Prov 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
How often do we speak without thinking. Do we weigh our words and spend them wisely? I know that many times I try and think before I speak, especially when talking to those outside my family, yet even then I forget way too often. How often do I do that with my family? I am afraid it is even less.
Has your child ever got excited about an upcoming event and before you can be excited with them, you remind them to not get too excited, they have a lot to accomplish before that can ever happen if it ever does. Instead we could have a moment of excitement with them and then encourage them to be working on things so they won't miss it. If I were to do it the first way I would be a wet blanket smothering my child's joy. If I did it the second way, I would be tying heart strings with my son and sharing in his joys.
What about your tones and facial expressions... Does your child hear and see love when you ask them to do something? Or do you order your child about as a lowly servant? I too often did the second way. It was not that I was looking down on him. I was not thinking and being very matter of fact. It came out as barking orders.
Our Bible study last week was about love. It talked about things we could do without love from 1 Cor. 13.
1 Cor 13:1-3 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
Think of all the things listed above.... They all seem like great things, but without love they are totally useless. How much more we need to speak love and to act out love to those around us. Do we share the wonderful Christian phrases with those around us, yet speak ugly to our family? Or even take them for granted. I cannot encourage you ladies enough, children grow up fast and are gone from home before you know it. TAKE THE TIME to think before you speak or ask them to do something. If people hear us speaking about the Lord, yet see our selfish, ugly nature we may be speaking death to them. Have you heard someone say they don't want anything to do with the Lord because Christians are hypocrites?
Love is an action, not a feeling.
1 Cor 13:4-8 Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails
Does the above describe you? I read that and want to say OUCH!! I have a long way to go and by God's grace I want to continue in that direction. Reach out beyond your comfort zone today. Love someone in action. How about your children or your husband? How about that lonely person who lives near you or goes to church with you?
Heb 3:13-14 but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Let's bring words of life and love to those around us.
How often do we speak without thinking. Do we weigh our words and spend them wisely? I know that many times I try and think before I speak, especially when talking to those outside my family, yet even then I forget way too often. How often do I do that with my family? I am afraid it is even less.
Has your child ever got excited about an upcoming event and before you can be excited with them, you remind them to not get too excited, they have a lot to accomplish before that can ever happen if it ever does. Instead we could have a moment of excitement with them and then encourage them to be working on things so they won't miss it. If I were to do it the first way I would be a wet blanket smothering my child's joy. If I did it the second way, I would be tying heart strings with my son and sharing in his joys.
What about your tones and facial expressions... Does your child hear and see love when you ask them to do something? Or do you order your child about as a lowly servant? I too often did the second way. It was not that I was looking down on him. I was not thinking and being very matter of fact. It came out as barking orders.
Our Bible study last week was about love. It talked about things we could do without love from 1 Cor. 13.
1 Cor 13:1-3 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
Think of all the things listed above.... They all seem like great things, but without love they are totally useless. How much more we need to speak love and to act out love to those around us. Do we share the wonderful Christian phrases with those around us, yet speak ugly to our family? Or even take them for granted. I cannot encourage you ladies enough, children grow up fast and are gone from home before you know it. TAKE THE TIME to think before you speak or ask them to do something. If people hear us speaking about the Lord, yet see our selfish, ugly nature we may be speaking death to them. Have you heard someone say they don't want anything to do with the Lord because Christians are hypocrites?
Love is an action, not a feeling.
1 Cor 13:4-8 Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails
Does the above describe you? I read that and want to say OUCH!! I have a long way to go and by God's grace I want to continue in that direction. Reach out beyond your comfort zone today. Love someone in action. How about your children or your husband? How about that lonely person who lives near you or goes to church with you?
Heb 3:13-14 but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Let's bring words of life and love to those around us.
4 comments:
What a good post!
If Christ is Love, and I am to strive to be Christ-like, then I am supposed to strive to be like 1 Cor. 4-8.
teresa
Thanks for the reminder--I need that! :)
Good post. Thankyou.
Thanks Marci, for the enouragment & exhortation to ... love in action!
Great post!
Post a Comment