Ephesians 4:29:  Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 

The 26 letters of the English alphabet have resulted in about 1,013,913 words in the English language.

Unfortunately these words can either help or hurt.  I try to be an encourager and use my words to uplift and build, but at times in my life, I must admit I have misused words and they have done harm.  I think we can all relate to that.

Modern technology has expanded our use of words to include texts, posts, tweets, and emails.  Just like spoken words, published words can take on a life of their own and either build up or tear down.  Even in times when rebuke is warranted and justified, we need to take care that our words are intended to help.

The easy way out is to never say anything meaningful; to be quiet and not contribute verbally at all.  That would be just as wrong.  Wise old Solomon reminds us in Ecclesiastes 3:7 that there is a time to keep silence and a time to speak.  Then in verse 11, he reminds us that God has made everything beautiful in its appropriate time…even words.

I have made a personal recommitment to evaluate my words – spoken and written – to attempt to use words that are good for building up, fit the occasion, and extend grace to all who read or hear them.

Will you join me in replacing the stones of negativity, criticism, ridicule, gossip and such as these with the building blocks of praise, encouragement, comfort, affirmation and such graceful words as these?  Join me in being careful that all we say and post gives grace to those who hear and read.

For your thought: (1) What verbal stones have you thrown lately?  (2) What verbal building blocks have you laid this week?

“So the people of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtaroth,
and they served the Lord only.” – 1 Samuel 7:4

 The Ark of the Covenant, which to them represented the presence of God, had returned from the hands of Philistines 20 years ago.  Yet, for 20 years they lived in sorrow because what they viewed as their “good luck charm” wasn’t working for them.  They felt as though God had abandoned them.

The truth of the matter was that God had NOT abandoned THEM, but THEY had abandoned GOD.  They tried to live in two worlds.  They wanted the blessings that came from God, but they also wanted the charms of the culture around them. In a word, they wanted to be godly and worldly at the same time.  They discovered over this 20 year period that God doesn’t play that game, He requires an exclusive relationship.

Things haven’t changed much over the last 3000 years. God’s people still try to live in both worlds.  We want to be liked by our contemporaries and loved by God.  Perhaps the problem is that we want to be loved by our contemporaries and liked by God.  We want God’s hand, but we are not interested in His heart.

Revival will come in my life when I recognize God’s competition in my heart and eliminate it.  That competition seems to be from worthwhile pursuits.  The devil often doesn’t tempt us to replace God with bad things. The lines are more blurred than that. He tempts us to ADD good things in our lives that are inferior to God.

What about you?  What is God’s competition in your life?  What do you need to “put away’? An attitude…dream…person…position…possession?

Feel free to comment…

Also, you can sign up to receive email updates when a new blog is posted.  Just click on the “follow” button in the upper left hand frame.

Have you ever lived in an environment where you were afraid to make a mistake?  If you have, you know real pressure.

The sports world at times speaks of teams who are playing to “not lose.”  Of course the object of a game is to WIN, but sometimes a team gets skittish and thinks the only way to ensure a win is to try to avoid a loss.  Those teams usually end up losing anyway.  A team cannot play defensively and expect to be successful.

Maybe you have felt the oppressive chains of legalism or maybe the intimidating growl of opposition.  Those who expect more of us than they expect of themselves can often coerce us to live in fear of failure.  We do not take chances, we play it safe, all in hopes of avoiding the venom of those waiting to pounce on our every mistake.  We live to “not lose.”

Thankfully, God does not treat us that way.  The One who created us knows us best.  What does He know about us?

For He knows our frame;
    He remembers that we are dust. – Psalm 103:14

 God knows that we are hopelessly fallible. While God, through His Spirit, will enable us to live holy lives, He knows that we will not always avail ourselves to His power and we will in moments of flesh fail miserably.

Thankfully, God does not keep score of our wrongs.  In grace, He forgives the repentant heart and allows us or move on with our lives.

If You, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
    O Lord, who could stand?

But with You there is forgiveness,
    that You may be feared.  Psalm 130:3-4

God’s grace gives us room to take risks.  God releases us from the temptation to live in such a way to please others, and He offers His grace in place of their unreasonable expectations.  So, go ahead.  Shed the fear. Cut yourself some slack. Don’t live to “not lose,” but live to please God. Should you fail, own up to it, confess it, receive the forgiveness He provides and move forward.

Fear plays it safe.  Faith takes a risk.

What about you?  What ways have you seen yourself or others live to “not lose”?  Leave a comment below and let’s get a discussion started.

Also, you can sign up to receive email updates when a new blog is posted.  Just click on the “follow” button in the upper left hand frame.

All in all, “The Long Way Home” is kind of a thought stream blog focusing on what God is speaking into my life and how He is leading me.

Hopefully, the posts will provoke thought and discussion in the comments section.  I want it to be interactive.

I hope we will walk together down The Long Way Home.