Ever say something and immediately wonder where the words came from or immediately regret those words falling out of your mouth? This happens to me more often than I want to admit.
Sometimes, I say something and I know it was God taking over my mouth. Speaking the truth when I want to lie, or giving someone the words they desperately need to hear at that moment in their life. But, other times I have to admit, it's not God who took control over my mouth. It's that other guy. The one who wants the absolute opposite of God.
The bible has a lot to say about words and letting God take hold of our voices.
Exodus 4:15 explains God taking over our speech in this way:
"Talk to him, and put the words in his mouth. I will be with both of you as you speak, and I will instruct you both in what to do."
I mean, I don't know about you, but to me that spoke volumes (no pun intended). It is a reminder to me that God is in control even when I think he isn't.
I have just recently started a couple different bible studies but, I am in no way a bible scholar nor am I the one to go to when trying to figure out the rules of the bible. I'll admit, I look at things that are taboo in Christianity and I wonder where they came from.
When speaking of words, one major problem my husband and I suffer from is a bad case of potty mouth. With this transformation that has been happening in my heart lately, I began to really look at the choices I was making and my problem with cursing is one that has struck a definite cord in my heart to change.
One of the things that I have noticed as a recurring theme in the bible stories was the constant need for two witnesses to be able to state something as truth. So naturally, when my husband and I were discussing what the bible has to say about cursing, we wanted to see two verses on the subject.
Two verses, two witnesses, had to be truth.
We definitely were not surprised to see God was on our same mind wave-length and did indeed put two instances in the bible to speak against foul language.
Again.
Two verses, two witnesses, has to be truth.
Colossions 3:8
"But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language."
Ephesians 4:29
"Don’t
use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and
helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear
them."
God speaks twice (and I'm sure many more times) about using our voices to not bring down but, to raise up. To be encouraging, helpful, and positive instead of negative, tearing down.
This coming week I just pray that God takes control of our voices and uses them for His purpose. Use our voices as His tool to bring people to Him and to raise people up instead of bringing them down.
Have a blessed day!
- Jenny
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Carpe Diem
Carpe Diem! Seize the day! This famous saying can mean a lot of things to a lot of people. To most stay at home moms, this may mean getting as many chores done as possible while the kids are at school and the spouse is at work. To my two sons, this phrase most of the time means, "Let's see how many levels I can gain before Mom realizes I am playing this game instead of cleaning my room like she asked!".
To me, lately, Carpe Diem has been two part.
The first part has been to really make sure that at least once a day, I stop yelling, stop nagging, and really tell those closest to me just how much I love them. I don't think I do that as often as I truly should. I tend to get too caught up in my daily to do list that I forget to realize that once today is gone, it's gone. It's not coming back. My kids get older each and everyday whether I like it or not and I really need to stop and take a moment to say "I love you" and "I appreciate you".
I found a project on Pinterest (isn't that place just great?) where you take the entire month of February and each day you place a heart on your child's bedroom door with a reason why they are special to you. I began doing this yesterday (yes, I realize yesterday was already the 3rd. I played a little catch - up) and the impact has already been felt. My kids loved seeing what I had written on each of the doors. Fun things like "I love playing games with you!" and "You rock at playing the drums!". However, the ones that were most noticed were the things I assumed they knew but, really had no clue about.
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My youngest son, Craig, has Aspergers (high functioning Autism). Due to this, he tends to get stuck on one topic for days, weeks, sometimes months at a time. I find myself a lot of time saying to him, "honey, i love you, but, can we PLEASE talk about something else!" For him, I made sure to put 'You know so many cool facts!" as one of his hearts because even though I might get tired of being on the same subject, I really do find it amazing how much he can learn at his young age of 9 on a topic he is truly passionate about.
Same thing for my oldest, Trenton. I spend so much time taking care of Craig that not a lot of time gets spent one on one with Trenton. I needed to make sure to let him know that he is still tied for Number One in my mind so I put "I love spending time with you!" on there so he would know I cherish our moments together just as much if not more than he does.
The second part of my Carpe Diem (or really my first part) is to spend more one on one time with God. Poor God. He loves me with all my flaws, gives me everything I have inside and out, yet is the first to pushed to the wayside when my day gets busy. It's like I'm saying "Sorry God, you're gonna have to wait, this laundry isn't going to wash itself!" (Boy, wouldn't that be awesome!)
For me, I have realized that I HAVE to make spending time studying the word and talking to God a priority. If I don't make this time important in my mind, it will never get done. But, here's the funny thing. Making sure that I get that time with God in each and everyday HELPS me get everything else done better. It's like an extra pep in my step. My daily study time can include anything from listening to a podcast, reading a devotional on my phone to just opening my bible and reading or writing down and reviewing favorite bible verses in my pocket verse keeper. It varies day to day depending on how I feel and what I have going on. Sometimes I have time to sit down and actually read the bible and other days, I am listening to it in my ears while I do my chores.
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I joined a Home Team through my local church about 6 months ago and have really enjoyed the study and communication I have with this group. It really gives me some wonderful insight into all the bible has to offer. I have also started going to a weekly women's bible study which just reinforces my study that much more. I find myself yearning for those study times and adding in my own daily study time to enhance the knowledge I am gaining. It has been wonderful and really changing how my entire daily schedule works (mainly, because it is changing my attitude towards my daily schedule).
I encourage you to find your own way to Carpe Diem, whether it's taking time to tell loved ones how much they mean or just making time for your own personal growth.
To me, lately, Carpe Diem has been two part.
The first part has been to really make sure that at least once a day, I stop yelling, stop nagging, and really tell those closest to me just how much I love them. I don't think I do that as often as I truly should. I tend to get too caught up in my daily to do list that I forget to realize that once today is gone, it's gone. It's not coming back. My kids get older each and everyday whether I like it or not and I really need to stop and take a moment to say "I love you" and "I appreciate you".
I found a project on Pinterest (isn't that place just great?) where you take the entire month of February and each day you place a heart on your child's bedroom door with a reason why they are special to you. I began doing this yesterday (yes, I realize yesterday was already the 3rd. I played a little catch - up) and the impact has already been felt. My kids loved seeing what I had written on each of the doors. Fun things like "I love playing games with you!" and "You rock at playing the drums!". However, the ones that were most noticed were the things I assumed they knew but, really had no clue about.
My youngest son, Craig, has Aspergers (high functioning Autism). Due to this, he tends to get stuck on one topic for days, weeks, sometimes months at a time. I find myself a lot of time saying to him, "honey, i love you, but, can we PLEASE talk about something else!" For him, I made sure to put 'You know so many cool facts!" as one of his hearts because even though I might get tired of being on the same subject, I really do find it amazing how much he can learn at his young age of 9 on a topic he is truly passionate about.
Same thing for my oldest, Trenton. I spend so much time taking care of Craig that not a lot of time gets spent one on one with Trenton. I needed to make sure to let him know that he is still tied for Number One in my mind so I put "I love spending time with you!" on there so he would know I cherish our moments together just as much if not more than he does.
The second part of my Carpe Diem (or really my first part) is to spend more one on one time with God. Poor God. He loves me with all my flaws, gives me everything I have inside and out, yet is the first to pushed to the wayside when my day gets busy. It's like I'm saying "Sorry God, you're gonna have to wait, this laundry isn't going to wash itself!" (Boy, wouldn't that be awesome!)
For me, I have realized that I HAVE to make spending time studying the word and talking to God a priority. If I don't make this time important in my mind, it will never get done. But, here's the funny thing. Making sure that I get that time with God in each and everyday HELPS me get everything else done better. It's like an extra pep in my step. My daily study time can include anything from listening to a podcast, reading a devotional on my phone to just opening my bible and reading or writing down and reviewing favorite bible verses in my pocket verse keeper. It varies day to day depending on how I feel and what I have going on. Sometimes I have time to sit down and actually read the bible and other days, I am listening to it in my ears while I do my chores.
I joined a Home Team through my local church about 6 months ago and have really enjoyed the study and communication I have with this group. It really gives me some wonderful insight into all the bible has to offer. I have also started going to a weekly women's bible study which just reinforces my study that much more. I find myself yearning for those study times and adding in my own daily study time to enhance the knowledge I am gaining. It has been wonderful and really changing how my entire daily schedule works (mainly, because it is changing my attitude towards my daily schedule).
I encourage you to find your own way to Carpe Diem, whether it's taking time to tell loved ones how much they mean or just making time for your own personal growth.
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