The power of the tongue is life and death— those who love to talk will eat what it produces. Proverbs 18:21 ISV
Can I just tell you- the things you speak to people have the power to build them up or tear them down…. and you have the most power over people who you care about, or care about you.
I remember when Joey and Jennifer were still in elementary school- they had a program at LES called “Caught You Doing Good” or something like that. When they caught a kid being kind, or polite, or walking quietly in the hall, or whatever, they got a little prize. They could turn that prize in and be in a drawing for a bigger prize. Mine got caught several times and I was always proud to hear about what they did to earn it.
By no means am I claiming to be a perfect parent. God knows the truth about that. But I did learn a long time ago, that how I spoke to my kids going out the door to school affected them all day long, and it affected others too- because if I put my bad mood on them, they just naturally passed it on to someone else.
So I’m telling you- if you’ve got folks in your life who aren’t so great at something (and who isn’t?), look for all the things they ARE good at, and brag on them about it. Build them up in front of other folks – and brag on them TO them. Let them know you think they’re good people.
If you’ll just give it two weeks, it will change your life. Because you see, it won’t change them- it will change YOU.
If you’re always looking for the bad, you’ll find it- but I’d lot rather look for good everywhere and find it.
Monthly Archives: July 2017
Proverbs 25:25-26
Proverbs 25:25 As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
26 A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.
This first verse is good news to us in that it tells us that when we receive good news from something or someone that we have been waiting for is like when you are so hot and thirsty a cool drink of water is the best thing you could have. Next we see when a righteous man slips up and backslides then you do not want to here from him for answers, just like you do not want that cool drink of water from a spring that is poisoned. Let us always try our best to stand strong by leaning on the word of God every day and always be ready to here from God the news you have been waiting for.
Proverbs 25:23-24
Proverbs 25:23 The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.
This first verse is telling us just as any wind will blow away the rain so will an angry from stop a person from saying something they should not. We should keep ourselves so in tune with God that we do not have to have someone give us a stern look to keep us from saying something we should not. Next we see that what makes a home is not the size of a house but that there is peace between the people that live there. There is never enough room in a home for a fighting person, man or woman, because it will make for a miserable lifestyle.Again we can see by these verses we need to learn to control our speech and our temperament and this is done by following the Biblical principals of God’s Word.
Proverbs 25:21-22
Proverbs 25:21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.
These verses are familiar to some us and they simply say what Jesus told us to do and that is not only to do good deeds for your enemies but also pray for them. The scriptures also tell us that vengeance is mine thus saith the Lord. When we do good continually for our enemies it will cause them to have a repentant attitude and want to ask forgiveness. As the last verse says it like heaping coals of fire on their heads when we do good for them but it is actually causing them to see the error in what they did. This is sometimes hard to do but we should strive to always treat our enemies with the love of Christ, just like He did when He said on the cross Father forgive them for they know not what they do.
Proverbs 25:19-20
Proverbs 25:19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
20 As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.
These two verses help us see some things we should not do.When and if we ever put our confidence in someone who is not a good true christian we are asking for trouble. When we have a broken tooth we cannot eat ,do we go to dentist that is a believer or just pick one. Also if our foot is out of joint do we go to a god fearing doctor or just pick one. It never hurts in any situation we are in to ask if the people helping us are believers Next we see when someone takes off warm clothing they are caring more for their appearance than their health. Also when there is someone with a heavy heart it is senseless to sing to them to try to cheer them up. Like pouring vinegar on carbonate of soda (nitre) it just causes a foaming mess that is useless. I hope everyone will attend a Bible believing church today so you can grow in walk with God and not make the mistakes like in these verses.
Fireworks: A Note from Hope
Guess what? This weekend we get to celebrate a birthday! Dad says that it’s our country’s birthday – Dad says we get to celebrate our freedom from oppression from another country. I’m not really sure what that means, but I think it means we can play like we want to, and say what we want and worship God like we want (I really like that part). I’m real excited about it- I hope we get to cook out, because that means we might get to catch the pieces that drop!
Some folks like to shoot off fireworks, and I know Mom and Dad like to watch them. But please remember that to us dogs, fireworks sounds like thunder or gunshots – so please make sure we’re safely inside so we won’t get scared and run away. (Last year there were several dogs who ran away during the fireworks and I don’t think some of them ever came home.) Mom and Dad will have us inside, and Scout will be in her crate- and they turn the TV on to METV so the cowboys will be louder than the noises outside.
Please remember to keep your furbabies safe during all the excitement!
Proverbs 25:17-18
Proverbs 25:17 Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour’s house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.
18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
These two verses give us some good advice. We see that we do not need to wear out our welcome when visiting with someone. If we are overbearing in staying we could cause them not to ever want to see us again. This could also cause your friend or neighbor to tell a lie about you. We know to well when someone has lied about us that it is as bad as being beaten or cut down or pierced though and though. Let us learn from this not to over do it when counseling with someone and always tell the truth when speaking of someone.