Taken by Surprise

Due to health reasons, I'll be taking a break from my blog for a few weeks. Please check back in early May, as I plan to resume my weekly blogging then. Thank you!

One Way to Honor God

As I read Psalm 16:4 today I was reminded of an incident in San Francisco. In my early twenties, I was the pianist for a young group of musicians who were excited to go on a road trip from California to Oregon.

In San Francisco’s wharf area, we separated into groups, agreeing to meet back at a certain time and place. Just as my friend and I were ready to catch a cab and return, a Hare Krishna member approached.

When we said we weren’t interested, he surprised us by asking, “Can you say Hare Krishna?” Puzzled when we shook our heads and said, “No," he asked again. To our "no" that time we added, "We need to be on our way.”

David lived by the Torah. He was probably familiar with Exodus 23:13 where God specifically said His people were not to call on any other god or even speak their name.

I didn’t know that scripture, at the time. I just didn’t see any reason to speak the name of another god.

God’s name is holy. Too many Christians today use God’s name in an empty way, saying “Oh, my God!” as an expression of shock or surprise. It’s even been reduced further to “OMG,” as if that makes a difference.

Perhaps we need to consider more carefully the words in this brief *worship song, written and recorded by Rich Mullins in 1988.

Our God is an Awesome God

He reigns from heaven above

With wisdom, pow’r and love

Our God is an awesome God

People substitute other slang words for God’s name, but I’m not here to judge. I’m here to encourage people to honor God by being conscious of how we use His holy name.

Consider this meaningful prayer of David:  Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable and pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my (firm, immovable) rock and my Redeemer. **Psalm 19:14, AMP 

*Our God is an Awesome God, credited to Rich Mullins in a Wikipedia article about him.

**All scripture marked AMP is taken from the Amplified Bible and is used by permission of the Lockman Foundation.

Illustration by Pixabay, Used by permission: Speech Bubble Icon, TheDigitalArtist. 

One Mouth, Many Words

Words float through the air with the greatest of ease but have a great impact. They can be used positively or negatively - - - to build up another’s self-esteem, or tear it down. That applies even to our self-talk.

Here’s an example of a lasting impact. While in high school, I made a call to a friend’s church. I don’t remember why I was desperate to contact her, but at the time it seemed extremely important.

When someone answered, I asked if I could get a message to my friend. When I gave my name, I was shocked to hear the person answer roughly that since my dad was a pastor I should know better than to call a church on Sunday. End of story.

Considering it now, they were right, but which of us always makes the right decision?

Interest in words is nothing new. The Apostle James wrote, “Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing . . . these things ought not to be so (James 3:30 *NKJV). So, let’s consider two varieties of words.

First: Wise words. You’ve probably heard that a word to the wise is sufficient. That’s good, but I think it’s better to remember that from a wise mind comes wise speech (Proverbs 16:23 **NLT). Don’t allow just anyone to speak into your life.

Wise words, like those of the godly, can bring healing, make knowledge appealing, and act like a life-giving fountain (Proverbs 12:18, 15:2, and 13:14 NLT). What a lovely illustration. A bubbling fountain is pleasant to hear, besides being refreshing if we choose to enjoy it further.

Second: Unwise words. These negative words come from the wicked, rather than the wise, and can conceal violent intentions, be perverse (deviating from what is considered right or good), and even act like a murderous ambush (Proverbs 10:6, 10:32, and 12:6 NLT).

Your words are two sides of the communication coin. It’s a flip of the coin whenever you speak; however, it’s not a matter of luck, it’s a matter of intent.

Yes, it’s one mouth, many words. Your words will impact others . . . so why not think before you speak?

*The New King James Bible (NKJV), Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.; Spirit-Filled Life Bible for Students, 1995 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

**Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Photo: Pixabay, Silhouettes, People, by geralt.

A Well of Wisdom

Wells are only valuable if they contain life-giving water. People come to be refreshed, whether prepared with a bucket or a cup. At some wells, you simply dipped the bucket in, but others required you to muscle a pump. In either case, water was worth the effort.

Dehydration can become a life-or-death matter. My Goddaughter was just sharing with me her experience as a young child with food poisoning. She vomited so much that her parents finally took her to the hospital. They were shocked when the doctor said, “If you had waited much longer, she could have died.” She said she was in the hospital on IVs for two days.

Wisdom is on my mind since I just completed the Book of Proverbs. It’s easy to review my list of thirty-one stand-out verses. Take Proverbs 23:23 *(NLT) for example: Get the truth and never sell it; also get wisdom, discipline, and good judgment.  

Wisdom comes from the wise. I did a little side study in Proverbs on the “words of the wise.” Here are four out of fifteen entries.  

THE WORDS of the WISE:

Bring healing (Prov. 12:18b)

Satisfy like a good meal (Prov. 18:20)

Come from the lips of people with understanding (Prov. 10:13)

Are like deep waters (Prov. 18:4a)

Deep waters bring us back to the idea of wells. The Book of Proverbs is like a waiting well of wisdom, but are we thirsty for it? Reading a chapter might be like coming to the well with a bucket. Choosing a verse might be like coming with a cup. Either way, water has a life-giving effect.

Proverbs gives us powerful truths through contrasts. It is a practical book; it doesn’t require deep studies in theology. For example, the contrasts between the wise and the foolish are as clear to the man on the street as to the king in his palace.

Are you desiring changes in your life? Are you willing to come to the well of wisdom for refreshing? Don't allow yourself to become dehydrated.

*Photo by Pixabay: Clean Countryside Drink, Public Domain Pictures.

*All scriptures are NLT from the New Living Translation/Life Application Study Bible copyright 1988, 1990, 1993, 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. All Rights Reserved.