Grains of Truth Number 11

There is little hope for us until we become tough minded enough to break loose from the shackles of prejudice, half-truths, and downright ignorance. The shape of the world today does not permit us the luxury of soft mindedness. A nation or a civilization that continues to produce soft minded men purchases its own spiritual death on an installment plan.

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR., A Testament of Hope

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?

Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.

Balance: "Life is a See-Saw" a Half-Day Women's Conference

Recently, I attended a half-day women's conference. The topic was balance in your family, career, marriage, church, finances, friendships, trust, and faith. The Missouri Baptist Women's Ministry speaker, Valerie Howe, shared a model that she uses to help her stay in balance. I took notes on the information that she shared about her model and am sharing it with you.

1. Be aware of how you feel
2. Accept responsibility for how you feel
3. Allow God into your heart through scripture and prayer
4. Act to keep your heart taken care of.

My personal favorites from the conference are:

• Jesus cared for his heart in solitude and allowed God into his heart through prayer and scripture.  Valerie's model is not new, she pointed out that it is following Jesus' model. 
• "Secrets always manifest."  a Beth Moore bible study quote that applies to accepting responsibility for how you feel. Quit hiding from how you really feel and accept it.  
• "God, will you hone my words?" a Kathy C. Miller quote that Valerie used made an impact on me. I am familiar with honing, or sharpening a blade. However, hone also means to refine, or perfect over time. An "ah ha!" moment happened to me. Normally, I just ask God to keep my mouth shut. Are you with me? Now, I can ask the Lord to refine, or perfect my words. Wow. I am sitting here filled with happiness that the Lord is still teaching me his ways. 
• Repentance is a process.
• Interruptions can be an appointment from the Lord. Jesus was interrupted in his teaching. (Luke 5:17-20)

Conference Scriptures

• Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:2 NIV was the conference scripture.
• John 4 NIV - Jesus Talks With a Samaritan Woman  Click Here for the scripture.
• Luke 8:43-48 NIV Jesus heals a woman with a bleeding illness   Click Here for the scripture 
• Luke 5:17-20 NIV  Jesus' teaching is interrupted  Click Here for the scripture

Psalm of the Week - 119:30 - August 17, 2015

• Those who know and love the law of the Lord, desire to know it more, and love it better.

• The way of serious godliness is the way of truth; the only true way to happiness: we must always have actual regard to it.

• Those who stick to the word of God, may in faith expect and pray for acceptance with God."                                        Matthew Henry's Bible Commentary

Psalm of the Week- Psalm 12:1-2 From King David to John Gill to the Week of October 6, 2014

1 Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore;

those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.

2 Everyone lies to their neighbor;

they flatter with their lips

but harbor deception in their hearts.

King David was feeling alone when he wrote these words. However, he turned to the Lord during his time of trouble. As a king, he was surrounded by people who had their own agendas. 

I am amazed at how pertinent King David's words are today. However, every generation of the faithful has felt this way. John Gill, an English Baptist pastor, felt that verses one and two of this psalm applied to his own generation (1697) and future generations. (2014 and beyond)

This is what John Gill wrote:

• "...When all friends and refuge fail, saints betake themselves to God, and their salvation is of him; and he is their present help in a time of trouble;..."

• "...The "faithful" are such who are upright in heart and conversation; who trust in the Lord, and believe in the Messiah; who abide by the truths and ordinances of God; and are faithful in what is committed to their trust, whether they be gifts of nature, Providence, or grace; and to their fellow Christians..."

• "...And these words may be applied to the anti-christian times, the times of the grand apostasy, and falling away from the faith, upon the revealing of the man of sin;... and the church is in the wilderness, and is hid there. Yea, to the second coming of Christ, when there will be great carnality and security, and little faith found in the earth..."

 (Italics and bold print is mine, SalleeB.)

• "...with flattering lips; as Cain did to Abel, Joab to Amasa, the Herodians to Christ, Judas to his Master, false teachers to those that are simple, hypocrites to God himself, when they draw nigh to him only with their lips, and all formal professors to the churches of Christ, when they profess themselves to be what they are not..."

In my opinion, the continuity and applicability of the scriptures from King David's time, to John Gill's time, to today is just further proof that the Bible is the inspired word of God. The Bible contains answers to every problem that we face today and will continue to do so until the the second coming of Christ. 

Don't Get Hung by Your Tongue

My pastor has been preaching from the book of James the last two Sundays. Yes, from the third chapter of James: Taming the Tongue. On the same day as the last sermon, I went to an online group for Christian women and the following was posted:

"Watch your words diligently. Words have such great power to bless or to wound. When you speak carelessly or negatively, you damage others as well as yourself. This ability to verbalize is an awesome privilege, granted only to those I created in My image. You need help in wielding this mighty power responsibly.

Though the world applauds quick-witted retorts, 
My instructions about communication are quite different: Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. Ask My Spirit to help you whenever you speak. I have trained you to pray—“Help me, Holy Spirit”—before answering the phone, and you have seen the benefits of this discipline. Simply apply the same discipline to communicating with people around you. If they are silent, pray before speaking to them. If they are talking, pray before responding. These are split-second prayers, but they put you in touch with My Presence. In this way, your speaking comes under the control of My Spirit. As positive speech patterns replace your negative ones, the increase in your Joy will amaze you.

• Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Proverbs 12:18

• My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. James 1:19

• Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29

Time to Tame My Tongue?

Are you laughing with me? Brother Jimmie's sermon included this marvelous sentence," Be sure your heart is in gear before you let out the clutch on your tongue." 

Being a Christian biker chick, I understand that sentence perfectly. Do you think the Holy Spirit was pointing this out to me? (laughing) Yes, the tongue is such a small part of the body, but it has more power to hurt or encourage than any other part of our body. The Lord wants to help me tame my tongue. 

My friend Pam always said, "Lord, sit on my tongue and help me be quiet." Pam maybe home with the Lord, but her words still live on in my heart and help me every day.

My Husband's Phrase

The title of my article is actually something my husband said at one of our CMA chapter meetings. Because it rhymes, I never forgot it; or maybe I didn't forget it because it was so applicable to myself. I hate sticking the proverbial foot into my mouth, but it happens fairly regularly. After listening and reading about the tongue, I think I am going to keep the clutch on my tongue disengaged until I do a heart check!  Amen?

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Proverbs 18:21

Motorcycle Version - The Workers are Few

Psalm of the Week - Psalm 46:10 - Week of July 21, 2014

10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

I love how John Gill explains the phrase "Be still, and know that I am God" 

"but that they should not be fearful, nor fretful and impatient, or restless and tumultuous; but be quiet and easy, resigned to the will of God, and live in an assured expectation of the appearance of divine Providence in their layout. And "know"; own and acknowledge that he is God, a sovereign Being that does whatsoever he pleases; that he is unchangeable in his nature, purposes, promises, and covenant; that he is omnipotent, able to help them and deliver them at the last extremity; that he is omniscient, knows their persons, cases, and troubles, and how and where to hide them till the storm is over; that he is the all wise God, and does all things after the counsel of his own will, and makes all things work together for good to them; and that he is faithful to his word and promise, and will not suffer them to be over pressed and bore down with troubles. Who further says for their encouragement, and is to be hearkened to in it,"

John Gill"s Exposition of the Entire Bible

Personal Prayer Application

Dear God, 

I am tired of being fearful, fretful and impatient. Help me to be still. My desire is to be quiet and calm, not restless and troubled. I want to be still. I know that you can do all things. Help me Father, to accept your will and your plans for me. For I know that you are faithful and keep your promises. 

Let me exalt you among the nations and upon the earth for as long as I shall be here. 

Thank you God for all the times that you have sheltered me from the storms in my life. For the times when I was still and calm inside while troubles swirled around me. Thank-you for all the times that you have given me the strength to endure the troubles and trials in my life. I know that you are God and that through you all things are possible. 

Amen

Grains of Truth - Number 7

"God will take you on the wildest ride of your life!"

Beth Moore in "God's Purpose For You" video

Psalm of the Week - Psalm 35:1-3 - Week of May 26, 2014

1 Contend, Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me.

2 Take up shield and armor; arise and come to my aid.

3 Brandish spear and javelin^aagainst those who pursue me. Say to me,“I am your salvation.”

"If God, by his Spirit, witness to our spirits that he is our salvation, we need desire no more to make us happy, if God is our Friend, no matter who is our enemy."      Matthew Henry

Personal Application

Lord I am asking you to fight against those who fight against me. Contend with them Lord. Take up your shield and armor and come to my aid. Show them your spear and javelin so they will no longer pursue me. Say to me, "I am your salvation." 

Grains of Truth: Number 6

Grain Six on Spiritual Warfare

To be a Christian is to be a warrior. The good soldier of Jesus Christ must not expect to find ease in this world: it is a battle-field. Neither must he reckon upon the friendship of the world; for that would be enmity against God. His occupation is war.

C.H. Spurgeon

April 19, 1891

Grains of Truth: One to Five

Grain One

Holiness is a lifestyle, live a spirit-led life.

Brother Jimmy Bickell, First Baptist Church of Belle

Grain Two

Where Jesus is,  is where the action is. 

 Redeemed Riders of Cuba, MO meeting 3.15.13

 

 Grain Three

Grain Four

Stay in the Word, the Word will shield me from sin. Let the Word fill up the emptiness inside me.

Sallee Bonham 2009

Grain Five

The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.

Romans 8:16 NIV

God and the Bible Quote

It is impossible to rightly... at BrainyQuote

It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible.
George Washington