Power of the Tongue

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits"Proverbs 18:21

The consequence of a bad word does not have to be as drastic as death, but it will surely drain life out of you and those around you. It will destroy what could have been built further.

Relationships are the biggest culprit of our words. It takes tact and wisdom to know how to use words for the benefit of ourselves and those around us, especially when we are very different and our differences cause a lot of friction.

O how words could improve our relationships, like a lubricant, making the going smooth where it could be rough. Blessed is the person who has learnt to bridle their tongue, who considers options before speaking, for they are able to live in peace with both their enemies and friends. 

Just as in the beginning of the world was the Word, everything in our lives begins with words. O what a difference it would make if we chose to allow the right words into our lives, words that build and do not destroy.

John 1:1"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God"

Show Grace

Sometimes we see the evil happening around us and get shocked thinking,"who does that?" well, it's someone human like you. Let us stop thinking we are so much better than  'those ones'.

We are all children of God, whether lost or found. The only difference is in our choices. But it is important to keep in mind that we are all capable of doing the very worst, it is only by God's grace that we make the right choices.

Instead of being so distant and judgmental, show grace and love to that with whom you do not agree. It is the least you can do after all the abundant grace God has shown you. 

'I am human and nothing human can be alien to me' Maya Angelou

A Shoulder to Lean On

We all have those days that are so glum, when despite what we know, and despite any encouragement, the spirit remains low and needs time to recover. And sometimes it is a whole difficult season, when despite any effort, the situation just doesn't get better.

It is then, that beautiful people keep us going with their love and support, making our lives a little more pleasant, like rainbows in the clouds.

O, who of us goes through this life alone? Who goes through this life unsupported? No one, because we all need each other. We hold each other and offer each other shoulders to cry on. O, what a blessing it is to be the rainbow in someone's life.

Choose to be that rainbow and warm someone's heart.

Ungrateful

Amazing how many a times, the traits we find repugnant in people are the very same traits we ourselves have(though we wouldn't admit it). It is a very scary thing if you think about it. And one of these very traits is ungratefulness.

It is definitely so much easier to see what we do not have, and that is because we have too much. For one who is accustomed to having very little or nothing, even the 'simplest' of things is like gold to them. 

Whenever I am struggling with being discontented, I find there is only one antidote strong enough to dispel it-remembering the blessings God has given me.

Please make very intentional effort to be grateful until it becomes more habitual. 

A kikiga proverb says entasiima ebur'owagiha, meaning the ungrateful hand does not receive. 

1Thessalonians 5:18"give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus"  

Striving for More

Why do you want more? Do you need that? Don't you have enough? We have all heard these questions, one time or the other.

Hannah, when she had all her husband's love but no child. Ruth, when she had a chance for a fresh start with her people but no blessing. Jabez, who had a normal life but wanted a blessing. Jacob, who had God's favor but badly wanted a blessing from the LORD that he wrestled all night for it. Tamar, who even after being widowed several times longed to bear Judah's descendant. 

All these honorable people could have easily been satisfied with what they had but couldn't because a righteous part of them yearned for more. They believed there was a portion of blessing that belonged to them, and they chose, by faith, to insist on receiving it.

When you do not give up hoping, striving and fighting to get that which you believe belongs to you, you will overcome the circumstances that hinder you. Each of the above examples were richly rewarded because of their faith and strategic righteousness.

When God has a special plan for you, you will never settle until you live in it. So do not give up striving for what you long for, there is a reason as to why you, and not someone else, longs for it.

The Blessing of Struggles

It is easy to dread the trying times, to ask for the peaceful times and keep hoping things stay fine. But there is no better opportunity to stand in faith than when things go wrong. 

Such difficult times will stir hosts of emotions in you, and mostly unpleasant ones! It is good to acknowledge them and not be in denial, and afterwards, go against the tides and react right because you always have a cloud of witnesses. 

It is in such moments of darkness that you have the greatest opportunity to shine out. In times of weakness that God gives you strength, when strife prevails that love changes things.

A beautiful puritan prayer puts things in perspective for us.

The Valley of Vision

LORD, high and holy, meek and lowly, 

Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision,

where I live in the depths but see thee in the heights; 

hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold thy glory.

Let me learn by paradox that the way down is the way up, 

that to be low is to be high, 

that the broken heart is the healed heart, 

that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit, 

that the repenting soul is the victorious soul, 

that to have nothing is to possess all, 

that to bear the cross is to wear the crown, 

that to give is to receive, 

that the valley is the place of vision. 

Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells, 

and the deeper the wells the brighter thy stars shine; 

Let me find thy light in my darkness, 

thy life in my death, 

thy joy in my sorrow, 

thy grace in my sin, 

thy riches in my poverty 

thy glory in my valley

Let the time of hurt be your time to grow

Asking for Forgiveness

In that moment when we know we hurt someone, when the heart is heavy and needs to make peace, asking for forgiveness and not just saying, "I am sorry" is a golden way of restoring peace . 

Growing up, a close friend of mine was always willing to do anything else but ask for forgiveness. This many a time infuriated an offended party who cared to require the need for an apology and or in any way felt they atleast deserved it. She usually settled for making peace through any other means like sharing a snack or allowing you a cooling period. The 'I am sorry' or 'please forgive me' route was never an option. 

Through the blessing of time,I have learnt the big difference between 'I am sorry' and 'please forgive me'. Sorry is a sad feeling about something that has happened or something that has been done and forgiveness an intentional and voluntary process that involves the offended undergoing some form of change in his/her feelings and attitude towards a wrongful act or omission to act, lets go of negative emotions such as desire for revenge and bears an increased ability to wish the offender well.

In essence, sorry is how you feel about something and forgiveness is what you would like someone to do for you. So asking for one's forgiveness is the way to restore peace after hurting them.

Seeking or asking for forgiveness brings a restoration of an old order in a more defined fashion, bringing more warmth and love into a relationship, dispelling little hurts and mending  broken hearts. The 'I am Sorry' bears just an acknowledgement of a wrongful act or omission.

In life, times come when we have to ask forgiveness and not just be sorry. This should be done out of free will and the need to move on. It is a prudent thing to do so that clouds of bitterness and anger do not darken our hearts and lives. Let us learn not only to be or feel sorry about things we have done but go further and ask for forgiveness. It is a golden way of restoring peace.
A forgiving heart is a free heart.

Little Choices

We tend to overlook the 'little' choices; should I refresh my lipstick?, should I wear this? Should I cook that? Should I embrace him? Should I carry her? Very minor looking things! But these go a long way in making life more pleasurable or miserable. It is surely the little things that make the big things.

So then it is important to bear in mind our purpose and therefore our motivation, If we have none, it would be great to find some. We would be way better off having love as our motivation, as everything else will at some point be meaningless.

Love for God, regardless of who is watching and love for our neighbour, family and friend. 2 Corinthians 2:15 "For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing" May we be pleasant ones, pleasurable ones, blessed ones, making life worth living  right for those around us.

Living with Pain

Life throws us quite a number of experiences... Some of these are really painful to go through, and sometimes we wonder how we will make it.

In my own heartbreaking experiences, I have often wondered if ever I would recover, but through the blessing of time, memories grow dull, and emotions get less fiery.

It pays to let go, to stop holding on to the ideals, to know that life has to go on amidst the trouble, and to choose to smile. 

I have learned to allow God to be my refuge and my shoulder to cry on. My wonderful husband too. I read God's word and pray for my sanity as I know circumstances probably won't change anytime soon. Putting my hope in God and His ability to cool me down as I dwell on better thoughts(Philippians 4:8) helps me to calm down.  

Sometimes we get thorns in our flesh that may never be removed, but we have to learn to live with them, so we may as well do and do so happily! Not allowing bitterness and anger to dwell in us, but surrendering these matters to God as only He has the authority over them.

YOU are not alone.