, of our carelessness, in
which we speak them.

Until next time, may God bless you and keep you, as you
seek Him with your whole heart.

10 reasons I thank God for the blessing of mom

Proverbs 31:10-31 NLT — Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies. Her husband can trust her,

And she will greatly enrich his life. She brings him good, not harm, All the days of her life. She finds wool and flax And busily spins it. She is like a merchant’s ship, Bringing her food from afar. She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household And plan the day’s work for her servant girls. She goes to inspect a field and buys it; With her earnings she plants a vineyard. She is energetic and strong, A hard worker. She makes sure her dealings are profitable;

Her lamp burns late into the night. Her hands are busy spinning thread,

Her fingers twisting fiber. She extends a helping hand to the poor And opens her arms to the needy. She has no fear of winter for her household, For everyone has warm clothes. She makes her own bedspreads. She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns. Her husband is well known at the city gates,

Where he sits with the other civic leaders. She makes belted linen garments And sashes to sell to the merchants. She is clothed with strength and dignity, And she laughs without fear of the future. When she speaks, her words are wise, And she gives instructions with kindness. She carefully watches everything in her household And suffers nothing from laziness. Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her: “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, But you surpass them all!” Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; But a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised. Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.

 

Today, is the one day a year we as a society, set aside to honor our mother’s. Although in my opinion, mom’s should be celebrated and honored every day of the year, it still gives me hope and a grateful heart, that we give one whole day every year, to remember our moms and what they mean to us.

 

I thank God regularly for so richly blessing my life with my mom. Today, on mother’s day, I am especially grateful because my mom is a most extraordinary woman. My entire life, I have yet to meet another mom that can compare with mine.

 

For the sake of space within this blog post, I have narrowed down all the reasons I praise God for my mom down to my top ten.

 

10. Number ten is probably the most obvious and would be rather silly to even mention, except that it is absolutely true and therefore worth listing. I thank God for Mama because she gave me life. She birthed me and took on the responsibility of raising me.

 

9. I praise Father God for my mama because through good times and bad times, she stayed and work things out with daddy. She loved him so much it was awe inspiring. She, by her example, taught me it’s not only possible to be self-controlled, patient, and selfless, but it’s a requirement for a lasting marriage.

 

8. I praise God for my mama because, she worked so hard, both in the home and outside the home.  She not only taught me how to clean and care for a home, but she also taught me the value in working hard.

 

7. I thank God for mama because, she hosted our family holiday gatherings, that always seemed more like family reunions, with how many people would show up. It was hard work and she never got to visit with everyone because by the time the meal was prepared, shared, and then cleaned up, everyone started heading home. Still she did this year after year.

 

6. I thank Father God for my mama because, she has such a big heart. She is very attentive, thoughtful and she is always helping family, friends, and sometimes even strangers that are in need.

 

5. I praise God for my mama because, she raised me to walk with dignity and taught me how to be a woman deserving of respect. She taught by being an example.

 

4. I thank God for my mama because, she was never afraid to discipline me when I messed up. Even as an adult, she’s not afraid to let me know when I am wrong. She gently tells me with guidance from the Holy Spirit.

 

3. I praise God for my mama because, she has never been disloyal to me and she has always had my back.

 

2. I thank Father God for my mama because, she taught me how to listen and hear Holy Spirit  God. She also taught me, to always read at least one verse in the Bible, before reacting in anger to a fight.  She taught me, if I do this, I won’t react the same way I would if I lashed out in my own emotional understanding. I’m less likely to cause permanent damage to a relationship if I read a verse or two before reacting.

 

1. I praise father God for my mama because,  she introduced me to Jesus. Nothing will ever compare to this in all my life. She gave me life and took part in saving my life, by introducing me to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

My list could go on for pages, telling of all the reasons mama has been Father God’s first blessing upon my life. Today, as we honor our moms for the blessings they  are,  maybe we can stop for a moment and with all our heart, say a little prayer of gratitude to Father God for so greatly blessing us.

 

Until next time may God bless you and keep you as you seek him with your whole heart.