Honest Reflections

“The soothing tongue is a tree of life,  but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.” (Proverbs 15:4 NIV)

When you speak soothing words, you are a tree of life to others.  Soothing is defined as flattering; softening; assuaging. In other words, gentle.  When our speech is gentle towards others we bring life to them.  Always speak genuinely as well.  False flattery is worse than nothing at all:

“For their tongues shoot lies like poisoned arrows. They speak friendly words to their neighbors while scheming in their heart to kill them.” (Jeremiah 9:8 NLT)

When you lie to someone, inevitably you are harming them.  When you speak gentle words with genuine love, you give them life.  Soothing words bring life to those who receive them.

Soothing words bring life to those who receive them.

When we speak to others, the words of life we use will help them become the person God intended.  My husband speaks life into mine.  He tells me I can do anything I set my mind too.  He lifts me up when I am down with words of encouragement.  He tells me I’m beautiful when I feel I’m not.  When I criticize myself, he corrects me.  He doesn’t allow me to speak negatively about myself.  Not only does he speak soothing words to me, he helps me speak them to myself.  My husband is a source of life to me because of the words he speaks.

Paul gave explicit instruction to the Ephesians when he wrote to them:

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (Ephesians 4:29 NIV)

Speaking uplifting and encouraging words constantly is a challenge. My mother taught me if I don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.  She learned this lesson from Solomon:

“Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.”  (Proverbs 13:3 NIV)

All of us are trees of life if we use wise words.  When we speak gently, in truth and love, we are a source of life that has endless possibilities.  When our soothing words are grounded in God’s promises, not only will we bring life, but life to the fullest.  We will help people realize the power of God’s presence in their lives.  The lives of those around us will flourish as they rely on God’s strength, not their own.  Their faith will grow as we encourage them to take the next steps in their relationship with God.  The garden of friends God has given us will blossom as we speak gentle words of love to them.  Soothing words bring life to those who receive them.

Question of the Day:

Who are you going to speak soothing words to today?

Further Reading: 1 Samuel 12:1-13:23 NIV, John 7:1-30 NIV, Psalm 108:1-13 NIV, Proverbs 15:4 NIV

“Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south.” (Psalm 107:2-3 NIV)

The easiest way to talk about God is to tell your story.  God has always been a part of my life.  From my youngest age, I remember going to church.  My mother taught me we are all brothers and sisters, no matter what color our skin is, we are all God’s children.  I was 12 when I understood the need for Jesus.  I didn’t  completely understand why I needed Him, but I knew I did.  And so with a childlike faith, I asked Him to come live in my heart. Forty years later, I still remember the moment my life changed with that prayer.  The easiest way to talk about God is to tell your story.

The easiest way to talk about God is to tell your story.

Peter tells us we should always be ready to give an answer:

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, (1 Peter 3:15 NIV)

The best way to prepare to have an answer is to create one in advance.  A common practice Christ followers use is the 2-minute testimony, this 2-minute video helps us understand the concept.  First we must understand our testimony is our story of what God has done for us that no one else can do.  When we understand that, we can think of a couple of areas in our life that God has convicted us of our sin. Then we explain how He helped us change our ways.  When we share how our relationship with Jesus has changed our lives, we give others a vision of how He can change theirs.

For instance, when I was 29 years old the man I thought I was going to marry informed me he didn’t think I was the one for him.  I had given everything up for this man.  We were practically living together, which went against my beliefs. I was willing to sacrifice my beliefs for him.  When that relationship ended, I found myself at rock bottom, all alone.  I contacted a friend I hadn’t talked to in three years.  She had started a relationship with Jesus during the time we hadn’t spoken.  She shared with me what Jesus had done in her life.  She reminded me of the hope we have in Him.  Because of her, I gave my broken heart to Jesus, and He changed my life forever.

The easiest way to talk about God is to tell your story.

Question of the Day:

What is your 2-minute testimony?

Further Reading: 1 Samuel 10:1-11:15 NIV, John 6:43-71 NIV, Psalm 107:1-43 NIV, Proverbs 15:1-3 NIV

Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” (John 6:28-29 NIV)

The work God wants you to do is believe in Jesus.  Before we can do anything else for God, we have to believe in His Son.  Why is it important to believe in Jesus?  Because once you believe in Him, your life changes forever.  In order to believe in Jesus, we must first admit we’re sinners.  We admit that what we are doing in our life isn’t working and we need help.  When we do that, and place our trust in Jesus, He will show us a new way to live.  The work God wants us to do is believe in Jesus.

The work God wants us to do is believe in Jesus.

When we believe in Jesus and place our faith in Him, we’ll want to do things differently.  The first thing we experience is His grace and mercy.  He forgives us of all our sins:

“Our sins are washed away and we are made clean because Christ gave His own body as a gift to God. He did this once for all time.” (Hebrews 10:10 NIV)

When we experience Jesus’ grace and mercy in our own lives, we want to share it with others.  We want them to know the new life we have found.  Jesus’ light shines into us, then through us to others.  God does the work, we don’t.  He’s the One who illuminates our lives in ways we never imagined.  He gives us dreams we would never have dreamt.  All He asks is that we put our faith in Him.

The fruits we begin to bear as we follow Jesus, against such things there is no law:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV)

The light that shines through us is communicated to others by the fruits we produce.  When we are kind to another person, we’re bearing good fruit.  When we show love to someone who thinks they are unlovable, we are being Christ in the flesh for them.  When we are faithful in our relationships, God’s light is shining.  As we practice self-control when emotions are threatening to overtake us, Jesus is being glorified.  When we find joy in the midst of heartache, peace in the middle of turmoil, love in the face of hate, we’re shining Jesus light for the world to see.

The work God wants us to do is believe in Jesus.  He takes care of the rest once we place our faith in Him.  

Question of the Day:

Have you done the work God wants you to do?

Further Reading: 1 Samuel 8:1-9:27 NIV, John 6:22-42 NIV, Psalm 106:32-48 NIV, Proverbs 14:34-35 NIV

“But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his plan to unfold.” (Psalm 106:13 NIV)

We forget too quickly.  We forget too quickly what God has done for us.  When we are in the valley and life is overwhelming us, we cry out to God.  He answers.  He provides.  He helps us out of the valley. He gets us back on stable ground.  Once we are on solid ground again, feeling good, we quickly forget God.  We go back to doing what we were doing until we end up in the valley again, which is inevitable.  That’s when we once again remember God. We forget too quickly what God has done for us.

We forget too quickly what God has done for us.

The entire Bible is a collection of authors, writing down what God has done for them.  Over and over again in it’s pages we see people calling on God for help.  He helps them, then they immediately go back to their sinful ways.  Yet God still loved them, and He still loves us, even when we forget.

When I was single, I forgot God quickly when I was in a relationship.   I’d forget what He says about premarital relationships.  I’d forget what He says about marriage and its sanctity.  I’d forget quickly.  Until the relationship went south, then once again I’d call on God.  

I finally realized, this was not working.  I remember the moment I decided I was going all in with God.  I was going to do it His way. I was done forgetting Him.  No more sleeping around.  God taught me some of the most valuable lessons of my life because of that decision.  The first gentleman I met in church pressured me quickly to sleep with him.  I didn’t.  When he finally realized I was serious, he informed me of all the other women who were currently sleeping with him.  I had no idea.  I thought we were exclusive.  I was very wrong.  If I hadn’t put God first in that relationship, I would have never known.  I’ve never forgotten that lesson.

We forget too quickly what God has done for us, when we do, we miss His plan.  I would have missed His plan if I had done what I always did.  I wouldn’t be married to the love of my life, if I’d forgotten God back then.  When we remember God and all He has done, we’ll wait in anticipation for His plan to unfold for us.  And when His plan unfolds, we’ll be glad we remembered Him.

Question of the Day:

What is something God has done for you in the past that strengthens your relationship with Him today?

Further Reading: 1 Samuel 5:1-7:17 NIV, John 6:1-21 NIV, Psalm 106:13-31 NIV, Proverbs 14:32-33 NIV

“A heart at peace gives life to the body,  but envy rots the bones.” (Proverbs 14:30 NIV)

Envy has the power to destroy your life.  It will rot your bones, and cause you untold strife.  But a heart at peace gives life to the body.  We all suffer from envy.  Andy Stanley, in a message on envy years ago, helped me identify envy in my life.  I couldn’t find that message, but here is another one of his messages on envy that is just as impactful.  

Andy used this phrase:  “It must be nice.”  When you find yourself saying, “It must be nice…” about something, that is a sign of envy.  It must be nice to be married to that person.  It must be nice to have that job.  It must be nice to make that much money.  It must be nice to live there.  It must be nice to have such good kids.  It must be nice…  Envy has the power to destroy your life, but “It must be nice…” has the power to save it.  Identifying your envy can help you find peace in your heart.

Identifying your envy can help you find peace in your heart.

Envy is wanting something we don’t have that we feel we deserve.  In reality, we don’t deserve anything.  We don’t deserve to be born in America, we don’t deserve to have a democratic society that allows us freedom of religion and speech.  Those are gifts from God that He gave us, just by being born in the United States.  People around the globe are envious that we live in America.  And we in America are envious of those around us who we perceive have a better life than us.  Envy is a battle we all fight, but when we focus our eyes on Jesus, we’ll find peace.

Peace in our heart comes from being content with what we have, no matter what:

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (Phil. 4:12-13 NIV)

Contentment can only come when we center our hearts on Jesus. We can find it through the strength Jesus gives us when we follow Him  When we follow Him, we’ll find His peace that surpasses all understanding (Phil. 4:6-7 NIV).  Instead of counting the blessings of others, we’ll count our own blessings.  We’ll be grateful for what we do have, instead of what we don’t have.  We’ll have peace that gives life to the body.

Question of the Day:

What have you said, “It must be nice…” about lately?

Further Reading: 1 Samuel 2:22-4:22 NIV, John 5:24-47 NIV, Psalm 106:1-12 NIV, Proverbs 14:30-31 NIV

“Hannah did not go. She said to her husband, “After the boy is weaned, I will take him and present him before the Lord, and he will live there always.” (1 Samuel 1:22 NIV)

Hannah, to me, is one of the unsung heroes of the Bible.  She was married to Elkanah, who had two wives.  Peninnah was his other wife, who had many children.  Hannah, on the other hand had none, “the Lord had closed her womb” (1 Samuel 1:5 NIV).   Peninnah lorded it over Hannah’s head that she had children and Hannah could not. For years, Hannah lived in misery:

“This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat.” (1 Samuel 1:7 NIV)

Hannah never gave up.  She didn’t lose faith in God, even though she was unable to have children.  Instead, she persevered and pleaded her case before God:

“In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly.  And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.” (1 Samuel 1:10-11 NIV)

Hannah gave her greatest desire to God.

God granted Hannah’s request.  She named her son Samuel “Because I asked the Lord for him” (1 Samuel 1:20 NIV).  And when he was weaned, she left him with Eli at the temple, living up to her promise to the Lord.  God answered Hannah’s prayer, and she honored her commitment.  She would see her firstborn once a year when they went to the temple to worship.  She would lovingly make him a new outfit to take with her.  Hannah’s prayer is a beautiful tribute to what the Lord did for her, take a moment and read it here.  After she gave birth to Samuel, she had three more sons and two daughters.  God blessed her abundantly for her obedience.

Giving up what we most desire to God is a difficult thing, but the rewards are beyond measure.  When we release to God whatever our heart’s desires are, He does miraculous things.  Samuel has 2 books named after him in the Old Testament.  He records the story of David and Goliath as well as many others.  Samuel’s name has not been forgotten in thousands of years because Hannah gave to the Lord what she wanted most.

Hannah trusted God with her heart’s desire and He blessed her abundantly.  He’ll do the same for you if you will trust Him.  

Question of the Day:

What are you willing to give up for God?

Further Reading: 1 Samuel 1:1-2:21 NIV, John 5:1-23 NIV, Psalm 105:37-45 NIV, Proverbs 14:28-29 NIV

“May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” (Ruth 2:12 NIV)

If you want to be richly rewarded, stay the course.  Boaz is speaking to Ruth in today’s verse.  He has noticed her working in his fields.  Day after day, he watched her “glean behind the harvesters” (Ruth 2:3 NIV).  Gleaning is picking up the fallen grain that the harvesters leave behind.  This practice comes from the Levitical law:

“‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the Lord your God.” (Leviticus 19:9-10 NIV).

Gleaning is not easy work.  It’s scrounging in the hot sun for leftovers the harvesters have missed.  Boaz was a generous man, when he saw how hard Ruth was working, he ordered his harvesters to let her gather among the sheaves (Ruth 2:15 NIV).  Ruth had stayed the course, day after day.  As a result, Boaz noticed her and rewarded her work.  If you want to be richly rewarded, stay the course.

If you want to be richly rewarded, stay the course.

Boaz was a God fearing man, who rewarded Ruth out of his humanness.  God’s rewards are far greater than a lessened work load.  He, like Boaz, bases it on what we have done:

“God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.  But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.” (Romans 2:6-8 NIV)

God isn’t expecting us to be perfect, He knows we’re not.  He does expect us to try.  He expects us to be like Ruth.  Each day, we do what we know to do. We center our thoughts on God by spending time with Him.  We do our best to be obedient to His desires.  We try to forgive, we try to pray for our enemies, we try to love our neighbor.  Some days, we may fail, but as long as we keep trying, that’s what matters.

God will bless you richly if you stay the course.  On those days where you don’t feel His presence, or are unsure of what to do, do what you know to do.  Trust that He is present even if you can’t feel Him.  Take the next right step. Stay the course and God will reward your efforts.

Question of the Day:

What do you need to do to stay the course today?

Further Reading: Ruth 2:1-4:22 NIV, John 4:43-54 NIV, Psalm 105:16-36 NIV, Proverbs 14:26-27 NIV

“But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.”  (Ruth 1:16 NIV)

Ruth can show you how to follow God.  Ruth was a Moabite.  The Moabites were considered foreigners, they did not worship the same God as the Jewish people.  The Moabites came from Moab, who was the son of Lot and his oldest daughter:

“Let’s get our father to drink wine and then sleep with him and preserve our family line through our father.” (Genesis 19:30 NIV).

Ruth’s heritage included incest.  Her story begins when she marries one of Naomi’s sons, which one we don’t know.  Naomi is in Moab because her husband moved his family there when famine hit Bethlehem.  After Naomi’s husband and sons die, all she has left is her daughter-in-laws.  One turns back, but Ruth refuses to leave her side.  When Naomi decided to go back to Bethlehem, Ruth went with her. 

Ruth didn’t go with Naomi because of her great love for Naomi, she went with her because of her great love for God.  Ruth was following God when she moved to Bethlehem.  Ruth can show you how to follow God.

Ruth can show you how to follow God.

For Ruth to follow God, she had to leave everything she knew.  She left her family, she left the land she had known her entire life.  Ruth followed God to a strange land where she was not welcome.  She followed Him to a place where she would depend on charity to live.  And because she did, she is named in the lineage of Jesus (Matthew 1:5-6 NIV, Ruth 4:13 NIV).  How did Ruth fall in love with God so deeply, she would go through all of that?  The answer is simple, Naomi.

Naomi is who introduced Ruth to God.  Through her example, Ruth saw God’s glory.  During the time Naomi lived in Moab she watched her sons marry, her husband die, then each of her sons die.  I am grateful I did not have her life.  The pain and heartache she endured is unbearable to think about from my perspective.  But not only did she go through such trying times, she did it in a way that made Ruth fall in love with Naomi’s God.  Ruth wanted to know Naomi’s  God so much, she would follow Him anywhere.

“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”  Maya Angelou

Naomi followed God.  Ruth followed Naomi.  Ruth knew the right people to follow in her quest to follow God.  Ruth can show you how to follow God.

Question of the Day:

How can Ruth show you how to follow God today?

Further Reading: Judges 21:1-Ruth 1:22 NIV, John 4:4-42 NIV, Psalm 105:1-15 NIV, Proverbs 14:25 NIV

“All hard work brings a profit,  but mere talk leads only to poverty.” (Proverbs 14:23 NIV)

Hard work brings profit.  But few people want to put in the hard work.  Staples sells an “Easy Button” for $8.87.  The fact they are able to make a profit from a button such as this, tells you people like to take the easy way out.  Staples is doing the hard work of marketing to a world who is looking for easy; they are making the profit.  But life isn’t easy,  No where in scripture will you find the promise of an easy life.  You will find plenty of scriptures that require hard work:

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,” (Colossians 3:23)

“Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.” (Ephesians 4:28 NIV)

“Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense.” (Proverbs 12:11 NIV)

Hard work brings profit, there’s no easy way.

When I was young, my family mowed the grass in the cemetery for our church.  My Dad would drive the riding lawn mower.  My brother and I would use the push mower to go in between the tombstones.  My Mom and older brother would trim with weed eaters.  This is how I learned hard work, with my family.  I was paid $20 for an entire afternoon’s worth of work, and I was ecstatic.  Not only did I feel rich, but I felt pride in the work we had done together as a family.

I can’t remember not having chores.  Saturday mornings were cleaning days.  I had to dust and clean before I could go out and play.  Every night my job was to set the table, and then do the dishes afterwards.  My first paying job after the cemetery was cleaning for a neighbor, Dale Duncan.  I would spend hours with her helping her with whatever chore she had for me that day.  I can’t remember not working in my life.  Hard work was instilled in me from an early age.

Hard work is not something to be feared, but rather embraced.  When we set about a task, work at it with all of our heart for the Lord, we will be profitable.   We will find satisfaction in the work we have done.  We won’t waste our time, we’ll maximize it.  We will feel God’s pleasure as we set about the task He has given us to do.  Whether mowing a lawn, dusting a cabinet or washing dirty dishes, all of them can be done joyfully for the Lord.  Hard work leads to profit, but mere talk ends in poverty.

Question of the Day:

What is God asking you to work hard at today?

Further Reading: Judges 19:1-20:48 NIV, John 3:22-4:3 NIV, Psalm 104:24-35 NIV, Proverbs 14:22-23 NIV

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 NIV) 

God loves the world enough to sacrifice His Son for it.  He loves the sexually immoral, the drunkards, the liars, the murderers.  He loves all sinners enough to sacrifice Jesus, His only Son, on the cross.  If you were the only person on earth, Jesus would still have gotten on the cross.  God wants a relationship with you so badly, He’d have Jesus die for you. How much does God love the world?  Enough to give His only Son to save it.

Enough to give His only Son to save it.

Why do we need Jesus to have a relationship with God?  God can’t be in the presence of sin:

O God, you take no pleasure in wickedness; you cannot tolerate the sins of the wicked. (Psalm 5:4 NLT).

If we think of God as light and sin as darkness, we can begin to understand.  When you walk into a dark room in the middle of the night and turn on the light switch, the darkness disappears.  You can’t have darkness and light together at the same time. In the same way, God’s light can’t be together simultaneously with the darkness of sin.  

Jesus is the light switch.  When we believe in Him, we are turning on the light in our lives.  We are trusting that He bore our sins for us, so we wouldn’t have too:

“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:24 NIV)

God wanted a relationship with the world so badly, He sent Jesus to save it.  In our darkest hour, Jesus’ light is with us. But we can’t turn on the light without flipping the switch by believing in Jesus.  Each day, as we face new challenges, we have to access the power.

We have to strengthen the light by spending time with Jesus. We spend time with Jesus when we read His word, play worship music, spend time with His followers.  Each time we seek Him, we’ll find Him. Each time we draw closer to Him, we make the light shine brighter and brighter. Eventually, the only thing people will see in us is Jesus’ light shining through.

God loved the world so much, He gave His only Son to save it.  God loved you so much, He gave His only Son to save you. God’s light saves us from our sins.  He releases us from the bondage of past heartaches, and gives us a new way to live. Jesus is the light in our lives.

Question of the Day:

How strong is Jesus’ light shining in your life?

Further Reading: Judges 17:1-18:31 NIV, John 3:1-21 NIV, Psalm 104:1-24 NIV, Proverbs 14:20-21 NIV