“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2 If you have ever been the subject of gossip you know the pain and…
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Taming the Tongue, Turning the Heart
“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 God desires.” James 1:19-20 I was angry. I was deeply hurt. Someone who did not know me said something hurtful and completely untrue about…
Taming the Tongue, Part II
“I said, “I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth as long as the wicked are in my presence.” Psalm 39:1 Last week we studied a bit about gossip, and how a Christian should handle gossip from others. This week, let’s consider how we should handle…
Taming the Tongue, Part I
“Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgement on it.” James 4:11 I recently had an experience to which I bet you can relate : I was…
Go out and do good!
“Anyone then, who knows the good he ought to do but does not do it, sins.” James 4:17 Earlier this week, a memory from early college came to mind. I was walking into a classroom building and found another student kneeling on the floor of the hall. She was stuffing things into a bookbag with…
Encouragement Encounters: Presence, Part II
Have you ever been in a really difficult situation, and worse, you were there alone? The day after I was diagnosed with cancer, I awoke, wondering what I was going to do with myself all that day. At nine that morning, the doorbell rang. A neighbor who lived down the street, and attended our church,…
Encouragement Encounters: Presence, Part 1
Are you feeling closer to God this week? In a few moments you will know why I am asking! Let’s begin with a familiar story, Luke 10: 38-40. “As Jesus and His disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called…
Encounter: Encouragement
A few weeks ago we began with a look at II Timothy 4: 2 “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season: correct, rebuke, and encourage- with great patience and careful instruction” As we continue on our journey to draw closer to God, let’s examine the word “Encourage”. Webster defines encourage as:”To inspire…
God’s Word is… God’s Word
“All scripture is God- breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” II Timothy 3:16-17 If we are to draw closer to God, we need to spend time in His word. What are your thoughts regarding the…
Am I correctable?
Yesterday we asked the question: Am I teachable? Today, we want to ask: Am I correctable? Being teachable implies a willingness and ability to learn. Often it used in the idea of learning something new. Being correctable implies a humility wherein I can acknowledge I am completing a task in a wrong manner, and I am…