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Watch Your Tongue!

all melted....

all melted….

“I hate women’s groups, I didn’t want to come today.”

“I have been so hurt by other women, I didn’t want to come to a ‘feel good’ session when I have been ripped open by women’s gossip and backstabbing…by CHRISTIAN women!”

These are among the comments shared by dear ladies at the end of our Women’s Conference this past weekend. They went on to say…..

“I am so glad I came. I know now that I am not the only one facing the challenges I am dealing with right now.”

“I feel free for the first time in so long, I am so thankful I came.”

I must say that I was surprised by the number of ladies who admitted that they didn’t want to come to the conference. Of the over 70 women that participated, I would venture a guess from a casual evaluation that maybe a third had reservations about attending.

Why?

Because they have been hurt by the words of their fellow Christians.

Hurt by woman who have
* gossiped about them,
* talked behind their backs,
* sometimes even openly judged them.

The hurt was clear in the voices and tears of these women who shared.

Why do we do that? Why do we hurt each other? Are we like wounded animals that lash out visciously to hurt someone else because we are hurting ourselves?

James addresses this very issue in James 1:26

26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.

James goes on to say in chapter 3:5-12

5 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. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

Whoa!!!

This is quite an indictment on how we misuse our God given ability to communicate. Our tongues are “full of deadly poison”. Verse 10 says – “this should not be!”

This misuse of the tongue was exactly what those precious sisters were expressing. They had been poisoned by the words of other Christians and some of the wounds were still festering. They didn’t want to come to the Conference and have old wounds reopened.

Yet these women came to the Conference!

Why?

I believe it was because the Holy Spirit prompted them to come and receive the healing that they spoke about after admitting their initial reluctance to attend. These ladies shared through tears of joy that they were accepting God’s grace and healing.

The speaker for this Conference, Sheila Atchley, shared stories from the Bible about women who face much of what we face, even if it is 2000+ years later. She shared her own story and gave us a powerful testimony of God’s grace through trials. She challenged us as women to honestly share our stories, using our tongues to bless and encourage each other. I was so blessed by Sheila!

If we have been hurt – we must receive God’s healing grace and love.

If we have hurt someone else, we must ask for forgiveness and receive God’s healing grace and love.

I pray that we would be like the woman in Proverbs 31:26 (NLT)

26 When she speaks, her words are wise,
and she gives instructions with kindness.

Sheila Atchley is an artist who honors God with her beautiful creations. Check them out on Facebook:
Sheila Atchley Designs or Pinterest: Sheila Atchley

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Healing Prayer

My Parents - Clayton and Esther Barker

My Parents – Clayton and Esther Barker

My father, who will be 90 in May, was admitted to the hospital this week. I have been concerned because the tests he has undergone have been inconclusive about the cause of a blood clot which appeared to be hindering his liver function.

Yesterday I attended the service where two of our daughters and their families worship. I was touched deeply by the time of prayer that the pastor led for all of those who desired healing for themselves or a loved one. He asked us to stand to signify our need for healing.

I have received physical healing several times in my 62 years, and I know without a shadow of doubt that God’s power was at work in my life. Yet yesterday I was thinking about my father, and my dear friend Gloria, who is battling MS. I stood on their behalf.

The scripture that was shared came from Matthew 8: 14-17

14 Now when Jesus had come into Peter’s house, He saw his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever. 15 So He touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and served them.
16 When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, 17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: “He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.”

The pastor focused on the importance of the part of verse 17 where the emphasis is “Jesus HIMSELF took our infirmaties and bore our sicknesses.” What a glorious truth!

We can come before our heavenly Father with boldness to ask for healing, knowing His son Jesus took our sickness with Him to the cross. We are always free to ask for God’s healing power to be manifest in times of illness.

But does God always heal?

Some would say that yes, ultimately even death is a form of “healing’ since God’s children are transported to His presence in death.

The answer is also “no”. We all have prayed for individuals who are still facing grave health concerns, some with considerable physical suffering.

At the service we then prayed for those seeking healing by laying on hands. Those of us who had expressed need sat, while those around us laid their hands on us and prayed. Our granddaughters and daughters prayed for my father – their grandfather and great-grandfather. One of our granddaughters said afterwards –
“Nana, bunches of people were praying with you!” That was a special blessing.

That evening I called my mother and found out that my father was released from the hospital that very afternoon. I called our daughters rejoicing with the good news. I asked them to be sure to tell their children and remind them that we prayed together and asked God to heal Great Grandpa.

As I rejoice with my family, I still am praying for Gloria, a precious, Godly woman who is facing the complications of MS with courage and grace. Her hope is in Jesus, who Himself bore our infirmities. I will continue to ask God to heal and restore Gloria because He is in control of the outcome and He is faithful.

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A Teacher to Remember

Would you remember a teacher who dressed like this?

Would you remember a teacher who dressed like this?

Who was your favorite teacher?

* Was it the teacher who inspired you to do better than you thought you could?
* Was it the teacher who recognized a special ability or talent in you?
* Was it a teacher who made you feel significant?
* Was it a teacher who challenged you by not accepting less than your best?

There are many reasons why we remember a special teacher, but it is almost universal that the favorite teacher connected with us as an individual, not just as a student.

As a teacher I have thought frequently about the qualities that make teachers effective. We had our first child at the very end (June 9th) of my third year of teaching. I think I approached my early parenting much as I did my teaching – not necessarily a good thing.

My father taught high school biology for 40 years. He instilled in myself and my brothers a deep love and respect for God’s creation. He did not lecture us or demand answers that would display our ignorance. He taught by example explaining the divine nature reflected in the world around us. What I remember most was the enjoyment he communicated when sharing his knowledge of plants and animals. My father communicated his faith through his knowledge of the natural world. The world was not an accident, but the result of a divine plan.

Parents are childrens’ first teachers. I think it is important for parents to recognize this role – and not only if they are homeschooling their children. Our role as teachers should be one of teaching by example and WITH LOVE guiding our children.

The apostle Paul writes to Timothy recorded in I Timothy 1:2-5:

2 I am writing to Timothy, my true son in the faith.
May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace.
3 When I left for Macedonia, I urged you to stay there in Ephesus and stop those whose teaching is contrary to the truth. 4 Don’t let them waste their time in endless discussion of myths and spiritual pedigrees. These things only lead to meaningless speculations,which don’t help people live a life of faith in God.
5 The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith.

We could use verse 5 as the “Parent’s Goal” in teaching our children. “the purpose of my instuction is that my children would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith.

That says it all.

As a parent or grandparent, will I be a memorable teacher for the right reasons?