My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. — James 1:19
Everyone. should be quick to listen.
Actively listening to our friends, family members, and neighbors.
Then biting our tongues.
And taking our time to respond.
Asking God to direct our words.
Slow to speak.
Slow to become angry.
All in the Lord.
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. — Colossians 4:6
That my conversation will always be full of grace.
And seasoned with salt.
That I'll think before I speak.
And ask God for wisdom in everything I say.
So that I may know how to answer everyone with God's wisdom rather than with my impulsiveness.
He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. — Colossians 1:28
Admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom.
So that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ Jesus.
Our Lord and Savior.
Who took the penalty we deserved for our sin.
So that we may present everyone fully mature.
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, — James 1:19
We are brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus.
As such, we should be quick to listen.
That's not always easy, but it is what God calls us to do.
And to think before we speak.
Taking our time before responding.
Perhaps asking God the best way to respond.
And taking a deep breath or going for a walk instead of getting angry
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. — Romans 1:16
It brings salvation to everyone who believes.
Therefore, I am not ashamed of the gospel.
The gospel is given first to the Jew and then to the Gentile.
God's creation is given to everyone.
And it shows us His glory.
But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, — 1 Peter 3:15
And we are commanded to revere Him.
God asks us to be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks us to give a reason for the hope we have.
And to do this with gentleness and respect.
So that others, too, can come to know Jesus as their personal Savior.
Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. — Romans 13:1
Our family mailed in our ballots a few weeks ago.
This verse reminds me that God has established our governing authorities.
And He calls us to be subject to them, even when we disagree with them.
He also calls us to cast our vote to elect the people we pray will do a good job.
God is in control, not us.
And I am very thankful for the opportunities He gives us in this country.
Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. — 1 Peter 3:15
24/7 ready to give an answer.
To everyone and anyone who asks to know the reason for the hope that I have.
But to give that reason with gentleness.
To respect the person I'm talking to and with.
To live out the hope that I have in Jesus.
Two weeks ago we celebrated James and his bride-to-be with a wedding shower.
Very fun time with family and friends and new acquaintances.
Prepared to share our hope in Jesus with others.
May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. — 1 Thessalonians 3:12
Where I used to hate, let me love.
May my love overflow for others and for everyone.
Just as Paul's love overflowed for the people in Thessalonica.
Just as the love of Jesus overflows for me.
Here's a picture of our choir pool party in August.
My friend Lorraine hosted us at her home, and it was a beautiful day.
Kirk and Ron threw horseshoes, we swam and enjoyed good food together.
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. — Colossians 4:6
Today Kirk and I met for lunch — a welcome break from my usual work day.
Tonight we are looking at possible restaurants at Caesars Palace to see where we might want to eat when we travel with our 14 friends.
Monday we'll call to see if they recommend making reservations for 16 people or for two tables of 8.
In the meantime, we'll enjoy the weekend and perhaps Abby and I will go for a swim tomorrow.
Lord, help us season our words with salt.
Let my conversations be full of grace.
Give me the wisdom to answer everyone who asks about You.
We've been enjoying the great weather!
Thank You, Lord.
Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor. — 1 Peter 2:17
Some people don't seem to deserve our respect.
Even so, God calls me to show respect to everyone, not just those people I respect.
He calls me to respect those I don't feel like respecting.
And those who are not deserving of my respect.
Come to think of it, I'm not deserving of God's mercy toward me.
And I sometimes treat Him without respect.
Even so, He sacrifices for me.
He cares for me and guides me.
And He provides more than I need.
Thank You, Lord.
But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. — 1 Peter 3:15
And to honor Jesus as Lord.
Guide us and give us your wisdom so we can be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks.
Help us to give the reason for the hope that we have.
So we can be respectful of others.
And patient and gentle with them when they just don't comprehend.
Remembering that we were once in that state of mind, too.
And you had mercy on us, even then.
The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.— John 1:9-10
He was in the world, and the world was made through Him.
His light gives light to each of us.
Even though we didn't recognize Him, He gave His life for us.
Even when I ignore and reject Him, He continues to watch over me.
Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy when the elders laid their hands on you Think on these things. Devote your life to them so that everyone can see your progress. — 1 Timothy 4:14-15
He asks us to use our talents for Him.
Then He commands us to think on these things.
And to devote our lives to them.
Our lives should showcase the glory of God.
Everyone should be able to see our progress.
Praise be to the Lord.
Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. — 1 Thessalonians 5:15
Kellie's the one in the maroon t-shirt leading the way.
But toward the end, one of our friends twisted her ankle.
Of course, Kellie had a cold water bottle to put on it and we rested so she could put her leg up.
Then, when it was time to start up again, a couple of friends propped her up between them so she could hobble down the mountain without putting pressure on her ankle.
Finally, Kellie gave her a piggyback ride the rest of the way down.
My friends are always ready to do what is good for each other,
And for everyone else.
I am so thankful for them all!
And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. — 1 Thessalonians 5:14
Others have become disruptive.
God calls us to encourage the disheartened.
He charges us to help the weak.
And to go beyond even helping others, by being patient with them,
Not something we can do on our own.
Only with God's help is it possible for us to be patient when we want to lash out and be rude.
May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else. — 1 Thessalonians 3:12
Our prayer is that God will make our love increase.
That he will help our love overflow to others.
Not just to our friends, but also to our enemies.
May God help our love overflow for everyone.
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. — Colossians 4:6
It will take a couple of weeks to get her onboarded and ready to start with us.
What a relief!
After months of searching, God has provided us with just the right person.
His timing is always best, even though it is not on my schedule.
My prayer is that my conversation with all of my coworkers, family members and friends will be seasoned so as to add flavor rather than divisiveness.
Hopefully my words will be seasoned with salt and God will close my mouth to any unkind words.
My conversation is not always full of grace but that is what I aspire to.
Dear Lord, help know how to answer everyone.
In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. — Colossians 1:28
Today is the anniversary of 9/11.
Kirk and I were getting ready for work when Rita called to tell us to turn on the TV.
She wanted us to know that Kirk's brother Kyle was fine.
He was at the Pentagon that morning, trying to find out what happened at the World Trade Center, when the plane hit the other side of the building.
Some of his colleagues died that day.
What a tragedy for our country.
Even so, we proclaim Christ, the author and finisher of our faith.
