Christian Life – Page 4

It started with a simple task ~ go downstairs and fix the morning coffee.

I got the Dunkin Donuts coffee into the filter, poured the water inside the coffee maker and pressed the “on” button. While I waited for the coffee to brew, I unloaded the clean dishes in the dish drainer and also in the dishwasher. When I opened the fridge to get out the cream I would need for my cup, I noticed the shelves needed to be wiped down, so I got the dish cloth and took care of the crumbs. While wiping, I spotted a couple leftover containers that were past their “prime.” They were dumped and the dishes loaded into the now empty dishwasher. I also took care of fingerprints, a spot on the floor, streaky counter tops, and Sunday coupons before I finally got back to the coffee that had finished brewing long before I returned to the pot.

As I was pouring the steaming liquid into my cup, I was reminded why I don’t let myself start on that “one little job” first thing in the morning. For me, one thing leads to another, and another and another and I use my morning energies on physical things instead of spiritual.

Is there anything wrong with emptying wilting lettuce from the Tupperware container? Of course not, but when those tasks occupy the time that I would spend with the Lord in His Word, then I have to know my limit and stop before I get started. Hence, on the days when I make the coffee (which is not too often, since my husband takes care of it most times), I need to use my energies to get into the Word while the coffee is brewing. I can

read my Proverb chapter in that amount of time
review my memory passage

For me, the momentum of working gets me distracted from doing what is best. It’s better if I wait until after my Quiet time to do those tasks .

What is it that keeps you from really getting the most out of your time in God’s Word? Is it all the “stuff” on your phone? Do you feel an urgency to check Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, blogs or texts first? Is it a morning news show, a broadcast on the radio that gets your best attention in the morning? If that takes away time that you need to be drawing up near the heart of God in His Word, then ask the Lord to help you wait; to discipline your time in such a way that He gets the best of your attention and energies.

All the notifications will be there when you finish hearing from God.

And yes,those fingerprints on the microwave would’ve still been waiting for me yesterday.

Tomorrow I’ll ignore them by sitting with my back to them!

Let’s give our best to that which is most important!

With love,

His self-esteem is nothing. He has been told he couldn’t hold a job or even concentrate on anything long enough to bring home a paycheck. Anywhere. He has believed that he could not push a broom or flip a burger or wash a car. His dependency is to rely on the government to provide for him instead. But it isn’t true.

I’m talking about a young man who has been talked to and beaten down with words all his life. In the short time we have known him, my husband and I are amazed at his mind, his ability to communicate with anyone, and his growing knowledge of God’s love for him, a new Christian, still young in his faith.

My heart leaped for joy recently when I heard this young man say to us, “When I buy my car, I’m going to drive over to your house (after I get done with work) and show it to you!”

Wait a minute! He said he was going to buy a car and go to work?! How did he get to the place that he could make that statement? It came by the same means that his wrong thinking had come – through words. But these weren’t words that tear down, these were words of encouragement, given to him by my husband. These were Words of Truth from God’s Word. Powerful, wonderful words.

WORDS.

They can change a life.

They can lift a stooping heart.

Proverbs 12:25

Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.

They can also destroy.

James 3:5,6

Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

So, who will you be talking to today? Your husband, child, co-worker, friend, parent, a stranger? What kind of words will you give? How will you know what to say? Ask for the right words from the One Who gives us His Word to teach us.

Colossians 4:6

Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt,

that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

Please understand that I’m not talking about syrupy words that won’t ever tell the truth in love. Sometimes straight-talk with a tender heart is necessary. But I’m talking about using our speech wisely – seasoned with “grace and salt.”

Our words are plentiful, but let’s make sure we’re using them in the right way so that we build up and encourage rather than tear down and destroy!

Lovingly,

Tag: Christian Life

Eliminate Distractions

Encourage a Stooping Heart