What If Everyone Could Hear Your Words?

July 28, 2017July 28, 2017 RefreshHer2 Comments

Image result for lg phone messenger voice record settings

What if everyone could hear your words? Would you be okay with that?

Imagine my horror recently when I discovered that my cell phone had been on “Record voice” mode for thirteen minutes to a group text!

It was just a couple weeks ago on a Sunday morning and I had been texting with a group of friends while getting ready for church. I slid my phone into the outside pocket of my purse and headed downstairs to make breakfast and finish my meal prep for lunch, totally oblivious to the fact that my every step and word was being recorded.

I set my purse down in the kitchen and made my way to my husband’s office where he and I had a brief conversation. Making my way back to the kitchen, I busied myself with my kitchen chores. About thirteen minutes later, I heard a notification on my phone. It was when I went to check it that I realized I’d been recording myself! I quickly sent a message to my friends to delete the recording, then I proceeded to listen to what I had accidentally sent. I heard footsteps, my question about what my husband would like for his breakfast, and my banging and moving about in the cupboards. Yeah, that could’ve turned out unpleasantly, but it didn’t, thank the Lord.

However, as I finished my work, I couldn’t help but think about how careful my words would be if I knew they were being recorded and replayed for all to hear! I wondered…

What if that had happened on a day that I was being unkind to my husband?
What if I had said something unkind about someone else?
What if I had been griping and complaining?
What if I had been going off on some rampage?

Yeah, what if? But of course the truth is, God always hears those words. My complaints, my hatefulness, my griping, my complaining, my slander. He hears it all.

Psalm 139:4
For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, you know it altogether.

After that incident, I would start to make a comment, and then close my mouth, knowing that I wouldn’t want that recorded! Sometimes they were just words that weren’t needed. It was best to allow the silence to fill the room, instead of my talking. Other times they were words that shouldn’t be said. It was best to be still.

Wow. What a lesson that was to me, and one I pray I won’t forget.
Maybe asking yourself,

Would I want this to be broadcast for everyone to hear?

will keep you from saying what doesn’t need to be said.

Oh, and you might want to check your cell phone to be sure it’s off. I remember some time last year a friend going “Live” on Facebook without ever knowing it! It could happen to any of us, but if we guard our words, it won’t be a worry if it does.

Refresh others with your words!

Denise Signature 150 px

Christian Life · Speech · tongue

Let the Fire Die

July 27, 2017July 26, 2017 RefreshHer2 Comments

fire pit

A fire in a fire pit is a great thing! A fire in your lap…not so much! You may say, “A fire in your lap? That’s dumb! Who would want that?” The answer is no one!! Proverbs 26:20 says,

Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer,
the strife ceaseth.

You see, a person who bears tales (gossip) causes strife. It’s like having a fire in your lap. No one wants it!

The strife that tale bearing causes is as hurtful as a fire burning in your lap. Even if the words are true, they are painful to hear. What do you do with this “story” after you’ve heard it?

I recently had someone share a “fire” with me. The words were true, but I didn’t need to hear them. They stung. It was like sparks flying from a hot ember, touching my very heart. Trying to deal with the burning coals for the next day or so wasn’t easy. They needed to be extinguished with the Water of God’s Word. I was reminded of words that were flung at Christ; untrue accusations, ugly names, words of doubt about Who He really was. What did He do? He answered not a word.

Not a word.

For me to pass on what was shared would be to pass along the fire. No one else needs this in their lap. I told my Savior, and of course He already knew. He applied the salve of His love and comfort.

Do you know some “hot news?” Keep it to yourself. It could be a burning ember that will scorch the hearer. The fire in my fire pit needs to keep burning, but the fire that needs to go out is the one that will cause strife. May we each let that tale bearing fire cease.

With love,

Christian Life · Praise · Speech

With Words of Praise

July 26, 2017July 25, 2017 RefreshHerLeave a comment

20150410_135418_resized

This hideously adorable donkey lives on a farm about an hour from us. We have affectionately named him “Lester.” Lester is very jealous of the other animals on the farm. How do I know? If visitors gather to pay homage to the lovely peacock, or ooo and ahhh over the long neck of the ostrich who lives there, he will begin his very loud and obnoxious,

Hee-haw! Hee-Haw!

It’s really comical to hear him. Not only is his noise hilarious, his mouth and ears look quite funny when he’s going off on his rampage!

While listening to Lester, I turned to my husband and said, “I’m sure thankful I can sing! Wouldn’t it be terrible to open your mouth and sound like that?!”

The next day as I sat to have my quiet time, I read Psalm 145. I was moved at how many times it talks of using my mouth to praise the Lord. Words like, extol, bless, praise, speak and utter were all reminders that God wants me to use my voice for His glory. I must praise Him with speech and song. I must tell others of His goodness by the use of my voice. However, I often neglect the chance to speak up! I remain silent, or I don’t give honor belonging only to the Lord.

Even little things like praising Him like when someone passes and says, “It’s a pretty day, isn’t it?” needs to be followed with, “Yes, and I thank the Lord for making it.” Anything else would be like Lester’s “Hee-Haw!“
At testimony time at church, if I fail to stand and praise Him for prayer He’s answered, I’m belting out “Hee-Haw” instead.
When the opportunity to share the Gospel is given and I am too afraid to share it, my lips are uttering ol’ Lester’s ugly “Hee-Haw!” greetings instead of the Truth that will set that person free!
To miss the opportunity to pray my thanks for a meal, for God’s comfort, His presence, for answered prayer, or for provision is to selfishly call attention to myself rather than my great God. Hee-Haw!
“Hee-haw!” is what I’m really saying if I’m not singing with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs and making melody in my heart during the song service at church.

We all have a voice, given by the Lord. Are you using yours to praise the Lord, or do the sounds that come from your lips resemble Lester? Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord!

With praise to Him,

home · Husband · joy · Refreshment in marriage · Speech

The Power of a Woman’s Words

July 25, 2017July 23, 2017 RefreshHerLeave a comment

The theme for this week’s posts is a subject I’m studying every day this month – WORDS. They can be wise or foolish, helpful or destructive. Let’s start with speech towards our mate ~

For many years now, it has been my habit to read the chapter in Proverbs that corresponds to the date of the month. The Lord teaches me something every day from that practical book. Recently the Holy Spirit has shown me the power of a woman’s words.

In chapter seven, the Holy Spirit showed me that the Strange woman (the adulterous woman) uses her words to seduce a man. Listen to what this passage says about her speech:

She is loud – Verse 11
With an impudent face (she) said unto him,
I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.
Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee. Vs 13-15
With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lipsshe forced him. Verse 21

In chapter nine, we see again, the power of her words:

A foolish woman is clamorous: (vigorous in demand) she is simple, and knoweth nothing.
For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city, To call passengers who go right on their ways: Vs 13-15
Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell. Verses 16-18

We see the negative affect a woman’s words can have on a man. Men desire to be admired, sought after, and respected. The woman that uses these kinds of phrases and words to a man that isn’t her husband is treading in dangerous waters. She’s capturing his heart, and she knows what she is doing.

However, a wise woman should read those verses and be reminded that each of us needs to be using our words to build up and admire the man that God gave to us as our husband. He needs to hear fair speech at home!

Honey, I’ve looked for you to return home all day today. I missed you while you were at work! You look tired, and I’ve prepared a favorite meal and have made sure this will be a restful evening for you.

Let’s take our cue from this woman and use right speech at home so our husband will be anxious to return each day.

What kind of speech did you use this morning? Do you need to make things right? Do so, then love him the rest of the day with your wise words!

Use your words to refresh your mate!

Denise Signature 150 px

Praise · Speech

How Can I Praise During Trials?

October 19, 2016October 18, 2016 RefreshHer8 Comments

sun 1.jpg

You bump into a friend you haven’t seen in a long time while your’re out getting groceries and you know the question that is coming your way…

How are you doing?

If you say, “Fine!” you know you’ll be lying, but you just read Scripture that says that everything that has breath should praise the Lord!

You may be wondering:

How can I give praise to God during trials?

Let’s look at Scripture for our answer.

In Psalm 61, David begins with crying and sorrow. Then he points his heart towards His Rock. He doesn’t just dwell on the sorrow, he looks to the One who can help. Then he ends this short psalm with praise to the Lord. He says, “You, oh God heard my vows and have given me a godly heritage! So will I sing praise unto thy name forever that I may daily perform my vow.

By the end of the psalm it almost seems that he’s forgotten his sorrow, and so do his readers! What a great example.

An example from the New Testament is Paul in II Corinthians 12:7-10. He tells about the “messenger from Satan” that was given to buffet him, lest he should be exalted. He was given some physical issue that was troublesome. He prayed three times that God would remove it, but God told Paul that his grace would be sufficient to bear it. Now how does he respond? He doesn’t complain or criticize God. Instead he says,

Most gladly will I rather glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest on me.

He points to the sufficiency of his God!

So you and I, when going through hardship, can indeed share the difficulty to someone who asks, but we must quickly then shift the focus off ourselves onto Christ.

I have a special lady in my life who has endured suffering for about six years now. She was so active before her illness took her down! Now she is pretty much confined to home, yet when anyone visits with her, she never dwells on her physical limitations! Instead she pulls out her journal and begins to share all the things God has recently taught her while she’s been still! You cannot be in her presence without knowing that she loves the Lord! There’s no denying she’s suffering, but her focus is on the goodness of her God in the midst of her trouble.

She is like the psalmist who said in Psalm 119:71 –

It is good for me that I have been afflicted that I might learn thy statutes.

He shared that he had an afflictions, but that he’d learned from God’s Word!

So, my friend, here is the question and my answer:

How can I share my burden and still give praise to God?

Share the burden or trial, but then on its heels,

tell what God has done for you during this time,

or how He has ministered to you, provided for you,

or what He has taught you through your trial.

That is giving praise to God!

Follow that example, and you’ll be honest, but also obeying Psalm 150:6!

So…How are you today? I’d love to hear!

Keep praising,