The Telephone Game

Posted on March 28, 2014 by Marie

Did you play the Telephone Game in elementary school? It started with the teacher whispering a comment in your ear then it got passed to the next student until it went all the way around. It was often funny what the last person thought they heard. Gossip is like that. The first whisper is rarely the same as the last. I makes me remember a time when Ray, my husband, was having a cath procedure done to see what what going on with his heart. By the time it got back to us he was having a heart replacement. Of course, we had to assure everyone who had heard the news that at the most he might have a stent placed. That’s what happens, isn’t it? Our words are repeated and repeated until they in no way resemble what was originally said.

The 9th Commandment says do not bear false witness. Do not lie. Do not speak untruths. It could also say…QUIT GOSSIPING! Over and over the Word tells us to bridle our tongues (James 1:26). Perhaps a bridle should be part of the Armor! Look at some of the verses I’ve put into my own words.

Proverbs 21:3 Keep yourself out of trouble by thinking before you speak.

Matthew 12:37 You will be both justified and condemned by every spoken word.

John 1:1 God is the Word! Always has been and always will be!

Luke 6:35 What the mind is really thinking the mouth says!

Proverbs 18:13 Listen before you say anything.

Psalm 118:17 Live and talk about God!

There is a song I remember singing as a child that says it all – – Oh, be careful little mouth what you say, for the Father up above is looking down in love, oh, be careful little mouth what you say.

One more thought…It is perfectly OK and perhaps even scriptural (see Titus 1:10 below) to ask the person who says to much, the gossip who shares to much, the abuser who is demeaning…to just Shut Up!

Titus 1:10 For there are a lot of rebels out there, full of loose, confusing, and deceiving talk. Those who were brought up religious and ought to know better are the worst. They’ve got to be shut up! (The Message)

My fervent prayer is this: Oh, LORD, My rock and my Redeemer, may the words of my mouth and the thoughts I am thinking be acceptable in Your sight. (Psalm 19:14)

Words

Posted on September 20, 2012 by Marie

Have you have gotten caught up in the moment and said something you wish you hadn’t? Are there times when you wish someone would put a bridle on your mouth and completely control your words? Are there times when you wish you could sleep all day, hide, play computer games that take over your mind…? Then, guess what, that makes us all normal and still forgivable and lovable. The real question is…How do we overcome these times?

First, we must realize we are as much an at fault sinner as the one we directed our words toward. God knows that! He knew when He breathed the Word. The Bible is full of admonitions, both Old and New Testament, to guard our words.

Second, we must ask for forgiveness and then follow through with a change of heart. I can get on my knees 50 times a day, some days 500, and ask for forgiveness but unless I decide, with God’s help, to change, the words are empty.

Then, and the hardest of all, is to ask for forgiveness from the one who has been harmed by the words. Unlike God, they may choose to be unforgiving. If that happens give it back to God and continue mending the relationship.

There is a delightful children’s song that says: Oh, be careful little mouth what you say. Oh, be careful little mouth what you say. For the Father up above is looking down in love. Oh, be careful little mouth what you say.

Psalm 19:14 May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, oh Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer.

Heavenly Father, creator of all words and languages, Lord of my life, forgive me for words hastily spoken. Control my words (and thoughts) toward or about others. Let my life be acceptable to You. Make it so!

Not Again

Posted on June 14, 2012 by Marie

What does work when we’ve managed, once again, to jump into the ‘sin-pit’? We can be the most disciplined believer on the face of the earth, we can have had enough life experiences that we should have seen it coming, we can know our Bible so well that good choices are second nature to us, BUT when the perfect personal sin is dangled in front of us and looks like the best apple on the tree…So what is our protection? Knowing His Word so well that we can use it as a guide in all situations (2 Timothy 3:16). Developing a life habit of prayer in all situations (1 Thessalonians 5:17) Understanding that we are totally, completely, covered in His blanket of loving forgiveness (Song of Songs 2:4). Taking refuge in the shadow of His loving and merciful wings (Psalms 17:8). Yes, we will sin. Unfortunately, that’s a guaranteed result of life in this fallen world. Paying attention to the Spirit within can help with that. When we are about to say or do something we shouldn’t, there is more than likely a prodding or consciousness that we should not follow through with it. I believe that this is the Paraclete, the Counselor, the Spirit of Christ, living in us, wanting what is best for us, trying to warn us that what we’re about to do is not in line with what is expected of us as part of the Kingdom. We need to learn to listen to this voice. A dear friend once told me to keep this in mind…When in doubt, don’t. That small command has worked for me…when I let it.

Heavenly Father, speak to me. When I am about to sin, speak to me. When You know I need to hear You, speak to me. Open my ears, mind, and heart to hear the sound of Your voice. Oh, Lord, speak to me.

Make it so!

Words and Wants

Posted on May 25, 2012 by Marie

That darn snake! Too often he gets into our minds and uses what he finds there to cause us problems. It happened to Eve and has continued through history to us. He is like a roaring lion that travels miles to find something to devour. (1 Peter 5:8) In the first part of that verse we are told to be self-controlled and alert. Alert to what? Perhaps our lack of self-control. Read Eve’s story in Genesis 3. She had some self-control issues that we still deal with today. First, how about the fact that we, and Eve, let our words get us into trouble. If she hadn’t spent so much time talking with the snake she wouldn’t have determined that she was perhaps missing something. God didn’t create us with two ears and one mouth for no reason. He wants us listening carefully, He wants us being careful about what we listen too, and He wants us to simply close our mouths to unnecessary conversation.

It also seems that we, and Eve, have a really big problem with coveting that which belongs to another. There is a commandment about that. We really aren’t supposed to get ourselves wrapped up in what others around us have. Jesus tells us plainly that the Father provides what we need and we need to be careful that we are not wanting more than He thinks we should have.

Lastly, we eat to much. This is both a physical and figurative statement. We certainly need real food, in appropriate proportions to nourish the body and keep us healthy. We also need to be ravenous for the food that is provided in a daily diet of God’s Word. He will feed our hunger for the answers to life’s questions if we take the time to learn what he wants for us.

Awesome and mighty Heavenly Father, You alone are worthy of my praise. Father control me. Control my words, my wants and make me ravenous for Your Word. Make it so!

When We Don’t Know What to Pray

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Marie

Romans 8: 26-27 Have you ever been in a situation and the only thing that would help was prayer but you didn’t know what to pray for? I was recently placed in that position and this scripture had a profound effect on me. It was very comforting to know that since the Spirit lives within me He knows my mind, knows what I need (to ask), and takes it to the throne with words unknown to me. Our God can do what He says He can. He answers the prayers of the righteous (James 5:16). He wants us to be sure of His desire to provide for us in all ways. He loves each one of us and wants each of us to have access to Him. He has provided this access through the Holy Spirit in us and wants us to communicate with Him.Take time to talk with Him today. He’s waiting to hear from you…

Father hear this prayer in Jesus’ Precious Name. My mind is black except for the wisdom to know I must be near You! Take this hodgepodge of thoughts and make sense come from them. Only You know what needs to be said and only You can hear my heart cry. Make it so!