Words

 Two stories.  Two different lessons.  

A while back a lady was standing in the check out line at the local drug store.  It was a pretty long line and one harried, weary cashier was attempting to get through it while two other employees stood to the other side of the register area talking and looking at a phone.  This lady gets up to the cashier and looks at her face.  The cashier looks about ready to cry.  So this lady makes some seemingly unimportant comment about how she was doing a good job getting through the long line.  But then the cashier just opens up.  She came in with a migraine, was barely able to get to work, and was getting no help from her manager or the other employee.  She was so happy to receive a compliment instead of a complaint.  That small comment helped her through that morning.

Fast forward to the present day.  A lady (we'll call her Ann) with three children were shopping at a local department store.  Along came a lady (we'll call her Jane) who thought that Ann was being inconsiderate and holding up Jane's progress of getting through an aisle.  Jane was having a bad day to begin with.  This put her in a very grouchy mood.  Jane huffed and sighed and made an uncomplimentary remark.  Jane continued on her way, leaving Ann and her children stunned and confused.   As Jane made her way around the store, the Holy Spirit (Jane's a Chrisitian) started working on her conscience.  She started feeling very convicted and ashamed.  So Jane knew what she had to do.  She had to find Ann and her children and apologize.  Ugh.  We don't like to do that do we.  Jane did find them.  I think Ann was completely shocked when Jane showed up and asked to talk to her.  And maybe even more shocked when Jane apologized to her and asked for forgiveness.  Thankfully Ann was very gracious and forgave Jane for her un-Christlike behavior.  

I am those two different people.  I am the one who helped by my words and I am Jane who harmed by my words.  I definitely prefer being the one who helps with their words!  I am so glad the Holy Spririt worked on me in the second situation.  I am so glad that Ann was so forgiving.  I can only hope that my bad behavior and subsequent humble obedience in apologizing will bring something positive to the lives of her and her children.  I know it has brought deep repentance in me.  

Lord, please set Your guard over our mouths.  They can do so much good and yet also so much harm.  Help us in our homes, our jobs, our churches and our daily lives to spread love and kindness through our words.  Let "everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them."  Ephesians 4:29.  Help us to "Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior."  Ephesians 4:31  Let our words and our lives glorify You.  In Jesus Name.  Amen.

Proverbs 16:24 Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.

Shut the Door

Matthew 6:5-6 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

Instructions from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount.  Jesus was contrasting the pride of the Pharisees with the humility desired by the Father.  He wanted us to learn the difference between the eternal rewards God gives as opposed to the earthly, temporary rewards of the approval and admiration of men.  

Jesus calls us into the secret place, behind the door.  The quiet place.  A place of aloneness with our Father.  It's not a place for others to join.  Not a place of accolades and "way to goes."  In this place we leave the world behind.  The to do list, the phone calls and text messages.  We leave the needs of the physical and temporary to come before the throne of God.  This is where we find our treasure and our hope.  Alone in the company of Jesus.  

Psalm 144:2 My lovingkindness and my fortress, My high tower and my deliverer, My shield and the One in whom I take refuge, Who subdues my people under me.  We don't find protection, safety, our needs met or strength standing next to the high tower.  We find these when we go inside and shut the door.  God Himself is our high tower

It is here, in our prayer closets that we find the Lord who answers us, we find our Father who desires to reward our sweet, quiet time with Him.  

So shut your door.  Go in to the quiet place.  Leave the world outside for a while and fellowship with our loving Father.  Song of Solomon 2:10 My beloved spoke, and said to me: “Rise up, my love, my fair one, And come away.  The Father calls to our hearts.  "Come away."  

Lord, let us come away with You.  Let us leave our busy schedules, our worldly focus behind and come into Your Presence.  Help us to not bring the interruptions with us.  We need this alone time with You.  It's not for the praise of men, not for the show of piety, but because our hearts greatest need is You.  It is You who meets our needs, listens to our desires, hears or prayers for those in our lives...and it is You that will provide the perfect answers.  And as we wait on You, You give us strength, peace and joy.  Help us to make this "our" time.  You and us.  In Jesus' Name, amen.  

Shut the door.  

Clothes

My neighbors and I are doing a Bible study on the Psalms and Proverbs.  We are on Psalm 30 this week.   Verse 11-12 stood out to me.  “You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.  You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent.  O Lord my God,   I will give You thanks forever.  

What a beautiful picture.  The Lord Himself dresses us in joy.  He takes our wretched, woeful, worldly clothes and tosses them out.  We are then given elegant, eternal clothes that bring our Lord praise and glory.   

I looked up a few more verses on being clothed and this lovely masterpiece of God’s design emerges. 

Galatians 3:27. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.

2 Corinthians 5:2 We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing.

Zechariah 3:1-5 Jeshua’s clothing was filthy as he stood there before the Angel.  So the Angel said to the others standing there, “Take off his filthy clothes.”  And turning to Jeshua he said, “See, I have taken away your sins, and now I am giving you these fine new clothes.”  Then I said, “They should also place a clean turban on his head.”  So they put a clean priestly turban on his head and dressed him in new clothes while the Angel of the Lord stood by.

The Lord gives us beautiful clothes to wear.  In the Word we are told of robes of righteousness, the armor of God, crowns if righteousness….all given by the Lord Himself.  These are not things we earn, but amazing gifts given by a loving Father and Savior.

Lord, what more can we say then thank You.  A million times, thank You.   Let us wear the clothing You give us in humility, gratitude and praise.   In the most precious Name of Jesus.  Amen.   

Seek God

I've heard Joyce Meyer say how the Lord challenged her to not ask Him for anything but Himself for six months.  She said it again in her teaching I listened to this morning.  And as usual the question came to mind, "Well yes I can do this for myself, but what of my prayers for others?  And today, the Lord finally gave me an answer.  "Ask for My Presence in their life.  It's their greatest need."  Wow.  Wow.  Wow.  What an answer!  What an obvious, perfect answer! 

And so, for the rest of the week, I will be asking only for the Presence of the Lord in all my prayer requests, whether for myself, others, my marriage, ministries on my heart....Whoever and whatever.  The greatest need of everyone and everything is God's Presence.  What a beautiful visit this morning.  

Psalm 27:4  One thing I have asked of the Lord, and that I will seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life, To gaze upon the beauty [the delightful loveliness and majestic grandeur] of the Lord And to meditate in His temple.  (Amplified Bible)

There is no better place to be, no greater need, nothing that can compare or fulfill or bring life than in His Presence.  

Lord, each of us need nothing more than Your Presence.  Give us Your Presence.  Let us just be with You.  In the precious Name of Jesus.  Amen.