A friend, married in recent weeks, learned of the sudden death of his new mother-in-law and traveled far to attend the funeral and comfort the family. While there, his new family heard the news that his stepson had taken his life at the opposite end of the country.
As he relayed this news to me, struck with grief, I began to weep for my friend and for his family and he began to comfort me.
He began to comfort me.
He reminded me of the comfort of the Lord; he reminded me that we have the strength of the Lord to endure the trials and tribulations of this world. He praised God that he knew Him and that He knew him.
I grieve for my friend and for his family. I rejoice for my friend and for his family that may know our Lord as well. I take comfort that comfort is given by a mighty God.
A Song of Ascents. I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come?
My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.
He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel Will neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade on your right hand.
The sun will not smite you by day, Nor the moon by night.
The LORD will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul.
The LORD will guard your going out and your coming in From this time forth and forever.
~ Psalm 121
Essential Life
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
a sloppy spirit and loose lips
"With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor, But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered. When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, And when the wicked perish, there is joyful shouting. By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, But by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down. He who despises his neighbor lacks sense, But a man of understanding keeps silent; He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets, But he who is trustworthy conceals a matter."
~ Proverbs 11: 9-13
I confess that there are far too many occasions when my pride, arrogance, selfishness and sloppy spirit allow me to fall into the sin of tearing down my neighbor. My silence frequently falls to my need to be heard and to be heard OVER the words of others.
Pride, arrogance, selfishness and sloppiness fell my chance to be an uplifting influence as surely as an axe fells a rotten tree.
Words are permanent reminders to others of who we are today.
Today, I want to be a blessing.
"He who restrains his words has knowledge, And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent."
~ Proverbs 17:27-28
"Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips. Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, To practice deeds of wickedness With men who do iniquity; And do not let me eat of their delicacies. Let the righteous smite me in kindness and reprove me; It is oil upon the head; Do not let my head refuse it, For still my prayer is against their wicked deeds."
~ Psalm 141:3-5
~ Proverbs 11: 9-13
I confess that there are far too many occasions when my pride, arrogance, selfishness and sloppy spirit allow me to fall into the sin of tearing down my neighbor. My silence frequently falls to my need to be heard and to be heard OVER the words of others.
Pride, arrogance, selfishness and sloppiness fell my chance to be an uplifting influence as surely as an axe fells a rotten tree.
Words are permanent reminders to others of who we are today.
Today, I want to be a blessing.
"He who restrains his words has knowledge, And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent."
~ Proverbs 17:27-28
"Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips. Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, To practice deeds of wickedness With men who do iniquity; And do not let me eat of their delicacies. Let the righteous smite me in kindness and reprove me; It is oil upon the head; Do not let my head refuse it, For still my prayer is against their wicked deeds."
~ Psalm 141:3-5
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