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No Unwholesome Talk

I was preparing for some conversations with young teenagers about the power and influence of the media they consume and they people they associate with on their (our!) own behaviors and thought patterns when I stumbled over this verse quite accidentally.

29 When you talk, do not say harmful things, but say what people need—words that will help others become stronger. Then what you say will do good to those who listen to you. Ephesians 4:29 (NCV)

This is a thought that we always remember.  As you end your week, make sure your words are for edification, not destruction.

 

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Give It Away

Last night in the men’s group I often write about we had a nice lively discussion about this part of the most awesome Sermon on the Mount.

 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. Matt 5:38-42 NIV

The leader of the discussion, focused on verse 42, and how we deal with street beggars.  A couple of us challenged him to not just use that tried and true thought, but to go bigger in this verse.  To go to a place where the Christ says, if you are attacked, hit, written about, ordered about, asked to give, etc, that you will not only oblige that but that you will willingly not seek revenge and do more than asked.

I have not been able to get this off my mind. After thinking about this overnight, I realized that when we give our selves to the Christ, it’s not a matter of ‘if’ we give to the street beggar, it becomes a natural reaction and standard.  We are called to be different, to not seek our own, to not seek revenge, to not even the score, but to change the score – in favor of others.  And I think that is the heart of this challenging bit of teaching.

It sort of reminds me of the song Follow Me by Leeland

Use my hands, use my feet
To make your kingdom come
Through the corners of the earth
Until your work is done
‘Cause Faith without works is dead
And on the cross your blood was she’d
So how could I not give it away so freely?

Change the score and give it away today, freely.

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Measures

Yesterday I attempted to teach a group of high school students about using their time to give.  I don’t know how successful I was at that endeavor, but here are two salient points I tried to deliver to them.  Maybe it will be have more of an impact with  you!

The first thing I tried to press home was how they really control their time, they have more of it than anyone and they can choose how to use it. I reminded them of this quote for which I don’t know who to attribute it.

For every minute you are angry or irritated, you lose 60 seconds of happiness.

I think they found the math there pretty impressive.

The second point was an attempt to show them that using your time to give to others has great returns, especially when you mind the measure that you use to give to others.

Oh course that’s all based on this verse – one that is just full of hope.

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.” Luke 6:38  New International Version (NIV)

I did try to explain this to them with a crayon box and a large trash can.  I hope they understand measures!

Mind the measure you use today, and remember don’t waste those seconds of happiness on things you really can’t control. (or maybe I should say you can control….)

 

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Happiness and Giving

A simple quick powerful thought on this Wednesday.

You’ll not likely go wrong here if you keep remembering that our Master said, ‘You’re far happier giving than getting.‘” Acts 20:35 MSG

or as other translations put it

It is more blessed to give than to receive. YLT

‘You will have a greater blessing when you give than when you receive. ERV

‘We are more happy when we give than when we receive.’   (NLV)

Give yourself today!

 

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The Most

Earlier this week, Amy’s day calendar, which we both get lots of laughs and motivation from, contained this quote:

Make the most of yourself….. for that is all there is of you! – Ralph Waldo Emerson

I like it.  How about you?

Reminds me of two verses I was also taught to teach that we should give all we have, since we are doing it for Him.

 

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God! 1 Corinthians 10:31

Give what you got!