The Betraying Tongue!

Have you ever been betrayed by someone’s tongue?
Had a confidence betrayed?
Had someone violate the trust you placed in them?

I have... and I’m sure you have too! Oh, How that hurt!

On the other hand –
Have you betrayed someone’s confidence?
Whoa!
This one is harder to be openly honest about, isn’t it?
Well, -
Ummmm –
‘i have’
[This is supposed to be a whisper because I don’t want anyone to hear me
say it too loudly!]
Praise God! He has forgiven my indiscretion!

Maintaining confidentiality is something I have had to do for many years as a nurse –
And - also as a counselor...
It is so important that people know that when they speak with me from the deepest part of their heart, that I will not judge them, nor will I betray them!
I give God all the glory for enabling me as He does in this profession!
Praise His Name!

I was in a public place recently and overheard a conversation in which someone was being betrayed... I felt bad for the one being betrayed and for the betrayer!
I prayed for them both...

Dear Friends,
I pray that each of us will guard our tongue...
that we will strive to live a trustworthy life...
that we will be women and men of integrity –
that people will know they can trust our word when we say we will keep a confidence...
May you use your tongue to encourage;
to express appreciation;
to restore and reconcile;
to compliment and support!

Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt,
that ye may know how ye ought to answer any man.
Colossians 4:6

May His Grace and Peace spill out of you today!
Ruthie

Anger &The Silent Tongue

I read this story the other day and just had to share it with you...
I still seem to be focusing on the “TONGUE”, don’t I?

UMMMMMMMM....
Suppose God is trying to teach me something?
Oh Yah!
I KNOW He is!!!! :0

Here is the gist of the story:
Husband and wife had been arguing and were giving each other
the silent treatment.
One night he realized he had to get up early the next morning
as he had to catch an early plane.
Rather than humble himself and be the first to speak
by asking her to wake him early –
he left her a note to wake him at 5 a.m.
When he woke up the next morning he realized he had overslept
and missed his flight!
This made him angrier –
he was ready to confront his wife when he noticed
a piece of paper on his nightstand...
it said, “It’s 5 a.m. – time to get up.”

This made me laugh out loud – all by myself!
Guess they hadn’t heard of this Scripture –

“Be angry, and do not sin:” do not let the sun go down on your wrath,
nor give place to the devil.
Ephesians 4:26-27

We know that we will get angry at times – it is a human response to some circumstances but that does not mean we have the liberty to be abusive
with our words or our actions...
I believe that giving someone the silent treatment is a form of “abuse” ...

We are also told in James chapter 1, to be quick to listen and slow to speak
(as well as slow to become angry)
but that does not mean we give the silent treatment?
NO!

Do you GIVE the silent treatment?
Are you the RECIPIENT of the silent treatment?

You may be saying, “How can the ‘silent treatment’ be a form of abuse?”
Well, it certainly can make one question their value to the other person;
question their worth.
It opens a crack for the devil to spread his lies into their mind;
It allows time for festering of the issue to occur, just like when a wound is left untreated and infection sets in!
It can have nothing but negative results!

I pray, dear friends...
that these words will encourage you to be more open in your communication
with loved ones!
You don’t deserve to be given the ‘silent treatment’
nor does anyone else deserve to receive it!

Take some time to reflect on your tongue once again...
We are to spread the light, to be encouragers, affirmers,
and to have a positive influence in our homes and community!
May you be all of that today!
I pray for HIS peace and joy to fill your hearts and your mouths today!

Blessings!
Ruthie

The Power Of Words

The Power of Words

A careless word may kindle strife;
A cruel word may wreck a life;
A bitter word may hate instill;
A brutal word may smite and kill.

A gracious word may smooth the way;
A joyous word may light the day;
A timely word may lessen stress;
A loving word may heal and bless!

Author unknown


I will bless the Lord at all times:
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Psalm 34:1 KJV

The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life:
but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
Proverbs 10:11 KJV

Give thanks to the Lord today for His power in you to enable you
to speak words of affirmation and encouragement;
Words of life and light;
Words of peace and healing.
Words of blessing!

I pray a power ful blessing on you today, my dear friends!
Ruthie

The Ear Tests & The Tongue Tastes!

Job 12: 11
Does not the ear test words as the tongue tastes food?

Job 34:3
For the ear tests words as the tongue tastes food.

We have just arrived home from a wonderful dinner with a friend! What comes to your mind when you hear the words "wonderful dinner"? I am assuming that you think about the food and that it must have been very good! [It was! :)] The fellowship was great and the conversation was also "good" - uplifting, encouraging, humorous, pleasant...except for twice when I had to move my bracelet. ...You'll have to read `Ditch the Complaining` - April 20...

The tongue has 4 major taste buds: salty, sour, bitter, sweet. When we experience a taste that is displeasing to us we may spit out the offending item; decide not to eat it again; record a memory of that event. We even had this discussion at dinner - Hubby loves "sweets" therefore he goes back to them often; he records the pleasant sensation of eating sweets. I like salty foods to some degree - since I cut back on salt a few years ago, it takes less of it to satisfy my palate!

Just as the tongue tests and tastes the foods we eat, so should our ears test and taste the words we hear! Just the other day in our Beth Moore study on Esther, she took us to one of these Scriptures in Job. It was a light bulb moment for me! I have read Job many times... but these 2 Scriptures have never stood out to me like they did that day!

We need to be so careful what we listen to... be that music, movies, sitcoms, talk shows, gossip, criticism, grumbling, put downs, ... can you add to this list?

Even Christian teachings -
OH! Did I say that?
Yes! I surely did!
Not everyone who claims to be sharing the truth, is.
We are instructed in the Word to test everything! To research for ourselves... to investigate and seek God`s wisdom and guidance. We need to acquire Godly Wisdom:

James 3:17 --- But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

Dear friends - I hope you will think about this today. Ask God if you`ve been testing and tasting of things that you shouldn't have. Ask Him for Godly Wisdom! Give Him first place and allow Him to clean up your life! What a marvelous journey - walking and growing with Him!

If you have a loved one who is in a dangerous situation where they are hearing lies from the evil one, and not hearing the truth from God, pray for them to seek Godly Wisdom as well. Ask the Lord to give them supernatural power to discern - to test what they are hearing - to test how it lines up with God`s TRUTH! God is faithful and He will enable!

Praise you, Lord - Thank you, Jesus!

Blessings on you today as you REST in HIS TRUTH!

Ruthie

Watch What You Say!

We know the tongue is like a little spark setting a forest on fire...

see James 3:5-10.

Ecclesiastes 10:20

Do not curse the king, even in your thought;

Do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom;

For a bird of the air may carry your voice,

And a bird in flight may tell the matter.

Ummmmmmmm!

We should watch what we say!

I'm sure you've all heard the saying "A little birdie told me"...

Do you suppose that came from this Scripture?It's a possibility!

I pray, dear Lord,

that we will watch our tongues today!

That we will speak only those things that are uplifting and encouraging;

Only those things that will build up ...

and not tear down!

Help us Lord to be conscious of our words...

May we speak life to those around us!

Thank You, Jesus!

Grace and Peace to you today!

Ruthie

Ditch The Complaining

Exodus 3:7-8
The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering.
So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey......”

You may recall that the Israelites had been slaves to the Egyptians for 430 years

(Exodus 12:40)

Just the other day as I was driving home from town, I heard an interview on CBC Radio with a Jewish scholar.
I was so intrigued with this interview that I hauled off the road to listen and take notes!
The topic of this interview was grumbling and complaining ... and how we as humans are so prone to this!
I know I am! How about you?
Sometimes – for me – it’s my “self-talk” – I tend to “talk to myself” a fair bit... and I catch myself grumbling to myself!

Here is the Scripture this fellow quoted...
As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians?’ It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”
Exodus 14:10-12

This Scholar – I didn’t catch his name – related the story of the Israelites being brought out of Egypt by the Lord ... they complained to Moses as soon as they got to the shores of the sea. Go Figure! They had been in captivity for hundreds of years – God had brought them out of that, with their possessions – and they complained and grumbled!!!!

Do we do that? Do I do that?
Grumble and complain when God has brought me out of, or thru something!
Or do I Praise Him, have a grateful heart, and give Him thanks?

A Pastor named Will Bowen was also interviewed at this time.
He has written a book entitled A Complaint Free World... I have not read this book; nor have I gone to his website – you might want to check this out for yourselves...
He told how, about 3-4 years ago he preached a series of sermons to his congregation on complaining.
As you may already be aware, he stated that it takes 21 days to make or break a habit – and he said that complaining and grumbling become habits with us. He encouraged his congregation to become more aware of their “habits” and to begin to change this... to do this he gave each one a bracelet to wear – each time they “caught” themselves grumbling or complaining
they were to change the bracelet to the other wrist...

The goal – to become very aware of their thoughts, their words, their habits of grumbling and complaining;
- to form new habits of praise and thanksgiving;
- to have 21 consecutive days free from grumbling and
complaining.

I was very taken with this idea.
Last year - 2008 – my New Year’s Resolution was to try and live out Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, Whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.

(some days were / are better than others )

Sunday morning I awoke with this idea in my mind ... I went thru some stuff I had and found a simple bracelet; put it on my wrist –
Well! This is how the day went... I changed the bracelet from wrist to wrist many times!

Ummmmmm!
My hubby and a couple friends are aware of what I’m doing... Now you all know!
I’ll keep you informed as to how things are going! Maybe some of you will join me on this journey! If so, please let me know!

Father God,
change our hearts to see You in all our circumstances... whatever they may be.
May we not be like the Israelites – grumbling and complaining as You brought them out of captivity!
May we have hearts filled with thanks and joy – Increase our faith, Lord!
And we will give You all the praise and glory!
Amen!

Blessings on you today, friends!
May you have a complaint-free day!
Resting in HIM,
Ruthie

WORDS!

Do you believe that words are powerful?

Proverbs 18:21
The tongue has the power of life and death...

WOW!
What I say may bring life to a soul or may cause death!
Have you really taken that truth into yourself and made a decision not to
speak words of death?
Just think what our homes, our relationships, would be like if we CHOSE to speak only words of LIFE!

IT IS A CHOICE!

If you have been the kind of person that seems to only find fault with people and situations, you can change that by changing your thoughts, and then changing your words!

IT IS A CHOICE!

Are you being, or have you been emotionally abused?
Has your self-worth been destroyed by the words of someone in your life?
Do you feel like you’re walking on eggshells around some people?
Do they tell you that you are “stupid”; can’t get it together; everything is your fault?
Or _________________?
[you fill in the blank]

Please KNOW that these words are words of death – spoken by someone who is probably hurting inside – someone who wants to control you – there are no excuses for their behavior!
Sometimes that person is a spouse, a parent, a sibling, a child, even a friend...

You need to KNOW that these words do not speak truth about who you are!
God’s WORD speaks TRUTH!
Speaks LIFE!

Take HIS WORD in and let it be the standard for your self-worth!
KNOW that HE loves you – desires only the best for you!

If you are currently being emotionally abused I pray that you will reach out to someone you can trust – speak to them – let them help you – and begin to see yourself as God sees you.
Make the CHOICE to not believe the words of the abuser and stand firm in your decision!

“Do not be afraid.
Stand firm and you will see the deliverance of the LORD today....
The LORD will fight for you;
you need only to be still.”
Exodus 14:13-14

Claim these words for your life today!
I know only too well what it’s like to be emotionally abused... I Praise my God for His deliverance of me!
He fought for me when I could do nothing else but stand still. Thank You, Jesus!

Father God,
I pray for each reader today to grasp the truth of Your WORD!
To KNOW that You will give them victory!
To KNOW that who they are is who You say they are –
not anyone else’s version of it!
Fill them with your truth today, I pray!
In Jesus Precious Name,
Amen.

Standing firm and still, I
am Resting in HIM,
Ruthie

The Power of the Tongue

The Power of the Tongue

Have you experienced the “power of the tongue”?

Do you know how it feels to have someone make a “cutting” comment that goes deep into your soul and creates a wound that seems like it will never heal?
Do you know how it feels to have someone make a comment that thrills your soul and fills you will gladness and joy?
Have you ever been the “sender” of a “cutting“ comment
or a joy filled comment?
I’m sure you have experienced all of these!
As we all have!

The dictionary gives 2 definitions of “tongue” –
· The movable organ in the mouth which functions
in eating, tasting, and speaking
· The power of speech

Just recently I’ve been in conversations with people who have expressed a disgust at the vileness of language being used today….
Vulgar language, cursing, crudeness, etc. seems to be rampant today-

But, not only that – words are being used (whether spoken or written)
to “bully” others… we are seeing this in the schools!
And now, we hear about “cyber bullying” – using the internet to put someone down, to say nasty things about someone.

Scripture says:
Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body.
It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire,
and is itself set on fire by hell.
All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue.
It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.
James 3:5-10

I love “word pictures”!
And as I read this Scripture I always see the tiny little spark that drops in the forest and then my mind flashes to the raging fire that ensues!
All from one little spark!

How like our words!
They can start a fire –
A fire of rebellion, of destruction, of self-defeat
OR
A fire of positive, forward-moving energy;
of restoration, of reconciliation.

Do you recall this little saying from your childhood?
“Stick and stones will break my bones, but names will never hurt me.”

I wonder, did we really think that was true?
It is so NOT true!
It has been said that it takes 10 positives to counteract one negative comment!
Have you found that to be true in your life?
I surely have!
I may be doing great, feeling great, feeling positive,
and a negative comment comes my way
and it’s like the balloon has had a pin stuck in it and the air seeps out!
Deflated!
Where did all the good feelings go?
The mind dwells on the negative and seems to forget all the other!

So – if this is how I am affected – I need to think about others who have
been the receivers of my words!
Do my words “build up” or do they “tear down”?
Are they positive fire starters or negative fire starters?
Are my words healing or are they poison?

I have learned over the years that my “tongue” can get me in trouble real fast!
I am by nature an impulsive person – quick to speak - and have had to learn (with the Lord’s help) to keep my tongue under control!
I frequently pray for God to still my tongue;
to keep me from saying anything that could be hurtful;
to pinch my lips together so I don’t regret something I might say!
Just recently I was in conversation with some dear friends and I slapped my face (gently- LOL!) because I was on the verge of saying something
best kept to myself!

Words don’t just spill off our tongues!
The words that come out of our mouths are a reflection of our thoughts –
of what is in our hearts!
If one has hostility, bitterness, unforgiveness in the heart
their words will reflect this.
If one has compassion, kindness, love in their heart their speech
will reflect this as well.
The key to taming our tongue is self-control –
and self-control is a fruit of the Holy Spirit!

Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

We must depend upon Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit to
help us to control our tongues… that is the only way it will happen.
We must confront our thoughts!
The Holy Spirit living in us will change our hearts, change our thoughts –
and change our words!

May we be like the psalmist who wrote –

“I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue”
Psalm 66:17

“My tongue will tell of your righteous acts all day long.”
Psalm 71:24

“May my tongue sing of your word,”
Psalm 119:172

May our tongues bring healing:

Proverbs 12:18
Reckless words pierce like a sword,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Proverbs 15:4
The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life,
but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.

Dear Father God,
I lift a prayer for each one reading this today – a prayer for renewal of the mind; for a fresh indwelling of the Holy Spirit;
for consciousness of speech as they go about their daily lives!
Thank You, Father for Your WORDS that build us up and tell us how much
we are loved by You!
I pray, with the psalmist, that the words of our mouths
and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing in Your sight.
Thank You for blessing us today!
Amen.

Resting in HIM,
Ruthie