Inspiration And Encouragement – August 2018
Scripture Quote
Psalm 100:4 “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”
Table of Contents
A Merry Heart
The Mason Jar
She did as she was instructed.
“Reach in there,” said her husband, “and bring out what you find.” Her fingers touched a large Mason jar, and with some effort she pulled it up. The jar was full of cash.
“Sara,” said the old man, “when I go, I’m going to take all that money with me. I want you to put that jar up in the attic by the window. I’ll get it as I go by on my way to heaven.”
His wife followed his instructions. That night the old mountaineer died. After the funeral his wife remembered the Mason jar and went to the attic. There was the jar still full of money and by the window.
“Oh,” the widow sighed. “I knew I should have put it in the basement.”
Your IQ (Inspirational Quotes)
“Praise is the beauty of a Christian. What wings are to a bird, what fruit is to the tree, what the rose is to the thorn, that is praise to a child of God.” – Charles Spurgeon
“A rejoicing heart soon makes a praising tongue.” – Charles Spurgeon
Fresh Manna
The World’s Deadliest Predator
Proverbs 15:1-2 (1) ”A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. (2) The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.”
It does not take great size to be deadly and have a powerful sting that can cause tragic results. Consider the mosquito and the havoc it can bring. Mosquitos are considered the most dangerous species on our planet. This tiny but deadly insect causes 1 million deaths every year by transmitting the dangerous malaria disease. Mosquitoes carry malaria germs from one place to another and they transmit germs into the blood of victim by biting. The World Health Organization estimated that in every 30 seconds a child dies due to malaria and 500 million cases of malaria are reported every year.
The tongue is a tiny thing that does far more damage than all the mosquitos of the world combined. Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” The tongue can be a great blessing, but it can also devastate a heart, destroy a life, and deflate one’s hope.
Something that has great power must be kept under control or it can cause great destruction to those around them. Consider the story of Kelly Ann Walz from Ross Township, PA. Kelly Ann Walz went into the bear’s 15-by-15-foot steel and concrete cage about 5 p.m. Sunday, throwing a shovelful of dog food to one side to distract the bear while she cleaned the other side, Conway said. At some point the bear turned on her and attacked. Her children and the neighbor’s children saw the attack and summoned help, and the neighbor shot and killed the bear while it was atop Walz, Conway said. One official said: “Why this woman chose to go in the same area that the bear was in is beyond me. It’s a fatal mistake,” he said. “These things are not tame animals, they’re wild animals.”
A tongue that is not tamed by God will devour everything in its path when it is ready to go in for the kill. Consider the three friends of Job who consistently used their tongue to rip him a part emotionally and never offered him any comfort. The acted in the flesh and when their old nature came out they were in attack mode just like the bear.
The sad reality is that many times has a spouse been viciously attacked by the tongue of their mate which has opened up deep emotional wounds that have never healed properly. They have been demoralized, defeated and drown in discouragement as the hurt from the deep wounds that were inflicted bring great sorrow in their life. The delicate spirit of a child can be molded for the glory of God by a loving and wise parent or destroyed by cutting words that flow from a callous heart of a parent.
The way your tongue is used will determine by where you live with it. Consider the example of the poisonous dart frog. This deadly animal when it dwells in the wild and it has a dangerous and potent level of poison that can destroy the enemy. When it lives in a controlled environment like a zoo or museum it does not have those deadly poisonous qualities.
When our tongue is under the control of God and lives in the controlled environment of the Word of God it is harmless to poison others. When our tongue lives in the jungle of this world it is deadly and will seek to destroy all those that they deem as the enemy. When a Christian lets their tongue dwell in the world then it will be a weapon the devil can use to cause great hurt and heartache in that home. If it is not dealt with it will lead to disillusionment, discouragement, and a divided home that is in turmoil and potentially to divorce.
It is vital that each Christian take their tongue out of the cesspool of worldly philosophy, pride, and place it under the control of the Holy Spirit. When our tongue lives in a calm, stable, and spiritual environment it will thrive for God’s glory. Your tongue then can build lives with great beauty and strength that will excel the greatest architecture on this earth.
I challenge each Christian to go a mission for the next seven days and do the following. First of all place your tongue on the altar and tell God he has complete control of it. Secondly praise God every day and get specific about what God has done for you and how good he has been to you. Thirdly pray for those in your family every day and do not neglect this. Fourthly pour out your heart to your family and express your love and appreciation for them. Fifthly set parameters for your tongue and never allow it to attack anyone in your family. Last of all slay the monster of pride and your old nature every morning when you get up. Ask God for the victory by faith.
Remember if you keep your tongue in the controlled environment of scripture where God is in control then your tongue will harm no one. If you allow it to roam in the jungle it will be full of deadly poison. Harness the great power of your tongue for the glory of God. Somebody in your family today needs your hug and to hear the words that they are the greatest spouse, son, daughter, brother, sister or parent in the world. Say it with passion, a smile and make your home like heaven on earth!
More than Conquerors
Just Ask
During the Spanish-American War, Clara Barton was overseeing the work of the Red Cross in Cuba. One day Colonel Theodore Roosevelt came to her, wanted to buy food for his sick and wounded Rough Riders. But she refused to sell him any. Roosevelt was perplexed. His men needed the help and he was prepared to pay out of his own funds. When he asked someone why he could not buy the supplies, he was told, “Colonel, just ask for it!” A smile broke over Roosevelt’s face. Now he understood that the provisions were not for sale. All he had to do was simply ask and they would be given freely.
Note: We are not saved by our good works. Ephesians 2:8-9 (8) “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest any man should boast.” We simply need to receive Jesus as our savior by faith. Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” The only thing we need to do for a gift to be ours is to receive it. It is free to us and the cost is completely paid for by the giver. Jesus paid it all so he could offer to us for free because we have no humans means to pay for our sin. If you have never received Jesus as your savior then now is perfect time.