All That Chatter

 

For we all stumble in many ways, if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. Now if we put the bits into horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!

James 3:2-5

What is so terrible about the mouth is that once the words jump out, we can’t get them back. I was shopping with my children one day when a woman who had been on Public Television for pledge week walked by. The woman had hair that looked like a bird’s nest, built by a bird on steroids. My son in a loud voice said, “Look Mom the lady who is on TV, the one with the MMMMMMM.” I put my hand over his mouth before he could get “messy hair” out.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if God could put His hand over our mouths before we say things which are mean or hurtful or stupid?

We need to be aware of this giant human flaw of running our mouths without engaging our brains. It takes effort on our part to monitor our words. But we have an additional resource, we can pray for God’s help, like David did when he prayed:

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O, Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.”

Psalm 19:14

With God's Help We Shall Overcome

 

I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and putting both men into prisons.

Acts 22:4

This is what the Apostle Paul said about himself. He was the enemy of the church, God and mankind but when He met Jesus on the road, this changed. God revealed Himself to him and His purpose for his life. Paul was a changed man.

Yet, did this radical transformation change people’s perception of Paul? No, initially people were still afraid of him and did not trust him. It was through hard work and consistently living to serve Jesus that Paul was able to win the confidence of Christians and become one of the greatest evangelists on earth. Paul gained a status equal to that of the Twelve Disciples chosen by Jesus.

So, why then are we surprised that it takes a lot of hard work to overcome people’s perceptions of us if we made terrible mistakes in our past? We are redeemed by Jesus but we must transform our actions, thoughts and lives to reflect that transformation. If we were thieves before we became Christians and we continue to steal, then it will difficult for others to accept us as changed people.

So, what then can I say? When we become new people in Christ, we must leave behind the old things which we know are things that we should not be doing. If we need help with this, we need to seek and accept help.

It may not be easy, but we have God’s promise, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)”

Our God is the God of the do over. There is nothing you have done that you cannot overcome with God’s help.

I am praying for you.

Angels On Guard

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.

Psalm 34:7

When we are afraid we need to remember that God has given His angels charge over us. God promises to deliver us and that promise is good enough for me.

Fear not, God’s angels are standing guard.

 

Manna, Again?

 “We remember the fish which we used to eat free in Egypt, the cucumbers and the melons and the leeks and the onions and the garlic, but now our appetite is gone. There is nothing at all to look at except this manna.”

…When the dew fell on the camp at night, the manna would fall with it.

Numbers 11:5-6, 9

When Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt to freedom, God provided everything they needed. He gave them free food, manna. The manna fell from heaven every day and all the people had to do was gather it, prepare it and eat.

However, the people complained about the food and lamented that they had better food in Egypt, all the while forgetting that they were slaves and brutally treated and nearly worked to death. They lost sight of what their journey was really about – getting to the Promised Land, the land of milk and honey.

When we set out on a journey at God’s direction, we need to remember what the big purpose is and be willing to sacrifice a little comfort to get there. It is not until we are at the end of our journey that we can see the whole picture of God’s plan.

And, there is not a better place to be than the Promised Land.

God Does So Much For Us

 

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

And all that is within me, bless His holy name.

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

And forget none of His benefits;

Who pardons all your iniquities,

Who heals all your diseases,

Who redeems your life from the pit,

Who crowns you with loving kindness and compassion,

Who satisfies your years with good things,

So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.

Psalm 103:1-5

This scripture recites the many blessings that God bestows on us, not because we are good but because He is good.  

We being imperfect may suffer from imperfect things in our lives, but God is there to make things right - to pardon our sins, to heal our diseases, to redeem us from the pit, and give us good things.  And, all of this is done with kindness and compassion.

How can we not celebrate this?   And, be thankful. 

Treat Others With Kindness

 

Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.

Luke 31:6

Sometimes we are tempted to treat people the way they treat us.  The natural person says, "They are mean to me, I will be mean to them."  But that is not what Jesus tells us to do.  He tells us we are better than that.  

Sometimes it is an act of kindness, where it is not due that can win a person to Jesus.  

Let's try to be kind in the new year. 

Happy New Year 2026

 

Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me His own. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:12-14

Happy New Year!

We are ready for a new start and we are blessed by God to have Jesus as our Lord, Master and Savior. We do not stand far off from God, but stand with God ever near to us.

We approach the New Year with the goal of doing our best to answer the call of God every day in everything we do.

Hallelujah!