Category Archives: Kindness has no expiration date.

Building Up or Tearing Down??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #75

10 Friday Mar 2023

Posted by in Building up or Tearing down?, Consider Your ways, Contentment, Controlling the TONGUE!, Conviction, Keepers At Home, Kindness, Kindness has no expiration date., Women of God, Women of Kindness & Godliness

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , ,

Building Up Or Tearing Down???A Word from THE WORD!!! #75

This post is not just for ladies, but since I am one, I can speak to us ladies with a voice of love, compassion, and experience.  I pray that this word will go where God sends it, for it is a word that I believe is much needed today, I think especially in Christian circles.

“Every wise woman

buildeth her house:

but the foolish

plucketh it down

with her hands.”  Proverbs 14:1

Those of us who are wives, mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters and just friends and neighbors, need to remember that our words have the power to build up or tear down!  We have the power to encourage or discourage!  We have the power to speak words of love, kindness, truth, and compassion, or we can blurt out words that hurt to the core of someone’s being, that cause those in our circle (especially those in our own home) to wonder where the real “love of Jesus” went?  I know many who use their words to put down rather than lift up; that speak words that exalt ourselves as we destroy the hopes, joys, dreams, and efforts of those we claim to love.

I remember an example that a Bible teacher gave once–a true account–while teaching classes on being godly women and wives.  An older lady who seemed like she had sour lemons for breakfast made comments about her ‘useless’ husband, and there was no use to put any effort into her relationship, for he would never respond, and she couldn’t think of anything nice to say.  She was encouraged to think of something nice to say to her husband that night before the next class.  Well, she went home feeling like she just couldn’t think of anything nice to say and went in and after a bit of time she went to sit with her husband and told him, “You really do a good job with out taxes”!  Well, not very romantic, you might think to no avail, but the woman returned to class with a broken heart and a more teachable spirit, sharing that her husband broke down and cried, saying that was the nicest thing she had said to him in years.  Needless to say, their marriage got a jump start because one wife was willing to hear and obey God’s voice, humble herself and say ‘something nice’!

Now, some of you are shaking your head, saying, “I’m not that bad!”  But in whose eyes?  Your husband’s?  Your children’s?  Your in-law’s?  Your neighbor’s?  The old adage that we all sang on the playground as children is NOT true–“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me!”  Words can hurt and can stay with us years and decades longer than any broken bone!  What will you do with your words (and believe me, this hits me in the heart more than any of you reading it, for my tongue has often gotten loose in the wrong direction–no, I don’t curse, but you can be ugly without using one profanity!) today?

I simply want to leave you with a story and a challenge from the famous Proverbs 31 woman.  May we strive to please our Lord with our words and actions toward others, especially our husbands, children, and family.  I think many of us, like the woman in the story above, have become so proud in our own ‘self-righteousness’ that we haven’t heard God’s voice of conviction.  May we truly seek forgiveness, wisdom, and grace to be powerful and kindly women of GOD?

The story is told of a little boy who said mean things about another child and his father overheard his comments.  He asked the boy if he could take his words back, to which the child replied, “sure”.  Well, the father gave him a feather pillow and asked him to scatter the feathers around the town, which he did gladly.  The next day, the father gave the boy the pillow cover and asked him to go and gather the feathers back into the cover, and so he set out to obey.  But as we all know, he came back with only a few of the feathers that came out of the cover.  The boy’s father took the pillow cover and told his son, “so it is with your words”, once you spread mean things around about others, you can’t take them all back, no matter how hard you may try.  Our words fly just like those feathers, into places where we can’t retrieve them.  May we all learn a lesson from the feathers and ask God to set that “guard on my mouth” and think before we share, before we let those ‘put-downs’ make us feel exalted!

“She openeth her mouth

with wisdom;

and in her tongue

is the law of kindness.

27 She looketh well

to the ways of her household,

and eateth not

the bread of idleness.

28 Her children arise up,

and call her blessed;

her husband also,

and he praiseth her.”  Proverbs 31:26-28

Blessings on your day and week, may Jesus Christ receive praise and honor by our living!  Ladies let’s step up to the plate and bring the glory of JESUS into our homes and circles of influence-whether at the coffee-klatch, the ballgame, our living room, our bedroom, or shopping!  We can make a difference TODAY for good not harm! I love and pray for you all.

Amen and Amen!!!

Please share as you see fit!

Kindness Has No Expiration Date!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #781

02 Wednesday Mar 2022

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Do all things decently, Encouragement, Kindness has no expiration date., Sowing and Reaping, Speaking, Speaking The Truth In Love, Words Matter

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Bible Ballistics: BBs #781 Kindness Has No Expiration Date!!

 

“Let no corrupt communication

proceed out of your mouth,

but that which is good

to the use of edifying,

that it may minister grace

unto the hearers.

30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God,

whereby ye are sealed

unto the day of redemption.

31 Let all bitterness,

and wrath,

 and anger,

and clamour,

and evil speaking,

be put away from you,

with all malice:

32 And be ye kind

one to another,

tenderhearted,

forgiving one another,

even as God

for Christ’s sake

hath forgiven you.”   Ephesians 4:29-32

How often I forget that “words” matter, and “kindness” can be broadcast or crushed by our words.  As a proverb that I often quote says, “Watch your words, and keep them sweet!  You never know which ones you’ll eat!”; yet so often I forget that my words are of eternal import—not because I’m of any particular import, but because my words have the power to heal or to wound, to lift up or put down, to lead others to Jesus or drive them away!  Ouch! And remember once the “word” is out, we can’t take it back, recover the scope or often repair any damage done! When was the last time that we considered our “words”?  Let’s do just that today by comparing what God calls us to be and do to what we are actually doing.  As I sit here writing this article the Spirit of God is pouring out conviction over my own personal failures.

Yet, in that conviction there is hope for ‘correction’, and Paul has even more to say to us about our speech—our words!

“Walk in wisdom

toward them that are without,

redeeming the time.

6 Let your speech be alway

with grace,

seasoned with salt,

that ye may know

how ye ought to answer

every man.”   Colossians 4:5-6

We are to exercise wisdom in all our ways, especially in our words—how untrue is the children’s little chant, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never harm me!”  Words can harm, hurt, and injure a soul to the core, so we are called to be wise in choosing how to reply to others, when to offer correction and instruction, and when and how to offer encouragement. (And remember we’re to be like seasoning–NOT like brine!)

Peter has a timely word in this regard:

“And who is he that will harm you,

if ye be followers of that which is good?

14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake,

happy are ye:

and be not afraid of their terror,

neither be troubled;

15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts:

and be ready always

to give an answer

to every man that asketh you

a reason of the hope that is in you

with meekness and fear:

16 Having a good conscience;

that, whereas they speak evil of you,

as of evildoers,

they may be ashamed that falsely accuse

your good conversation in Christ.

17 For it is better,

if the will of God be so,

that ye suffer for well doing,

than for evil doing.”   1 Peter 3:13-17

Peter reminds us (and remember he is writing to believers who are being persecuted for their faith) that we are to be bold and confident in our Lord who has us in HIS hand.  We can and are to:

Not fear what “man can do to me”—

Be happy to share in Christ’s suffering—

Sanctify The Lord in our hearts—

BE READY to give and answer for our faith—

Answer with meekness and fear (awe of God not man)-

Have a good conscience—not being a poor witness—

(For we are all witnesses—good or bad—we are witnesses!)

Ready to accept God’s will regarding suffering—

Jesus says it best, yet we often forget this in our lives and our prayers!

“After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father which art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done

in earth,

as it is in heaven.”   Matthew 6:9-10

And lastly, for today, but certainly not least, Paul’s message about our armor and how it was to be put on– “Praying always”!!!  For all the saints—wherever they may be!

“Praying always

with all prayer and supplication

 in the Spirit,

and watching thereunto

with all perseverance

and supplication

for all saints;”  Ephesians 6:18

Instead of criticism, or gossip, or comparing others faults to our perceived strengths, let us be “Praying always” for those we are tempted to put down.  May or goal be to truly speak God’s truth “in love”.

“But speaking the truth in love,

may grow up into him

in all things,

which is the head,

even Christ:” Ephesians 4:15

May we ever be known as those who speak “the truth in love”!  But to speak “truth” we must know truth by being in The Word of God!  Oh Father, may we be found faithful, true, and kind by the power of your precious Holy Spirit!  Always!!!

 

Amen and Amen!!!