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It’s so easy to think that you know someone well enough that you can say pretty much anything to them.  Whether it be family, friends…..or *gulp* our husbands or kids!   It’s hard because we say things and then tack on “oh I’m just teasing” or “don’t take things so seriously” but in reality, it only takes once or twice before the person starts to get a different impression of you and  begins to think “well I guess that is how they really view me” even if you don’t

This was the topic of a sermon we heard a few weeks ago as we got a rare opportunity to sit together and her another pastor speak!   He spoke about our speech and what it reveals of our heart.  And it is so very true!

As I thought and prayed over my speech and  I asked God to give me something to share with you, my readers,  I have been  compiling a list .

A person that speaks……

         Complaints, has a discontented heart.

         Harsh words,  has a unconcerned heart.

          Angry words, has a bitter heart.

         Sarcastic words, has a hopeless heart.

          Words that tear down, hasa malicious heart. 

           Teasing words, has a selfish heart.

          Gossiping words, has a tasteless heart.

          Perverse words, has a vile heart.

         Crude words, has a heart lacking  in wisdom.

            Vain words, has a heart lacking control.

             Arrogant words, has a heart lacking in humility.

And I had to ask myself some really HARD. Questions!   Like…

What are my words revealing about my heart?  What are my words conveying to those around me?  It has not been easy but realized that just like most people I was letting things affect me….and then the condition of my heart is revealed!   I listened carefully to the things I was saying to my family.  It’s those little things  that collect in the dark recesses of our hearts and if we are not careful to weed them out, that’s when our hearts become infected!

So what does the speech of a person who has a Christ-centered heart look like? we have to look no further than 1 Corinthians 13 for that answer!

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. ESV

So much of what we say is evident by the fruit of the spirit in our lives, and if that fruit is missing or dwindling we need to find out why….the fruit of the spirit are a great indication of what’s going on on the inside.

Galatians 5:22-24 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  ESV

As I titled this blog post, I thought of how so many times as Christians we can portray one thing and yet our speech/actions reveal our true heart and that made me think of something called an oxymoron…..which is basically two words that are exact opposites, for example “jumbo shrimp”.  Well just like that so is “edify stupid”.Edify is to build up, but stupid is tearing someone down.  And yes we are called to hold each other accountable, but not in a condescending, Blunt, way

As I think about speech too it seems as though bluntness has become a badge, or almost like another spiritual gift, when in reality, BLUNT is hurtful,shows a lack of humility, self control, tact, and grace Of all people Jesus could have been blunt.  He is our picture of how we should relate to people.   Instead Jesus told stories (parables), asked questions, and quoted scripture (not out of context I might add!). He didn’t call for worship of himself, he came humbled to serve, to change lives!  He showed love and grace and pointed ALL to our Heavenly Father!  He didn’t claim greatness, he didn’t boast of who he was or the things he did, was doing or the things he will do!

So I will ask a hard question……what are your words saying of you?  Are they saying she is a follower of Christ? -OR- are they saying look out she is harboring  bitterness in her heart?  If you don’t know listen to yourself, ask your husband or kids AND  pray that God would :

1: open your eyes and show you

2: that he would clean house in your heart, weeding out  those pervasiove weeds!

3: that He would change your heart, continually making you aware of those little areas that need cleaning, and giving them over to him!

And I’ll close with this verse from one of our kid’s favorites songs:

O be careful little mouth what you say

O be careful little mouth what you say

There’s a Father up above

And He’s looking down in love

So, be careful little mouth what you say

Author unknown

 

 

            

Hi, everyone.  I took an unplanned mini vacation from blogging…..and pretty much everything else!   Three weeks ago I smashed end the face of my iPad (unintentionally of course!).  My dear hubby smuggled it out of the house and took it to the kiosk in the mall to have the glass replaced.  Three days later I had it back.  But because the case was bent the glass didn’t fit properly,  AND what we didn’t know was that having the face replaced could (and in my case did) affect in the internal antenna!  Which meant that I could only get internet reception on the couch and in one other weird spot in our house!  We’ll that wasn’t going to work….I can’t very well blog without internet!   So a local retailer was having a special deal that if your iPad could power on and had no scratches in the face then they would trade it in for $200 at the least.   Why yes mine qualified! Woohoo.  So refurbished iPad a week later……so I got the iPad in the mail, and then I got sick!

So in betweenn the no iPad, we celebrated hubby’s grandparent’s 70th wedding anniversary and what a blessing that was but more on that in a later blog post!  And then there was our bi-annual planning meeting….then enter sickness!

Isck!   I could barely stand to move, let alone look at a screen that moves.

I am slowly getting better, but I have had to re-set up the iPad, just how I had my old one with passwords, apps and so on.  It just takes time.

This week has had a trip for a second EEG for weasel after he had a Pet. Mal seizure at school earlier this school year.  Then a dentist appointment (which I did liken to wanting to go to the dentist,like I wanted to hug a provoked porcupine)…..and did I mention I am hosting Thanksgiving next week!  Whew!   Then starts in a host of meetings for weasel, including his 8 hr. Evaluation!   

So that in a nutshell has been my last 3 weeks!   So please be patient with me as we work around crazy schedules and so on!

Have a great night!

Day 1-  God…..no joke!  It’s not just some pat answer.  It’s not something I take lightly.  Without God I have no hope of my future.  My  joy is not based in what the world has to offer me, but in the free gift offered to me and you by God, and all we have to do is accept it. And lastly my peace is not in my circumstances but is in the understanding that god doesn’t give me more than I can handle with Him by my side, that all things work together for good for those who serve the Lord, that He will never leave me nor forsake me, and has everything under control….even those “bad” things!

Day 2- My husband, also not a pat answer.  My husband really is my best friend!   I trust him with EVERYTHING!   He is a man of God.  He teaches me, and pushes me to go farther and deeper than anyone ever has.  He fosters my talents, and believes in my abilities!   He sacrifices for me.   He studies me.  He knows what makes me happy and knows my biggest heartaches…..he knows when I need chocolate, flowers, or both!   He builds me up, not tear me down!

Day 3- My Kids.  In all their crazy, high energy, overly happy, loving Crazy selves, I am so grateful that God gave them too me just as they are! 

Tornado- the spitting image of his daddy, a little boy who so longs to be much older than he actually is.   He is servanted hearted, and trusts everyone.  He is also a budding artist.

Ladybug-my little horse girl.  Who brought pink, purple and loads of sparkle into our lives.  She is a mini me, not afraid to get dirty but likes beautiful things too!  She has grown into quite a young lady.  She loves to color, and play dolls!  

Weasel- our very artistically driven autistic son.   He loves animals, coloring and being outside.  He collects all things little and has impacted our hearts to change the church (not ours specifically) but the collective church.   His great heart for people, his contagious hugs, and encouragement has already touched the lives of so many!

Little bean- also the spitting image of his daddy and older brother, is known for his contagious smiles and giggles!  He is a very determined little boy  who enjoys life with every bone, muscle, ligament, tendon, and cell in his little body.  He gives me a run for my money,  and mostly I am grateful for it.    It means he is healthy and strong!   

Day 4-  My Parents- who took me to church…..who trained me in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.   They taught me how to treat people, to not judge, to not teases, to not look down on others and to not think myself better than those who are worse off.   My heart for people grew out of these things. 

Please join me again on Thursday for the next installment!

Just a Mama’s simple thought from facebook this evening…thought I would share it with you too……..

Go check out the video….here

In a few short months hubby and I along with our 3 oldest children will mark our 5 years in ministry at our current church…..little bean came a little over a year in!  And as much as I love this church, it is not my greatest joy or Privilege to serve them.  Matter of fact my greatest joy and priviledge isn’t a lot of things, but it is 4 things!

And here they are….

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No joke….they are my greatest joy, outside of God and my dear husband!  They are the four most amazing little people you will ever meet….if you give them a chance!   You see in the world we live in, so many people see four kids and think (and sometimes say) “wow you have your hands full!”

Yes, the boys are my biggest challenge.  They are also balls of energy! And most days are more than I bargained for, but  boy do I love them to bits!  

If I have said it once I have said it a thousand times.  

That’s exactly how I look at it to!   Most days anyway!  Truth of the matter is, I lost this perspective for awhile!  One person in particular was incredibly hard on our two oldest children.  And in two years time watched her destroy one child and in oneof those   two years destroy a second child.  The problem is this, I also fell prey to her.  I became overly critical and tough on these two sweet kids.  I became glaringly aware that  I was letting someone who barely knew my children to say how awful they were! As I journeyed through this last year and as I searched introspectively at my heart concerning my amazing little people, I grew sad for I had missed some very special and proud mommy moments, and for what, the judgement of other people who didn’t take the time to get to know them.

I regret that fully but, as I move forward, from this moment, my eyes are open watching for my little servants sprouting their branches and flowers!

So how can my 8,7, almost 6 and 3 1/2 year old ministry kids impact the people around them?   Well let me break it down by kiddo!  

Munchkin #1 is 8 but at 5,6, and 7 he chose on his own to attend funerals not just for family members but for church family as well.  He has made special friends with a young man in our church with muscular dystrophy, he drew him pictures, and attended his funeral when his friend passed away this past year.  He has made hospital visits with his dad, nursing homes visits with me, and wept  tears of sadness as elderly friends are graduated from this life to heaven.  He was “caught” this week wiping down the counters and cupboards in the church kitchen without being told to.

Little bug, at 6  attended her first funeral this year, also of her own choice, has made nursing home visits, loves on the elderly people in our church and most recently was seen sitting by a wonderful lady with Alzheimer’s who  was once a school teacher, and what were they doing?  READING!   She started out reading to Bug but by the end she was teaching her!  Helping her learn.  The joy on both their faces was beyond words….no one asked Bug to go keep this wonderful lady company…she just did it!

Then there is Munchkin #3.   He’s our autistic son, and yet he still blesses others, just through his smile.  Not a week goes by that people talk about him and his smile!  Do you know what kind of blessing it is that he even does that?  It’s huge for us.   And last week, he said during the worship time at church one of the most amazing things…..he had come off of a VERY tough week and we were sitting in the narthex listening when he took his thumb out of his mouth and said “i love God, I want to give him my pajamas”.  Instant tears….you see his pajamas are one of his most prized and necessary possessions.  They are so important to him that the feet have been worn almost completely off!  They are what he puts on right after school most days because they are “comfy”.

And last but definitely not least is Munchkin #4…..and even though he is not  old enough to do the things that the others are doing, he still loves everybody.  His smiles, hugs, and his newest encouragement “i miss you” melts most hearts.  

There is nothing like watching your YOUNG kids walk up to a grieving person at a funeral, wrap their arms around that person, whisper unprompted condolences, wipe away their own tears and say, I’m praying for you!   All I have to do is stand back and watch!

Or when daddy gets a phone call that interrupts family plans and he must rush off to the hospital….do they complain….nope, they suggest an impromptu family prayer meeting! For both daddy and the family concerned!  EVEN IF THEY DON’t know them!

Are they perfect no, but neither am I  but I have 25+ years on them, and if I’m not perfect yet, I have no reason to expect four little munchkins to be better than I.  

One last thing I have learned from these amazing little people.  Despite the fact that they get hurt by people (and yes they heard your impatience, your unkindness, your ungratefulness, your ungraciousness, your lack of care, your arrogance, your coldness) they still pray for you when you are sick, they cry when you are hurting, they still hug you when they see you and they talk about you like you are the greatest thing since sliced bread when you’re not around.  That’s called unconditional love and forgiveness.(And no you NEVER asked for it…they gave it because they are that cool!)

And that my dear friends is why I consider them my greatest joy and privilege!