Actions.............they really do speak louder than words. We have heard this statement all of our lives, but have we really listened to it? The dictionary tells me that the word action means the process or condition of moving as opposed to rest....the doing of something. I love that last statement.....the DOING OF SOMETHING. What was it that Jesus told his earthly parents when they had lost him, and turned back to find him teaching in the temple?.....He stated, "..wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? He was 'doing' what God had told him to do. He was....IN ACTION!
How many times do we say that we are going to do something....but then never get around to doing it? I'm reminded of a verse in Galations 5:7 "Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?" Running is definitely an action. I love to exercise, but I can tell you that all day.....it wouldn't change a thing, and I would never get into shape unless I actually got up and exercised. I can tell you that when I don't run for a little while, when I finally do get out there.....it hurts....it definitely shows that I haven't put my 'running' into action.
We often tell our loved ones that we love them, we tell them how we feel about them.....and we should.......but do those words ever turn into action? John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Wow..........now that's putting words into action! He gave all He had for each and everyone of us........His love in perfect action!
Flip the coin...........what if the action is..........nothing.......no words.......The action of doing nothing can speak loudly as well. How do you feel when someone you think loves you doesn't seem to have time for you, doesn't call or text you to see how you are doing....never seems to have time for you? I'm so thankful that God's Word tells me that He will never leave me nor forsake me......and He puts those words into action every single day! Friends and family may fail us, but He 'sticketh closer than a brother'.
Now, I also know that words can hurt, and can cut so deeply too. There are times I have said things that I wish I could take back....but I can't. Thank God that his mercy and grace are never ending! We must be mindful of our words as well as our actions. When our actions mimick our words.......a complete story unfolds. Case in point.....I had an issue come up in my life. I shared it with a dear friend. She listened intently to me....told me she loved me and that she was praying for me. Those 'words' were a great comfort to me...but she went further........she put those sweet words into action. She kept in contact with me, calling, texting, coming by.......she was concerned and she showed it. She did little things....that she will never know how much it helped. I know that she cares.....because she put it into action! Her actions matched her words! If she had told me she loved me and was praying....but then never mentioned anything else, never asked...then her actions would have been loudly telling me.....she didn't care!
Are your actions matching your words? Do you tell God that you love Him, adore Him....and yet you don't read His Word, or spend time in prayer......don't go to church.....don't tell others about Him? Do you tell that spouse, or child, or friend that you love them, but your actions aren't showing them? We are human, and we are all guilty of this. My prayer is that the words that come out of my mouth are in a spirit of love and meekness, understanding and patience......and that my actions then back them up. God please help me not to spew ugly, angry words....and then my actions follow............and God, help me not to have any words...followed by apathy...giving nothing to those around me. God help me to be more Christ-like..........that is my desire.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
The Straight Way
Matthew 7: 13, 14 "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."
Luke 13: 24 "Strive to enter in at the strait gate; for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able."
Why is it that we often take 'the long way' to get to things? On our way to my youngest daughter's basketball game tonight, my husband asked me, "Which way do you think is the shortest way to get there?" I told him I wasn't sure, so he continued on.......the longer way. Why?.....well, I thought about it, and the only thing I can think of is this: the shorter way consisted of applying the brakes and turning right........the longer way, went further down the road, with a more gentle turn......less work.....at the time. Both ways got us to the same exact place.............but, the longer way got us there just as the game had started..........
This got me thinking............how often do we do this in our spiritual lives? We are headed where we need to go...but when God speaks to us and says, "Hey, turn this way." We hesitate, and keep going the other way....because it requires less effort at the time. Only to have to go down winding roads, burn more gas, and waste more time later on. If we had turned when God wanted us to, we could have reaped the reward much sooner....and with more 'gas' in our tanks, less 'mileage' on our cars.....and less tired.
I was driving my youngest daughter to her boyfriend's house the other day......the area he lives in, there are about 4 different ways you can get there.....depending on where you are coming from. She laughed, telling me that when her sister takes her, she goes the same way every time, no matter where she is coming from. I asked her why...........and she said....."because this is the way dad showed me the first time I came". Lol............she wasted time and gas by going that way....but she didn't want to try the other ways.
Now I totally, understand this, how often do we do the same thing, the same way, everytime...just because we are familiar with that path and fear the unknown too much to try a different way? Yes, she still got to her destination..........but again, the gas and mileage she wasted. God so often tries to help us reach our goals sooner, if we will just walk in faith with Him.
I want to stay in His Word, and stay on my knees every day so that when God speaks, when He directs my paths, I will be ready to make that turn that will save time and gas in my spiritual walk. 'Where He leads me....I will follow...........where He leads me I will follow.....where He leads me I will follow...I'll go with Him, with Him ALL THE WAY!
Luke 13: 24 "Strive to enter in at the strait gate; for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able."
Why is it that we often take 'the long way' to get to things? On our way to my youngest daughter's basketball game tonight, my husband asked me, "Which way do you think is the shortest way to get there?" I told him I wasn't sure, so he continued on.......the longer way. Why?.....well, I thought about it, and the only thing I can think of is this: the shorter way consisted of applying the brakes and turning right........the longer way, went further down the road, with a more gentle turn......less work.....at the time. Both ways got us to the same exact place.............but, the longer way got us there just as the game had started..........
This got me thinking............how often do we do this in our spiritual lives? We are headed where we need to go...but when God speaks to us and says, "Hey, turn this way." We hesitate, and keep going the other way....because it requires less effort at the time. Only to have to go down winding roads, burn more gas, and waste more time later on. If we had turned when God wanted us to, we could have reaped the reward much sooner....and with more 'gas' in our tanks, less 'mileage' on our cars.....and less tired.
I was driving my youngest daughter to her boyfriend's house the other day......the area he lives in, there are about 4 different ways you can get there.....depending on where you are coming from. She laughed, telling me that when her sister takes her, she goes the same way every time, no matter where she is coming from. I asked her why...........and she said....."because this is the way dad showed me the first time I came". Lol............she wasted time and gas by going that way....but she didn't want to try the other ways.
Now I totally, understand this, how often do we do the same thing, the same way, everytime...just because we are familiar with that path and fear the unknown too much to try a different way? Yes, she still got to her destination..........but again, the gas and mileage she wasted. God so often tries to help us reach our goals sooner, if we will just walk in faith with Him.
I want to stay in His Word, and stay on my knees every day so that when God speaks, when He directs my paths, I will be ready to make that turn that will save time and gas in my spiritual walk. 'Where He leads me....I will follow...........where He leads me I will follow.....where He leads me I will follow...I'll go with Him, with Him ALL THE WAY!
It's Just A Quarter
A man was walking down the road one day, and something caught his eye. He bent down and picked it up...what could it be? He knew it was a coin but due to all the dirt and grime, he couldn't tell anything more. He held it in the palm of his hand and walked on his way.
When he got home he took the coin and began to rub it and clean it. Once all the dirt was gone, he could now see that it was a quarter. After careful examination, he began to smile and joy filled his heart. He was so proud that he carefully put the quarter on his shelf and admired it.
It's just a quarter.......what's the big deal?? Well you see, years before, this man worked at the U.S. mint. He was very knowledgeable about coins. As he cleaned the coin, he saw the date. He soon realized that this very coin was one of the coins that he had made when he first started working there. What is worth only 25 cents to anyone else....is priceless to him. He made this coin and sent it out into the world....and years later, he had found it again!
Now, let's put it into a spiritual sense.........God made each and everyone of us, and then, being the gentleman He is, sent us into the world. We entered this world and got all the dirt and grime of this world all over us. Many walk by and see us as nothing.....no value to anyone. But one glorious day....God came by our way, reached down....way down......picked us up out of the miry clay of this world, put us in the palm of His hand, cleaned us up.....and now looks at us with love and pride. What once was lost, now is found! We are priceless to our Lord and Savior!!
When he got home he took the coin and began to rub it and clean it. Once all the dirt was gone, he could now see that it was a quarter. After careful examination, he began to smile and joy filled his heart. He was so proud that he carefully put the quarter on his shelf and admired it.
It's just a quarter.......what's the big deal?? Well you see, years before, this man worked at the U.S. mint. He was very knowledgeable about coins. As he cleaned the coin, he saw the date. He soon realized that this very coin was one of the coins that he had made when he first started working there. What is worth only 25 cents to anyone else....is priceless to him. He made this coin and sent it out into the world....and years later, he had found it again!
Now, let's put it into a spiritual sense.........God made each and everyone of us, and then, being the gentleman He is, sent us into the world. We entered this world and got all the dirt and grime of this world all over us. Many walk by and see us as nothing.....no value to anyone. But one glorious day....God came by our way, reached down....way down......picked us up out of the miry clay of this world, put us in the palm of His hand, cleaned us up.....and now looks at us with love and pride. What once was lost, now is found! We are priceless to our Lord and Savior!!
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