Sticks and Stones.....

can break my bones, but words will never hurt me.

That is one of the biggest lies that people try to convince themselves of.

Correction: Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will always scar me.

James 3 speaks about the tongue and the immeasurable damage and the powerful good it is capable of.

I remember in elementary school when there were some girls making fun of me in gym class. I still remember exactly how I felt and the inferiority and self-contempt that came with the deliverance of the words from those girls. I'm sure I'll never forget it. I truly believe that their comments affected me for a lifetime.

The tongue will either cause us to build others up and give them great hope and assurance or, it will cause massive destruction in the wake of what was said.

Jame 3:3-6
We can make a large horse turn around and go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. And a tiny rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot wants it to go, even though the winds are strong. So also, the tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do. A tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is full of wickedness that can ruin your whole life. It can turn the whole course of your life into a blazing flame of destruction, for it is set on fire by hell itself.


It doesn't take much to accomplish some damage in either your life or the lives of others.

One false accusation, and the career of a pastor or teacher is over regardless of the truthful outcome of innocence.

Verbal abuse from parent to child allowing that child to believe she is unloved and worthless for a lifetime is a reality in this world because of the tongue.


Words leave scars for a lifetime when used by the tongue to damage and destroy.

What is it you say when no one is looking? Do you build others up or do you bring them down in contempt?

What we say when no one is around, reveals the nature of our tongue.

What's your nature?

And Heaven adds.....

...one more to it's waiting list.

Kianna asked Jesus into her heart after supper tonight.

We were talking about my grandma who had passed away about 10 years ago now. Kianna asked me where she was. "In heaven" was my response.

"Can we go visit her?" she asks.

I then started to explain that heaven was where people who believed in Jesus went when they died.

"Just like daddy's grandma?" she says.
Lyndon's grandma passed away Jan. 24 of this year.

"Yes, just like daddy's grandma."

"She died on a cross." That was her conclusion. I think she was a little mixed up with her theology. I told her that Jesus died on a cross to take away our sins.

"Then where did she die?"
I responded with..."in her bed."

Then Kianna lets out a long oooooooooooooh and got just a tiny bit sad.

So from there we talked about going to heaven and who would be there and how to get there. I also had to explain that heaven was a place that we couldn't see. I don't know how much she understood, but she seemed to be ok with my answer.

Then I asked her if she wanted to go to heaven. And of course she did.

We prayed together to ask Jesus into her heart.

So one more on the waiting list into Heaven.

PTL

The Last Saskatchewan Pirate by Captain Tractor

I got a kick out of watching this. I thought you might too. Enjoy!

Shelter

Psalm 36:5-12

"Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the ocean depths. You care for people and animals alike, O Lord. How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings. You feed them from the abundance of your own house, letting them drink from your rivers of delight. For you are the fountain of life, the light by which we see. Pour out your unfailing love on those who love you; give justice to those with honest hearts. Don't let the proud trample me; don't let the wicked push me around. Look! They have fallen! They have been thrown down, never to rise again."

Me and many other people I know have trouble really believing this at times. It's a struggle to find that shelter. We get so caught up in the disappointments involved with our daily lives, that there seems to be little time and thought put into searching out what God has to offer.

As humans, we naturally want to be in control of our lives and be able to dictate how we should feel about what happens to us. It's a struggle to give up that control. It's this desire for control that hinders us from truly seeking out "shelter in the shadow of His wings." We think we can do it on our own.

We know in our heads as Christians that God only wants the best for us and He can see the big picture of our lives. It's transferring that head knowledge to our hearts that's the problem.

Knowing and believing are two completely different things. I know many things from having been around this world for a long time. Do I believe everything I know when it really comes down to it?

Do I believe that God can offer true peace of mind?
Do I believe that it's okay to give up the control of my life to the God who made me?
Do I believe that God has my best interests at heart?
Do I believe that God really has a plan for me?
Do I believe that God loves me?
Do I believe that God can take away the hurt, disappointment and pain in my life?
Do I believe that there is safety in that shelter?
Do I believe that things will truly get better if I gave up control of my life?


When those disappointments in life come, how do you respond? Do you find the shelter that's talked about in Psalm 36, or do you continue to try to make it on your own while fighting and possibly losing battle after battle?