Some people make cutting remarks,
but the words of the wise bring healing. (Proverbs 12:18)
Today My devotional was about toxic words. When we think toxic thoughts those little toxic words just roll right off our tongue. Sometimes they slide right out before we even think twice about them.
It's so easy to turn our thoughts into spoken words that might hurt someone. The devotional asked, "are the words you speak most toxic or life-giving?" We can do so much with the simple words we speak. We can lift people up and we can bring people down. We can encourage dreams and we can shatter dreams.
I know I've been guilty of both; toxic and life-giving.
For most people, including myself, it's hard to admit when we fall short of the grace of God. It's hard to admit we behaved in a manner less than acceptable. But, I think in order to truly grow we have to honestly reflect and be real with ourselves. We want our friends to tell us when our clothes don't look right and we expect our spouse to give us affirmation when we look good. I believe it's important, imperative even, to have this same honest relationship with ourself.
We've all been guilty of saying something that we later regret. The one or two little words we so selfishly muttered could crush someone. Our words are powerful. Even when we speak out of anger and really don't mean what we say, those words can put doubt in the other person's mind and penetrate their very being.
When this happens we have to admit to ourselves and to God that we were wrong. It's only when we are honest with ourselves that we grow and change. If you never admit your wrong, you'll never change the behavior.
Currently our church is in a series called, "I Love My City." Last weekend Pastor Tim spoke about some demography surrounding our 3 church campuses. What he shared with us is that in the next 5 years there will be 129,000 people within a 5 mile radius of each of our campuses who will not attend church. Wow! That's 129,000 not hearing the word of God. That's a possibility of 129,000 people who are hurting and hoping for a way out of darkness.
To sit here and think back to the life I lived before accepting Christ as my Lord and Savior, I feel an empty void. Sure life was fun. I had friends. I had my family. But really thinking back there was a void. I didn't pray. I didn't go to church. I thought I was a Christian because I believed in God and was a decent person. But I didn't feel the grace. I never experienced the love and peace God has brought into my life now.
I think about my life where everything was for the most part great, but I still felt that way. What about people who will be in far worse situations than I was? And to not have God? Oh the thought hurts my stomach, actually.
I've always cared about people. Sometimes more than myself. It's always been the best and worst of me. Thinking there will be 129,000 people untouched by Christ's love makes my heart hurt. I hurt for these people who won't know unconditional love and grace from a perfect Lord.
Our goal as a church family is to bring more people to God, bring them
To church. Not because the church needs them, but they need the church. They need the fellowship and love and they most of all need to hear His truths. Whoa. Here's where I feel a little tug at my soul.
If we are to be praying and leading people to Christ, we have to kick those negative thoughts out of our mindset. We can't afford to speak the negative words that may drive someone away from developing a personal relationship with Christ. I feel a certain responsibility to be sure we are very mindful of our actions and words. We have more power than we think. We have more influence over our peers than we think. We must be breathing life into the future followers of Christ and not the opposite.
I'm not sure why, but I can remember some pretty ugly words people have spoken to me over the years. The sad thing is the ugly words have virtually erased the positive words from my memory. Why is it that we can remember the bad times long after they're gone? Knowing this, I feel an obligation to try my very best not to speak the toxic words that might tear someone down. My goal is to help bring more people to Christ and share His truth, love, and grace. I can't afford to lose track of my words. This isn't to say I'll be perfect, but I'm definitely going to make a very cognizant effort to erase the bad, negative thoughts in order to speak the life-giving words people need to hear.
Proverbs 15:4 says, "Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit" (Proverbs 15:4 NLT). There's power in our words.
Proverbs 15:28 says, "The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking;
the mouth of the wicked overflows with evil words" (Proverbs 15:28 NLT). We must carefully and purposefully speak words of love and life for we are "the godly."
So as Christians we have an obligation, a duty to work on ourself first so that we may get our mindset right and godly to draw in more followers of Christ. I really didn't put all of this together until now and I now know there truly is greater repercussions for our toxic thoughts than just interfering with our own life. We must get these thoughts under control or they will manifest in the relationships we build with others, both Christ followers and future Christ followers.
We have a responsibility to ourselves and God to be the best we can be. It's only when we find peace in our hearts and lives that we can lead others to the light. I am ready to take on this challenge and kick the nasty, toxic thoughts. There shall only be life-giving words spoken from these lips. I encourage you to do the same.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your word. Thank you for the Love and Grace you show me every day. Help me to kick the negative thoughts out and speak words of healing and love. Work through me so that people will know your love, by knowing me. Help me to do everything in life to bring glory to you. Amen.
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Sunday, August 19, 2012
"Summa Gone"
Kyle and his best friend Brent always say, "summa gone" in which the other replies, "summa been gone." It always makes me laugh to hear them in their goofy voices say this along with a multitude of other little catch phrases they say repeatedly.
Well, today this is true for me! Today was officially the last day of summer! I'm actually very eager and excited to begin the new school year. I love a new beginning. A fresh start. New students, new faces, new parents.
Last year I had a wonderful, and I do mean wonderful group of young ladies and gentleman. I think it was the best group I've taught yet. They meshed so well and the chemistry of each class was one of higher learning, but of fun and interest. We set and reached goals together and we definitely all grew. I am so thankful for the students who were in my classes. I thoroughly enjoyed watching them enter as immature freshmen and leave a little more mature, a little more refined, and a little more ready for the next chapter of their lives.
I pray this year's class will bring me just as many good memories, good laughs, and good distractions as last's! They truly are a bright group of kiddos and they gave me a little more hope in the up and coming generations.
I only hope they continue to grow into outstanding young adults. I hope this year's group of kids leaves a positive mark on my teaching career just as these kids did.
Well, today this is true for me! Today was officially the last day of summer! I'm actually very eager and excited to begin the new school year. I love a new beginning. A fresh start. New students, new faces, new parents.
Last year I had a wonderful, and I do mean wonderful group of young ladies and gentleman. I think it was the best group I've taught yet. They meshed so well and the chemistry of each class was one of higher learning, but of fun and interest. We set and reached goals together and we definitely all grew. I am so thankful for the students who were in my classes. I thoroughly enjoyed watching them enter as immature freshmen and leave a little more mature, a little more refined, and a little more ready for the next chapter of their lives.
I pray this year's class will bring me just as many good memories, good laughs, and good distractions as last's! They truly are a bright group of kiddos and they gave me a little more hope in the up and coming generations.
I only hope they continue to grow into outstanding young adults. I hope this year's group of kids leaves a positive mark on my teaching career just as these kids did.
The Spiritual Battle (toxic thoughts continued)
The thoughts that take residence in our head should be those which propel us forward in every aspect of life. The negative thoughts we let in can be destructive in so many ways and we must wage war against them to stay mentally, spiritually, and physically healthy.
2 Corinthians 10 instructs us that this battle is like any other and we must seek God to reach victory against the thoughts the devil strategically places into our brain. We must be cognizant of the places our mind starts to wander and not allow it to fall into a trap of negative. When we start to dwell on something we must seek out scripture to help push these ideas out.
I struggle with the very idea of this. I tend to over analyze every situation and assume the worst possible scenarios. Overall I'm a pretty happy- go-lucky person, but I've allowed the devil to do a number on my thought process lately. No longer will this be the case, though.
Here's my prayer and scriptures to overcome the negative and toxic thoughts which rock us to the core and not in the way we should be rocked.
God, Help Me to seek you in my war on toxic thoughts. When these thoughts enter into my head help me to immediately kick them out. Help me to focus on all the positives in my own life and in other people. Help
Me always understand the lesson in each tough situation. Guide me in leading my family and friends to Christ. Allow me to work as your hands and feet each day. Let my actions speak louder than any words that may be preached. Give me the strength to always stay positive and eliminate worry, anger, guilt, and negative behavior. Thank you God for you truth and your grace. Please help me to show other people grace just as you've granted it to me. Amen.
2 Corinthians 10:1-6
Proverbs 4:1-27
2 Corinthians 10 instructs us that this battle is like any other and we must seek God to reach victory against the thoughts the devil strategically places into our brain. We must be cognizant of the places our mind starts to wander and not allow it to fall into a trap of negative. When we start to dwell on something we must seek out scripture to help push these ideas out.
I struggle with the very idea of this. I tend to over analyze every situation and assume the worst possible scenarios. Overall I'm a pretty happy- go-lucky person, but I've allowed the devil to do a number on my thought process lately. No longer will this be the case, though.
Here's my prayer and scriptures to overcome the negative and toxic thoughts which rock us to the core and not in the way we should be rocked.
God, Help Me to seek you in my war on toxic thoughts. When these thoughts enter into my head help me to immediately kick them out. Help me to focus on all the positives in my own life and in other people. Help
Me always understand the lesson in each tough situation. Guide me in leading my family and friends to Christ. Allow me to work as your hands and feet each day. Let my actions speak louder than any words that may be preached. Give me the strength to always stay positive and eliminate worry, anger, guilt, and negative behavior. Thank you God for you truth and your grace. Please help me to show other people grace just as you've granted it to me. Amen.
2 Corinthians 10:1-6
Proverbs 4:1-27
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Toxic Thoughts
I'm a worry wart. I hate being a worry wart. I hate with every inch of my being that I waste time doing something that gets me nowhere. Why is it that I can spend so much time on these toxic thoughts which lead to worry, guilt, anger, sadness, and all the deep dark places my soul doesn't want to go?
Unfortunately there's a little, and I stress little, guy down below us who is the king of toxic and incapacitating thoughts. That's right. The devil puts all these toxic thoughts in our head and we become a brainwashed fool by these thoughts. Instead of reading and living out God's word, we spend our time on "what ifs" and doubt. God is so much bigger than any situation, any demon, and anything the devil can throw at us. Why do I minimize God and his capabilities? Each time I let these toxic thoughts enter and make residence in my head, the devil is lighting up another point on his scoreboard.
I just, and i mean just like 30 minutes ago, started a "soul detox" reading plan on my Youversion Bible app. If you couldn't guess, te first topic is toxic thoughts. Okay. Here's where it gets real. Here's why when someone asks me why I'm a Christian I can say wholeheartedly because Ive talked with God, I've experienced the intimate relationship with my savior like you would talk to any good friend. I say this because even though I can't look my God in the face, I know he's got my back. He pops up everywhere and speaks to me in such a subtle but huge way. It couldn't be any truer than tonight.
So without divulging too much of my personal personal life lets just say I've been having some "toxic thoughts" on several subjects for a while now. These thoughts are very distinct in 2 areas of my life that are really bringing a lot of negative into my life. So tonight I'm thinking one toxic thing after another. I'm at a loss for anything positive, really. I've been in such a rotten mood I don't want to be nice or even pretend to be. I hate feeling this hold on myself so I go to my Bible app and start reading. I then start playing around on the app beyond just looking up verses or specific chapters. I see there's all kinds of reading plans. That's when I come across the detox plan. Sounds great, right? I know I need a cleansing because my outward faith and my personal faith aren't matching, I've had all these negative thoughts, excetera. Oh my gosh! God is a sneaky fella I tell ya! The very first day of the detox reading plan is "toxic thoughts!" okay. This is not a coincedence my friends. God! I just felt like the thoughts were being sucked away into a big vacuum somewhere out in space. My head turned from anger, guilt, and sadness to a conversation with an old friend. How amazing is God? He knew right then which plan for me to choose and what lesson I needed right then and there.
I made a special little pact with myself. Toxic thoughts will not enter my head. They are not welcome to hang up their coat and reside in my head. They will smoothly and swiftly be kicked out of my dwelling. I am turning a new leaf. If I want to spread Christ's love with people, it starts with my inner being. I have to rid these toxic thoughts from my head and focus on Christ's love for me and my blessings God has so graciously given me. I am going to pray on several scriptures to help me successfully rid my mind and soul of toxic thoughts.
Thank you God for speaking so loud and clear to me tonight. When I fail to do your will, you swoop in to save me. Please help me to not let my brain fall captive to toxic thoughts because our thoughts become our words and our words become our actions. God please help me to share your love and grace with my family, friends, coworkers, acquaintances, and each person you put in my path. Thank you for the guidance and love. Your grace will never seize to amaze me. Help me to grow in faith and share that with others. Amen.
Unfortunately there's a little, and I stress little, guy down below us who is the king of toxic and incapacitating thoughts. That's right. The devil puts all these toxic thoughts in our head and we become a brainwashed fool by these thoughts. Instead of reading and living out God's word, we spend our time on "what ifs" and doubt. God is so much bigger than any situation, any demon, and anything the devil can throw at us. Why do I minimize God and his capabilities? Each time I let these toxic thoughts enter and make residence in my head, the devil is lighting up another point on his scoreboard.
I just, and i mean just like 30 minutes ago, started a "soul detox" reading plan on my Youversion Bible app. If you couldn't guess, te first topic is toxic thoughts. Okay. Here's where it gets real. Here's why when someone asks me why I'm a Christian I can say wholeheartedly because Ive talked with God, I've experienced the intimate relationship with my savior like you would talk to any good friend. I say this because even though I can't look my God in the face, I know he's got my back. He pops up everywhere and speaks to me in such a subtle but huge way. It couldn't be any truer than tonight.
So without divulging too much of my personal personal life lets just say I've been having some "toxic thoughts" on several subjects for a while now. These thoughts are very distinct in 2 areas of my life that are really bringing a lot of negative into my life. So tonight I'm thinking one toxic thing after another. I'm at a loss for anything positive, really. I've been in such a rotten mood I don't want to be nice or even pretend to be. I hate feeling this hold on myself so I go to my Bible app and start reading. I then start playing around on the app beyond just looking up verses or specific chapters. I see there's all kinds of reading plans. That's when I come across the detox plan. Sounds great, right? I know I need a cleansing because my outward faith and my personal faith aren't matching, I've had all these negative thoughts, excetera. Oh my gosh! God is a sneaky fella I tell ya! The very first day of the detox reading plan is "toxic thoughts!" okay. This is not a coincedence my friends. God! I just felt like the thoughts were being sucked away into a big vacuum somewhere out in space. My head turned from anger, guilt, and sadness to a conversation with an old friend. How amazing is God? He knew right then which plan for me to choose and what lesson I needed right then and there.
I made a special little pact with myself. Toxic thoughts will not enter my head. They are not welcome to hang up their coat and reside in my head. They will smoothly and swiftly be kicked out of my dwelling. I am turning a new leaf. If I want to spread Christ's love with people, it starts with my inner being. I have to rid these toxic thoughts from my head and focus on Christ's love for me and my blessings God has so graciously given me. I am going to pray on several scriptures to help me successfully rid my mind and soul of toxic thoughts.
Thank you God for speaking so loud and clear to me tonight. When I fail to do your will, you swoop in to save me. Please help me to not let my brain fall captive to toxic thoughts because our thoughts become our words and our words become our actions. God please help me to share your love and grace with my family, friends, coworkers, acquaintances, and each person you put in my path. Thank you for the guidance and love. Your grace will never seize to amaze me. Help me to grow in faith and share that with others. Amen.