Speak truth in love.

I know you have been on the wrong end of someone who is trying to correct you but with the seemingly most evil intention. As they reprimanded you, you saw the anger in the eyes, heard the demeaning tone of their voice and the self-righteous pedestal they stood on. You walked away from that interaction with a new realization. You made a decision to stay away from them at all cost. Instead of a friend or family member who had your back, you placed them in a metaphorical phone booth you’d never call if you ever needed anything in life.

Now they thought fear and anger and belittling would get your attention, make you change, transform your direction in life. But in fact, it did the opposite. And, by the way, that is not at all how Jesus calls us to interact with each other.

James, the half-brother of Jesus, reminds us that the tongue is hard to control (James 3) and it’s so true. Paul calls us to a different way of living, the Jesus way in Ephesians 4:29-5:1. Paul reminds us in that text that kind of behavior is of the world and it brings sorrow to the Holy Spirit. That is an emotional response for the Spirit of God. I know God listens to our conversations and he’s hurt that his followers would speak to each other with anger, fear, loathing, and a belittling attitude.

Paul encourages the church (that’s us) to mature in our faith and be more like Jesus. He calls us to ignore cultural tendencies and cultural scripts in Ephesians 4:14 and says when we mature in Christ, we’ll be different. In verse 15 Paul says speak truth to one another in love. It’s so important we continue to speak the truth of how Jesus has called us to follow him but with the understanding first, I have the love of Jesus in my very soul…that my heart is full of love and grace and mercy for those with whom I’m interacting.

Paul shows us what this looks like as he writes the church in Corinth. This congregation had some issues and Paul is trying to get them to be the church that Jesus would want them to be. Although he is correcting them all through the letters, he uses phrases like “my beloved children” and “my brothers and sisters”. He’s reminding them of his love for them and his desire that they act and live like Jesus has transformed them.

So some questions you can ask yourself as you step into the lives of people you’re trying to influence for good. “Is my motive to help or to hurt?” Often we want to “pay back” someone for the way they spoke to us. We are called to help one another.

“Am I saying this because it will make me feel better or help them?” Sometimes, we just want to get something off our chest because we’ll feel better and say it in such a way we leave a train wreck in our wake.

Finally, “What does my tone communicate?” Body language and intonation make up as much as 93% of what we say. Our tone can build bridges or walls. If we truly want transformation, Jesus calls us to build bridges.

So be people who speak truth IN LOVE. Be Jesus. Be kind. Use every opportunity to change the world for the better. Blessings on your journey.

Speak life.

I know you have had moments when you said something and immediately wanted to take it back. There are things that are said at times which are like a bad tattoo. Once it’s there, it’s not going away. There can be forgiveness and remorse but still, the words have been said.

The writer of Proverbs reminds us that we have the power of life or destruction with our words. He writes in Proverbs 12:18, “The words of the wise bring healing.” As people who follow the risen Savior, we, like him, want to bring healing to those we interact with every day.

A couple of ideas that we need to consider in order to bring healing. Stay away from gossip. Don’t speak it or listen to it. We tend to justify it when the person being talked about is not around but saying, “It’s nothing I would not say to them if they were here.” God hates sin. Paul, in Romans 1, lists some things that God does not like. Things like stealing, adultery, murder…and gossip. Yep, it’s lumped in with the other “biggies”.

Paul reminds us in Ephesians 4:29, “…Let everything you say be good and helpful.” That should be our goal as followers of Jesus.

Monitor your criticism as well. Paul says in Philippians 2:14ff, “Do everything without complaining and arguing…” We all know people in our family or friend group who just constantly complain and criticize. We tend to steer clear of them when possible. We have the ability with us to bring life and light to the world around us so be that light and extend life-giving words to those you see every day.

We have been given a spirit of “power, and love, and boldness” (2 Timothy) so be bold and be different this week for Jesus. Share your life and light with those around. Be the person in the room people WANT to gravitate toward. Be kind and compassionate just like our Lord. Share the love Christ has extended to you this week. Blessings on your journey.

Overflow.

Have you ever been at a spillway after an incredible storm? The swell of the all the water moving over the spillway is mesmerizing. It can’t be held back. It will flow over the top of the spillway.

James says our tongue is similar. Our tongue is difficult to control which makes it important what we put in our heart. James, the brother of Jesus and early church leader knew how difficult it was to control what we say. He gives several visuals how powerful the tongue is in our relationships.

He likens our tongue to the bit in a horse’s mouth which is able to steer the large animal one way or another. He says it is similar to the rudder on a ship, able to guide it north or south. And he says it’s like a forest fire which is so difficult to control.

You know, we speak on average 16,000 words a day and have about 30 conversations a day. So, as followers of Jesus, we need to be careful and guard our words. How we speak has everything to do with what we put in our hearts. At least that’s what Jesus said. In Luke 6:43-45, Jesus says out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks. So it calls us to take a discipleship-type inventory of what we put in.

The call today is to limit your social media intake as well as what we’re watching on TV, Netflix, and the movies. Give it a try. For the next 3 days, or 7 days, or 10 days, replace those things with reading a spiritual blog, reading the Bible in depth, increasing your prayer life and journaling. Rather than sitting on the couch vegging out, find a ministry to plug into and serve someone else rather than your own needs. There are lots of opportunities at any church or in your community.

Our faith should be worth enough to CHANGE the way you do life. Jesus’ words should prompt us to plant positive, healthy seeds in our heart. We want to be people who are affirming, positive, uplifting, encouraging, and healthy resource for others to be around. Give it a try! Don’t wait another moment to getting your heart in better shape to look more like Jesus. Blessings on your journey.

The Power of Words

Each of you has a story about someone who encouraged you, built you up, stuck with you, and empowered you. You remember them and are so grateful for their influence in your life. Equally, you remember someone who degraded you, ignored you, tore you down, and made you feel small. You wished those moments hadn’t happened.

Words have power. Words are important. How you use them is equally important. Take a look at the creation story in Genesis 1-2. God simply speaks things into existence. He says, “Let there be light. and there was light.” That’s how powerful words can be and the person using them.

Words can be a negative as well, even when they are not true. Like in Genesis 3 when Satan speak death into the life of Adam and Eve and all of creation. He questions God’s words and in so doing, the sinful, human condition comes into existence.

But then God sends “The Word” into the world in John 1. Jesus, the Word in the flesh, comes into the world. In Genesis, God speaks light into darkness. In John, God sends light into darkness. And Jesus’ words during his ministry on earth speak life and love and peace and joy and forgiveness to all his creation.

Now, we are made in the image of God which means we too can speak life and love to all those around us. Give is shot. Don’t say, “I’ve already tried it. It doesn’t work.” At least try for a month to live out the image of Jesus in your own life, building others up and not tearing down.

Start with the opening of your day. For 5 minutes each morning, speak the Word of God into your life. Write scripture on post it notes and put on your bathroom mirror to read each morning as you get ready. As you prepare for the day over that cup of coffee, open God’s Word and read the incredible things he’s said to you.

At the end of the day, take a word inventory. How did you speak to people today? If there was a negative, how could you have interacted differently? What attitudes did you experience today? Leaning into how God has called us to imitate his son can change your marriage, relationships with your kids, your work environment and yes, even your own spirit.

Words are powerful. Use them to bring life and love to those around you. Blessings on your journey.

Tripping on Pride

Have you ever had those proud moments in life? Moments when you made the team? Or got the job? Or when she said “yes”? Maybe when you first child was born and you got to take him or her home? There is no issue with having proud moments in life.

However, there are moments when Satan whispers in your ear how life is all about you and you take the bait. It’s in those moments that God takes issue. In the moments when you really want to exalt yourself and there is no care or concern about others.

When we look at the broad stroke of King David’s life (1 & 2 Samuel), we end up realizing what David struggled with is also what we struggle with…PRIDE. If asked, most of us would say David’s greatest stumble would be his adultery with Bathsheba. But 1 Chronicles 21 shows us he really struggled with pride.

James, the half-brother of Jesus, says in James 4, “God opposes the proud but favors the humble.” In our culture, humility is characterized as weakness. This is just not true. When we follow Jesus and allow him to reign in our life, we realize we are actually empowered greater then we ever could be on our own. James goes on to say in that same chapter, “Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will lift you up in honor.”

It’s a powerful way to represent Jesus Christ in your family, your workplace, and in your neighborhood. So, start today allowing the Spirit to convict you to walk with a humbleness that looks like Jesus. Start today surrendering to God and allow his Spirit to flow through your life. Say “good bye” to comparing yourself to others and just be Jesus to those around you. Humility is not weakness—your strength is God in you. Blessings on your journey.

Who's accusing who?

There have been moments in my life when I’ve been accused of something I did not do. Of course, there have also been moments I was accused and stood guilty. Like the time in fifth grade on Signal Mountain, TN when it had iced and snowed. At school, we were told NOT to run and slide on the ice but several of us did so anyway. When we lined up after recess, the principal asked who had been sliding. Several came forward but I was not saying a word until the class bully, Andy, pointed me out and said, “Tim was sliding!”. I got a spanking that day at school…I stood guilty.

You know, that’s what Satan does to you and me. He stands before God and accuses us of the guilt of sin in our lives. The sad thing is, we are guilty.

Satan whispers in our ear and lies to us about sin, encouraging us to give in to our carnal nature and do things our way. “God will understand.” “He would want you to have a good life and this (fill in your sin) will make it good.” But after we sin, we tells us we are worthless, pitiful, unlovable, unforgivable. While that is true, we are also loved beyond measure!

The apostle John tells us in 1 John 2:1, “…if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.” What an exciting realization!! Yes, we’ve made some poor choices but Jesus loves us so much that he gave his life for us. We have forgiveness and a relationship with God because of our advocate, Jesus.

So the next time you hear the voice of the enemy whispering you’re unlovable and unforgivable, remind him that he’s wrong. God loved us so much that while we were sinners, Jesus died for us. We have every reason to rejoice. We are brand new in God’s eyes, no longer guilty but his sons and daughters. Blessings on your journey.

Unmask the Deceiver

We’ve all had those Halloweens where we were out trick-or-treating and saw the many costumes kids were wearing. Almost always, there is someone wearing what we would call a “devil” costume…some renaissance version of what we think the Devil looks like. The look usually includes a red suit, horns, and a pitchfork. But that is not really who he is.

You see, the Devil’s greatest trick is convincing us that he really doesn't exist. But he is very real. The story of the Bible, God’s tireless chasing after his creation (humankind), reveals that he is the prince of darkness, bringer of death, and the father of lies. While Jesus on the other hand is light and truth and life.

The Devil hates God and hates humankind since we are made in God’s image. He’ll do anything to take our focus off of Jesus. He’ll whisper anything in our ears to make us feel unworthy and that God cares nothing for us. But we know that to be just the opposite. God cares for us so much that he sent his only son to die for us.

So, as followers of Jesus Christ, we have to arm ourselves against the father of lies in order to know the truth. How do we do that? By putting on the full armor of God: helmet of salvation, belt of truth, the sandals of peace, the breastplate of righteousness and draw out the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6). Making sure that God’s Word is firmly planted in our hearts will be the difference between standing firm and falling for the lies the evil one tells.

So, make it a habit to attend a gathering of believers on the first day of the week. Fast the first of the year in order to discern God’s will for you in the coming year. Give your first fruits to God acknowledging that it is God who blesses you in all things. And finally, start every day with God, reading his Word.

The Devil wants to pull you away from your relationship to Jesus. Know what he’s up to. Know whatever he’s telling you is a lie. Trust in God. Surrender to Jesus in order to have that abundantly bright life that Jesus offers. Blessings on your journey.

No Opinions

Everyone has an opinion. They are as common as belly buttons. Life happens. Decisions are made. Choices are given. We all live and learn and along with that opinions are formed. Unfortunately, many times poor opinions are created and related as if it were the Gospel truth.

Maybe you go along with folks and then regret it later because you don’t want them to have a bad opinion of you. It could be that you change the way you think because of who is in the room. You possibly read into what other people say or do as if it is in direct judgment of something about you. Maybe you have a hard time asking for help because you don’t want others to think you’re weak or not knowledgable. Maybe you are critical or judgmental of others because that’s what’s been done to you and you’re tired of getting hurt.

But Paul addressed this type of living and thinking in Galatians. He starts out that letter by saying he wasn’t appointed by a person or a group to spread the message of Jesus. He was chosen by the Spirit and because of that, people’s opinion of him do not matter.

What we discover in the Gospel of Jesus is that we have been set free not only from the Law but also what people think of us. We are called to live out Jesus in our everyday life no matter what folks think. Paul says in Galatians 5:1, “Christ has truly set us free.” What an exciting story to live into!! We are free from anything the world throws at us. We don’t have to believe what other people might say about us since Paul reminds us of what God thinks about us.

Paul says in Galatians 3:26, “for you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. All who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ…there is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Wow! We are sons and daughters of the Most High God! Praise be! May I always listen to his voice and none other. Blessings on your journey.

No Chains

Have you ever felt tied down, incapacitated, chained? That moment you felt you had no freedom at all (other than the way you felt your teen years)? Religion does that to a person. But there is a different between religion and Christianity.

Paul was emphatic about the Gospel of grace as am I. He had visited at least 4 towns on his first missionary journey (see Acts 13-14) where he established churches and reminded them of the grace and freedom Christ has given (see Galatians). But after a while, those churches went back to the Jewish Law system. Oh, they still believed in Jesus and our need for him but they continued to be chained to the old law.

There are reasons we as humans tend to lean in to this type of living, spiritually speaking. One, it offers a method of measurement. I’m a list guy which means I like knowing what needs to be done, making a list and marking it off as I accomplish things. Religious people like that too. But Paul reminds us it’s not what we do, it’s what Jesus has already DONE!

Another reason we tend to add things to Jesus is it makes us feel superior. As humans, we naturally compare ourselves to others. Spiritually, we are no different. If I can go to “church” more, read the Bible more, memorize more scripture, go on more mission trips, well, you get it. I think I’m better than you. But adding anything to Jesus is not the Gospel of grace. It’s not what we do, it’s what Jesus has already done.

Finally, we like a Jesus-plus gospel because in our small thinking, we believe we control our eternal destiny. It ends up giving us a false sense of comfort. But Paul reminds those churches in Galatians and us today, Jesus plus nothing equals everything! There is no way to work our way into salvation and grace. It is a free gift from God. Jesus has done everything needed to gain a positive spiritual outlook. So, stop working and trying to earn your salvation. Jesus + nothing = everything!

Blessings on your journey.

Burden of Debt

We live a country that encourages us to carry debt. Banks, credit card companies, and retailers make it easy to obtain a piece of plastic that enslaves us. Proverbs 22:7 says that the “borrower is a slave to the lender.” I don’t know about you but I don’t like that wording. “Slave” doesn’t sit well with me unless you are talking about serving Jesus Christ.

So, let me encourage you to sit at the kitchen table and create a budget for you. Get your spouse and get real with your income and what you’re paying out. Don’t let you money or your bills master you…you be the master of the financial direction you want to go. Here are some core principles that might help you navigate the culture of debt America advises.

Curb your appetite. Greg Laurie says “If your output exceeds your income, then your upkeep will be your downfall.” So very true. Paul says in Philippians 4:11-12 that he’s found how to be content whether he’s well off or in need. That can only be found in Jesus. Stopping seeking what the world offers and start looking to Jesus to guide your life.

Discipline your eyes. Ever notice grocery stores know right where to put the sugared cereal? Yep. Right where the 5 year old can see it. That’s what the world does. It tries to pull our vision off of Christ and on to the things that just don’t matter. The half-brother of Jesus, James says “We don’t have because we don’t ask God.” Maybe we need to refocus on the abundant life that only Jesus can offer rather than the latest gadget.

Finally, guard your pursuits. Jesus says in Matthew 5, we can’t serve both God and Mammon. Anything that pulls us away from God is Mammon. It’s more than just money. We should be pursuing a life that radiates Jesus and not a garage full of stuff. Pursue that kind of life that is focused on looking like Jesus and give things away rather than collect them.

Remember, it’s not what’s in your wallet but who’s in your heart. Blessings on your journey.