"A BIT OF CONTROL"

Good Evening To All!

By putting a bit into the mouth of a horse, we can turn the horse in different directions. It takes strong winds to move a large sailing ship, but the captain uses only a small rudder to make it go in any direction. Our tongues are small too, and yet they brag about big things.

It takes only a spark to start a forest fire! The tongue is like a spark. It is an evil power that dirties the rest of the body and sets a person's entire life on fire with flames that come from hell itself . . . .Our tongues get out of control. They are restless and evil, and always spreading deadly poison.

My dear friends, with our tongues we speak both praises and curses. . . Can clean water and dirty water both flow from the same spring? (James 3:3-6, 8-11 CEV)

I usually like to use the King James Version for my scriptures, but this seem a straight forward way to put my thoughts.

I can't count the times that I have to ask the Lord to bridle my tongue or even ask forgiveness for saying something which I did not catch in time.

Have you ever noticed how it takes just a small item to take control of things? Take for example a horse, that big graceful animal which looks so powerful can be kept under control by a bit in his mouth. With just that small instrument of leather and metal can guide a 200 or 300 pound animal this way and that to stop him or to get him to move. A small remote control can control a large electronic machine like an air conditioner or television set with just a push of a button.

Our tongue have the power of life and death in them. For such a tiny member of our body, they can cause much joy or much pain. They can destroy marriages or jobs. They can tear down a child's self-esteem so bad that he will never recover. They can cause a child to excel and have self confidence beyond belief.

James wrote the above passage to help Christians live their faith daily. Our words reveal a lot about us. They reveal how we live our lives. They reveal how we live our faith. Do we abide by God's Word and lived the way God wants you to?

Have you ever been two-faced? I mean acted like you liked someone to their face, then turned around after they left and bad mouthed them to your friends? Have you received a gift and thanked that person only to turn around and complain about it behind their back? How about this one. Having a nice conversation on the phone, then pushing the mute button on the for to yell at your children?

Uh-oh, I'm busted ! I've even done this one. Yelled or "griped" while driving to or from church , yet sing praises to God when you get there? I guess I'd better start paying more attention to what I'm doing. I better repent for that at the altar Sunday as well. I never really thought about that . I mean I don't yell where anyone can hear me. (What an excuse!) It still came out of my mouth, which gave Satan an opening to take control of my tongue. If you don't remember any other verse, remember this one. OUT OF THE ABUNDANCE OF THE HEART, THE MOUTH SPEAKETH! Actually, the complete verse is O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. (Matthew 12:34 KJV) This verse has helped me tremendously. I
admit, I still slip sometimes, but I'm much better than I used to be. And my progress is due to this verse. I don't want "garbage in my heart", and if I say things I shouldn't, then I realize that I need to check my spirit and ask God to cleanse my heart and renew within me a right spirit.

We need to rely on the Holy Spirit to guide our words, and use our tongues to build people up, not tear them down. We need to use our tongues to encourage, not discourage. We need to use our tongues to spread God's love and not Satan's hate.

Another favorite verse of mine is Philippians 4:8--Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

I know that verse is pertaining to positive thoughts, but if we think positive thoughts, then positive words will roll off our tongues.

Good night to All and May God Bless!

Good Words

Image by Leonard John Matthews via Flickr

Good Evening to All!
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I guess it must be obvious to those who have stopped by that my New Found Quiz Creator doesn't do what is intended. It looked good, but I have been unable to get my post to link up to the answer key, so my efforts have been in vain. Fear not though, I won't give up. I will continue to enter the Challenge the old way until I figure it out. Therefore, be looking for the standard Bible Challenge Sunday with pen and paper in hand. Sorry y'all! I really thought I had it licked!

Speak out to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, offering praise with voices [and instruments] and making melody with all your heart to the Lord. (Ephesians 5:19)

The King James Version translate it in this manner: "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,m singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord."

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This is a good reminder to not speak of negative things. When we start speaking negatively, it quickly becomes a habit, and then we start perceiving more negatively. For some reason, it is a lot easier to dwell on the negative than the positive. The problem with this is when we start talking and dwelling on our problems, disappointments, and struggles, We tend to forget that we have the Holy Spirit living inside of us, and He is not in any way shape or form negative.

Therefore when we do this, we are "quenching the Spirit" keeping Him subdued, and
not letting Him do what He is intended to do. Everything He shows us or teaches us is for our good. It is to bring solutions to our problems, comfort and strength in our time of troubles. The more we dwell on our problems the weaker we become, meaning we begin to feel like we don't know how to get out of our situations, and problems. If we start speaking about how good our Savior is, what He can do and what He has promised us, we become stronger and able to get through anything as long as we hold on to God's hand.

God never promised anyone of us a bed of roses, and He did say offences would come, but He would be with us through it all. That is His purpose for filling us with the Holy Ghost. To help us to do difficult things a little easier.

When you are going through a difficult time, listen for the still, small voice of God within you. Speak the positive things God says to you through His Word and through the voice of His Spirit
to your heart. As I have heard an old saying many times "you are what you speak". If you keep telling yourself negative things about you, you will start believing them and thus become them. For example, I myself have low self-esteem. (I'm working on my issues). I was told by some people in my life how dumb I was, how could I be so dingy, how I can't do this or that, how I could never make it on my own, you get the picture. Well, unfortunately, for a long time I believed it. I've still got a long way to go, but God is helping me to work through some issues. As a matter of fact, I sincerely, believe that He sent me two friends yesterday to help me with an issue that I've been dealing with for a good while, and they truly helped me.

The main thing is though, that we need to remember to think on things in a positive manner. For one thing, NOTHING GOOD EVER COMES FROM BEING NEGATIVE. You don't make too many friends when you're negative, and you might end up running some off. It doesn't make good sense to be negative on your job, or when you try to sell something, so really what good is being negative? We should always be positive. Look on the bright side of things. Even with my self-esteem issues, I tried to stay positive when I was younger, but I started getting bogged down. God is now working on me again. I can feel Him. So I will make a conscious effort to be positive. We all feed on our own words, so it is important to speak good words that are a positive reinforcement to ourselves. We cannot expect others to carry us all the time. We should not expect to have someone around all the time just to tell us how good we are doing, how good we look, what a good job we did or anything else like that. We need to be able to feel God within us and know that we are doing good because of what He is doing for us in our lives.

We also need to be positive for others. It is not our job to criticize anyone. If someone asks our opinion, rather than pointing out the bad qualities, find something good, as well as finding a positive way to help them overcome the lacking qualities. When I ask for someone's opinion, I want the truth, but at the same time if it is said in a negative way, it will not help me, because I won't hear the constructive critique. I will hear the hurtful words which were spoken to me. So we must be honest, in a positive, reassuring way. We are to be a blessing, not a curse to others. We must always remember that anything negative we may say to someone could be a stumbling block for them. It may cause them to feel inferior, or inadequate. I have heard people say they weren't worthy or good enough to go to church. I have heard them say I don't dress nice enough. and many other reasons. Not all, but a lot of times it is because someone has told them this "garbage" and made them feel negatively about themselves. We must all remember "God Don't Make No Junk!" (I know that's horrible grammar,but that's the saying.) and we must believe it and help others to believe it. We are all God's creation and that alone makes us special.

Choose your words wisely for they have the power of life or death.