A Gentle Answer

A gentle answer turns away wrath,

But a harsh word stirs up anger.

Proverbs 15:1

Sometimes we become roaring angry because someone says or does something to us.  Maybe your car got ran into or someone mistreated your child or it is an offhand remark that we take a little too personally.  And, maybe we are perfectly justified to be angry or maybe not.

However, before we fire off our mouth and make a bad situation worse or stir up a fist fight, we need to pause and calm down.  Grandma said we should count to ten before we speak, but it might be better to count to fifty.  Then choose our words carefully so we make peace. 

The time to defuse a volatile situation is before it gets volatile. 

Teach Me, Lead Me

Teach me to do Your will,

For You are my God;

Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.

…. O Lord, revive me.

Psalm 143:10-11

Hallelujah!   Amen!

Give And Get Blesses

In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord, Jesus, that He Himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Acts 20:35

We are all born selfish.  We come into this world wanting what we want and wanting it now.  It is a giant spiritual step to give to others.  And, it is a step which changes our hearts. 

Some people make it to adulthood without ever taking the step of generosity.  The good news is that it is never too late to be generous.  The act of giving to others helps others and it gives us joy.

When we give, we get blessed.

God Is the Peace Maker

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 

And, the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

Worry can ambush our lives and drive us to a place where we cannot think straight, sleep at night or hold a conversation without fretting about our worries.  Worry can make a mess out of you and me. 

This is not what God wants for us.  God promises to care for us, and wants us to take all our worries to Him and let Him take care of the mess. 

Ask God.  God is the peace maker.

Not Ashamed

But if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.

1 Peter 4:16

People love to gossip and create a sense of wrong where there is no wrong.  Past sins, which are forgiven and forgotten by God, make great conversation.  It happens in the world and in the church.  Those who specialize in delivering guilt and shame use it as a wicked weapon to try to destroy the confidence we have in Christ. 

We are not ashamed, we are forgiven.  We belong to God and He loves us.  Nothing man can say or do can change that.

Angels Are Standing 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.