Sticks & Stones May Break My Bones - Part 2

Remember that rhyme from childhood?

“Sticks and Stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me”.

How we wish that were true, but everyone can recall instances where words have wounded us as much, if not more than, having sticks and stones hurled at us.

I once said something very mean to my twin sister. I remember exactly where we were, what was happening, and how my words pierced her, the pain in her eyes, the hurt on her face. Though she forgave me, the words were not easily forgotten by either of us, and to this day I wish I hadn’t thoughtlessly said them. Our words can be weapons of life or death, they build up or tear down.

When our words are meant to harm, God says that His word can demolish those “sticks and stones”.

(Jer. 23:29) “Does not my word burn like fire”? says the Lord. Is it not like a mighty hammer that smashes a rock to pieces?”

When the enemy throws a stone at you, God’s word can demolish that word in it’s tracks! That rock becomes dust. In my last post I shared how dust can join together with water molecules to become rain, life-giving rain.

(Gen 50:20) “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.”

So when it feels like you are getting battered, don’t just take it! Put God’s word in your mouth and let Him shatter those rocks to dust! He’ll do it! And miraculously, beautifully, what was meant to hurt and harm can become the very seed of life, full of God’s purpose for a prosperous, thriving life.

Dust Becomes Rain - Part 1

Dry Times Can Become Purposeful & Prosperous Times.



We’ve all heard stories of the dust bowl in the 1930’s, when the Great Plains were eroded, drought-plagued and windy. Dust blew in great “blizzards” as far east as NYC and Washington DC, farmland became useless, and families were displaced as they migrated to hopefully “better pastures”.

There are times in life when we feel dusty and dried up, easily picked up and battered, driven by the whim of the wind. Perhaps we feel insignificant, possibly without much to offer, an annoyance to be removed, unsightly, unwanted. Doesn’t sound too good does it?


Thankfully, so much more is possible! The dust in our lives can be redeemed, profitable, fruitful!


First, the Bible tells us that we are formed from the very dust of the earth, fashioned by God’s hands, his own breath breathing life into us. (Gen. 2:7; Ps. 103:14; Eccl. 3:20). Even though we are “but dust”, God was able, and remains able, to breathe LIFE into us. Even dust has possibilities!


What about the days when life itself seems dried up, opportunities lost?

"Depending on weather conditions, water molecules will combine with tiny particles of dust, salt, and smoke in the air to form cloud droplets,....." http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/watercyclecondensation.html

Dust, when it goes heavenward,

joins together with water molecules to form rain,

which in turn returns to the ground to bring life.

Did you get that? Dust doesn’t just blow in the wind – when it’s joined with water molecules, it forms into rain!


Yes, we may find ourselves in dusty dry condition, but what we join ourselves to determines our outcome!


The water is the Word, is Christ! (Eph. 5:25-26; John 1:1)


No matter how dry you feel, join yourself to Christ, to the Word, and find yourself heading into your purpose and prosperity.


(Is. 55:11) “So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.


God can redeem the dry and dusty places in our lives if we’ll join ourselves with His word. Let it rain!

Correction Now Can Save Us Pain Later

Last night it was entertaining for us to listen to the exclamantions and laughter coming from our children downstairs as they watched a t.v. show they enjoy. Even from a distance it made us smile. Who doesn't like to hear the laughter of the people you  love? Unfortunately, parenting isn't all giggles. At times corrections need to be made for the long-term health and well-being of the child. One day they will be out on their own, needing to take responsiblity for their own lives, and we want them to be as prepared for success as possible with the tools and character they need to live and thrive in all areas of life.

Psalm 118:18 says "The Lord has chastened me severely, but He has not given me over to death".

Chastened means discipline in the sense of training - a parent chastens their child to train them in the way they should go.  In fact, Hebrews says that when God chastens us, it is because we are as sons, and a Father chastens the sons that He loves.

• Sometimes the chastening feels unbearable - it is "severe", BUT.....
• He has not given me over to death
• It wasn't too much for me to bear
• It saved me from the death that would have come if I'd continued as I was.

The Lord loves me enough to save me from death at my own hand, whether that's death of a relationship, a dream, a job, a life....

When I feel the hand of correction on my life, I want to remember that while I don't enjoy the process, it is saving me from a worse consequence as a result of my own sin, foolishness, rebelliousness, stupidity, etc. And sometimes I just don't know what I don't know and correction comes to teach me if I will listen.

When I find myself in a position of needing to correct someone, I want to remember that the end goal is LIFE, not death. I want to see them positioned in life to flourish and thrive. Keeping this goal in mind helps me to follow-through because it is for the benefit of the one I love. It also helps me to be thankful when I too receive chastening.

Maybe you have felt "chastened" lately, whether by the Lord, a parent, an authority figure (through words,, actions or circumstances even). What did you learn from it?

What Makes Us Blameless & Innocent

CHALLENGING!

"Do all things without grumbling or questioning (faultfinding and complaining), that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world...." Philippians 2:14-15

• What I say and how I say it convicts me or frees me
• Christians shine God's light when they withhold from grumbling, etc.

So, when I grumble and find fault, I am NOT shining God's light. No one is being helped and I'm "in the dark" as well. How is my speech today? Is it winsome? Edifying? Helpful?

Paul continues to say in verse 16...."holding fast to the word of life".  This is what's to be in our mouth, LIFE.

If we would truly grasp this truth alone, how the world could change! Let's do it! Are you in?

The Arc of Justice, Humility, and Personal Rights

I am challenged this morning, with humility, justice and personal rights. I have heard the term "arc of justice" several times this week, in different, even conflicting contexts. I have heard people fighting over who is right and what is right. I have seen people strive to assert their rights as having precedence over anothers. I have heard insults thrown and retaliatory shots thrown back. It's everywhere.

Can there be true justice without humility?
Is there such a thing as personal rights when it means someone elses rights are trampled on?

Humility goes so much against the grain of how the world works. Yet humility is what we need.

I know of no other door to true humility but repentnace. Repentance for having to have our own way, from insisting that we are right. Repentance from allowing our insecurities to drive our pride. Repentance from thinking we know it, understand it, more than the other guy. Repentance from self-preservation and victimization.

Humility...to make ourselves nothing, to become servants of others, to take a position which allows us to understand their perspective.

My hope....that scripture tells me we can have this mind through Christ. It's my prayer this morning.

How to Be That Old Couple In the Park

My previous post shared some tips on staying married, becoming that cute old couple walking hand in hand in the park. Here's some follow-up helps to getting there.

"Consider [your spouse] more signicant than yourself" means that my way is not the only way. One must stop and consider how the other one feels, thinks, acts, needs and take that not only into consideration but make it the foremost consideration. That's a lot of considering!

Let's be honest. Would we really say, directly and boldly, "Look, I'm more important than you are. It has to be my way"? Have we said that indirectly? (This is a good moment for personal reflection - don't redirect to your spouse!).

"Looking not only to our own interests but to the interests of [our spouse]" means I LOOK, I search out, I consciously think of ways to bless them.  Not to change them to what works best for me. To bless them.

We didn't marry ourselves.

Our spouses are different that us - and that's an amazing, fabulous thing! It helps change US, it expands our world, it enhances, enlivens and colors our life in unexpected ways. Celebrate that, encourage it, work with it.

"...doesn't keep record of being wronged". Such a big one. Forgive. Move on. Let go. Don't revisit it. Move forward, lean forward, press forward. Life is in front of you! Love is in front of you! It's never behind.

"Never give up...be always hopeful".

Repentance, forgiveness and grace are constant necessities in a healthy marriage. Without these, the battle to put ourselves first rages against our marriage.

Repentance turns me back towards my spouse, forgiveness opens my heart to them, and grace extends a bridge to their heart. They calm the storm with us and between us.

Friends, may you be united in the same Spirit, of one mind, in full accord, striving together side by side for your marriage. Love on!