You have the power to speak life and death...

We don't really think about how important Proverbs 18:21 truly is, but it's true. We hold this power. What power is this? The power to speak life and death.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Our words hold a tremendous power, and I really hadn't thought about that until I wrote this blog post on my author blog the other day. I mean, I knew how powerful words were, but this really drove the point home to me. Sometimes I feel like we need a reminder of it. We tend to forget how important it is.

I was reminded of it, again, this morning when I could have flown off the handle at someone for angering me. This person had their own opinions of something, and I had my opinions. And although I responded once, I refused to respond again because I didn't want to get into a fight with anyone, especially this one. Although, I had come up with this whole speech that I wanted to type up and push "send" (It was on Facebook.), I didn't. I decided to delete the post altogether and let it go. Why? Because arguing would do no good. People have their opinions, and I have mine. They're entitled to share theirs, and I'm entitled to share mine.

But the point isn't about arguing opinions, it's about arguing. I could have said some horrible things in response to this comment, and this person could have said equally horrible things. But I didn't, and I don't think this person would have either. I'm not sure, but I wasn't opening the conversation up to that. It was best to stop the negative comments altogether, and that's what I did.

See, although I have the temper of a redheaded Irish woman, I kept that anger in check - this time. I've been known to not keep my tongue in check. I've said horrible things to people before, and I'm not proud of that. But I can change that now. I can mind what I say aloud about others and myself.

When you speak something, it's out there, and you can't take it back. It's important that we let God have our mouths and speak only good things. Ephesians 4:29 says, "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers."

It's our job to speak life into others and situations. We don't need to start fights, nor do we need to call other people names, etc. We need to speak positively.

In the post that I mentioned above, I ended it with, "Maybe, just maybe, you can change someone’s life, too."

Who's life can you change today by speaking positively? Who's life can you change by not starting a fight? Calling people names? What are you doing to edify others? Let them have their opinions and you have yours. Just don't fight. Don't argue. Don't bully.

Life and death are in the power of the tongue. How will you use yours today?

For Unto Us a Child Is Born...

<sup>Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year.  I love the snow.  The smell of cookies baking in the oven.  The excitement of my nieces and nephews as they anxiously await Santa's arrival.  But, there is one thing that I think we tend to forget about the holiday season.  The true reason we celebrate.  Jesus.  

We celebrate the birth of the Man who was born and raised for one purpose.  To die for us.  Yet, we glorified Santa in His place.  

Sure, I know exactly why we celebrate Christmas, and I'm more than thankful that God saw fit to send His Son to die for me, and that Jesus would bear my sins in such a cruel, horrible manner.  

But on Christmas day, what is my focus?  

There used to be a time in my life where I would sing Happy Birthday to Jesus, but after I grew up, I kind of lost focus on that.  

I know, technically, the day we celebrate isn't His exact birthday, but we're supposed to be acknowledging it on that day.  And what do we do?  We focus on the presents, Santa, making the perfect holiday meal, impressing our family, etc.  And I'm just as guilty.  I get lost in the fun.  It's easy to do.

As it is said, "JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON!"  Remember that when you wake up on Christmas morning.  Sing a chorus of Happy Birthday, and thank Him for bearing your sins.  

Merry Christmas, all!  May God Bless you and keep you safe during the holidays!

Luke 24: 7-20</sup>    

⁷ And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
⁸ Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. ¹⁰ Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. ¹¹ For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

¹⁵ So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” ¹⁶ And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. ¹⁷ Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. ¹⁸ And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. ¹⁹ But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

Fear of Death

A few weeks ago, I wrote a blog post about how fear can trap you.  But Friday, I embarked on a life journey - an experience I will never forget.  I flew in an airplane for the very first time.  It may not be very significant for others, but for me, it is huge!  I had always aid I'd never fly.  I'm scared of heights, and I get vertigo.  But, it was more than that, that bothered me about flying.  I feared dying.

Being afraid of dying has always been a terrible fear of mine.  Some nights, it was so bad that I didn't want to fall asleep because I was afraid I wouldn't wake up, or worse, my nieces would climb the stairs and find me dead. 

Satan had gotten a foothold in and wouldn't let me go.  I would lie in bed at night, crying myself to sleep, and praying that God would let me see another day. 

A preacher once said to our congregation, "Why should the devil threaten you with Heaven?"  Logically, I know that when I die, I'll be in Heaven, but at times, I fear death.  I want to live a long life, see my dreams through, have a family of my own.  I'm not ready to go to Heaven.

I feel guilty for that thought.  Is it wrong to feel that way?  I hope not, and I feel like God understands that I'm only human.  That I fear death and the unknown. 

And life after death is unknown.  I know I'm going to live with my Heavenly father, but what will that be like?  Will I know my family?  I don't want to forget them.  I can't even fathom that.  I don't want to understand what that would be like. 

The devil is good about using death against us.  But, God says that we shouldn't fear death.  Romans 8:14,15 NKJV says, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.  For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 

God isn't the One who gave us the fear of Death or fear of any kind.  That is the work of the Devil.  So why should we allow the devil to threaten us with the best thing that could possibly ever happen to us?  

There are no tears and sorrow in Heaven.  If we did die and leave our families behind, God isn't going to let us be sad over it.  So, why on earth should we fear it now?  The simple answer is that we shouldn't.  God didn't give us a spirit of fear but of understanding.  We may not "understand" death and what is to come, but we shouldn't fear living with our Creator.  

I still struggle with this, but I'm getting better about it.  With God, I can do anything and survive anything.  

Who Directs Your Path?

We like to plan our future.  We like to plan ahead the day.  And when we make decisions, we want to make them according to our plans.  But what about the One who created us?  What does He want us to do?



Twice in the book of Proverbs does is say, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death."  Proverbs 14:12 and 16:25

So, if that wasn't the case, why would he tell us twice?  We need to get it in our heads that one way is death, the other life.  The footnote in my study Bible sent me to Matthew 7:13,14.  This is the end of the Sermon on the Mount.  Jesus is distinguishing the line between destruction and life.  Which meant, if you didn't follow Him, you would be sent to destruction.  He emphasized that we needed to choose life, choose Him.

These verses in Proverbs are indicating that exact thing.  Solomon, in this case, was telling us that we, as man, will see things that seem right but will eventually lead man to death.  So, we need to be wise and choose the right path.

But choosing the right path isn't easy.  Even Jesus said it wouldn't be easy in Matthew 7:14, "Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."

It is important to remember that although life is difficult and we want to take the easy way out, we can't.  We have to take the right path.  That is the most important fact.

So, how do we figure out this right path and avoid death and destruction?  We pray.  I know I've quoted these verses a lot, but it's so important that we learn it.

Proverbs 3:5,6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths."

Acknowledge God and trust that He will take you where you need to go.  Like Jesus said, it won't be easy.  Life isn't easy, but God knows what He's doing.  We have to trust in Him. Trust that He knows our future, and He knows how it all ends.  He knows what is, and will, be best for us.

Proverbs 16:1 says, "The preparations of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord."

Everyone is subject to God's will and way, no matter how much planning we, man, put into it.  Have you ever thought that life wasn't going like you wanted it to?  That nothing was going according to plan?  I have.  I've been there, many times!  I knew that God had a plan for me, but I didn't want to wait for it.  And, I wanted it to be what I wanted, not what God wanted.  I was wrong.  I was heading down the path of destruction.

One day, after praying about something that I thought was going in the wrong direction, God revealed to me something that I would have never had if I had gone down the path I wanted to go down.  I wouldn't have been able to freely worship God if I had gotten my way.

I thought about that, and immediately, I thanked God for stopping that path.  Because, I didn't want a life where I couldn't praise my King freely.  He gave me life.  He gave me everything.  Why should I NOT trust Him when He directs my path in a different way?  I didn't have an answer.  Because God has my answer.  He knows exactly what will happen and when it will happen and how it will happen.  That should be good enough for me.  That should be good enough for all of us.  It's just that we aren't taking the "me, me, me" out of GOD's plan for us.

"A man's heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps." Proverbs 16:7

Who directs your path?  You or the Lord?