28 Days of Loving - Day 3

Did you know that there are millions of bacteria located in your mouth?  Yuck! Sorry if you are eating and reading this.

The purpose of those bacteria is to help your body digest the food you are eating.  Even though it causes your mouth to be unclean, it does actually help things along.  According to Dr. Oz, vegetarian mouths are cleaner because those who eat meat leave it between their teeth which feeds the bacteria.  Kissing actually transfers bacteria to the other person and they start growing in a new place.  Think about that the next time you kiss your spouse.

But I'm not talking about bacteria of the mouth today.  I'm talking about respecting what goes in and what goes out of it. 

The things you say are quite powerful.  They have the power to heal and the power to destroy.  They have the power to build up or tear down.  Your heart is on display when you speak.

Jesus talked about this in Matthew 12:33-37 or click to view  http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+12%3A33-37&version=NIV (Click back arrow on web browser to return)

Jesus cares about what is coming out of your mouth.  If you really understand how God loves you, you will learn to care for your mouth.  You will care about the words you use.  You will think through your words. 

Have you ever regretted saying something?  Wish you could take it back? We all have.  We may have been right or maybe we were wrong.  Regardless, words are powerful and should be considered carefully.

So when your boss is frustratingyou, or your children are testing you, or a friend is challenging you, consider your words carefully.  They reveal the heart. 

As you close:  As God for His help to control your tongue.  To speak the truth in love.  To say what is needed at the moment.

God Bless!

28 Days of Loving - Day 2

This past Sunday I was talking about how the love God has for us changes our view of ourselves.  At least it should. When we truly realize that God values us as special and sacred, it should change the way we look at ourselves.

Are we allowing the things of this world to damage our value?  I Corinthians 6:19 says that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit.  Because of this, we should honor God with our bodies.

That means we should care about what we allow our eyes to see.

Do you remember that song, "Oh be careful little eyes what you see..."  Already you are singing that song in your head.  Well, this simple nursery rhyme is a powerful song.  Why? Because we should be careful what our eyes ponder on. 

This week the new cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue came out.  All the talk is about the new girl on the cover page.  She may be a beautiful woman who is dressed in a very revealing swimsuit.  But do I really need to be looking at her like that?  Is that good for my mind?  Is that good for my image of my wife?  Will I be thinking of her instead of my wife?  All because I took a peek at a Magazine cover.

God wants you to be careful with what you look at.  He knows how impressionable our minds are just by simply looking around us. Learn from King Davids mistake.

Read 2 Samuel 11 or click to view http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+11&version=NIV (Click Back Arrow on web browser to return)

David's eyes caused a great problem.  Did he flinch when he saw her bathing?  Did he try to walk away? Did he justify his thoughts?

Oh be careful little eyes what you see...David was not careful with his eyes and the thing he did, displeased the Lord.

I want to please the Lord with my eyes.  So I need to guard them.  I need to be thinking ahead so that I can protect them.  Are you doing the same?

As you close: Ask God for his help to keep your eyes pure from the filth in this world.  Ask God to give you wisdom to know what is good to look at and what is not. 

God Bless!