Proverbs 15

"A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. 2 The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness. 3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good. 4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit."

  Proverbs 15:1-4 (NKJV)                

 

This scripture really came in handy this last week, let me tell you why.  I am enrolled in a biology class this semester with the focus on human sexuality.  The class has been very rewarding in regards to learning different aspects of the body, the changes it goes through, and the different circumstances that effect men and women.  The class is taught by two instructors; one for the biology portion and the other for the psychology portion.  I am now on the psych part, and one of my assignments required me to do a discussion board with the rest of my class on the topic of gender roles and sexual orientation. The instructor wanted to know if I believed a person could choose their sexual orientation (whether they liked men or women or both) and also if it could be proven that people had no choice over the matter, should gay people be able to marry.

 

I hope you've caught on to my dilemma and frustration at this assignment.  I know some of you haven't. I know you're thinking this is a great opportunity to tell my professor and all my classmates what I believe God has to say on the subject.  To retell the account of Sodom and Gomorrah, to talk about the creation of Adam and Eve, and to argue the moral, spiritual, judgment implications the believer knows about this very topic. But, I did not do that.  I believed more than ever it was a time for me to be silent.  And I mean very quiet.  So much so that I had considered taking a 0 for the assignment.

 

I know you are asking the screen why right now, but it is because of this very scripture that I gave the following answer:

"Respectfully, I have no opinion I wish to share at this time."

I did not feel there was anything to profit from answering those questions and I highly suspect that someone in my class would have been offended with my answer. God is wise and he wants us to be wise too.  First of all, it's a science class, so there is a predisposition to believing what you can prove as opposed to my position of faith.  Secondly, I was not ministering to someone at that moment, so there was no need to throw my beliefs all over the place if it would not profit the Kingdom of God to do so.  Moreover, I go back to the scripture about casting your pearls before the swine; the Word of God is very precious to me and I'll never put it out there to be debated or examined just because.  Thirdly, I have a spirit of discernment and I never want to offend who God may allow me to draw one day.  So it a nutshell, now was not the time.

 

This scripture really helped me not to skip the assignment.  I felt God wanted me to give a soft answer and maybe this would help the instructor remove this assignment for future classes and show my classmates that just because you have the opportunity to speak doesn't mean we should always take it. We should always be led by the Spirit (Romans 8:14) and follow peace (Hebrews 12:14) as much as we can.  I pray this helps someone and blesses you real good.

 

 

 

It's Okay...

God if You say it then it is so.  Say what? Say anything.  This is how I feel and hope you feel too. My heart like many of us, overflows with cares and circumstances.  So much so that my mind doesn't get to process one single thought. No, one thought leads to another thought, to another thought, which leads to an overwhelming feeling and heartache.  Not necessarily because something is gravely bad, but just that it's a lot to bear.

I know better than to think I can sort out everything myself.  I'm not that great. But God!  God can tell me if everything is okay. He can tell me that my husband is doing fine, that my son is just experiencing growing pains, that this is just a sensitive day for my oldest daughter, that it's okay to feel worn out by my youngest two children, that my family will survive this hard time that has befallen us, and that my granddad is flourishing.  Yes, He makes all of that and then some okay.

It's not okay because God has promised this great miracle or that I know some inside secret.  That's not at all the case, but what I know is this.  With God anything is possible. As long as God is with me everything is okay.  So, with all that is on my heart and mind, I lay it at the altar with one simple note... Whatever You decide on each of my situations - if You say it, then it is so.

I truly believe that. It's what makes unbearable things, bearable.  Please remember God is there.  Let Him guide you through.  If you do, I guarantee you'll come out alright.

May God Bless U & Keep U

Are You Living an Acceptable Life?

Are you living an acceptable life? I ask this question because I was reading Romans the 12th chapter and started to think about me. I asked myself; do you fit the bill?  Romans 12:1-2 says:

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. ² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."  ~NKJV

I said to myself, are you performing your reasonable service?  After thinking for just a moment, I realized there is room for improvement.  I want to be sure I am acceptable unto God.  The life we live today can be so contrary to what God wants for us.  It is so easy for the cares of this world to overtake us and weigh us down that we no longer consider what God has to say about our daily performance.  The Apostle Paul never lost sight that everyday belonged to God, and as he wrote to the Roman people and encouraged them to see themselves the way God did and still does.

A bit further in chapter 12, Paul gives what I like to call "life bites".  Little pieces of words to live by that can help you live a better life.  In verse 9 he admonishes us to live in love, and in verse 17 he says not to repay evil for evil.  Those two things alone can help many of us in a multitude of situations.  But will we take his advice?  No matter what your answer to that question, the truth is...you should!  Why, because it is acceptable to God.  These life bites are what brings us closer to Him. 

We are accountable for the way we live and the choices we make.  If you have decided to live for Jesus, or want to make that decision today, read the book of Romans and be sure that your life reflects your belief.  Most times the only view of God people get is when they look upon the life of a believer.

May God Bless U and Keep U

Run on...

I have been battling with myself about continuing this blog. Like all things that God has entrusted to us, it's important that we keep His vision and not our own.  I want so badly not to mess up the things of God. I want people to be encouraged and I want everybody to come to this blog and receive the information they are searching for.

After taking some time off I feel not only compelled to continue, but encouraged to run on with the vision God gave me.  

I pray my own strength and ask that you continually make mention of me in your prayers that I stay and WORK in my calling.

God Bless U & Keep U in All Things