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Thursday, June 23, 2011

Think on these things!

I was convicted this morning of tearing my house down with my own hands. I am often irritated with my husband because he is often inconsiderate. And I allow his lack of consideration to justify my irritation.

But God spoke to me this morning. He said,
"Encourage one another and build each other up."1 Thessalonians 5:11.

Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

 "Do everything without complaining or arguing." Philippians 2:14


"The wise woman builds her house, But the foolish tears it down with her own hands." Proverbs 14:1.


"Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear." Ephesians 4:29

"Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. " Ephesians 4:15

"Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you." Ephesians 4:32

I am going to borrow the eloquent words of  Lysa TerKeurst from Proverbs 31 ministries, whose devotion dealt with the same topic with a broader application today.

'The Rare Word by Lisa TerKeurst (http://lysaterkeurst.com/)

Psalm 19:14, “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
We live in day and time where our rights sometimes takes precedence over our pursuit of righteousness.
So quick to offer a complaint when things don’t go exactly right.
So forgetful with our thank you’s when things go well.
And I am challenged by this.
My husband owns a restaurant. If there was ever a man who cared to the depth of his being about serving his customers well, it’s my man. To him it’s not just about serving a great chicken sandwich. It’s about serving a life. It’s his opportunity to hand them a sandwich with a smile, a kind word, some kind of second mile gesture and for that brief moment make their day a little brighter, a little better.
And he never qualifies his kindness.
The grumpy customer gets the same kindness as the happy one.
He inspires me.
He is a man of the rare word.
It’s so easy to extend pleasantries to the person who is treating me right. But what about that moment when things aren’t so right. Might I see even that as an opportunity? An opportunity to reach past my feelings, my comfort, my rights and pursue righteousness in that moment?
Might I dare to be a woman of the rare word?
And might I even be so bold as to not just make kindness come out of my mouth but also be the meditation of my heart?
It’s not easy. But it is good.
My rights- Make me feel accepted, good, and treated fairly.
My righteousness- My choice to make right choices that honor God daily.
So here’s the challenge I’ve issued myself- find the good.
In every situation, in every interaction, in every day- be a noticer of the good. Even when the good has nothing to do with the circumstances and everything about how God will teach me through them- find the good.
And be a woman who is lavishly expressive of that good… who rarely, rarely, rarely utters the complaint.'




Anxious

How easily a little bit of anxiety slips in...
It's so easy to forget how completely God loves us. He loves us so completely that there is no need for fear of anything.

1 John 4:18
Perfect love casts out fear.

I was anxiously thinking and praying this morning about how to handle something that is on my heart for my children. I so easily slip into that sort of nervous thought. Forgetting My Lord. I didn't really even notice that I was anxious. Then I found peace. And I realized I had been anxious.
Thank you, Father, that I can cry out to you.

Matthew 11:28
Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.
Philippians 4: 6,7
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension shall guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Psalm 37:4
Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.

Oh Lord, I seek to be yours wholly and completely. I ask that I be a vessel for your use.  Your are worthy. Thank you for loving me. I see how completely I fall short of the mark. It hurts my heart. Help me to put aside the sins that so easily entagle me that You may use me  and fill me completely.