Got a Wise Mouth?

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

I have a terrible time keeping my mouth shut.  So much so that I’ve metaphorically tattooed a lock on my lips and I can’t open them until I’ve scrolled through the combination.   By then – to the delight of those around me – I’ve had time to weigh what I say or remain silent.

“A fool’s mouth is his undoing, and his lips are a snare to his soul” (Proverbs 18:7).

The Bible calls a fool undisciplined, quarrelsome, senselessly improper, stupid, shameless, morally undesirable, and thoughtless.  Most alarming of all, wisdom is “beyond the grasp of a fool.”   

Why is it so hard to keep undisciplined, quarrelsome, inappropriate, thoughtless, ignorant comments to ourselves?  I think it’s because our motives are selfish.  We want to please people. We want people to admire us, and we want to control everything so we’ll feel safe.  Friends, this is like playing tug-of-war with the devil.  It keeps us focused on overcoming him, the master of foolishness!  Christ already did that.   

 Proverbs 8:12 says, “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion.”  People of discretion are mature, self-controlled, understanding, sensible, of sound and prudent judgment, slow to anger; thoughtful, careful and cautious in their dealings with others.  We learn to be discreet by focusing on Christ, the master of discretion.

“A fool’s soul is always dancing on the tip of his tongue.” (From A World Treasury of Folk Wisdom , Feldman & Voelke, 1992).

People know who we are by what we say, and offhand comments change the course of history every day.  Living to pleasing God leaves no room for foolishness, and wisdom will be ours.

Father, using discretion in our speech will impact our social gatherings, family dynamics, and, most important of all, Your kingdom.  Give us the wisdom to be discreet – not so we will be admired or elevated in the eyes of others, but so we will be a reflection of Your glory, amen.

Sandra Milholland

Abilene, Texas

What if I Were Broken?

“Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.” Micah 7:18 (NIV 1984)

His question made me stop and think. It was a simple comment, said in a teasing manner, but instantly struck a chord in my heart.

One afternoon I was trying to get prepared for a garage sale in Abilene.  I was attempting to determine what to sell and what to throw away.  While cleaning out the garage full of items I rarely used, I found an old broken VCR. I handed it to my six year-old son and asked him to throw it away. Instead of just tossing it into the trashcan, he asked if he could keep it.

Why in the world would a little boy want an old, dirty, useless VCR? I thought.

He insisted he needed to keep it. Finally I said, “Son, it is broken. I don’t want it or need it anymore, so throw it away please.” “Well if I were broken, would you just throw me away?” he asked.

Huh? Our conversation about a silly VCR had gotten way too complicated. I assured him I would never throw him away, no matter what, because he was too valuable to me. Then I gave him a hug and he skipped off into the house to watch TV, while I stood there stunned, pondering his question.

I remembered being like that VCR – broken, dirty and useless – at least in my eyes. A horrible decision I made in my earlier years convinced me for a long time that I had no redeeming value in God’s eyes. Regret suffocated my heart for years, and plagued me with lies that God could never really love a sinner like me.  I stood there in my garage vividly remembering the overwhelming pain and regret of feeling broken, and void of worth, beauty or value. But then a smile slipped across my face as I remembered the day God healed my brokenness. Sitting alone in my backyard several years before, tears down my face, I begged God to forgive me for my sins. I had asked before, but this time it was different.  I felt God’s presence and believed His promise of forgiveness. For the first time, I heard His voice ring in the ears of my heart, reassuring me that I was too valuable to be thrown away. The following day I realized something was different. My past was still my past, but I was no longer broken.  The damaged pieces of my heart were mended, and I set out on a wonderful journey to discover my worth in God’s eyes. Over time I read His promises and started to believe I really was valuable and that He not only loved me, He liked me!

Are you feeling broken today? Do you ever feel like God could love everyone else, but not you? Do you spend each day condemning yourself for past sins, current habits, damaged relationships, poor choices, or even self-harming behavior?  Do you ever feel like you are just too messed up to be “fixed?” Do you wish you could stop feeling broken, or break the cycle of sin in your life, but simply do not know how?

Despite what you think, you are not beyond repair. As a child of God, you are precious, beautiful and part of God’s inheritance, just as the verse above says.  Whatever your situation, God can mend that crushing feeling of hopelessness and brokenness. With faith, ask Him to. Then delight in Him by accepting His grace, mercy and forgiveness.

Dear Lord, forgive me and heal me. Mend my brokenness. Give me hope. Help me to see myself through Your eyes only. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Casey Dacus
Graham, TX

Feed the Good Wolf

You may have heard the Cherokee legend about a grandfather and the advice he gives his grandson.  The legend goes something like this:
A Cherokee tells his grandson about a fight that is going on inside himself.  He said it is between two wolves.
One is evil: Anger, envy, sorrow, regret, fearful thinking, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego.
The other is good: Joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf wins?"
The Cherokee simply replied, "The one I feed."

I was recently reminded of this legend the other day as I was on a road trip with my family.  That morning as we were trying to leave, my husband had acted in a brusque manner… “Business Mode” we call it.  You know, how we can sometimes get when we are in a hurry to accomplish a list of things to do, there are three small children to wrangle, and wintry road conditions that would keep most people at home?  In the midst of “stewing” over my hurt feelings, our five-year-old, Leif asks a question.  One of those questions that make a parent dig deep and pray for the right answer.  As I am racking my brain for the right words, Jeff answers our son with a word picture pulled from his favorite Pixar movie, a verse from the Bible and finishes off with encouragement that spoke to our son’s heart.  I looked back at Leif and saw a satisfied grin spread across his face.  

“Wow!” I thought…what a turn of events.  In a few seconds I went from feeling anger toward my husband to being so proud I could cry.  I decided to trade my dung-colored glasses for rose-colored ones and view my husband in a positive way.  This decision changed the course of the day and the more I thought on the good things God had done through Jeff over the preceding week, the better I felt.  

Luke 6:45A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.It is easy for us all to “feed” the evil wolf when it comes to our relationships and even to ourselves.  We can tally up wrongs committed, ugly words exchanged or annoyances to where all we see is the bad in another person.  We can do this with our children, spouse, friend, co-worker, boss, or our brothers and sisters in Christ.  “Majoring on the Minors” can keep us from seeing the world and those around us as God intended.  However, dwelling on the good can transform everyone and everything we see.

I like how the Easy-To-Read version of Romans 12:14-15 simply states it,
The true children of God are those who let God’s Spirit lead them.  The Spirit that we received is not a spirit that makes us slaves again and causes us to fear.  The Spirit that we have makes us God’s chosen children.

Prayer:  Abba Father, You are wonderful and gracious.  Thank you for all the good things that are happening around me.  Thank you for the way you grow my husband and my kids…and I thank you for letting me see this!  Help me, like Mary to store up the “goods” in my heart.  Help me to have eyes to see the blessings, and let me have a heart that is led by your Spirit.  I love you.  Amen.

Dana Jaworski
Anchor Point, AK

To Whom Much is Given

I would consider myself a talented and energetic person.  If I choose, I can make it through the day without calling on God. I usually complete my job and the day goes well.  As I pen these words, this verse comes to my mind, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. Luke 12:48   

I am a registered nurse by profession. I strive to provide organized and efficient care for many people.  I possess patience, kindness and a warm smile and the patients know that I truly care about them. Some days, I choose to rely solely on myself as I go about my work.  On other days, I go to God in prayer and ask for his help to make me a better nurse. I ask that He make me more patient and more able to see the needs of others. God grants me more energy, he strengthens me and my heart has a greater capacity to show love. I become a better listener and I am given more insight into the heart of those for whom I provide care. I am more in tune with their frustrations and I am given a keen ability to help them overcome with words of encouragement. On those days I may leave my job feeling very tired, but I am filled with JOY, which is much better than a day that simply goes well.

As I write this blog I am asking myself, why don’t I go to God everyday and ask for help. I realize it is my own self sufficiency, this fast paced society and the fact that until I slowed down and took a pen to my day I failed to realize the difference that God was making.  I know now, that I was frequently missing the joy that God provides. I also realize those I serve and those I work with were possibly missing His blessings, because I did not call upon God’s help for the day.

I believe I can parallel my life with the Israelites who often forgot what God had done for them. I was forgetting it was God who gave me these talents. God waits for me each morning and gives me an opportunity to tap into his power and I neglected to ask Him to be involved in my day.  I have a new understanding: God did not give me these talents so I could be self sufficient. He gave them to me so that he can build on them and do even greater things than I can do on my own.

Writing this blog has opened my eyes and hopefully sparked something in yours. God seeks to set us free from dependence on ourselves, so that we will depend on Him.  When we depend on Him, MUCH can be achieved!

Dear Father, Thank you for humbling me and showing me how much you can do through me when I ask for your help. Take away the independent spirit in me. I am much stronger with you living through me. In the name of the Jesus! Amen.

Terry Smith
Stephenville, TX

High or Low?

I have been fascinated with the life of Sam Houston since first reading about him when I was a fourth or fifth grader.  Read ahead and see what you think.

   Sam Houston was born in 1793 in Virginia

   He was 14 when his father died and the Houston family moved to Tennessee.

   Sam ran away from home and lived with the Cherokee Indians for nearly 3 years,

        (he was adopted by the chief and given the name "raven").

   He returned home, became a teacher and set up an 'academy' in a log house.

   In 1813 he joined the militia.  He ended up under the command of Andrew Jackson in a

        battle against Creek Indians who had killed about 400 men, women and children.  In

        the defeat of the Creeks, Sam was wounded with an arrow in his thigh and two rifle

        balls in his right arm and shoulder.  Andrew Jackson never forgot Sam's bravery.

   In 1818, Sam passes the bar exam and becomes a lawyer.

   From 1823 to 1827 he served in the U.S. Congress.

   Sam is elected governor of Tennessee in 1827.  After a brief, unsuccessful marriage in

        1829 Sam resigns as governor and moved back to live with the Cherokee.  (I have

         read the marriage was political for the bride's parents and Sam returns her to them

         stating the marriage was never consummated).

   Sam returns to Washington D.C. to report on frauds practiced on the Indians by

         government agents.

   In 1832, he is sent to Texas by President Andrew Jackson to negotiate treaties with

         the Indians.

   In 1835, Sam is chosen commander of the Texas militia rebelling against Mexico.

   In 1836, he defeats General Santa Anna at San Jacinto.

   In 1836, Sam Houston is elected President of the Republic of Texas.

   In 1846, he is selected as a U.S. Senator from the new State of Texas.

   In 1859, Sam is elected Governor of Texas.

   In 1861, Sam is deposed because of his unsuccessful attempt to prevent secession.

   In 1863, Sam Houston dies at age 70.

I continue to be amazed and cannot imagine the 'ups' and 'downs' he experienced during his lifetime.  Other men like Moses and David of the Old Testament had their share of 'highs' and 'lows' and yet, years later, we continue to read about these great men. 

Where are you today, in a 'high' or 'low' period in your life?  Do we have the stamina, courage, or FAITH to continue to have hope?  We may never be acknowledged like these men of the past, but God tells you and I, "Do not be anxious about anything...." Phil. 4:6; "Cast all your anxiety on Him..." I Peter 5:7;  "...the man who trusts in the Lord is like a tree...that is not anxious in the year of drought..." Jeremiah 17:7-8. 

Wherever you are in life, God is always available to those who seek and trust Him.

Doug Burns

Stephenville, Texas