Chatterbox

Proverbs 10:21
The talk of a good person is rich fare for many,
but chatterboxes die of an empty heart.

We are beginning our week with the last of the "The Road to Life Is a Disciplined Life" verses of Proverbs 10 and it is a toughie.

It has come clear to me that our words are a very important part of our relationship with God. Sometimes we put such little value on them. How ever it is that you communicate with your words there is a clear line drawn between good and bad words. And I am not talking about cussing here. I am talking about pouring truth and life into people because of your words. I think we can talk ourselves in circles and never find the wisdom or understanding that we desire.

You have the power to encourage, to love, to understand and be a rich treasure to many because of your words.

Take inventory the next time you are with friends. Did you chatter away with very little to say? Will the heart of your relationship be left empty because you didn't take the time to listen? When we don't have anything to say, maybe we should honor that.

Heavenly Father~ Today I praise the strength that comes only from You. I thank you for the potential you see when I don't see it. I thank you for being the Father I find comfort in and the Father that encourages me to be more than I am at this moment. Lord, may my life and my words be an honor to you and your beauty. May I be a treasure to those I talk to. Hold my tongue Lord when I chatter on and leave my relationships empty hearted. ~In His Precious Holy Name.

Please pray for Becky G this week.

Verbal

Proverbs 10:11
The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.

So much can be said in one sentence. Daily, our words are our legacy. We speak life and truth or we speak lies and deception.

One of the great Christian expressions is "holding our tongues". I know I have said it often and maybe you to have had an occasion where saying nothing is better than whatever it is you are thinking.

Words express our hearts emotions. Sometimes, that isn't all good. When we are angry and mad we want someone to hurt as much as we hurt. Right or wrong, in the heat of the moment it is hard to find control. When we are feeling unheard, when we are feeling small, when we are just tired of this place we are in, we explode. Words come out at a hundred miles an hour, hurtful and abusive to the people we love the most.

Have you experienced violent words coming at you? Have you expressed your emotions with violent words? Verbal abuse is a serious matter and shouldn't be taken lightly. It isn't nearly as easy as we would like it to be to take back hurtful things we say. I am sure every one of us can remember a hurtful word said to us. Do we ever consider even our words said out of "helpfulness" to be hurtful?

I struggled with a cigarette smoking addiction for many years. And through those years many people had "good" advice for me but the most hurtful thing ever said to me was "If you loved God more you would just quit". I was crushed. My addiction and struggle with sin wasn't about how much I loved God. I had spent years teaching my body that the only way to cope was with smoking. Sometimes, things don't happen just because we want it to.

When you meet a new Christian, do you judge there struggles to overcome their sin? Do you disregard that even Paul struggled with "things he did not want to do"? Do you think that in your Bible study circle that there is someone, maybe even you, dealing with sin and they feel like their faith isn't enough or their love for God isn't enough?

Romans 7:15-17 For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.

As the mouth of the righteous we are called to be a fountain of life. Called to speak truth and love into each others lives. Maybe instead of condemning one another for our faults and abusing each other with our words we could love a little more. Speak more kindness. Maybe we can find a way to use our words to give strength instead of condemnation.

Heavenly Father~ You are so good to me, blessing me more abundantly with your Love each day. Today, Father, as I read and learn that I am a mouth piece, a fountain a life. Called to share your word and Love with everyone. Pour into me self-control Lord, so I may know when I am being hurtful and mean. May you cultivate the fruit of patience so I may think through my words before I say them. Teach me to Love with your eyes so that I see you in people and avoid condemnation and judgement. Show me in ways that I may not want to see anywhere in my life that my words become abusive and hurtful. Do a work in my thoughts and heart so my words are a reflexion of who You are in me.....In Your Precious Holy Name.

Quiet

Day 1

Quiet


(definitions from dictionary.com)

1. making no noise or sound, esp. no disturbing sound
   free, or comparatively free, from noise


2. silent


3. restrained in speech, manner, etc.; saying little


4. free from disturbance or tumult; tranquil; peaceful


5. being at rest.
   refraining or free from activity, esp. busy or vigorous activity


6. making no disturbance or trouble; not turbulent; peaceable


7. motionless or moving very gently
   free from disturbing thoughts, emotions, etc.; mentally peaceful


8. said, expressed, done, etc., in a restrained or unobtrusive way
   not showy or obtrusive; subdued
   not busy or active


9. to make quiet.
   to make tranquil or peaceful; pacify
   to calm mentally, as a person
   to silence

1 Thessalonians 11-12 Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, 12so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

Day 2

I want to look a little into what it means to live a quiet life. In the Word, quiet in this reference does not refer to the first three definitions from yesterday. It does not mean to be silent or have nothing to say. Quite the opposite, we are called to live our faith loudly, exalting our God.

Lets take a look at the other definitions.

being at rest: Matthew 11:29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS."

peaceable, mentally peaceful, creating peace: Hebrews 12:11-15 "All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble,
and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed. Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble..."

Does it surprise you that a quiet (peaceful) life takes so much work?

Day 3

Let me make a note of importance here, your salvation is about God's grace and mercy and your faith in Jesus Christ, it has nothing to do with what you "do".

That being said, I will now go on to say that everyone lives their lives in obedience to something. Are you living a life in response to God's love or are you still bound by flesh and sin?

Living a quiet life doesn't mean you are perfect. It is simply understanding that everything you do is a picture to the world of the God that you follow. What does your life say about your God?

Let us look at the scriptures again:

1 Thessalonians 11-12
11Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, 12so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

How is this world view of life different from what we are taught in society today?

Hebrews 12:11-15 "All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed. Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble..."

Scripture says we are a being molded by God, being made perfect. What importance does discipline play in our walk with God?

Why do you think both scriptures refer to the importance of physical strength?

Day 4

Matthew 11:29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS."

These words tell us so much about our faith. Lets break it down a little. A yoke is used in farming, connected to oxen or horses to pull wagons or plows. Lets draw a picture here, I'm a visual person so hopefully this helps you too. Imagine if you will that your cross or burden in this life is your plow, you are the horse. Something needs to connect you to your calling, something needs to guide you, something needs to show you the way. Now by your faith you have connected the yoke, or Holy Spirit [whom adds no extra burden but will teach and show you the way] and He connects you with the life you are meant to live.

In this life we will all carry different burdens. Sometimes our plows feel heavy and sorrowful. Other times the work seems simple and joyful. Regardless of the current load, your soul finds rest. You are promised eternal life. These moments here, at this time and this place, are short and sweet but will be only a drop in the bucket in comparison to the amount of time our souls with rest with our Lord and Savior, Jesus.

Day 5

Look around you. What do you see? What do you hear? Is your life quiet? How do we know if we are living a quiet life? It is easy to get busy with the business of being called to serve God. I know many of you who have come to your Friday to-do list and are still working on the things from Tuesday. Do you think this is the life God intended for you? If someone took a still shot of your life, would they see a picture of the God you say you serve?

Abba, Father~This week you have so graciously reminded me of the importance of the life I lead. Thank you for your mercy, for inviting me to be a part of your family. Thank you that my life can be a picture of that love and grace. Forgive me for any discontent, bitterness, grief that I may have caused this week. May your light shine through me, may my life be the quiet life you call it to be. Dependent on only YOU!! ~In the precious name of Jesus.