I was reading my devotional this morning and it was talking about celebrating God's word in your life; how it's impacted you and that type of thing.
So I thought why not host a scripture exchange?
Now if you were at my house I would have a plate of cookies and some tea. We'd all write out a verse on a card and put it in a hat then take turns pulling one out and talking about how that particular verse had impacted us.
But we're not at my house so here's what I'm going to do.
First, go get a cookie if you have one! :)
Second, I'm going to type out a scripture that God is currently working on in my life and share a little about that. If you want to play along you can comment on the verse I've posted (what He's done with it in your life). Then you can post a verse of your own and the rest of us will do the same. If you've already posted a verse you don't have to post another when commenting on someone else, but you can if you want to.
I hope this doesn't seem silly. I just thought it would be a good way to see how God's word has impacted our own life and maybe even gain insight from another. (And hey, it's a good excuse to eat a cookie!) I'd do this as a blog tag but I'm not quite sure how that works.
Here's my current verse:
"A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger."
Proverbs 15:1 NIV
Lately I've noticed I've been a wee bit snappy. (Okay, convicted is the word! I don't like the sound of my own voice!) I was praying about it and this verse popped into my head. I'm sure it was the Lord instructing me on how to respond when I feel like being snappy. So that's what I've been working on, and trying to impress on my kids (because they model my behavior whether I like it or not!)
It's amazing how well this works. :)
With my kids and my husband both I've had opportunity to choose to say something gentle this week. I admit, it was something I had to choose at first because my inclination was to snap back. But after seeing the immediate impact gentle words made they come much easier!
You can literally watch the tension drain from a person when you respond with gentleness and kindness. When we're snapped at and respond in kind we end up creating an argument where we could have avoided one.
Practially, here's how this is playing out in my marriage: When he comes home from a long day and seems a little grumpy I'm making the decision not to take it personally. The amazing thing is, my doing this seems to wash away the grime of the day and he suddenly seems refreshed. His mood improves and he's actually happy to see me!
Proverbs 31:10-11 says, "Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her; So he will have no lack of gain."
That part about the "heart of her husband safely trusts her" is, to me, the most important part of the whole Proverbs 31 woman section. I can buy stuff, sell stuff, have a clean house and well dressed kids but if the heart of my husband doesn't safely trust me then I don't think I've succeeded in being a good wife.
Answering gently (especially when he doesn't deserve it) is part of that.
**
Okay, your turn.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
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5 comments:
I love this idea!!! I agree that "the heart of her husband safely trusts her" being the most important line. Trust being shown in so many ways, and so personal. I have this trust from Joel, it is a new experience for me. I never had it from anyone before.
Thanks Suzanne.
I should have said that it doesn't need to be as long winded as mine was!
Here's another verse I've been working on; James 1:19-20
"So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God."
I could also read it; the wrath of Mom doesn't produce the righteousness of God! lol That's something I have to remember. Losing my temper will not produce the righteousness of God. Biblical instruction and personal modeling will help, blowing my top won't. :)
(See, much shorter! ) :)
Hey, Fran, great idea!
That Proverbs verse is a great one. God is always working on that in me. I am very quick to snap at the boys even when they may not being doing anything wrong. It's just my own bad attitude. I need to lean on that verse and learn "gentle answers".
My verse is 1 Corinthians 10:31:
"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."
It is so easy to get caught up in the praises of others and get that swelled head. I am truly learning what pride is. Right now, I need to be instructed to be humble and to keep the focus where it should be. God didn't put me here for me. . .He put me here for Him. In all my growth as a Christian, it is God who gets all the glory. Without Him, I would still be that puddle on the floor. But, He has picked me right up and given me the strength to become a true daughter of Christ and to direct every good work done in me to Him.
I'm in a very different stage of life right now, my nest is emptying and I'm changing careers, but Galatians 6:9 keeps me going, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." As moms, it kind of goes along with doing what is right, no matter how tired we are.
I know that in 3 John 4, John is probably speaking of his converts, but "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in truth" sort of sums up how I'm feeling right now. But that doesn't mean a mother's prayer life ever lets up!
Those are some great verses! I think the "doing it all for the glory of the Lord" and "don't grow weary in doing good" both go together for me.
When I start to get weary I need to remember just who I'm doing all of this for! Thanks for playing along.
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