Fly on the Wall

 

 

Ever wished you could be a fly on the wall? ...to listen in on conversations you weren’t invited to; to hear what someone truly thought of you or if they even spoke of you at all? 

God too is interested in what we are saying or not saying. Because of His omnipresence - (and I say this with absolutely no disrespect or to demean who God is) - He is a "fly on the wall" in our life.  He not only hears and sees what we are doing, but He keeps notes!

"Then those who feared the Lord talked often one to another; and the Lord listened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him of those who reverenced and worshipfully feared the Lord and who thought on His name." Malachi 3:16

He loves it when we talk about Him!  Notice the reciprocal of that Scripture:

"But I tell you, on the day of judgment men will have to give account for every idle, [empty, careless] word they speak. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." Matthew 12:36-37

The God of all creation is listening to us! He hears how we speak of others and to others.  He hears what we say of Him or what we fail to say.  May the conversation of our lives be a sweet sound to our Lord. J

(Ephesians 4:29, Colossians 3:8, Psalm 19:14)

Kindness

Every person is fighting a battle of some sort whether it is current issues they are facing or those pesky learned behaviors we all have that can make us pretty darn ugly at times.  That is why it is important to lay aside your natural response to take offense, and love the "unlovely."

We haven't been called to give people what they deserve. God has commanded us to treat others as we wish to be treated. We are also shown in Scripture that whatever it is we do to another (negative or positive) we are doing to Jesus Himself. And YES, this includes our spouses and our children :)  

So before you lash out and choose harshness over kindness, pause and picture Jesus standing before you. All hurt inflicted on another is bringing pain to the very heart of God.

 "Rudeness, yelling, anger, and swearing are a weak man’s imitation of strength." (Author Unknown) 

 

I will venture out to re-word "weak man" to not having matured in our ability to process and communicate.  We need to do this if we want to have healthy relationships.  Through clinging to the Father and allowing the Holy Spirit to work, we can respond and speak in such a way that is honoring to others and to God.

Let's be kind to one another. Kindness makes us more attractive :)

 

(Ephesians 4:31-32, Matthew 7:12, Luke 10:27, Proverbs 20:3, Proverbs 29:20, James 1:19, Matthew 25:45)

 

Do You Love Me?

 

 

"Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me."

It is an amazing concept that whatever we do to others, good or bad, we are doing to Jesus Himself. Our love and our commitment to God is demonstrated in how we treat others!

Are we kind or sharp tongued? Do we use our words to edify or do we use them to tear down? Do we take time to listen to the hurts of others or do we tune them out? Are we willing to lay down our agenda to lend a helping hand or do we find doing for others to be an interruption to our lives? Do we have a cheerful heart when we serve others or do we grumble and complain when we aren't recognized for our deeds? Are we quick to give when there is a need or do we hoard what we have rather than seeing that we are blessed to be a blessing?

The Scriptures are clear that God takes account of everything - down to EVERY idle word we speak! 

We are EXPECTED to exercise self control even when we are offended or irritated by another's actions. Why? Because when we don't we aren't being effective lights for Jesus in a dark world. We aren't representing Him correctly and ultimately we bring shame to His name. It's the love of God that leads men to repentance. If we can't love others with God's love, we cannot reach them for Christ.

"After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love You.”  “Then feed My lambs,” Jesus told him.  Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love You.” “Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.  A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, You know everything. You know that I love You.”

Jesus said, “Then feed My sheep."

 

Our actions mirror our hearts. Is there enough evidence in how we treat others to convict us of being true lovers of Jesus? Jesus is asking us the same thing, "Do you love Me?"

(Matthew 25:31-45, Matthew 12:36, Matthew 5:14-16, Genesis 12:1-3, 2 Cor 9:8-12, 1 Cor 13, Prov 12:25, Prov 19:17, Prov 25:11, Eph 4:32)

Fly on the Wall

   

 

Remember times you have wanted to be a fly on the wall? ...to listen in and see what someone truly thought of you or if they even spoke about you at all?  Likewise, we have all had conversations that we dreaded anyone ever hearing or repeating.

God IS interested in what we are saying or not saying. Because of His omnipresence - (and I say this with absolutely no disrespect or to demean who God is) - He is a "fly on the wall" in our life.  He not only hears and sees what we are doing, but is keeping notes!

"Then those who feared the Lord talked often one to another; and the Lord listened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him of those who reverenced and worshipfully feared the Lord and who thought on His name." Malachi 3:16

He loves it when we not only talk about Him, but OFTEN!

Notice the reciprocal of that Scripture:

"But I tell you, on the day of judgment men will have to give account for every idle, [empty, careless] word they speak. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." Matthew 12:36-37

The God of all creation is listening to us! May the conversation of our lives bring Him the glory He desires and deserves!

(Ephesians 4:29, Colossians 3:8, Psalm 19:14)

Voice to Our Hearts

Our mouths give voice to our hearts.

"For out of the fullness (the overflow, the superabundance) of the heart the mouth speaks." Matthew 12:34b

We all are capable of adjusting our outward actions, but without an inward change, what is inside will eventually surface. Infection may go unnoticed for awhile, but always manifests on the outside in time. A sure indication, a clear warning that something is not right and needs fixing.

It is important that we guard our mouths when we feel destructive words and attitudes well up from inside - BUT we need to recognize that it is there and not going to go away on its own.  We need the help of the Holy Spirit to shine a light on the darkness inside and allow Him to reveal and pull out the roots. 

For many, this isn't a simple work because the roots are so firmly planted.  There requires a surrendering of old mindsets and ways, an unbiased approach in prayer, and total submission to the Word in order for God to do that inner surgery.  Just as we physically cannot stay healthy and in shape without exercising, neither can we emotionally and spiritually.  There's  a workout involved. It takes dedication and a sold out devotion to becoming more and more like Christ in our actions and our attitudes. 

 

The Bible says we HAVE the mind of Christ. We can think like Him. We can live like Him.  However, it doesn't just happen on it's own. You cannot get to know somebody or model after someone you do not spend a significant amount of  time with.  Spending that time with Him is our responsibility, as is renewing our mind through the reading, the studying, and the applying of God's Word in our lives. 

Let's take our spiritual vitamins of Scripture every single day. If we will humbly listen and apply the knowledge we learn, He will show us the inward work needed and will lead us down the path to our wholeness. :)

(1 Corinthians 2:16, Romans 12:2, Psalm 119:11)

Kindness

 

 

Many people are inclined to react negatively due to undealt with, unhealed issues in their own lives. Every person is fighting a battle of some sort. That is why it is important to lay aside your natural response to take offense, and love the "unlovely."

We haven't been called to give people what they deserve. God has commanded us to treat others as we wish to be treated. We are also shown in Scripture that whatever it is we do to another (negative or positive) we are doing to Jesus Himself. And YES, this includes our spouses and our children :)  

So before you lash out and choose harshness over kindness, pause and picture Jesus standing before you. All hurt inflicted on another is grieving the very heart of God.

"Rudeness, yelling, anger, and swearing are a weak man’s imitation of strength." (Author Unknown)

Let's be kind to one another. Kindness makes you more attractive :)

(Ephesians 4:31-32, Matthew 7:12, Luke 10:27, Proverbs 20:3, Proverbs 29:20, James 1:19, Matthew 25:45)

Do You Love Me?

 

 

"Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me."

It is an amazing concept that whatever we do to others, good or bad, we are doing to Jesus Himself. Our love and our commitment to God is demonstrated in how we treat others!

Are we kind or sharp tongued? Do we use our words to edify or do we use them to tear down? Do we take time to listen to the hurts of others or do we tune them out? Are we willing to lay down our agenda to lend a helping hand or do we find doing for others to be an interruption to our lives? Do we have a cheerful heart when we serve others or do we grumble and complain when we aren't recognized for our deeds? Are we quick to give when there is a need or do we hoard what we have rather than seeing that we are blessed to be a blessing?

The Scriptures are clear that God takes account of everything - down to EVERY idle word we speak!

We are EXPECTED to exercise self control even when we are offended or irritated by another's actions. Why? Because when we don't we aren't being effective lights for Jesus in a dark world. We aren't representing Him correctly and ultimately we bring shame to His name. It's the love of God that leads men to repentance. If we can't love others with God's love, we cannot reach them for Christ.

"After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love You.”  “Then feed My lambs,” Jesus told him.  Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love You.” “Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.  A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, You know everything. You know that I love You.”

Jesus said, “Then feed My sheep."

Our actions mirror our hearts. Is there enough evidence in how we treat others to convict us of being true lovers of Jesus? Jesus is asking us the same thing, "Do you love Me?"

(Matthew 25:31-45, Matthew 12:36, Matthew 5:14-16, Genesis 12:1-3, 2 Cor 9:8-12, 1 Cor 13, Prov 12:25, Prov 19:17, Prov 25:11, Eph 4:32)