Last Words

The scripture is full of wisdom on the importance of using our words carefully. Proverbs, especially, is filled with this instruction. A few things we are told:
* Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin. (Proverbs 13:3)
* Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone. (Proverbs 25:15)
* A person finds joy in giving an apt reply - and how good is a timely word! (Proverbs 15:23)

I was pleasantly surprised last night when I watched one of my favorite shows - How I Met Your Mother. It won me over from the very first episode with its contemporary comedy, but it seems of recent to have reached a level of enjoyment for me as there seems to be more heartfelt moments. Last night's episode dealt with the significance of your last words.

When it was over, I turned on Facebook - still emotionally numb to a certain extent - only to notice that a friend posted that her friend had died over the weekend. I went to his FB page to see what his final post was. I had to laugh when I read, "I don't wanna be a Pisces. Not that there's anything wrong with that." Do you think he would have chosen that to be his final post?

So, it really got me thinking: our words have such power. We can do so much good - or bad - with our words. I hope you come away from this random little blog with a gentler word to speak because we never know when it might be our last.

New. Year. Resolutions.

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load. (Galatians 6:2-5, NIV)

The New Year: That delightful time when we make ourselves promises we don't expect to keep. Right!? I'm optimistic, so I'd like to believe that resolutions are made when we take a moment to "test" our actions and we see that we fail in some area. Good for us!

Unfortunately, we don't continue to work at these goals, for one reason or another. Laziness? Fear? Distraction? Excuses? All of the above, and then some!

What I keep discovering is that I have to chose to live the life I dream about - it's not about a year. I need to daily do what I want to be. If I want to be rich, I save money. If I want to be healthy, I eat well and exercise. This is not rocket science, and yet we all struggle with it.

Along with a whole list of other things, I want to be someone who is able to carry other's burdens and take pride in myself. It starts this new year, and more importantly, it starts today.

Making Time vs Finding Time

I'm 19 days into my 40 days of prayer journey. For the past 19 days I have met at my church - everyday - with a small group of friends. All we do is pray for our community as we walk around the civic center. It's amazing how each night my prayers lead in a different direction. There is truly a lot to pray for, but that is for another blog.

What has really impressed me about these last 19 days is that every day I have chosen to stop whatever else I was doing and be at my church at 6pm - tired, busy, rain or shine, even on Halloween.

All too often I find myself saying I can't find time to do what I want. I suddenly realized that I must chose to MAKE TIME for God. I make time to shower everyday. I make time to go to work everyday. I make time to eat 3 meals a day. I make time to do all these things and many others because I know if I don't that there will be consequences.

What do you need to make time for in your life?

The More I, The Less You

Ahhhh, Facebook.

I hope not to offend anyone with this, but it's what I believe and I mean it in the nicest possible way. I think you will understand. The more you post on FB, the less likely people are to read your posts. Anyone else agree?

Ok, now take that same idea and roll it over to your words. The more you talk, the less likely people are to listen. I love both of these verses:

My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. (James 1:19-20)

When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. (Proverbs 10:19)

God help me when I have diarrhea of the mouth. Help me to speak only those words that are beneficial and purposed according to Your will.

Zitch

My family plays a car game we refer to as "Zitch Cop." The rules are simple: (1) More than one person must be in the car, and (2) The first person to say "Zitch Cop" when he/she sees a police officer gets a point.

My friend let me borrower her car, and today when we got inside of it, my son asked if we could play Zitch Cop in it. I told him, "Yes, it's not about what car we're in. It's about us being together."

Then it struck me - this is the way the church is. It's not about the building, the location, or even the activity. Whenever God' people are together, we're having church.

As time has progressed my kids want to add more and more rules. Isn't it funny how most people say they hate rules yet tend to make up more rules than necessary? Again, it's the same with our faith.

In Jesus' day the Jews suffered through this same dilemma as they tried to honor the law. But that which began as 10 commandments had become hundreds, even thousands of laws, and with far reaching implications. So it's no surprise to read in Matthew 22:36-40 when one day Jesus had the following encounter:

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

That makes it pretty easy, doesn't it? Let's keep it simple today.