Judging others hurts us not them...

Luke 6:37-42 New International Version (NIV) Judging Others 37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” 39 He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher. 41 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 42 How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

God doesn't want us to judge because it hurts us. It does nothing to the other person, but it makes our heart dark. Lord, help me to catch myself when I start going down the Judgement Road. Let me continue your motto....LOVE, LOVE, LOVE.

Jesus commands us to love our enemies!

Love for Enemies Luke 6:27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you. 32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. I think Jesus understands that hate and resentment is poison to our soul. My sister had a great line from a 12 step program. Resentment is like taking poison and expecting the other person to die. I am amazed by the Amish story where the man shot children in their school and they forgave him. Wow! I am amazed at their obedience to God's Word. If they can forgive, can I not forgive much more minor offenses?

A prayer...

How can I let God's love flow through me? How can I deny myself, and take up my cross and follow Jesus? How can I walk in the power of the Holy Spirit? Dear Lord Jesus, my heart wants to love, love, love, but my flesh is weak. As I read your Word, it states You were filled with the Holy Spirit. Help me to be sensitive to the quiet, still small voice You gave us. Teach me how to renew every morning. Let me see each and every interaction is an opportunity to share Your Love in a world starved for You. Dear Lord Jesus, I submit myself to You truly being my Lord. Give me Your wisdom to do Your will in my life. Amen.

Why I love The Lord's Prayer

I love The Lord's Prayer from Matthew chapter 6. Maybe my Catholic upbringing, because it was prayed every day at school and in the Mass and 5 times in the Rosary. I pray it before I pray my prayer list with a few changes. I pray Oh Father, up in heaven, I praise and worship you and Your name. I pray your kingdom to come, your will to done in my life as it is in heaven. Give me this day my daily needs, and forgive me of my sins as I forgive those who have sinned against me. And lead me away from things that would tempt me and keep me away from the evil in this world with your love and protection. I kind of re word it freestyle as I pray. What I love: Worship Obedience in my life to God's Will Faith that God will provide what I need to get through today Forgiveness of my sins My forgiving others in the love of Jesus Guidance to keep me from being tempted to choose poorly Protection from evil on this fallen earth. What a wonderful prayer.

Temptation and Life Choices

The temptation of Jesus in Matthew chapter 4 has always interested me. Jesus who was with God from eternity becomes human. That in itself must have been such a sacrifice. Now in this human flawed body, he is hungry. One of the acronymns for alcoholics or anyone who is struggling with behavior change is HALT. Be careful when you are HUNGRY ANGRY LONELY TIRED. So Satan starts with physical hunger. How often Satan waits until something in our life is just a little off to tempt us. Jesus gives us the pattern for resisting temptation. He responds to choices in life through his filter, The Word of God. Satan knows His Bible too and tries to tempt Jesus by skewing the scriptures by tempting his pride (throw yourself down off the pinnace of the templeand angels will bear you up) and greed (I will give you all the kingdoms of the world). Jesus answers every choice with scripture. As a therapist, I use the word choice because the word temptation seems more sinister. Our lives are filled with daily choices. We don't even realize how many choices a day our freedom give us. Not all choices are bad. Coffee or tea, orange or apple, black shoes or brown. With life so full of choices, we have many more altering choices, positive attitude or negative, worry or faith, selfishness or giving. Lord Jesus, help me each day to use how You handled choices in life, through the filter of the scriptures. Help me to surrender my will to Thy Will be done in my life, as it is in heaven.

Meditating On God's Word

Philippians 4:8 New International Version (NIV) 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. I once read an unknown verse. Watch your thoughts; they become your words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny. Your servant is here listening, meditating on Your Word day and night. Let me fill my thoughts with whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy. Let me be obedient in how I use the time each day that You have given me to use for Your Glory. As with all things, Lord, lead me, guide me, let me hear from You and obey what You are sharing with me. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit.

Seek Ye FIRST the Kingdom of God

Seeking the Kingdom of God First is a day to day, for me a second to second challenge. I have a goal that each day, before I do anything else, I spend time in the Bible and in some meditation with God. Yesterday, I woke up with a splitting headache and took some ibuprophen and then nausea!! Obviously, I was sidetracked. Life is so generous with distraction!! I then thought when I get home after work I will take my time with the Lord. I walk in the door around 6 with a slight headache and head for the couch to watch Judge Judy. You got it! When I have a frustrating day, I love to watch my DVR'd Judge Judy because she if free to say exactly what she thinks, as I walk around political mine fields all day at work. I just want to turn off the noise in my head! Again, all I can ask is God to give me wisdom. The spirit in me is so willing, but my flesh is so weak. I want to give my time on earth to the Lord FIRST, without reservation. Lord, I give You my day. Each and every second of it. It is Yours. I am Your servant. Lead me and guide me to use my time for Your glory.

What has Changed?

Why was the church of the Acts of the Apostles so different than the church of today? Where is the power of people praying and the sick being healed and demons cast out? I believe the Holy Spirit has been quenched. Lord Jesus, You know my fears, You know my heart. I want to be "all in". As I pray each day, "thy will be done in my life as it is in heaven". Help me Lord, to seek Your Face, seek Your Will and to seek Your Holy Spirit.

Behind the Curtain

The Stoning of Stephen Act 7:54-60

⁵⁴ When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. ⁵⁵ But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ⁵⁶ “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
⁵⁷ At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, ⁵⁸ dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.
⁵⁹ While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” ⁶⁰ Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.

We live in two realms.  We don't realize it, but just because we don't realize it doesn't mean it isn't real. We are in our physical realm.  We live, work, eat, sleep and watch dumb TV shows.  The other realm is our spiritual realm. Some people are more connected to this realm because they spend time developing it through prayer, reading, meditation. 

Stephen gave a sermon to the leaders "full of the Holy Spirit." When he was in touch by God's grace the curtain between our world's was pulled aside. I try and imagine this realm is just behind a curtain. Jesus is right there behind the curtain but I can't see Him.  At times, I feel Him, or I hear Him and I try to always acknowledge Him, but the pull of my physical realm over powers me.  Both realms are wonderful.  We can't live in the spiritual realm alone, we live in both and relish the wonders and beauty of our physical realm without ignoring the other exists.  

Dear Lord Jesus. I give you thanks each day for the physical realm and all of its blessings. I also pray that you give me wisdom on how to live "full of Holy Spirit" to live in both realms more and more.      

Proof of Heaven

I will never be the same again.  I first heard of this book from my husband.  He told me about it because he knows I am always interested in books like "90 Minutes in Heaven" and "Heaven is for Real."  Our small group leader mentioned it from an article he read. Finally, when I opened up my audible account it was the first book that popped up.  This is in itself is odd as Audible.Com knows what I buy; David Sedaris, Historical Fiction and some dumb mind candy books. I do not sleep well and use books on ipod to help me turn my brain off when I wake up multiple times per night. How did this book pop up first on my selection screen and the next book was the new David Sedaris book.  Conincidence???  NO!

 This book is very different but moved me in a powerful way.
Some Christians will not like it as it may not fit their views of a NDE or Near Death Experience. 
After reading this book I was so moved, I grabbed a pen and paper and scribbled:

I will never be the same again...I am beloved by God and His Presence is part of me. I am a healer to bring back, to restore people to Perfect Love. I am in the center of His Will.  I can do nothing to separate myself from the Love of God.  My eyes, my ears, my hands, my feet are the instruments God and I use to bring His Love. My prayers are mighty as I join with God to accomplish His Will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. AMEN

This book will not proove God.  It will confirm God in a powerful way. 

  

Pray For Wisdom

Do you want an answered prayer?  Pray for Wisdom. Each day as I pray, I pray in categories.
1. Family
2. Church Family
3. Work relationships
4. Neighborhood
5. Friends/Aquanintances
6. America and its leaders and our military

My prayer is what I came up with called my spew paryer
1. Spiritual Blessings, I pray for the Holy Spirit to be loosed to each person I pray for.
2. Physical Blessings, healing, jobs, and things in our physical realm.
3. Emotional Blessings, as a therapist the emotional challenges, fear, anxiety, grief can cause us pain.
4. Wisdom Wisdsom, Wisdom! 

Read on to KNOW God will answer the prayer for Wisdom.   


James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

This is one of my favorite stories!!

I Kings 3:5-15
At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”
⁶ Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.
⁷ “Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. ⁸ Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. ⁹ So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”
¹⁰ The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. ¹¹ So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, ¹² I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. ¹³ Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. ¹⁴ And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.” ¹⁵ Then Solomon awoke—and he realized it had been a dream.

Rejoice Greatly O Daughter

Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly O daughter of Zion!  Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!  Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. 

Oh Lord, let me rejoice, let me shout!  You came to me!  You came with salvation!  You came to me in a humble way.  You came to me and upside down in how the world would see a King.  Instead of coming with a flashy, hollywood style entrance, you came and gently spoke and called me.  Each day, you call me in the same way.  Come my child. 

Verse 11 says, As for you also, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit.  

Oh Lord, I pray for the Holy Spirit to be loosed on my prayer list loved ones. Lord, set them free. Let us be restored to You as Jerusalem is restored.  Let the temple of our hearts be open and may You dwell fully in our lives.   

Stand with Israel and be Ready For Christ to Return

Zechariah 2: 6-12
⁶ “Come! Come! Flee from the land of the north,” declares the Lord, “for I have scattered you to the four winds of heaven,” declares the Lord.
⁷ “Come, Zion! Escape, you who live in Daughter Babylon!” ⁸ For this is what the Lord Almighty says: “After the Glorious One has sent me against the nations that have plundered you—for whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye— ⁹ I will surely raise my hand against them so that their slaves will plunder them.^[b] Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me.
¹⁰ “Shout and be glad, Daughter Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,” declares the Lord. ¹¹ “Many nations will be joined with the Lord in that day and will become my people. I will live among you and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you. ¹² The Lord will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem. ¹³ Be still before the Lord, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.”

Look to Jerusalem. While no one will know the day or the hour of Christ's return, we are to look for the signs (See Matthew 24:32) “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. ³³ Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it^[e] is near, right at the door. ³⁴ Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. ³⁵ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

Whether Jesus is returning in our generation really doesn't matter. He will return for each of us.  We should stand with Israel. Our government should stand with Israel. Be wise.  Heaven and earth WILL pass away, but MY words will never pass away.  If Jesus were to return today, would I be ready? Holy Spirit, give me Your wisdom. Let me live my life ready for Your return.     

Seeking God's Glory Before all else

Haggai 1:7-9 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. ⁸ Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,” says the Lord. ⁹ “You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house.

This verse spoke to me.  I have to admit it.  I am a house addict.  HGTV, decorating shows, magazines, Nell Hill, Pinterest ideas.  I LOVE decorating.  Just like everthing in life, I need balance.  God is so good and has blessed me with a home I love.  I need to "give careful thought to my ways."  How much time do I spend building God's Kingdom?  

My simple belief is God has called me to do three things.  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. 
LOVE GOD, LOVE OTHERS and LOVE SELF.
Of the three, do I spend more time loving myself?  Help me Lord, for you to be my Lord and truly be prepared to give it all up for you.  Show me how to seek God's glory first in my life.  Holy Spirit, lead me, guide me, speak to me to truly put God first in my life and balance building of God's Kingdom and being busy with my own house.     

Daughter (or Son) of God

Zephaniah 3:14-17 Sing, Daughter Zion;
    shout aloud, Israel!
Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,
    Daughter Jerusalem!
¹⁵ The Lord has taken away your punishment,
    he has turned back your enemy.
The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you;
    never again will you fear any harm.
¹⁶ On that day
    they will say to Jerusalem,
“Do not fear, Zion;
    do not let your hands hang limp.
¹⁷ The Lord your God is with you,
    the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
    in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
    but will rejoice over you with singing.”

Oh Lord, may we embrace who we are in Christ, may we accept how loved we really are.  Lord, as we pray, let us listen and hear You speak to us. Let us rejoice as we hear you call us Daughter or Son.  

How am I complacent?

Zephaniah 1:12 (Living Translation)
"I will search with lanterns in Jerusalem's darkest corners to punish those who sit complacent in their sins. They think the LORD will do nothing to them, either good or bad."

Dear Lord, take a lantern to my heart.  Look in it's dark corners and show me where I am complacent that I may turn from my sin to you.  Like a good parent, You do not want to see me suffer the consequences of my poor choices.  You want me to choose Your way.  I choose Your Will over mine, I choose to be open to Your discipline. Give me Your Wisdom to see the hardness of my heart. Fill me with the Holy Spirit this day. Amen

Seek His Face

Nahum 1:7-8
The Lord is good,
    a refuge in times of trouble.
He cares for those who trust in him,
⁸     but with an overwhelming flood
he will make an end of Nineveh;
    he will pursue his foes into the realm of darkness.

Nahum was a minor prophet who spoke of the destruction of Nineveh.  A country that only 150 years before God saved by the preaching on Jonah.  Reading of this destruction of Nineveh, I wondered about America. In 1630, a governor named John Winthrop admonished the future Massachusetts Bay colonists that their new community would be a "city upon a hill", watched by the world. America founded on The Bible and it beliefs guiding us became a great nation.  

Will America be the Nineveh of Jonah and repent and follow God or the Nineveh of Nahum and turn from Him and be destroyed.  

II Chronicles 7:14   "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."   

His Love

Micah 7:18-20
Who is a God like you,
    who pardons sin and forgives the transgression
    of the remnant of his inheritance?
You do not stay angry forever
    but delight to show mercy.
¹⁹ You will again have compassion on us;
    you will tread our sins underfoot
    and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.
²⁰ You will be faithful to Jacob,
    and show love to Abraham,
as you pledged on oath to our ancestors
    in days long ago.

May each of us be wrapped in His Love this day and we may we show it to others.   

Love Kindness

Micah 6:8

He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with Your God. 

What more needs to be said?  We read the entire Bible and here are some astounding words.

Love kindness....people will see Jesus when we love and show kindness.
Dear Jesus, let every interaction in my life show kindness.

He will be our Peace

Micah 5:2-5
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
    though you are small among the clans^[b] of Judah,
out of you will come for me
    one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
    from ancient times.”

³ Therefore Israel will be abandoned
    until the time when she who is in labor bears a son,
and the rest of his brothers return
    to join the Israelites.

⁴ He will stand and shepherd his flock
    in the strength of the Lord,
    in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they will live securely, for then his greatness
    will reach to the ends of the earth.

⁵ And he will be our peace

God has been helping me to understand His Peace.  His Peace is regardless of the situation.  His Peace is from within and not from our external circumstances.  His Peace is when we yoke ourselves with Him, not running ahead of Him, not lagging behind Him, but walking beside Him.  "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."  Matthew 11:29

Dear Lord Jesus.  Help me to understand and the have Your Wisdom and live in Your Peace and in Your Rest.  Let me walk beside you as Your child. 

Walk in the Name of the Lord

It has been too long on my diet of summer of Psalms.  I needed a change and found it in Micah.  Lord, so many things going on in our world today. Teach me to WALK in YOUR NAME!  Let me LOVE each person in YOUR LOVE.  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE.  

The Mountain of the Lord

4 In the last days

the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established
    as the highest of the mountains;
it will be exalted above the hills,
    and peoples will stream to it.

² Many nations will come and say,

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
    to the temple of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
    so that we may walk in his paths.”
The law will go out from Zion,
    the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
³ He will judge between many peoples
    and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
    and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
    nor will they train for war anymore.
⁴ Everyone will sit under their own vine
    and under their own fig tree,
and no one will make them afraid,
    for the Lord Almighty has spoken.
⁵ All the nations may walk
    in the name of their gods,
but we will walk in the name of the Lord
    our God for ever and ever.

Am I Speaking of God's Faithfulness and Love?

Psalm 40:8-14
I desire to do your will, my God;
    your law is within my heart.”

⁹ I proclaim your saving acts in the great assembly;
    I do not seal my lips, Lord,
    as you know.
¹⁰ I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;
    I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help.
I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness
    from the great assembly.

Lord, let me speak your saving acts, your faithfulness and your love to everyone I know.    

What is the sweetest thing in your life?

Psalm 19^[

^a]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

¹ The heavens declare the glory of God;
    the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
² Day after day they pour forth speech;
    night after night they reveal knowledge.
³ They have no speech, they use no words;
    no sound is heard from them.
⁴ Yet their voice^[b] goes out into all the earth,
    their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
⁵     It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
    like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
⁶ It rises at one end of the heavens
    and makes its circuit to the other;
    nothing is deprived of its warmth.

⁷ The law of the Lord is perfect,
    refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
    making wise the simple.
⁸ The precepts of the Lord are right,
    giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
    giving light to the eyes.
⁹ The fear of the Lord is pure,
    enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm,
    and all of them are righteous.

¹⁰ They are more precious than gold,
    than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
    than honey from the honeycomb.
¹¹ By them your servant is warned;
    in keeping them there is great reward.
¹² But who can discern their own errors?
    Forgive my hidden faults.
¹³ Keep your servant also from willful sins;
    may they not rule over me.
Then I will be blameless,
    innocent of great transgression.

¹⁴ May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart

This is a beautiful and famous psalm.  This psalm is referred to in the New Testament in Romans, written about by C.S. Lewis, used in Jewish worship and Catholic alike.  It has been set to music by Bach, Beethoven and Hayden. 

This is a psalm to drink in, to pray in our lives and to praise Our God.

This shows our awe of the glory of God, His Word, and our desire to please and love Him.

Selah!   

But Thou Oh Lord Are A Sheild For Me

But thou oh, Lord, are a shield for me,
    my glory, the One who lifts my head high.
⁴ I call out to the Lord,
    and he answers me from his holy mountain.

^{This scripture was a sweet song we used to sing as teenagers at Bible Studies.  How I view it different today.  What kind of shield King David needed was different than I need in my daily life.  I am not hiding from King Saul in a cave.  My enemies as assaults on my emotions.  My anxiety about what is happening to my staff in our present economy holds me heavy.  Lord, I ask that you guard my heart, my emotions from the assaults of worry and axniety.  Help me to know that you care for each of them and help me to use this upsetting time to glorify You with them.}   

Revenge

Proverbs 24:29  Do not say, "I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done."

I have a guilty pleasure and it is the TV show Revenge.  The arch of the story is a young girl impersonating someone to weild her way into a rich family in the Hamptons. This family is responsible for framing her father and ultimately causing his death. 

As you watch the show, you see her revenge is consuming her life.  In the season finale she confronts the hired man who actually killed her father. She had planned on killing him, but in a flashback to her father she remembers something he said to her as a child. After the flashback she does not take the ultimate revenge.  

Fortunately for us, Jesus teaches us to forgive and follow his example. In our daily life, we do not have to worry about who killed someone, but it could be a slight at work or someone cutting us off on the highway.  For us, we turn the other cheek and forgive and pray for them.   This is not always easy, but it is obedience. The act of forgiveness frees our soul from spiritual death. 

I love this portion of the sermon on the mount in Matthew 5. 

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor^[i] and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. ⁴⁶ If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? ⁴⁷ And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? ⁴⁸ Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Lord Jesus, help me to love like you love us all.

Wine is a mocker

Proverbs 20: 1  Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.  

I enjoy a glass of wine, or I enjoy the idea of it.  I am not much of a drinker and thankfully never have been.  I have seen it in my growing up as my dad drank to excess.  I have seen it in relationships in my family where it has caused such pain and divorce.  The key in the verse above seems to be whoever is led astray by it is not wise.   There is the old latin phrase, "In vino veritas."  In wine there is truth. The phrase is sometimes also continued "in aqua sanistas"  In water there is health.  I would say sanitas sounds more like sanity. 

Speaking the truth when drinking is not always good. 

Other quotes:

Chinese:  After wine blurts truthful speech.
Babylonian:  In came wine, out went secret.
German:  Germanic people always drank wine while holding councils, as they believed nobody could lie effectively when drunk.

And Finally:

Homer Simpson: Ah, beer.  The cause of and the solution to all of life's problems. 

Doh!

Remaining Silent

Proverbs 11:12

English Standard Version (ESV)

¹² Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense,
    but a man of understanding remains silent.

My favorite topic, the mouth.  Ouch, confession, I spoke negative about someone yesterday at work.  I feel sick about it.  The negative subject started and instead of being silent, I added my two cents.  Wow.  This is how I need to be careful.  Keeping silent in any situation is challenging for me, I am a talker.  The slippery slope of "joining in" when the topic is brought up is where I need to be vigilent.  Dear Lord, help me and give me wisdom when a negative subject is brought up to REMAIN SILENT.