Talking. Tasting. Speaking.

The tongue is a tricky little member of the body. While it can be used for good—words of encouragement, salvation and praise—it can also be used for evil. Insults, sarcasm, and lies are right on the tip of the tongue. Left to its natural self, the tongue cannot be trusted. Thankfully God has provided a way.

“The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of the learned, that I may know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as the learned.” Isaiah 50:4

Why has God given us the tongue of the learned?

So we will know how to speak a word of encouragement to those who are tired.

Tired of the circumstances.

Tired of dealing with marriage problems (It wasn’t supposed to be this hard was it?).

Tired of that nagging sin problem.

Tired of getting kicked when down.

Just plain old tired.

But there is a catch:

We gotta show up to hear from Him so we can speak His words. Every morning. Why every morning? Because everyday we are going to run into people who need the kind of help that only comes from the Creator of the universe. Someone who doesn’t know Jesus is depending on you today for the help they need. Our words don’t change hearts, lives or souls. Only God’s word has that kind of power.

The connection.

There’s a connections from the ear to the tongue. We meet. He speaks. We hear. We speak.

. We miss out and so do those we do life with.

Read this same verse in the NASB:

“The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of disciples, That I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.”

Wow. I want a tongue of a disciple.

What would the tongue of a disciple say? Words of faith. Words of truth. Words of love. How does a person listen as a disciple? They seek sound teaching, laying aside lesser things in order to choose better things. They pick out their Master’s voice over the babble of a thousand voices, leaning in to catch every word.  What do disciples listen for? Opportunities to share the gospel, commands from their teacher, and occasions to learn.

Next Steps:

1. Wake up! Set your alarm 15 minutes earlier than usual and open God’s word.
2. Pick out! Pick a few verses that speak to you, write them on note cards and memorize them!
3. Listen in! Go to  Oneplace.com and subscribe  to a few podcasts that interest you. Listen on your way to work or when you are running errands.

Have a blessed day!

all rights reserved. copyright 2017.

 

 

 

Salt not Sugar

Two of America’s most popular seasonings are sugar and salt. We can’t eat without ’em.  When I was growing up, we always had salt and a sugar bowl on the table. I’d dump spoonful after spoonful of sugar on my Cornflakes. Sugar overload! The sugar bowl went the way of the 8-track tape, no longer a mainstay in the American household.

While the Bible is silent concerning sugar, it has much to say about salt. As a matter of fact, we are told to be salt. To do the Scripturegraphic Bible study on salt, please click on the link below:

 

Bible Scripturegraphic: Salt not Sugar

 

Let me know your thoughts about salt in the comment section below! I’d love to chat with you!

by Mary Kane

all rights reserved. copyright 2017

I’m busy. You’re busy. Everybody is busy.

6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6: 6-9

Yea, I can relate.  Plain old busy. Who says the Bible isn’t relevant? This verse was written for the 21st century. When I sit, when I stand, when I lie down, when I’m running like a crazy woman. In the midst of the mess, we forget about Jesus. We gottta get some Bible.

What’s a busy girl to do?

Somehow the whole technology thing has backfired. Instead of freeing up hours of time, we’re busier than ever. Scheduling meetings while driving (admit it, you have), arranging doctor appointments during PTA meetings, lining up snacks for a school party on the sidelines of a soccer game, answering emails before you even get out of bed. What the heck?

Isn’t there an app for that?

Instead of running us ragged, let’s make technology work for us. Here’s a few things that will help keep your life on track.

Bible app: Before I get up, before I eat my wheaties, before I throw off the covers, I get God’s word in my head and in my heart and on my tongue.  The Bible app is free and it offers a variety of Bible reading plans and many other bells and whistles. You can also connect with your friends and see what they are learning from God’s word. I love it. 

The Bible App

Prayer Notebook App: My prayer life used to be a haphazard mess. Promises broken and  prayers forgotten. My own husband and kids were left prayerless by their own wife and mother. Prayer Notebook changed all that. I went large and invested  in the $1.99 version. It took about 30 minutes to organize my prayer life. Now, each day, while taking a walk, doing chores or on the way to work, I pray though my list. No more forgotten prayers. Boom. Bam.

The Prayer Notebook

One Place: Get all the preaching and teaching you’ll ever need all in “one place.” Click on the link and download One Place app to your device. Order up podcasts by your favorite Bible teachers and tune in. I love to listen while I’m jogging, doing housework, getting ready for work (the older I get the longer it takes) or running errands.

One Place App

So what are you waiting for?

No more excuses, busy woman! Download a few apps and let’s get growing!

Please share your ideas on how to seek Jesus while you’re living the dream! Leave me a comment in the section below. I’d love to hear from you!

all rights reserved. copyright 2017

 

Ok, so where’s this verse been all of my young life?

In my 40 plus years of Bible reading, I’ve NEVER read this Scripture before. I am just saying.  Is God just funny like that, or have I been blind all these years (ever seeing, but never perceiving)?

12 For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” 2 Corinthians 10:12

Guilty as charged for longer than I care to admit. I have wasted time, talent, brain cells, resources and decades of my life comparing and measuring myself to others and ALWAYS coming up short. Coveting their talents, gifts, clothes, businesses. For crying out loud, even jealously envying the ministries of other brothers and sisters in Christ. Never smart enough, talented enough, wise enough, quick enough, fun enough, popular enough,

just never enough

Blessed is she who believes what God has said is true.

What has He said to us? Read these next words slowly—Out Loud:

I am called, I am chosen,  I am gifted,  I am forgiven,  (oh, say that one again) I AM FORGIVEN!  I am loved, I am redeemed, I am restored, I am anointed,  I am adopted, I am released, I am protected, I am equipped, I am powerful in Christ, I am a warrior, and my enemies will be defeated before me. I am His beloved child.

That’s who you are. That’s who I am. God says it in His Word, so it’s the truth. Let’s stop listening to the lies of the enemy and trying to measure up against the world.

Nothing but the truth.

, and ONLY THEN will we become all we were created to be.

Knowing God’s truth is the key that opens the door to abundant life.

We must  keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith.

But measuring ourselves against Jesus… isn’t that a tall order? Yes, and it reminds me of my sons. When they were young they constantly measured themselves against the grownups of our family. Charting their progress at each family event by measuring themselves.  The first benchmark was my itty-bitty five-foot-nothing mother. The kids were thrilled when they passed-up Grandma, but they weren’t willing to stop there. They locked eyes on their 6’2′ grandpa. He was a worthy measure! Same thing with Jesus. Why stop short by comparing ourselves to our friends, our fav sports persona or rock star? Let’s aim higher and lock eyes on the Most High.

We compare ourselves to Him, and take hope in the fact that if we are in His word and His word is in us, we are being transformed into the image of Christ. Day by day, piece by piece, chunk by chunk, blow by blow, from glory to glory until we look like, talk like, sound like, act like, love like, live like Jesus.  Amen.

That’s how we measure up. By the Book.

Amen.

all rights reserved. copyright 2017.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

iSee: short videos to build your faith!

Do you only have a few minutes for Bible Study today? Or do you have a few extra minutes to feed your soul? Try one of our new iSee videos! Three minutes is all you need to receive a little encouragement and refreshment from the Word of God!

If you’re like me, you love social media. Tweet, post, periscope—I love it all! Sometimes it gets a little out of control! I’m constantly checking my numbers instead of my Bible. What does God think about all this “following”? Click on the play button below to find out!

 

Remember to follow Jesus! He’s the only audience you need!

all rights reserved. copyright 2016.

Three wise men.

Searching, studying, waiting, watching. A calling in their hearts had their eyes on the skies. Looking for a sign. Longing for a Savior.

There must be more to life than living for self. Purpose. Passion. Filling for the emptiness carved by sin and suffering and anguish and life. Something to truly treasure.

Finally, darkness split by light not to be missed. The heavens again declare the glory of God.

Star light. Star bright. Lead to the Savior through the dark of night.

A Child of Hope;

of promise always spoken

of love never broken.

In the straw. In the manger. In the dark. In the cold.

Not what was in their hands, but in the hearts.*

And three wise-men find their King. An epiphany of the heart.

7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”

9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

12 Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way. Matthew 2:7-12

By Mary Kane

all rights reserved.

Copyright 2016

 

 

*Ed Stetzer