Hold your tongue!

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. (New King James Version) - James 1:19-20

One of the hardest things to do is remain silent when you really want to put your 2 cents worth into the conversation.

How many times have you sat listening to a friend pour out their woes, just waiting for a break in their words so that you can tell them how you would handle the situation if it were you? You're so busy thinking of what you wanted to say next that you're not really listening to them at all. Maybe, just maybe, they don't want your advice. Maybe all they really need is a sympathetic and attentive ear so that they can talk it out for themselves.

Can you do it? Can you listen patiently and prayerfully so that when God prompts you to speak, you will have the right words?

And what about those times when someone speaks negatively at you or about you. How quickly do less than godly words pop into your head and out of your mouth? When someone is mad at you do you find your own anger quickly escalating into an explosive outburst?

God wants to produce righteousness in His children. One of the ways He does that is by teaching us to hold our tongue. When we're busy speaking, we're not listening. This even applies to prayer. Yes, we are to speak to Him, thank Him, praise Him, but we are also supposed to listen for His voice, His guidance, His promptings.

So, let's set our minds to listen more than we talk, to hold our tongue until we know that we have something helpful to say and to react to people, not in anger, but in a way that brings honor to the name of Christ, so that God might produce His righteousness in us.

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(Copyright© 2012 Jan Christiansen. All rights reserved.)

You can't take it with you.

 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” 
Matthew 22:36-40 (NIV)

We have but one life to live. It's doled out to us in increments.

years
months
days
hours
minutes
seconds.

We spend those increments of our lives in pursuit of many things. Some pursuits are worthwhile and some are worthless, but once those increments are spent, they are gone - forever.

Some choose to spend their time in pursuit of riches, fame and pleasure. Their focus is self. Yet even if they acheive all of these, they leave this world with nothing. They can't take it with them. The riches of this world do not transfer to eternity.

Others spend their time pursuing God, seeking to do His will, to love Him and to love others. They are motivated by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control - all fruits of the Spirit, given to us by God.  They enrich the lives of others, rather than seek riches for themselves. They gain pleasure from helping others and they do it without recognition. They make a difference!

We are not guaranteed one more second, but should you be given another second, minute, hour, day, month, year or many more years to come...how will you spend them?


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(Copyright© 2012 Jan Christiansen. All rights reserved.)

So, what's the plan, God?

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

It's comforting to know that God has a plan for my future. He knows what the next season of my life will hold and His plans are for my good.  I just wish He'd let me in on them!

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I don't wait well. I want to know what the next step is so I can start working on it now, or if I can't work on it, at least I can start getting a little excited about it. Instead, I wake up each day thinking that just around the next corner is something really great for me, something fun and exciting.

The problem is that while I'm focused on the future, I'm not really enjoying the present...and that's just wrong!  Each day should be lived to it's fullest, with thanksgiving for the Father's provision and love. After all, if I can't treasure everything He's given me today, I can't move on to the new thing He wants to do in my life.

Am I the only one who's like this? Do you ever spend so much time looking forward that you miss today?

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If you enjoyed this post, please feel free to share it with your friends using the Facebook, Twitter and other share buttons below. Thanks! (Copyright© 2012 Jan Christiansen. All rights reserved.)

Where is God?

I do not have to search for God, for He has made my heart His dwelling place.

I need only to still myself and shut out the noise of the world to hear his sweet voice.

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Ever near,
ever listening,
ever speaking,
guiding,
loving.

Only a quiet breath away is the Lord, God Almighty.


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(Copyright© 2012 Jan Christiansen. All rights reserved.)

Are you "called" to pray?

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. (New International Version 1984) - Ephesians 6:18

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I head up the prayer ministry at our church, receiving requests over the internet, the phone and via our communication cards. I then type up the requests and send them out by email to all the members of our prayer team.
Often folks will slip up beside me in church and ask me to add or a loved one to our prayer list.

I assure them that we would love to pray for their needs and sometimes I ask, "Would you like to join our prayer team and pray for the needs of others?"

I would like to say that their answer is "yes" every time, but sometimes I get this...

"Oh, I don't have time to pray for others."

"Um...I'll pray about it and let you know."

"Well...I don't really feel called to that ministry."

What??????

I'm sorry, but God is not going to issue a special "calling" to pray for the needs of our fellow believers. Well, let me take that back...God has all ready issued a specal calling to pray for the needs of fellow believers...and the lost...and those in authority...and for His kingdom to be come and for His will to be done - and His will is that we pray for one another.

With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints!

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(Copyright© 2012 Jan Christiansen. All rights reserved.)

The King has extended the scepter!

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (21st Century King James Version) - Hebrews 4:16

History tells us that if someone approached a king's throne without being summoned, one of two things could happen. The king would extend his scepter, thereby inviting the person in or he would not extend the scepter, in which case, the persons very life might be in danger.

We read about just such a case in the book of Esther.

On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance. When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter. Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.” - Esther 5:1-3

Esther was fortunate, in that she had earned the king's favor and was able to lay her request before the King, but she did not enter boldly with confidence.

We, on the other hand, are more fortunate, because God (our King) has invited us to approach His throne with confidence so that we might find grace and mercy. To realize what a wonderful invitation that is, we need to look at the definitions of grace and mercy.

Grace is when God gives us something we don't deserve (like forgiveness and blessings) and mercy is when He spares us from something we do deserve (like punishment for sin).

So the invitation to come to Him to find mercy and obtain grace is a wonderful invitation indeed!

As children of God, we do not have to work to earn the King's favor. That's already been done for us by Jesus Christ. We can come to God at any time and in any frame of mind. His door is always open and His ear is alway listening.

He is always ready to give us everything we need to live that abundant life He has designed for us, so enter His throne room, my friend. Enter and experience the presence of the King.

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(Copyright© 2012 Jan Christiansen. All rights reserved.)

Let's Party!

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. (New International Version 1984) - Psalm 95:1-2

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What a joyful celebration this verse brings to mind! Singing, shouting, music, song - sounds like a party to me.

Sometimes it's easy to get bogged down in the everyday struggles of life. A little knock here and a little knock there and before you know it, your spirit is doing more grumbling and complaining than rejoicing. We get so focused on our problems that we forget the One who has all the answers to them. We forget that He will give us joy in the midsts of life's drudgery.

When this happens, the best antedote for the blues is praise and worship, reminding us of who God is, what He has done, what He has promised to do.

Remember the lyrics to at old song...Put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness? Praise is the perfect remedy for depression, so come on, put on your glad rags, slip on yer dancin' shoes, crank up some praise music and let's party.

No one has more reason to celebrate than those who know the Rock of our salvation!

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(Copyright© 2012 Jan Christiansen. All rights reserved.)