Corrupt Communications

Ephesians 4:29, "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."
Corrupt: (Strong's Concordance) rotten, worthless, bad, corrupt.
Communication: (ibib) something said (including the thought)...

About a month ago I was reading through the book of Ephesians in the Bible when the verse above just really convicted me. Actually it was the Holy Spirit that convicted me through this verse. (Whatever!) For some wicked reason I have had a real problem this year with how I talk to my beloved husband. There was a whole lot more complaining coming out of my mouth that I could imagine. (Sin comes in so many ways. And the enticements are so irresistable at times.) I hated that I was being such a nag and such a complainer. I would hate myself whenever I realized what I was doing, but it seemed like I couldn't help myself. I tried to blame it on one of the medications that I take for my fibro. (One of the side effects is that it causes irritation to the brain and can make you feel more angry.) But I wasn't taking that much of this medication anymore because of that side effect. So, I couldn't use it as an excuse. Then I tried to blame it on my spouse. That he was deliberately doing things that he knew irritated me. But he wasn't doing anything new. So, I couldn't use that as an excuse. Then I tried to blame all the extra pain that I am in, but I have been in pain before and haven't been this sinful. So, that excuse didn't work either.

Plain and simple...the only one to blame...myself. I had chosen to sin by the actions that I took. And the Holy Spirit lovingly, but boldly showed me my sin through Eph. 4:29. (I love it when He does that.) Right then and there, I confessed and repented of my sin, put my full trust once again in the Lord, and have chosen to obey His Word.

In doing the further "research" in the Strong's Concordance on the Greek meanings of the two words obey, I am further convicted that my communication isn't just what I say but also what I think. So, I choose to obey this verse fully. Let NO corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is GOOD to the use of edifying (building up and encouraging), that it may minister grace to the hearers."

So, what are you saying? What are you thinking? Is it good? Does it edify the hearer of it?

Four steps

My daughter told me that I need to do a new post on my blog. That it has been too long...and she is right. I should post as soon as the Lord gives me an idea, because if I don't, then I forget what it was I meant to post. But this time, I remember because it is a new truth that I am trying to not only learn but to also implement in my life.

In our church's Bible Institute, the instructor was talking about how to have change and real victory in our lives. So, I want to share that with all of you.

It is easy to read the Bible and then think, "Oh, I needed that. I am going to do that in my life." or "The Lord is showing me that I need to stop doing this other thing." We can read God's Word and have the very best of intentions. We can even memorize verses that we think will help us. But it takes more.
I know in my own life that there have been many times when the Holy Spirit has encouraged me to start doing certain things. I have tried, but then it seems to fall by the wayside.

 
So here are the four steps that we were taught in Faith Bible Institute:

1. You need to read the Bible. You can never know the will of God for your life if you aren't in His Word.

2. You next need to believe the Bible. James is pretty clear that if you don't have faith, you won't succeed.

3. The first two steps are where most of us do just fine. But we must have this next step and that is to yield to the Holy Spirit as He speaks to you through the Bible. You have to yield your rights and expectations. You must yield to the Lord control of whatever area He is desiring.

4. This one seems simple enough, but it isn't. You now need to obey the Word. (I also add that you need to rightly divide the Bible so that you do not try to apply to your life instructions that do not apply to you. Those of us who have accepted Jesus Christ as our Saviour need to keep our focus on the books written by Paul. He is the apostle to the "church".)

I would also add that you do not need to be "hyper obedient" to be righteous. You already are righteous when you accept Christ in your life. It is His righteousness that becomes your righteousness. What God wants is for us to be more and more like His Son. He wants us to love one another and be His ambassadors in all that we do. And one more thing that I want to add...you need to confess your sins. If there is something that the Holy Spirit shows you in God's Word and if it has been a sin in your life, then before you try to change, you must confess your sin. And of course, whatever you do, you must pray. Prayer allows you to realize that you can do all things through Christ which strengthens you.

Priority of church

"We are pleased to let you know that we have decided to offer you the position. The job starts next week." I loved to hear those words when I was trying to get a job...especially if it was a job that I really, really wanted. Then comes the meeting with HR to get the policy manual, fill out all the paperwork, and go through orientation. By the time I was done, I knew what the employer was expecting from me. Every day I went to work and did my best to be the best employee that I could be. They told me the hours that I had to work, and I was never late...even on snow days. If ever I couldn't remember what a part of my job description was, I could always look at the manual. If ever I had a question or concern about something, I could always look at the manual. And if it didn't have the answer or if I couldn't fully understand what was in the manual, I could go to a supervisor or HR, and they would help me.

It just amazing me that we can put such a priority on doing a good job at our workplace and then neglect what should be a much higher priority...going to church. I have heard so many excuses about why folks don't go or why they seldom go or why they don't go to Sunday school or why they don't go to evening services. I wonder if I would have still had a job if I had used the same excuses?! So, why don't we put a higher priority on church attendance? I believe it is because we don't love the church.

This last semester in Faith Bible Institute we studied the book of Ephesians. Again, I was struck by chapter five and the duties that wives and husbands have to each other. (But that is another post.) The verse that really touched my heart is verse 25," Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it." Christ loved the church and gave himself for it! The church didn't even exist when Jesus died on the cross, but he still loved her and knew that she would come into existence soon. Jesus, God loves the church and gave himself for it. Are you starting to grasp what grasped my heart? JESUS CHRIST, GOD, LOVES THE CHURCH AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR IT!!!

How dare I get my priorities mixed up and put my job above the church. Jesus did not give up his life's blood for any job. He died for the church. How dare I make myself conform to the policies of my job and then turn around and do whatever I want when it concerns the church. Jesus loves the church. How dare I bite my tongue at my place of employment when someone offends me and when it happens at church, I get offended and leave. Christ loves the church and gave himself for it.

If I can discipline myself for work every day, then I can do the same thing for church. I used to get to work by 7:30am five days a week even though I didn't have to be there until 8:15. I used to leave work at the end of my workday, and not a minute early. I used to even go to extra classes so I could be a better-informed employee, even though it was not required of me. When I was at work, I would give it my full attention. (Sadly, I can no longer work due to disabilities.)

So, what is my point? What is the truth and blessing that I am trying to convey? Discipline yourself. Love the church. You won't be able to love it as much as Jesus does, but you can still love the church and give yourself for it. Go to Sunday school. Go to worship service in the morning and in the evening. Go to Life-group. Get involved in anything and everything that the church has to offer. Get into the "manual"...the Bible. And I believe that God will bless you with not only truth, but blessings in every area of your life.

Truth and Blessing

Lately, well, actually for the last several months I have been rereading the book titled, "Telling Yourself The Truth" and now "Finding the Freedom of Self-Control" both by William Backus. It is eye-opening and humbling to see how far I have fallen.

Years ago, many, many years ago, our Ladies' group studied "Telling Yourself the Truth". It was then that the Lord was able to begin a very mighty work in my life. I had been so used to the lies that I believed and was so miserable that I didn't want to go on living. But when I realized the fact that I had been lying to myself and believing those lies, was when I finally received freedom from them. My life changed for the better. God showed me sin after sin and forgave me of each and every one as I confessed them. It was like having weights removed from my heart and mind. I was able to live in freedom and victory.

But over the years and especially more recently, I once again began to lie to myself and believe those lies. Once again, life was miserable. Not fun! Then one day, the Lord motivated me to reread that book. It was again the truth that I needed to see.

 
The Truth? What is the only Truth? God's Word, the Holy Bible. That is the one thing that we can believe. Of course our lies may tell us to not trust the Bible. But I say, why would I choose to trust my lies instead of the Bible? I choose to believe God's Word. That is the real Truth and Blessing.

Bekah turns 30

As most of you know, I have one child, my daughter Rebekah. She is such a blessing in my life, and I thank God every day for allowing me to be her mom. The Lord has used this special child to change me in so many ways. I know that I have wrote about this before, but I just have to say again, that I love my precious daughter and wouldn't trade her for anything.

She is the "middle" child of all the pregnancies I had. I miscarried twice before she was born and at least twice after she was born. After I had my hysterectomy, when I was only 27, I was told that I shouldn't have even had her. The doctor said that my insides were so messed up that he said it was a miracle that I could carry a child to term.

Of all the children that I could have had, the Lord allowed me to have a "special" one. Rebekah is autistic and has mental illnesses. But more than anything else, she is a blessing and that's the truth.

Young Adults

I know that hardly anyone will read this post since I haven't been posting much and don't have a very large audience. However, if only one person reads this and tries to live a better life, it will be worth my time.
Today I learned of another young person who has been faithful in attending church but has decided to turn away from the Lord. It is so very sad whenever anyone does that, but it seems to happen more and more with young adults. Why?

 
I can clearly remember when I was that age. I had accepted Christ as my Saviour when I was sixteen and had been attending church all of my life. When I was seventeen, I was out of high school and attending the local community college. It was there that I began to question my beliefs. Since I was still a baby Christian, it was really easy for me to listen to the lies I was hearing at this secular college. I didn't leave the church and I didn't turn my back on God, but I did do some things that I have regretted for the rest of my life. It was easy to justify my sins back then because I was so wrapped up in the world and didn't want to be thought of as a weirdo. I wanted friends and I wanted acceptance. So, I did what the world did, and I continued to go to church. Sad.

As I began to grow in my relationship with Christ, I realized my sins and repented of them. I now strive to live a life that is always according to His Word and His Will. I love Him so much and am so thankful for all that He has done and is doing for me.

However, I can't help but wonder if there is something we Christians should be doing to encourage young adults to stay strong in their walk with the Lord. What can I do to help them know that Jesus is worth more than everything the world has to offer? Pray more for them? I don't know. Do you?

Depression number whatever

Depression...such a rotten thing. Anyone who has read my blog knows that I have dealt with this rotten thing for many years. Depression is not fun and it is so embarrassing to admit that you have it. But the Bible says that we are to give thanks always for all things unto God and the father. So, the same God that created me, saved me, and always abides with me, has allowed this mental illness into my life. And if you are living with depression, He has allowed it into your life also. Why? I don't know! But this I do know....God has promised to go with you through it. Psalms 23, "Ye though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death (which is what depression feels like to me), I will fear no evil (yes, evil is there in that valley of depression to make you feel even worse), for thou (God almighty) art with me (God is with me). And God is with you. He promised in Hebrews that He would never leave you nor forsake you. And in Romans we have the promise that nothing, absolutely nothing, can separate us from the love of God.

It has come to my knowledge that there are several ladies in my church who are living with depression. I am so sorry. But this is an opportunity for us to pray for one another, encourage each other, and grow in our relationship with the LORD. What a blessing.

One thing that I would like to say to those of you who are living with depression...don't allow it to rule your life. Don't allow it to become a crutch. What do I mean? Satan and self would love for us to stay away from church and from Godly fellowship with others. Pride tends to rise up and make us believe that we can't go to church or be with our Godly family. We tend to feel that we aren't good enough and think that others will think less of us if we aren't "perfect". I know, because I tend to believe those lies that I tell myself. The only reason that I believe we should spend time alone, is if we are fully and completely overwhelmed by the depression and will spend that quiet time in prayer and in God's Word. Otherwise, it becomes easier and easier for us to make excuses to not go to church nor to take part in Godly fellowship. Hebrews also says that we are not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. We need each other. Personally, I know that I need you. I love my sisters and brothers and just seeing you at church and at Life Group is a tremendous encouragement to me always.

So, will you join me? I thank God for you, and I thank God (by faith) for Him allowing me to live with depression...and to know that there are others who live with it also.