Be Careful Who You Let Close To You

It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to trust in people.

Psalm 118:8 

 

As a child, our family vacations were always times of learning.  I'll just admit it, I love the Southwest!  One of our family trips was to a place called Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico where we could see cliff dwellings and Native American ingenuity.  Our guide happened to be a Native American gentleman who had lots of stories, which also helped keep me from lagging behind because they were interesting and I didn't want to miss any part of it.

 

He told the story of a boy who went to a mountain top to have a spiritual vision.  When he got ready to go back down the mountain, a rattlesnake called to him and said, "Please, it's so cold up here.  Let me inside your shirt so I can stay warm and take me down the mountain out of this cold."  The boy refused, "But you're a rattlesnake!  You could bite me and kill me. No! I won't do it."

 

The rattlesnake continued to beg sounding more and more pitiful until finally the boy relented and said, "Okay, I'll take you down the mountain in my shirt.  BUT...You must PROMISE ME that you will do me no harm."  The rattlesnake promised and off they went back down the mountain.  When they reached the valley, the rattlesnake promptly bit the boy three times.  As the venom did its work, the boy looked at the snake with the light fading from his eyes.  The snake said, "Don't look at me like that.  You knew I was a rattlesnake when you let me next to you.  This is YOUR fault."

 

After that story, the gentleman said, "We have to be careful who we let close to us.  Not all you say nice things are our friends."  Which is true!  But there's also another lesson here, we have to be careful what we allow in our minds because our thoughts will turn into actions which will make or break our ministry.

Make Your Vote Your Voice!

Don’t put your confidence in powerful people;
    there is no help for you there.

When they breathe their last, they return to the earth,
    and all their plans die with them.

Psalm 146:3-4 

 

Today is the day we cast our vote for the leader of our country for the next four years.  No, I'm not going to tell you who to vote for and I'm not going to tell you who I will vote for, because that is between each of us and God.

 

The person we elect will be the one who will lead our nation, whether we voted for them or not.  Whether we like them or agree with them or not.  Truth be told, we are commanded to pray for and honor those who have been put in positions of authority.  BUT we are also commanded not to worship them!  Only God is to be worshipped!  Everyone else will eventually return to the dust from which we came.

 

Pray hard about who you would have lead us.  Ask God for wisdom and discernment to see beyond the hype and commercial pleas.  Ask God for clarity to think beyond the mudslinging.  Use your vote wisely and remember that God is still God no matter who sits in the Oval Office.

Floods of Words!

Lord, help me control my tongue;
    help me be careful about what I say.

Psalm 141:3 

Let me say this right up front, I am, by nature, an Introvert.  That does not mean I am anti-social, or that I don't like people, or anything of the sort. As a matter of fact, I like talking with people and enjoy teaching when possible.  Being an introvert simply means, I am perfectly comfortable with silence and have no urge to fill the silence with words.

Having said that, let me ask you something...Remember in Ephesians6:10-18 where the Bulldog Apostle Paul reminds us to armor up each day before we go sauntering out into the world?  Well........one thing he doesn't mention (because they really didn't have them available at the time) was a mouth guard.  We are told over and over, throughout Scripture to "be still" and "be quiet."  But do we? Jesus often took time to get away from the crowds (or try to) so He could have some time to listen and talk with His Father. 

Have you ever heard a child talking, just to be talking, and they start repeating things they had overheard (much to the chagrin of the parents)?  One of the things I remember most about my growing older years (still haven't reached the growing up part), was to "hush" or "shush" or "be quiet."  The older I have gotten, the more I am appreciating that insistence, because whenever I talk just to fill the void of words, I usually will taste shoe because I put my foot in my mouth.

When my bride and I have the opportunity to go out, it doesn't matter where we sit (or are seated), there will eventually be either a screaming child or a VERY talkative group seated next to us.  This happens when I go to get coffee and read as well.

But look what the Psalmist says, "Please keep me from saying something hurtful, unhelpful, stupid, or just talk to keep from listening."  

I remember my Grampa once told me, "Want to keep from saying something that'll get you in trouble?  Then don't say anything!"