Am I Asking the Right Question?

Recently a group of ladies from our church met to study the Bible. One lady who had not attended for a long time made the comment that it is so easy to be a hermit sometimes, (rather than get out).  That comment has rolled around in my mind for several days not just because of the truth of it, but wondering why it true. At times, the answer is: because it is easier or more comfortable to stay at home than making the effort to get out. 

Then a memory came to mind of a time quite a number of years ago when I was considering whether to become involved in a group.  I told the person I was talking to that I didn’t know that we would really benefit enough from the group to warrant getting involved.  Her answer caught me off guard, “did you ever think that someone may need what you have to offer?”  My thoughts had centered on what I could gain instead of what I could give.

Are there sometimes legitimate reasons to stay home?  Certainly!  Can we be involved in everything that is available?  No!  The challenge here is that you ask God where and when He wants you to be involved to encourage or bless someone by your participation.  As one writer stated, “it’s not about me”.

To come back to the beginning, that evening when we shared prayer requests, one lady was weighed down with a burden.   God used our prayers that night to work in the situation to bring an answer, and the one who had been tempted to be a hermit was the one lead to pray for her.  The burdened woman was blessed, we all were encouraged, and God received the glory. 

 

This is also a reminder of why we chose the name, TLC, and that we can make a difference for eternity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Who Am I, Really?

How would you answer that question, who am I?  Wife of ___.  Mother of ____.  Employee of _____.  Head of ____.  Or does it lead you to compare yourself to someone else, thereby thinking less of yourself because you are not ________ (you fill in the blank).  Today, as I read the introduction of I Corinthians, I was blown away, again, by the identity we have in Christ.  In only nine verses, Paul reminds the Christ follower that he is:

·         Sanctified in Christ (set apart and considered holy because of Christ’s work on our behalf)

·         Saints by calling (Yes, you read that right.  All Christ followers are called saints, but not because of our efforts or worthiness)

·         Part of the church around the world (can’t wait to meet them all in heaven)

·         Recipients of God’s grace (grace upon grace!)

·         Enriched in Him (it says He even enriches our speech!)

·         Not lacking in any gift (gift is the same word as grace!)

·         Eagerly waiting for the return of Christ (what a day that will be!)

·         Sustained to the very end (such encouragement and hope that brings)

·         Guiltless in the day of Jesus Christ (again, all and only because of Him!)

Nine truths in nine verses that tell us who we are.  In the end, no other identity  - or lack of identity in my mind - really matters.  So what will my response be to this? 

What did you feed to others today?

You might answer that question a hundred different ways:  pizza, chili, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches fried chicken, to name a few. What if the question read, “what words did you feed others today”?  The first part of Proverbs 10:21 says, the lips of the righteous feed many…  Let’s consider for a moment the food that can come from our lips which bring nourishment to the soul and spirit. 

God’s words:  the most important words we could ever share, whether an actual quote or sharing a scriptural principle. 

Words of praise (versus flattery) focus on the character or right conduct of the individual. That was very kind of you to run that errand for me.  Your honesty was a good example and challenge to me.  God tells us to build up one another, (I Thes. 5:11) which means to promote growth in Christian wisdom, affection, grace, virtue, and holiness.  Praise does that.

Words of appreciation:  when we express gratitude to another we acknowledge how their kind word or deed was valuable and blessed us. 

Words of truth develop and promote a trusting relationship.  Coupled with love, (Eph. 4:15), they provide a gentle correction when appropriate, or a different focus when “they can’t see the forest for the trees”.

Words of encouragement are needed by everyone at times.  We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted (discouraged), help the weak, be patient with everyone…I Thes. 5:14

Words of prayer:  a true gift whether offered for them or with them. 

Let’s go back to the verse we began with and look at the last word, the lips of the righteous feed many…, Our words have a ripple effect and can touch and bless many lives - now and in the days to come. 

So what are you going to serve up today?  Make it a bountiful buffet of praise, appreciation, truth, encouragement, prayer, and scripture(God’s words), that will satisfy the pickiest eater.

How Salty Are My Words?

Let's review the key verse stated in the last post, introducing the topic of gracious speech.  Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person. Colossians 4:6 (Now this is not talking about the salty speech of a sailor!). Speech is being compared to food flavorfully seasoned with salt.  You have tasted foods seasoned with too little salt or too much salt.  Neither is as enjoyable as if it was seasoned with just the right amount.  If our speech does not have enough "salt", it is boring or bland, uninteresting.  Words seasoned with too much "salt" might be overbearing, hard to get down, or almost gagging.  The intended meaning of the words might even be lost. Remember the meaning of gracious words given last time; giving joy, pleasure, delight?  Neither extreme, too little salt or too much salt, fit that description.   Though this passage seems to relate specifically, and perhaps most importantly, to the testimony our words give,  it is applicable in all situations.

 

So how do we add zest to bland and uninteresting words?  We might ask questions, discover what interests the other person, or keep abreast of current happenings in the world to lead to interesting conversation.   Think about someone you know that you enjoy talking to.  What makes conversation with them stimulating?

What about the other extreme - words that are too salty? Watch how people respond to your words.  Do they shut down or react in some other way? If the Holy Spirit brings a particular situation to your remembrance,  do a replay in your mind and think about how it would sound if someone spoke to you like you spoke to them.  (Just don't let it become a broken record!)  Be alert for good examples you can learn from.

What if we don't know if our speech, in general, has too much or not enough "salt"?  Ask for input from a good trusted friend or two.  In all of these situations, ask God to show you and teach you how to let your speech be as delightful as savory, well-seasoned food. That makes for gracious words.

Are My Words Gracious?

If you chose to read this because you thought you could get all the answers on how to speak graciously, you have come to the wrong place.  Over the past several weeks, the Lord has impressed on my heart that this is what he wants me to focus on in 2015.  So if you would like to come along to learn, share insights or pose questions, you are welcome!  We hope to do some “iron sharpening” and encourage each other along the way.

 

Let’s start in the best place – the Book, Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth, (an interesting acronym for BIBLE).  Colossians 4:6 NASB, Let your speech be always with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer each person. Anyone else find that verse challenging? 

In the subsequent posts, I am going to pick apart this verse, refer to other related verses, and tackle related aspects of the topic of grace-filled words.  For this time though, let’s just think about, and chew on the description of gracious speech taken from BlueletterBible.org; words which afford joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, and loveliness.