Pure Magazine

'Tis A Season

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For those of you that don't know, this has been a year full of change for me. Back in August, we discovered that my husband Will has cancer and he has been on chemotherapy since the beginning of September. And as much as I'd like to say that I've held it all together, the fact of the matter is that it has been extremely difficult. The reason that I made the title of this article "'Tis A Season" instead of "'Tis The Season" is because I wanted to remind everyone going through hard times that we all go through different seasons in life. The rain will go away eventually and the clouds will subside. You will see the sun shine again.

My husband and I like to make lists of goals for the year. Earlier this year, we had a very long list, with plans and expectations of what would happen. Well, we never would have thought in a million years that something like this would happen to Will. He is young and healthy, in shape and active. But, cancer doesn't play favorites and sometimes life surprises us. The comfort that we find, however, is that God will never leave us, nor forsake us. He will never give us more than we can handle.

I spoke with a woman at the cancer center the other day, while Will was receiving his treatment. She was on her 11th cycle of chemotherapy and was obviously worn down and exhausted. But after talking with her a while, she said that she was very appreciative to have the cancer center because it gave her hope. It started to make me think about the power of hope. Where would we be without God? How could Will and I get through this without His strength to hold us up?

Ecclesiastes 3: A Time for Everything 

1 There is a time for everything,

   and a season for every activity under the heavens:  2 a time to be born

and a time to die,

   a time to plant and a time to uproot,

 3 a time to kill and a time to heal,

   a time to tear down and a time to build,

 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,

   a time to mourn and a time to dance,

 5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

   a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

 6 a time to search and a time to give up,

   a time to keep and a time to throw away,

 7 a time to tear and a time to mend,

   a time to be silent and a time to speak,

 8 a time to love and a time to hate,

   a time for war and a time for peace.

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For those of you that are struggling this holiday season, I urge you to remember that seasons change and life goes on. Your pain won't last forever and things will get better. Maybe some of you are mourning the loss of a loved one, or holding that hand of you sick husband, or lying in a hospital bed. Maybe some of you are drowning in debt, trying to find work, or worrying about keeping your children fed. Just remember that God is our provider. He is our strength, and He is our HOPE. Hold onto the thought that a new season is just around the corner.

This Christmas Eve I sang in the Christmas choir at church, and we sang the song "Jesus Paid it All". There is something about that song that always makes me cry. However, one verse in particular kept jumping out at me. "I hear the Savior say, 'thy strength indeed is small. Child of weakness watch and pray. Find in me thine all in all." I just kept hearing God remind me that though this season is tough, God is enough to sustain us. He will be our all in all.

After that song, we had our candle light section of the service, where we all light a candle and hold it up in the air. The silence in the room, mixed with the beauty of everyone worshiping God together just brought me to tears. He showed me that each person in that room was going through something different, yet we were all joined together in the same place to worship God. He is the one that we should turn to, no matter what and He is the only one we can depend on to get us through anything. God speaks to us in many ways. We just have to sit and listen. Sometimes we need to be silent to hear his voice.

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Let's take this Christmas season to thank God for all He has done this year and pray that He can use us in even greater ways next year. Remember to tell your friends and family how much you love them and that God is enough to sustain you through each and every season.

When you look in the mirror, what do you see? I know this is a question asked in every “self-image” article, but it’s an important one…so work with me. When you see your reflection, what emotions come to surface? Are you satisfied, neutral, sad, or depressed? Do you think you are a plain Jane? Do you automatically begin pointing out your flaws or do you notice your beautiful smile?

These last few months I have been focusing on my goal to lose weight.  They have not been the easiest few months but I’ve learned a lot. One of the books I began reading to help me along my journey is “Power Thoughts” by Joyce Meyer.  In her book, Joyce explains that our thoughts can control us if we don’t learn to control them. If we think negatively about ourselves, we are bound to be negative people, and therefore struggle to reach our goals. If we think positively, we are bound to be positive people and therefore find it much easier to reach our goals. You would think this simple concept would cure the problems of the world. However, very few people take hold of it and run with it.

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Tonight I was watching an episode of “What Not to Wear”. It is one of my favorite shows. Stacy and Clinton know what they’re doing. Pretty much every episode inspires me in some way. However, the episode that aired tonight really hit home.  The woman getting the make-over was a recent divorcee, had gained some weight, and due to a health problem considered herself to be a “freak”. She said that no man would ever be interested in her and she felt no need to take care of herself because no one cared. Even as I am writing this, tears are coming to my eyes.

It is so easy to fall into the trap that Satan lays for us.He can plant one thought into our mind and affect our whole life.  He can even use those that are closest to us to say hurtful things that stay with us for years. And for those that are unaware they have power over their thoughts, these lies can turn into a lifestyle and damage what God has created. “What has He created”, you ask? He has created Y.O.U.

Y – Yahweh’s

O – Original

U- Utility

Just like the power utility in your home, you must pay thebills to keep the lights on. To keep your inner light shining, you must “paythe bills” so to speak. I don’t mean opening up your wallet and handing out cash. I mean taking time aside for God and reading His Word, meditating on the truth, and taking care of your body (which is his Holy Temple).

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In tonight’s episode of “What Not to Wear”, Stacy asked the troubled young woman to keep repeating these simple words. I wish every girl and woman in the world would repeat them with her (and me).

"I am beautiful and I am going to share my beauty with the world." 

Stacy “What Not to Wear”

And here’s the best part…God agrees.

Philippians 2:14-16

 14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”[c] Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life.

We are not meant to hide in our clothes and walk around like dull fuddy dutties that hate life. We are meant to stand out and shine like stars in the sky. Rise up, women and start shining! Let’s look in the mirror and see radiance! Let’s take hold of the truth that we are Yahweh’s Original Utility.

Keep the lights on! Pay the bills! Know that you are beautiful on the inside and out!

Is Fear Controlling You?

Isaiah 41:13

For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you,Do not fear; I will help you.

Rosanne Cash said, “The key to change…is to let go of fear.”These are simple words with a profound meaning. I don’t know about you, but I find this statement completely true in my own life. Sad to say, the fear of failure can control whether we do or do not do something. It can control how we feel about ourselves, the motivation we possess to make steps toward progress,and how we live our day to day lives. In some cases, this can mean the decision to work out and eat healthy, or to grab the junk food in front of you. If you won’t succeed in losing weight, why even try, right? It can mean the decision to pass along a great job opportunity. If you can’t be perfect at it, why even try, right? Wrong.

Borrowed from http://www.psychologytoday.com/files/u45/failure_text.jpg

Fear has the power to control us. When we fear something, it becomes our God.

Isaiah 41:10

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, forI am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with myrighteous right hand.

Often, I run across women that walk with cement filled boots due to their fear of failure. They cover this up with words like, “Oh, that’snot my kind of thing. Why don’t you have her do it. She would be much better”or “Why would I even try that? I know I wouldn’t do it right.” To be honest, I am sometimes that woman. The very fact that I am writing this article and this magazine is still up and running shows me that it is possible to fight your fears when you have God on your side.

Isaiah 35:4

say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear;your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.”

I can’t tell you how many times I thought of quitting this Magazine, shutting it down, and moving on. I told myself, “I am not qualified.No one wants to read my articles. What do I know? I am too young, too inexperienced, etc.” I thought of a thousand reasons why I shouldn’t be the one writing these articles. However, there was one important reason why I should. God said so. Right now, this is what God wants me to do, so I am here…but that took a decision. It made me take one step closer to God and one step further from fear.

Psalm 91:5

You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,

There is a song from JJ Heller called, “Keep You Safe.” It’sone of my favorites and has helped me through countless sleepless nights. Someof the lyrics include: “You’ll have your own battles to fight when you are older. You’ll find yourself frozen inside but always remember if you feel alone, facing the giants and you don’t know what to do….My love is a light driving away all of your fear. So, don’t be afraid. Remember I made a promise to keep you safe.”

Now, of course this is not suggesting that you will have a care-free life. However, it is stating that God’s love can drive out fear.

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1 John 4:18

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear,because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

My God is a God of love and joy; not of fear. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Our God is a God that helps us move mountains, heals the broken, binds up wounds, and strengthens the weak. He is a God of courageous strength, and He has created us in His image. We were not created to fear the world, but to save it through Jesus Christ.  Ladies, let’s all stand up and make decisions that are led by Christ and not by fear. Let’s examine our thoughts and motives before we take action and fight the enemy with a strong stance of courageous strength.

Hosea 14:4

“I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them"

Matthew 10:8

Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

Romans 3:24

and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

I am sure you've heard of the cliché "Can't Buy Me Love?" It's one of my very favorite sayings. The reason I love it so much is because it is so profoundly true. Four simple words have summed up how God feels about His creation. As the scriptures above indicate, God does not require anything from us in order for Him to love us. He offers his undying, never-ending, unconditional love for free. But, how many of us live the life of a truly loved and accepted woman? How many of us have accepted the love that God so richly gave us?

So many times women feel they need to earn love; from their family, friends, children, husbands, and yes even God. They live their lives as "super moms", "trophy wives", and "ladder climbers" all with the hopes that someone would love them, accept them, and maybe look up to them.

This type of behavior is very common. One of the deepest longings that women possess is the need to be loved and accepted. For some women that don't have God, they have never experienced unconditional love. They are always trying to be thinner, prettier, smarter (in some cases dumber), funnier, etc. just to win the approval of someone (sometimes just anyone).

I wish I could get a loud speaker that traveled across the globe so I could shout one thing: "You cannot buy love! Christ has already paid the price on the cross!" There is nothing we can say, do or think that can ever separate us from the love of Christ.

Ephesians 2:8-10

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Romans 8:38-39

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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You might have guessed why I have chosen to write this article now...in the month of February. Of course, Valentine's Day is coming up very quickly and obviously it can make a person think about love. I have been married almost two years now (on Feb. 20th), and anyone that is married will understand that no human is capable of unconditional love. We can strive for it, but we all have flaws. We are all judgmental to a certain degree whether we like to admit it or not. We all do our best to make compromises and strive to keep our marriages fresh. I love my husband so very much, but one thing I have learned is that he will never love me the way that God loves me...and I should never expect him to.He loves me the best that he can love me.

Whether you are single, married, divorced, widowed, or dating there is one thing I need to say: NO MAN will ever love you the way God does. NO MAN will ever fill the hole in your heart that is meant for God. We were designed to desire a deep never-ending love from our Savior. I am not saying that there isn't a place for your husband (or future husband), but I am saying that God must remain our first love.

It can be so easy to get distracted and to forget about our first love, especially when "Mr. Right" is sitting next to us. It can also be easy to get distracted while looking for "Mr. Right". I remember dreading Valentine's Day when I was single. I felt like everyone had someone but me. The truth is, I was too caught up in waiting for "Mr. Right" and I wasn't spending enough time thanking God for the wonderful gift of singleness. Yes, ladies; it is a gift.

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We all go through different seasons in life. However, one thing that doesn't change, doesn't get blown away by the wind or disappear like leaves in autumn is the love of Christ. It can sound redundant, but it is important. It is the most important lesson you can learn in life.

So, for all you over-achieving work-aholic Christians out there, I am sorry to bust your bubble: You cannot earn it this time. It's already yours.

Accept his love and don't feel guilty for it. Let's all try to live lives that reflect the love of Christ that He has so graciously given us.

Overcoming Negative Thoughts

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Let me ask you a question: How many times a day do you say or think something negative about yourself? Do you ever say things like, "I am not smart enough", "I am not pretty enough, , " I am not good enough"? If your answer is yes, then this article is for you.

2 Corinthians 10:5

"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ"

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Taking Thoughts Captive

What does it mean to take your thoughts captive? Well, just as a prisoner is taken captive, so should your thoughts be. Put it behind bars to never again see the light of day. Once a thought comes to your mind, you then must determine if it belongs there. Match it against the Bible, against God's character, and against the truth. And if you happen to have a thought come to mind that doesn't match up, then GET RID OF IT. You are in charge of your emotions. You are in charge of your thoughts....and GOD is in charge of you. Do you think God, your Creator, would like hearing negative things about you, His creation? I highly doubt it.

Psalm 139:23

"Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts"

The Cause

It is my belief that women think negative things about themselves because it's what they are fed their whole lives through streams of Media. You can be young but not too young, old but not too old, skinny but not too skinny....the list goes on and on. Commercials, TV Shows, Movies, Radio Broadcasts, etc. show an unrealistic image of what a woman should be. Is it any wonder that women all around the world think so poorly of themselves?  According to "Depression Facts and Stats" By Bob Murray, PhD and Alicia Fortinberry, MS "54% of people believe depression is a personal weakness and 41% of depressed women are too embarrassed to seek help." 

Satan rules the Media and the world is his playground. Don't believe what the world says about you. Believe what God says.

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Psalm 10:4

In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.

Know the Truth

BellaOnline: The Voice of Women said, "A marriage counselor, after counseling hundreds of couples who were on the path to divorce, raised the idea of negative self-talk as one potential cause of divorce. This pattern of negative self talk, he contends, is a barrier to a couples happiness, much more than a lack of open communication is."

That should tell you that negative thoughts/speech affect not only your life, but the lives of those you love. No husband or wife wants to constantly hear you say negative things about yourself. After all, they married you for your positive qualities and they don't want to hear negative things about the person they love.

The truth of the matter is that God loves you too. Every thought He has of you is one of love.He knows you are good enough, smart enough, pretty enough, and talented enough to accomplish what He has set out for you to do.

You want to know a great way to replace negative thoughts? Replace them with thoughts of Jesus.

Hebrews 3:1

Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.

When your thoughts are on God and you are trying to emulate Him, I can guarantee that the last thing on your mind will be negativity.

Change your thoughts and you change your world.

Norman Vincent Peale

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Conclusion

In life, we are guaranteed to have trouble. We will have fleeting thoughts from time to time that we are not good enough. The truth is that we have a loving God in heaven that thinks the world of us. He wants us to think the same. Let's all try to take every thought captive to make it obedient to God.

The Camel

Can you fit?

Mark 10:25

"It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

In the world today, we face many temptations. We are tempted to commit all kinds of sins. Though most Christians would like to say they've resisted those temptations, many may fall blind to one in particular: The love of money.

It's pretty easy for anyone to fall into the trap of money. Every day, we are faced with ads and promotions basically telling us that money can buy you happiness. If you own these clothes, own this house, own this car, buy this food, you will be happy. And even if you are watching closely, Satan has his way of sneaking in under disguise. This article is meant to bring to light which disguises Satan commonly uses, and to help you understand how to fight against the lies of the enemy.

The Root of All Evil

First of all, we need to clear up one common misconception. Money is not the root of all evil. The LOVE of money is the root of all evil.

1 Timothy 6:10

"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."

Anytime you are placing someone or something ahead of God in your life, you have an idol. Many people have made money their idol without even knowing it. They dream about their future home and forget about the one they already have. They worry about having enough money to retire. They spend more money than they have to live a lifestyle they think they "deserve". The list goes on an on.

It can even happen when you are poor. It's not just the rich man that needs to watch out. Sometimes people can spend their whole life wishing they had more. They can fear what will happen if they don't have a certain amount of money. But, when you fear something, it becomes your God. It becomes greater than the God that promised to take care of those that love Him.

Security

One of the common lies Satan throws at women is that we need money to become secure. Especially in this day and age where women are expected to become financially independent, that can become a major strain...even a major fear. Thus, women are forced to think that without money, they will be left alone. This is an entirely different article, but this is one of the many ways Satan is breaking up families all over the world. There is nothing wrong with a working mother, but often times that fear of needing to get ahead can lead to work-aholic mothers and fathers and ultimately divorce.

Generosity

Another one of the easiest ways Satan can get to you is to convince you that you cannot "afford" to tithe or to give generously. He makes you think that bills come first and tithing comes last if there is something left over. For someone that is "barely getting by" that's all they need to hear. The way that God wants us to think is that He comes first in every situation. He should be the heartbeat of your life, starting with finances. Your financial priorities show all of your priorities.

Luke 12:34

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

First, pay your tithes. Give back to the God that gave you everything. Then, trust in Him that He will provide all of your needs. Don't just give God your leftovers. He deserves so much more.

You will find that the closer you grow to God, the more generous you will seem. I just watched a sermon called, "I Believe in God but I trust in money". You can watch it when you get the time. It's a little long (but worth watching).

 http://vimeo.com/7022714

In the video, they say, "We trust is money to bring us happiness and security. Money can even be the number one competitor for our hearts. When we go deep with Jesus we become strangely content with what we have and we become irrationally generous."

1 Timothy 6:17-19

 "Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life."

I don't know about you, but that is the life I want to live. I want to be content in any circumstance. I want to be generous and willing to share, laying up a treasure for myself in heaven. I want to take hold of the life that is truly life.

But what if the Church misuses the money?

I have heard this many times from people. What happens if the Pastor is hoarding all the money for himself? My answer is that I, too, have thought the same thing from time to time. However, after much soul searching, I've realized that it's not my job to Lord over the church's finances. The people that are there, are there because God allows it. If He wanted me there counting the money and dispersing it to where it should go, then that's where I would be.

1 Peter 2:13

"Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority"

Your job is to follow God's commandments to tithe. It is not the dollar amount or the law that matter. It is the condition of your heart. If you are a cheerful giver and know that you are giving out of your heart because you love God, then that's all that matters.

Conclusion

All of us have our weakness. Whether it be eating out, shopping, hobbies, excessive saving, etc., God knows your heart. He desires to be close to you and to have an intimate relationship with you. Do you really want your finances to get in the way of a deep, intimate relationship with God? I know that after some soul-searching I need to make some changes in my life. Being a Christian means that you need to be open to change. God is constantly trying to help us improve our lives for the sake of us. Change hurts sometimes and priorities can be an imposition, but in the long run, you will be much happier knowing that you are in God's will.

Let's all take a look at our checkbooks and make sure that God's check is the first to be written.

Into

Ansel Adams once said, "Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter."

For those of you that aren't familiar with him, Ansel Adams is a famous photographer. I thought this quote was perfect for what I have to talk about in this article. Whether you are a photographer, a dancer/singer, a stay-at-home wife or mother, or maybe a web designer, God wants you to be able to use your skills for His glory. There is nothing more satisfying than knowing your hard work was seen by God Almighty and that he is pleased with what you've done.

"In Glacier National Park" By: Ansel Adams

One of the hardest parts about making yourself available to God to use your gifts and talents is that it also includes making yourself available to Change. Change can be a scary word to some people. It can mean doing things we are uncomfortable doing, or at least not what we're used to doing. It can mean moving to another city or even another country. It can mean quitting a job or starting a new one. Perhaps, it may mean you need to take a role of leadership when you don't feel equipped to do so. Most likely, it will involve you stepping out in faith, in one way or another.

Isaiah 42:9

"See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you."

In light of the Easter holiday coming up, with spring in the air...I thought I might introduce a "Change" of season. No, I don't mean finally going from winter to spring. What I am referring to involves your mind, body and spirit. Allowing God to walk you into a new season involves courage and dedication. It involves your faith and trust in God.

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http://www.starting-gate.com/media/images/site_library/6_series_ready.jpg

When I started this magazine, I got a lot of different reactions from people. Some were excited and cheered me on, while others were harsh and told me to get a "real" job. For those of you that have been listening to the will of God, you know what I am talking about. Sometimes, God calls us to a lonely road. Sometimes, He calls us to a tough road....especially to roads rarely walked. However, once you've heard the will of God, it is your duty to follow and obey. Eleneor Roosevelt said, "When you have decided what you believe, what you think must be done,have the courage to stand alone and be counted."

Being Ready

Luke12:35

[ Watchfulness ] "Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning,

There are times when I feel so unfit for the calling that God has given me. But, one thing I always remind myself of, is that He doesn't call the equipped. He equips the called. If I wasn't ready, I might have missed what God wanted to share with me.

It is our duty as His children to be equipped and ready when He comes.

2 Timothy 4:2

Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.

Do you feel that you are ready to hear what God is directing you to do? Are you ready to allow Him to move you into the next season of your life?

How to Prepare

Ephesians 6:18

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Image borrowed from beingwife.wordpress.com/2009/03/

If you read the rest of Ephesians 6, you will notice that the Bible speaks of the "Armor of God". I challenge you to take a look and study that portion greatly. It may help you greater understand the term "Spiritual Warfare". If you are alert, the Devil (who is preying around like a lion for someone to devour) will have no power.

You want to know how to prepare? The answer is simple, and maybe a little bit cliché: Read your Bible & Study it, Pray on ALL occasions, and OBEY the Lord your God.

Don't Be Fooled

The world will tell you that there are many ways to God. They will say that any religion can get you to heaven, because there are so many roads to get there. The answer is: That is just not true.

There is one narrow road that will take you to God...and that road is named Jesus.

I challenge you. If you have never accepted Jesus into your heart, today is the day. Don't allow Satan to have one more day holding the keys to your heart. If you allow Jesus to speak to you and make yourself available, He can use you in miraculous ways.

Let's all be ready for God to Spring us into Change.

She Speaks With

Wisdom

Image borrowed from reconnections.net

Proverbs18:21

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Winston Churchill once said, "By swallowing evil words unsaid, no one has ever harmed his stomach." It's a saying that I personally agree with. However, it's sometimes easier said than done. When a person is provoked, you never know what might come out.

As a woman, I know what it means to deal with gossip.  I know what it means to be the victim of someone's tongue lashing and I know what it means to hurt someone by words I've said. Obviously, men deal with the same issues; but we are speaking to the women right now.

How many of you have experienced the pain that follows cruel words? How many of you have been discouraged, outraged, or saddened because of someone's tongue lashing?

The Bible discusses the power of words in many scriptures.

Psalm 64:3

They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their words like deadly arrows.

Psalm 140:3

They make their tongues as sharp as a serpent's; the poison of vipers is on their lips.

Psalm 52:2

Your tongue plots destruction; it is like a sharpened razor, you who practice deceit.

In my own life, I have allowed harmful words to choose my path. I have allowed them to discourage me to the point where I gave up, to the point where I lost all sense of ambition, to the point where I wouldn't even try for fear of failure. What have words done to you? What have your words done to others?

God never intented for us to speak to each other this way.

Please read the story below:

Image borrowed from classperformance.com

A Motivational Story with Wisdom -

The Power of Words

by Author Unkown

A group of frogs were traveling through the woods, and two of them fell into a deep pit. All the other frogs gathered around the pit. When they saw how deep the pit was, they told the two frogs that they were as good as dead.

The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump up out of the pit with all of their might. The other frogs kept telling them to stop, that they were as good as dead. Finally, one of the frogs took heed to what the other frogs were saying and gave up. He fell down and died.

The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could. Once again, the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and just die. He jumped even harder and finally made it out.

When he got out, the other frogs said, "Did you not hear us?" The frog explained to them that he was deaf. He thought they were encouraging him the entire time.

This story gives us thoughts to think about:

1. An encouraging word to someone who is down can encourage them to achieve their goal.

2. A destructive word to someone who is down can have negative effects. Be careful of what you say.

The quote below was sent to me by Master Mark Russell. His quote describes "words" very accurately:

"Words:

The Snow may look smooth and soft,

but the rocks underneath are sharp!"

One last point,

Are your words encouraging?

Taken From:

http://www.wow4u.com/pow/index.html

Image borrowed from brilliantleap.com

What Should We Do???

During Jesus' time on earth, He was the victim of hurtful words. He endured every kind of lashing, up until his crucifixion. Yet, still his last words were, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."

If you were in his seat, what would have been your words? Do we really bless those that persecute us? Or, do we curse those that curse us?

Proverbs 31:26

She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

Proverbs 15:4

The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.

Psalm 37:30

The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just.

We Must Forgive

The hardest part of dealing with the pain caused by harmful words, is forgiving those that spoke them. However, by holding unforgiveness in your heart, you will never be free- and neither will the person you cannot forgive.

Romans 12:14

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

Some of you may be thinking, "You didn't hear what they said to me. It was so harsh that I can never forgive them." You may be thinking, "I don't deserve to be forgiven for the things I've said. I can't even live with myself."

Jesus says there is forgiveness when you ask for it. He offers it freely to us. He died on the cross so that we may be forgiven. Who are we to take the place of God and decide who should be forgiven?

Luke 6:37

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven."

I will be the first to admit that forgiving isn't always easy. But, remember that it's a process. Day by day, I was able to forgive the person that hurt me. I am sure that with the help of Jesus, you will be able to do the same. There is nothing more liberating than knowing the pain is gone because you forgave.

Be careful of your thoughts; they may become words at any moment. ~Ira Gassen

Let's all be women that speak with wisdom and bring healing to those around us.

What's Your Sign?

Image borrowed from morningbounce.wordpress.com/2009/04/page/8/

Throughout the centuries, people around the world have asked so many questions. Who will I marry? Should I invest in this stock? What job is right for me? Should I move to another state?

Some people leave it to chance and hope it works out. Some go to God and pray that He will help them make the right decision. But, sadly, others will go to a Psychic or Medium to get their answers.

"Now, what is so wrong with that?" some of you may ask.

Deut. 4:19 And when you look up to the sky and see the sun, the moon and the stars—all the heavenly array—do not be enticed into bowing down to them and worshiping things the Lord your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven.

Image borrowed from www.astrology-online.com/dailyhoroscopes.htm

 Deut. 18:10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in a the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft,  11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.  12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord, and because of these detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you.  13 You must be blameless before the Lord your God.

I don't know about you, but anytime I read that something is "detestable to the Lord", I don't want any part of it.

So many people, including some Christians, think that reading a daily horoscope does no harm. They might say, "it's only for fun. I don't think it really tells my future". However, when we entertain things that are of the Devil, we welcome him in to our minds and into our homes.

The scary part of this is that often horoscopes can seem to be accurate. Why do you think that people read them, after all?

A common theme in most of my blogs is to inform the reader of a war. No, not a physical war...a spiritual one. There is a battle going on in the spiritual realm for each and every one of us. Satan does his homework. Of course, he might give some accurate information to the demons involved in your daily horoscope.

God is the ONLY one that knows your future. His will is what you should be interested in.

Psalm 119:105

"Your word is a lamp to my feet

and a light for my path"

Psalm 139:2-6 

 2 You know when I sit and when I rise;

       you perceive my thoughts from afar.

 3 You discern my going out and my lying down;

       you are familiar with all my ways.

 4 Before a word is on my tongue

       you know it completely, O LORD.

 5 You hem me in—behind and before;

       you have laid your hand upon me.

 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,

       too lofty for me to attain.

A little article like this one cannot possibly explain the love that God has for you, but here is my attempt.

I urge you with strict conviction to stay away from astrology, horoscopes, and palm readers, tarot cards, and psychics. The God that created you gave you this same warning.

Reading your horoscope may seem to be harmless and give you your entertainment for the day, but remember you aren't the only one being entertained.

I end this topic with one scripture. It should give you clarity and hope.

Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Let's decide to ask God about our future, and trust him with it.

"Mirror, Mirror on the Wall"

We all know the age-old story of Snow White. The seven dworfs whistle away at their work and Snow White finds her prince. But, not many people spend a lot of time talking about the Queen.

The beautiful Queen spent most of her time saying, "Mirror, Mirror on the wall, Who is the fairest one of all?" Then the mirror would reply, "Thou, O Queen, art the fairest of all." And that was all fine and dandy with her.

But here comes the problem: Snow White.

When Snow White was around 7 years old, she grew more and more beautiful. Soon, she became more beautiful than even the Queen. Now, when the Queen asks her most famous question, the mirror responds with a different answer.

"O Lady Queen, though fair ye be, Snow-White is fairer far to see."

She was horrified to hear that someone else could possibly be more beautiful than her, so she ordered the huntsmen to take her into the woods and kill her.

Of course, we know that Snow White escapes and it's a happy ending. But, let's take some time talking about the Queen.

Who is your Mirror?

How do you know that you are beautiful? Is it something that you just know? Do you compare yourself to others around you? Possibly the Media are speaking to you. But how often do you go to God’s word to find your beauty?

As women, it almost seems that we contain an innate ability to compare ourselves to others. Whether we are in a group full of women or watching T.V. there will always be someone we secretly wish we could be or wish we could look like.

I don't know about you, but one of the times I dread most is trying on clothes. Nothing ever fits right, the dressing room is usually hot and sweaty, and usually I leave feeling depressed. Recently, I went shopping with my sister. As I tried things on, I said, "I hate trying things on! It's like my body is awkwardly shaped or something!" I had a bit of a reality check when my sister said, "You shouldn't say those things about yourself." I realized that I write all of these blogs about inner beauty and loving yourself the way you are, but the moment I see how I look in front of the mirror I find nothing but flaws.

The Words You Speak

"Watch your thoughts; they become words.

Watch your words; they become actions.

Watch your actions; they become habits.

Watch your habits; they become character.

Watch your character: it becomes your destiny."

Frank Outlaw

One thing I wondered when I read this quote is, "How many women could have been saved from eating disorders if they only understood this?" Another thought I had was, "How many of us say and think negative things about ourselves, not knowing that it may eventually lead to something more destructive?"

God has uniquely designed each and every one of us. Yet, we all seem to have at least one thing we would change about ourselves. It could be big feet, freckles on your nose, frizzy hair, small breasts, etc. But one thing we all need to know is that God doesn't make mistakes. He doesn't create flaws. He created us in his image. Don't you think that if He is going to claim something as His and say that it looks like Him that He would make it look pretty dang good?

We are human so we naturally think like humans. But, I challenge you to try thinking like God. Try seeing yourself the way that God created you.

Let God become your mirror. Before you walk outside to start your day, read God's promises in your Bible. Maybe even put a scripture on your mirror to remind you that you were fearfully and wonderfully made. God designed us to be a mirror of his son. Isn't that an incredible honor?

1 Corinthians 13:12 (New International Version) 12Now we see but apoor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now Iknow in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.