Speak to Live

"From the fruit of their mouth a person's stomach is filled; with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied. The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit"- Proverbs 18:20-21 (NIV).

Ideally, people should be cautious about what goes into their mouth and subsequently into their stomachs, but some take no stock in what they eat. I've heard these wise words: "You should eat to live; not live to eat." What happens when you make poor choices in what you eat? You become unhealthy; your quality of life diminishes; you could die. We are just as responsible for what we decide will come out of our mouths. Folks, we're talking life and death here. Each word out of your mouth comes from your heart (Matthew 15:18). Let your mouth produce the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen" (Ephesians 4:29). I'll flip those wise words and ask, "Do you speak to live; or live to speak?"

Subdued

"Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me"- Psalm 144:1-2 (NIV).

When I was little, my mother was very concerned about me becoming a doormat for others, because I so easily loved people, plus she thought me gullible. I'm grown now and still easily love people and I'm probably still a little gullible, depending on your definition of gullible. I love people and always try to think the best of them, even if they've disappointed me. People can find victory and become more Christ-like with enough love poured into their lives. God has trained me, since I was little, for battle, and my battle plan is this: I love; I forgive. Winning others to Christ is a battle. It is only when I wave the white flag on a person that I lose the fight. God is love and love subdues all; He sure did me.

Happy Mother

"He settles the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise the Lord"- Psalm 113:9 (NIV).

As an adoptive mother, this verse resonated in my heart after God gave me two beautiful baby girls: one from an intervention program at an abortion clinic and one from the state adoption agency. We applied for both at the same time. The first took nine months, a normal gestation time, and I took the credit for the speed because I had instituted a writing campaign to the abortion clinic, so they wouldn't forget about me. The second was different. Normal waiting time was seven years and childless couples got first considerations. I was powerless; no kind of campaign on my part would put a second baby in my arms and we didn't have the money for another private adoption. But God can do anything. We picked up our second daughter on the same day, same hour, three years after the first. Psalm 46:10 became my life verse: "Be still and know that I am God." I celebrate every Mother's Day as a happy mother of children. Praise the Lord! 

Consumed

"But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you"- Matthew 6:6 (NIV).

God hears our every prayer, whether in the car, doing laundry, walking down the mall, ...etc. Prayer isn't just about lifting needs and other people; prayer is worship...no matter what you are saying or asking. I dare say, most of you know the greatest commandment: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength" (Deuteronomy 6:5). Love is undeniably worship. You could replace the word 'love' with 'worship' in that Scripture. Let's look at worship/love from the receiving end. We greatly desire those we cherish to talk to us in the car, doing laundry, walking down the mall...etc, but where do is our greatest desire to hear their words of worship/love? When it's just the two of you. Your Father desires some of your undivided attention, just as you would from someone you were consumed with. Please keep praying in the car, doing laundry, walking down the mall...etc, but don't neglect your private time with the One who is consumed with you.  

Turn it Up

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day"- 2 Corinthians 4:16 (NIV).

I can see the effects of aging when I look in the mirror each morning and the calendar reminds me of my increasing years, but I still feel like the same person on the inside. Let a song play from my younger years and you'll find me singing along and I actually feel younger and more energetic. Maybe I should look in the mirror less and play music more. We cannot stop the wasting away of our outer body; time and age march on. Christians, however, know the Holy Spirit resides within us. The music will stop, but the Holy Spirit never leaves you. It is He who renews us and keeps us from losing heart. If you are feeling "old" today, whether chronologically old or not, pray and ask the Holy Spirit to renew you this day. Then turn up the music.