He is Coming

We sing this song in church a lot, and I just love it!

These will be days of great trials, but one day He is coming. What a wonderful day it will be, when our salvation comes!

______________________________________________________

"'So if anyone tells you, 'There he is, out in the wilderness,' do not go out; or, 'Here he is, in the inner rooms,' do not believe it. For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man...Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other" (Matthew 24:26-27, 30-3).

The Way We Should Pray

I'm not going to tell you not to tell God the deepest desires of your heart, because I've already mentioned several times that we should do that. However, I came to the realization today that if we ask, but aren't prepared to accept "No" as God's answer, then we are praying selfishly. It's okay to ask God to protect family members, and to ask for help getting through this month financially, or ask Him for things we think we need, but we must always be prepared to accept His will, no matter what it is.

I'm reading Love Comes Softly by Janette Oke, and I came across this quote today: "Well, we aire gonna pray, an' what He sees us to be a needin', He'll give; an' what He see we don' need, He'll make us able to do without."

It's an old-fashioned way of thinking in a way, yet I think this is how we should approach all our prayers, rather than praying selfishly for what we think we need; after all, what we think we need now may not be good for us in the future. We need to get back to this type of prayer. God knows what is best for us, and He wants to take care of us, and bless us because He loves us very much. He doesn't withhold things to be cruel. God is not cruel; God is love. Sometimes, He doesn't give us what we think we need because it isn't really something we need, and in that case, He will make us able to do without it. He always provides, even if it doesn't seem like it at the time.

______________________________________________________

"'Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!'" (Luke 12:24)

God's Will

We can plan our lives, and act on our dreams, but we have to remember to always keep God's will first in our minds. Sometimes, we may not know God's will or His plan for us. That's fine, as long as we remember to keep Him first in our lives. Once we do that, we can begin to trust Him with every aspect of our lives, and He can truly begin to write a life story that is beyond anything we could ever hope or imagine.

______________________________________________________

"In you, Lord my God, I put my trust" (Psalm 25:1).

Seek Him

Matthew 6:33 - But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

If we put God first, and seek Him above all else, and serve Him with our very best, He will reward us. Our reward comes after our earthly life is over, but that doesn't mean God can't or won't bless us while we're on earth. It may not be in the way we expect, but God will always give us more than we could ever need, want, or ask for.

Seek God's kingdom above all else.

Reconciliation

If someone offends you, do not be angry, and be slow to cut them out of your life.

Proverbs 19:11 - A person's wisdom yields patience; it is to one's glory to overlook an offence.

Proverbs 15:1 - A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

If you feel you must cut ties with someone, be certain it is what God wants. I believe that sometimes He will direct us to have no more contact with people. However, often this decision is made in the anger of our own hearts. Rather, I believe He would prefer that we reconcile with those who have offended us, or those we have offended in our anger.

Matthew 5:23-24 - 'Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.'

In other words, we cannot offer our gifts to God while we still harbor unresolved feelings of anger, hurt, or conflict.

Be Confident

Hebrews 10:35-36 - So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

Life can be hard. Doing the right thing, and following God's will won't always be easy. We have to persevere through those tough times. No matter what stands against us. Even when it seems hopeless or impossible, keep doing what God has called us all to do. Stand strong. Take heart. Know that in the end it will be worth it. Do not waver. Trust in the Lord. Trust in His plan, and His reward.

Suffering

Romans 5:3-4 - Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Basically, suffering produces hope through several smaller steps. Suffering has its purpose. Though painful, we should try to find joy in our sufferings because at the end of it, we will be stronger. Often, only trials can teach us life lessons we so desperately need to mold us into who we are meant to be.

Sometimes it is difficult to see the end of our suffering, but hold on to hope. Things will change, and it will get better. Remember to lean on God, and let Him know what is going on. He, and He alone, can give us peace to endure our sufferings.

Old Wives' Tales

1 Timothy 4:7 says "Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly."

What does this mean?

I'm not sure I fully understand it. I think it means don't have anything to do with useless superstitions. An example would be carrying a "lucky" rabbit's foot.

I'm sure there are many more examples of old wives' tales and myths. I don't think it's wrong to hear them, as long as you recognize them for what they are. We shouldn't spread them around, though, or place our trust in them.

A Small Piece of the Picture

I have noticed that when I walk I sometimes have a tendency to keep my focus on my feet. I can be a little clumsy, and I want to avoid tripping over something in the way...or the air.

I realized one day while I was walking that that's how people tend to act. While we do keep our focus on God, we often have to keep our focus on one particular issue (like not tripping) and so we miss the bigger picture. We can only see one small piece of the puzzle. We often keep our focus on the journey, rather than the destination.

But God sees it all. He can see where we are, our destination, how we'll get there, and why we need to be at each particular stop along the way. I don't think God focuses on where we are in the way we tend to do, because He can see where we will be. At times we are so focused on where we are, and our problems that we forget to look for the big picture. "Where is God in all of this?"

It is important for us to remember that He knows what He is doing, and that we need to keep our focus on Him, rather than looking down at our feet.
______________________________________________________
"'Come,' he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, 'Lord, save me!' Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. 'You of little faith,' he said, 'why did you doubt?'" (Matthew 14:29-31).

Small Books

Lately, I have been reading the smaller, lesser-known books of The Bible. They're fascinating. I don't completely understand all of them, but that will come in time.

Don't ignore them. They are just as important as the more well-known books, and I find that I learn something new from each of them. It really doesn't take long to read them, either, if that is a concern.

I haven't finished reading them all yet, so I don't have a favorite. I am, however, really looking forward to reading Hosea. I had never heard of it before I watched Amazing Love (located in my movie recommendations). I haven't read it yet, because I chose to read around it. I have no explanation, other than the timing not feeling right. I'll get to it soon though. Also, soon I will try to do blog posts about each of these smaller books. Perhaps that will help me to understand the parts that confused me.
______________________________________________________
"The Lord is slow to anger but great in power; the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished. His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are the dust of his feet" (Nahum 1:3).

Generational Curses

This was mentioned in church a few weeks ago, and I immediately wondered: "What are generational curses?"

Of course, I wanted to do a blog post about it.

Numbers 14:18 - 'The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation."

2 Chronicles 25:4 - Yet he did not put their children to death, but acted in accordance with what is written in the Law, in the Book of Moses, where the Lord commanded: 'Parents shall not be put to death for their children, nor children be put to death for their parents; each will die for their own sin.'

Was there ever an instance of God cursing a family line for generations?

I couldn't find it. I know there have been instances of God blessing a family line for generations (Abraham).

It seems that in the old days, a family line could be cursed, but God revoked that, and declared it wouldn't be done anymore (Ezekiel 18).

So, I'm not really sure why it was mentioned in church. It doesn't seem like something that would be done anymore, since Jesus died for our sins, and we are not responsible for our own sacrifices or those of our family.

If I missed an instance of a generational curse, please let me know!

Oh Glorious Day!

Some days I just listen to music, and none of the songs (wonderful though they may be) really grab my attention. Yesterday, this song really captured my attention. Please, listen to it, and really listen to the words.

What a powerful message! What a wonderful song!

"Living He loved me. Dying He saved me. Buried He carried my sins far away. Rising He justified." "Death could not hold Him. The grave could not keep Him." Wow. Just wow.

Imagine love so powerful that Jesus gave His very life to save ours. Imagine how powerful our God - that death has no hold over Him.

______________________________________________________

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him" (John 3:16-17).

Rain-washed

I got caught in a downpour on my way to the library today. Luckily, I love rain. It's not so much fun when it starts to make me cold, but that's not the point.

What is the point? I can hear you asking. I'm not really sure. Today I was caught in the rain, and it made for a wonderful experience! That's all. I don't know that I had a bigger point to it.

I do, however, want to share a song today. The thought of rain reminded me of it, and, as I don't have anything else planned for today's post, I felt it would be a good time to do so. I really enjoy sharing my favorite worship songs here.

"One drop of water brings an ocean of change." How true! I don't want to ever go back to the person I was before God's river cleansed me.
______________________________________________________
"He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills" (Psalm 147:8).

"Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin" (Psalm 51:2).

Legendary

"I am convinced that the Gospels are not legends. I have read a great deal of legend & am quite clear...they are not the same sort of thing." - C.S. Lewis

This quote struck a chord in me, and I wanted to write this post.

How wonderful would it be if we strove to be like the legendary men and women of the Bible? If we modeled ourselves after true heroes instead of ones from legend? How much better could we be if we began to act with the courage, strength, faith, compassion, and love of those true heroes who put God first, stood for Him, and accomplished such great things?

I want to strive to do so. I want to act with faith, and love, and courage, and strength, as even Jesus did.

"Show me where my heroes lived the life I'm longing for." "Help me have the courage to be more than what I am."

______________________________________________________
"Follow God's example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God" (Ephesians 5:1-2).

"Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ" (1 Corinthians 11:1).

Discernment

God gives us discernment. It's located in that place inside of us that says "That's wrong." More specifically, it is used to know if something we are told or taught lines up with the Word of God.

Discernment is "acuteness of judgment and understanding" (Dictionary.com).

When it's linked to our actions, I think it's more commonly referred to as one's conscience, but today I'm just talking about teachings.

If the pastor is teaching something from the Word of God, and it strikes the wrong chord in your heart, that's discernment. Just because someone quotes a Bible verse, doesn't mean they're teaching it correctly. Now, I think for the most part, preachers don't deliberately teach incorrectly. Still, it's important for us to read God's Word so that we know what it says. That way, we'll be able to find specific passages that can teach us why what we heard or thought was wrong.

I sometimes pray for discernment. This happened especially when I was trying to find a church after I moved. I prayed that God would lead me to the church He wanted me to attend, and that He would give me wisdom and discernment to know it.

If anyone misquotes a Bible verse, we should be able to tell. Even if I haven't read that particular verse, something in me will speak up and say "That's not right." Discernment. It's much easier to know for sure if I've read the verse though.

So, that's it for today's post. It's important to read The Bible so that we know what it says. God gives us discernment so that we know the truth.
______________________________________________________
"I am your servant; give me discernment that I may understand your statutes" (Psalm 119:125).

The Purpose of Church

It's important to congregate at least once a week. The following are the reasons I believe it is important to go to church. I'll start with this one: It's not about us; it's about God.

1. To worship God
2. To learn about God
3. To fellowship with others who desire to worship and learn about God.

That's it. Those are the main reasons I think we should go to church. Of course, those could have endless subsections, depending on how you choose to break them down. Those are still really good reasons to go to church. That's also why it's important to find a church that fits you, and your walk with God.

It's important to find a church where you enjoy worshiping, where most of the songs touch your heart, and inspire you to give God your best. It's important to find a church that teaches the truth of God's Word, as it is written in the Bible. What is taught in church should always fall in line with what God's Holy Word says. It is important to find a church where you can connect with the people, where you can meet like-minded, friendly people who can become an important part of your social circle - even if not all of them will become your best friends. Church should be a place to meet strong Christians who truly serve God so that others are encouraged, and can get truthful advice/direction from the members/leaders.

______________________________________________________

"Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it" (1 Corinthians 12:27).

To Be...

This post will be short, because I've had a really long day and I'm too tired to do an in-depth study today.

This is a really good rule to live by:

1 Peter 3:8 - Finally, all of you, be like-minded, sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.

This is exactly how we should live, and how we should treat each other. If we follow this advice, we are already living the way we are meant to.

Life's Calling

We wander through life. Some people know all their lives what God has called them to do. For others, it takes longer. I finally feel that I know what God has called me to do. Some of the details are a little vague, but I know where to start. Finally. I'm going to wait a little while before going into a lot of detail. I can say that it involves going back to school (something I was always adamant I would never do).

So, today's post is just a word of encouragement. Don't be discouraged. Don't give up. Just because you can't see the finish line doesn't mean the race is over. God has a plan, and a purpose for our lives. He never gives up on us. We just have to trust Him, and lean on Him. Sometimes we have to learn a specific life lesson before He can show us how to accomplish our dreams, and how that can be used to glorify Him.
______________________________________________________
"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future'" (Jeremiah 29:11).

Humility

Proverbs 22:4 - Humility is the fear of the Lord; its wages are riches and honor and life.

Proverbs 18:12 - Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.

Philipians 2:3 - Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Humility is the act of being humble. Humble is defined as "1) not proud or arrogant; modest 2) having a feeling of insignificance, inferiority, subservience, etc" (Dictionary).

When did humility start to become a bad thing? It seems like it has become something we don't want to be. Why?

We should want to be humble. Not only that, we should actively try to be humble. We should humble ourselves. Arrogance and pride will not bring us honor, and certainly won't bring us closer to God.

Just my thought for the day.

Godspeed

I had always heard that we should never wish someone "Godspeed." I never fully understood why, and I never questioned it. Now, I wonder. Why not?

2 John 1:9-11, KJV - Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

2 John 1:9-11, NIV - Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work.

Interesting. I always thought God speed was used like wishing someone well in an endeavor.

Curiosity about that, led me to the amplified version.

2 John 1:9-11, AMP - Anyone who runs on ahead [of God] and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ [who is not content with what He taught] does not have God; but he who continues to live in the doctrine (teaching) of Christ [does have God], he has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine [is disloyal to what Jesus Christ taught], do not receive him  [do not accept him, do not welcome or admit him] into [your] house or bid him Godspeed or give him any encouragement. For he who wishes him success [who wishes encourages him, wishing him Godspeed] is a partaker in his evil doings.

Hmm. Here it is talking about using Godspeed for wishing success, but the other two just mentioned it almost like a greeting. I wonder if I can find anything about that...

I looked around several resources and versions, and finally found a version of my Bible app that makes sense with the greeting - the Complete Jewish Bible.

2 John 1:9-11, CJB - Everyone who goes ahead and does not remain true to what the Messiah has taught does not have God. Those who remain true to his teaching have both the Father and the Son. If someone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, don't welcome him into your home. Don't even say, "Shalom!" to him; for the person who says, "Shalom!" to him shares in his evil deeds.

That makes more sense. If someone comes to us who does not follow the teachings of Christ, we aren't supposed to say God speed, or "Shalom" to them, because it speaks the power and peace of God over their lives. If we do that, we become guilty of aiding, or encouraging any wicked deeds they may do because they do not follow God.
______________________________________________________
Shalom: "peace (used as a word of greeting or farewell" (Dictionary).

The Now Generation

We are accustomed to getting things when we want them - fast food, high-speed internet, instant movies. As a rule, we don't like waiting. We generally have no patience for long lines, heavy traffic, or wait time.

These things can be annoying, and I'm not going to tell you that I've found a way to "rise above it," because I haven't. I have always tried to look at everything as an opportunity for adventure. Stuck in traffic? Adventure. Forced to wait in line behind a really slow person? Adventure. Movie not downloading fast enough? Adventure.

We must become the generation of patience, not only in situations like these, but with each other. We must practice patience. Practice patience so that it becomes easier to do. The goal is to be patient with each other, and to wait patiently on The Lord. His timing is perfect, and sometimes that means we have to wait.
______________________________________________________
"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes" (Psalm 37:7).

God All by Himself

"God is still God all by Himself," said a guest pastor at our church last Wednesday.

What a wonderful way to put it. God is God with or without us. He created us, and He loves us. We need God, but God doesn't really need us. He manages wonderfully without us. He doesn't get tired. He doesn't need help. He can do everything all by Himself.

That thought doesn't even make me sad. I didn't sit around going "Aww. God doesn't need me." Instead, I was filled with wonder and awe. God doesn't need anything to be who He is. He just is. It makes me feel blessed that God wants to work in my life, and use my skills, and my time on the earth for His glory.

How amazing that He loves us, and cherishes us even though He doesn't need to. How fulfilling it is, to return that love.
______________________________________________________
God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.'" God also said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites, 'The LORD, the God of your fathers--the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob--has sent me to you.' This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation." - Exodus 3:14-15

Practical Preparation

In this post I talked a little about practical preparation for women who want to get married. Today's post is more general.

Anyone can do practical preparation for what God has called them to do. I have a vague idea of what I want to do with my life, and how I can honor God by doing it, but it's still possible He will lead me in a totally different direction. That's okay.

In the meantime, I can prepare practically. In addition to studying God's Word, going to church, and living as He called us to live, we can learn new skills that will be useful in our lives.

Do you want to learn a foreign language? But you aren't sure why? Do it. Want to take a night class that interests you? Do it. Feel the need to go to an event and meet people? Do it. Need to learn to drive? Do it.

Remember to always honor God in everything you do, and He can use any new skills you learn for His glory.

I chose to do this post today because I have recently been learning new recipes. I like to think I'm a good cook, and I can follow a recipe to the letter - and improvise if necessary. There is still so much more I need to learn though. There are recipes that my Mom can make that I really want to learn, so I am.

Who knows how this will be used in my future? It's possible that it won't be used in a big way. That's okay. I like food, and (for the most part) I enjoy cooking. So it's something I'm happy to learn.

Practical preparation. Any time you can learn a practical skill, I say do it. You never know when it could come in handy.

Beyond learning new skills, anytime you have the opportunity to help and serve others, take it. This isn't just preparation - it's actively serving God. If you have time, volunteer. It doesn't have to be a daily, or even weekly thing. Offer to help out at church functions, or at your child's school.

There are always opportunities to help others, learn new skills, and to serve God.
______________________________________________________
"Now listen, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.' Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.' As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn't do it, it is a sin for them" (James 4:13-17).

"...for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose" (Philippians 2:13).

"Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people (Ephesians 6:7).

Those Who Love Obey

John 14:23 - Jesus replied, "Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them."

We obey God's commandments and teachings because we love Him, not because we are forced. We all have the choice not to obey, but those who love the Lord will choose to follow His teachings.

It is love for God that drives the actions and behaviors of true Christians. It is a desire to please Him that causes us to give up a life of sin and worldly pleasure. It is the promise of eternity in His presence that keeps us on His path.

It is a choice.

Spiritual Gifts

Paul talks about the gifts people have, and how not everyone will have the same gifts. My pastor keeps mentioning that the people in church who can speak in tongues need to speak in tongues because we're a Pentecostal church.

I don't speak in tongues. Somehow, I became afraid of it when I was a child, and still feel uncomfortable with the idea of speaking tongues myself. I think it's awesome when other people do it for real. It brings God's presence right into our service. 

But when he kept mentioning it, I wondered again: "Do I need to speak in tongues? Am I a bad Christian if I don't? Am I a bad Pentecostal Christian if I don't?

And then, I found Paul's first letter to the Corinthians.
Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit. There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. (1 Corinthians 12:3-6).

There are different works, and God calls each of us to different works by the abilities He gives us. It's actually a bit of a relief that God doesn't call all of us to be preachers behind the pulpit, even though we're all supposed to be leaders. (I'll work on a post about that.)

The next part answered my questions.
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines (1 Corinthians 12:7-11).

Some people may have multiple gifts. I have seen people speak in tongues one service, and then interpret a message in tongues the next. But we all have different gifts, and the distribution of them is determined by the Holy Spirit. We should not try to push a gift onto someone, nor should we ridicule someone based on our perception of their gift (or lack thereof).

Big Bibles

It's not the size of the Bible that matters, but how you use it. A pocket-sized Bible seems like it would be hard to use, though...

I have a medium-sized Bible that is engraved with my name, and fits nicely in my purse. I have been contemplating getting a larger Bible (possibly a study Bible). I would like to have one large enough that I can make notes in and highlight verses. Mine has relatively small print, and there isn't room to mark in it.

Anyway, I've searched a few places for a good study Bible, but haven't found one yet. If anyone can recommend one, I'd appreciate the input. I really prefer the KJV.

Today's blog post is really just an excuse to share this amazing music video:

I hope you all enjoy this song as much as I do. :)
_______________________________________________________
"For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12).

Jehovah's Witnesses

Jehovah's witnesses. We've all had them come to our homes, and interrupt something we consider important. Often, we find their "intrusion" annoying. I know I've been guilty of not answering the door, or worse, scorning them.

We shouldn't do that, though. I have yet to find anyone who takes issue with what Jehovah's witnesses say about The Bible; the issue is always the interruption of the day - their door-to-door ministry.

I almost didn't answer the door today. I was in the middle of "a very important" television show, and I really wasn't dressed for company. So, why did I answer the door? A Bible verse came to mind, just as I made the decision to ignore the door, that changed my mind.

Matthew 10:14 - If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet.

I know the verse is talking about more than just door-to-door ministry, but also about welcoming Jesus' disciples to stay in homes, but if we truly serve God, why wouldn't we want to talk about Him with those who spread the gospel? (Door-to-door ministry is something I feel I should cover in a separate post.)

So, today I feel that I learned something. Not everyone who comes to talk to us about God will be truly teaching His Word. God gives us discernment. However, just because there is a chance they will interrupt our day, or that they won't tell the truth, doesn't mean we shouldn't answer the door. Who knows? Maybe they can learn something from us, too. Talking to the wise, older man who came to my door has really brightened my day! I also have some newsletters to read. I can't wait to share what I find in them!

Now, in this time, answering the door to strangers can also be dangerous. I kept my security door between us the whole time; the man didn't mind at all, because his purpose was to talk to me, not to come into my home. Use your judgment, but don't be afraid to open the door, and talk to Jehovah's witnesses. You might learn something. I did!

God's Love

Today's verse of the day on my Bible app is Psalm 119:64 - The earth is filled with your love, LORD; teach me your desires.

We can find evidence of God's love for us everywhere. God is never hidden from us, if we only seek Him. His love can be found in our homes, churches, places of work, and many other places. Sometimes we don't have to look very far to find evidence of it, and other times it seems more elusive. If we search for it, however, we will find it, and sometimes it even pops up in unexpected places, at unanticipated times.

Watch Your Words

It has been a trying day. It has been quite a while since I've had to wear my mask of politeness. I've been really good about being genuine in my friendliness and politeness. Today, however, there were several interactions that tested the limits of my patience, and my ability to hold my tongue. I did it though!

In spite of how emotionally drained I was when I returned home, I'm glad I was tested today. I thought some thoughts I shouldn't have, but overall, it was a good experience. I had forgotten what it was like to deal with trying people. I am so glad that God has been teaching me patience, and to guard my words and my heart. Today I learned once more how to hold my tongue even when it was extremely difficult. I also have learned when to speak up. So, even though I held my tongue mostly, there were a couple of times I did speak up for myself.

I found myself wishing that the person I was with had learned to hold their tongue.

I still have a long way to go, but I am thankful that God continually works in my life.
______________________________________________________
"Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity" (Proverbs 21:23).
"The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing" (Proverbs 12:18).
______________________________________________________
I implore you all: guard your tongue. Just because you can say anything, doesn't mean you should, and though you should never lie, remember that words can hurt, so speak carefully.
______________________________________________________
"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen" (Ephesians 4:29).