Developing Sef-Control

Another title for Sunday's message could be "Are You Stupid or Something?" (and we know the answer to that is, "Stupid Is as Stupid Does")

Proverbs 29:11
A fool (a stupid person) gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.

Proverbs 14:29
A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly (stupidity).


Proverbs 17:28
Even a fool (stupid person) is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.

I don't know about you, but I don't want to be stupid!

Pastor Dennis gave us some helpful tools this morning to help prevent my stupidity. Two of them, especially, spoke to me...

• Restrain my words-How often God warns us in the Bible to have "tongue control." It would be worth my while (and maybe yours) to look up, read and think about some of those Bible verses this week. A quick search came up with--Psalms 141:3, Proverbs 10:14&19, 12:13, 17:27-28, 21:23; James 1:26, 3:2. I know I tend to talk too much...God can help me restrain my words.
  
• Reflect before I react-How often when I have risen up in self-righteous, stinky (yep, I am a skunk at times) indignation, I have found that I don't have all the facts straight...yikes... and have to eat crow (Skunks don't like crow!). Reflecting on the the verse in Colossians 3 that Pastor Dennis gave (I recommend starting with verse12 and read through verse 17) will give us something to think about while we wait the 20 minutes to react. Here, I will give it to you to read now...it's good...Colossians 3: 12-17-Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. (New Living Translation)...maybe just maybe I will memorize this to occupy my mind and mouth during that 20 minutes...Better than stinking up the place!
  

Developing Trust

I have been thinking about the question Pastor Dennis posed...How would the people closest to us fill in the blank....Her standard is ________. I wish I could be absolutely sure that they would answer, "God". My heart's desire is that I "smell and look" like Jesus!

Once again we are given a chance to reflect...Do I trust in God or-in part-in a wrong idea of who God is? Do I know that HE is the Truth? Do I know that HE loves me! Am I a place that God meets the Earth? What does my life reflect?

Lots of thinking, this week, lots and lots of thinking...and then...listening.

Accepting Responsibility

We are Response Able! What a great way to look at that word! I would say, if you asked, that I am pretty responsible. However, I realized during yesterday's message, how much I have embraced society's value of accusing and excuses. Oooooo, not something that was comfortable to see in myself. But I am grateful to be alerted to that fact (thank you Holy Spirit) and see that the word Responsibility can be used as a tool to respond God's way.

Psalms 141:3 says--Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.(NIV).

If we pause and think before we respond, really, in any verbal situation, we will be ABLE for our RESPONSE to be given in love(which should be at the heart of everything we do and say...Love God, Love Others, right?). It's a place for me to start this week.

...and oh, I am so sorry that this entry is late...I got so excited about the Patriot's win, that...ooo, is that an excuse coming on...gotta go pray!

Choosing My Standard for Living

I believe that we should take this week to evaluate how much "truth decay" has seeped into our life value system. I have a feeling that most of us listening to the message today are endeavoring to live God's way. However, I also have a feeling that most of us also have let parts of the destructive philosophies that Pastor Dennis described become part of our value system.

I think a good "test" is... as we spend time reading the Bible, thinking about what God has shown us over time and praying, this week...what comes to us that is not convenient to live out? (Several things came to me this morning...most starting with...it's not fair that...)

As we are honest about what makes up the standard that we live by, we will be in a good position to really hear during this series of messages and wipe out "truth decay" in our lives.

The Gift Exchange

Happy New Year!

When I saw the title for Sunday's message, I thought, great, how to exchange the gifts God gave me for something more to my liking! Since God has such a sense of humor, some of His gifts to me cause me to exclaim, "You're joking, right?!"

I will concede that Garth's message was actually a better approach to the title!

Our worries for His peace--Just about the time I think I have a handle on worrying...God says--"Really!" (So I appreciate that Garth commented that any day can be New Years Day! Don't worry, His love and mercy are new every morning.) Today I had to give God my worries and He gave me peace (it took a "minute")

Our hurts for His joy--His joy is wonderful...it doesn't depend on our circumstances to be received!

Our past for His future--I am so glad to give Him all my failed "resolutions."
I am thankful that by applying the previous two Sunday messages I have hope that the beginning of 2007 will be fruitful.

God Bless you every one (in this new year)!