Listen/Silent

"The biggest communication problem is we do not listen to understand; we listen to reply."  Anonymous

An interesting thing happened to me the other day.  Someone approached me and asked me a question.  When we first started talking, I appreciated the inquiry, but after I answered the first initial question the conversation went into an entirely different direction.

All about them. 

I stood there for approximately five minutes listening to this person share their similar circumstances.  At first, I paid attention to every detail, but then little snippets of verses began popping into my mind.

Ecclesiastes 5:3b, 'and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words.'

Proverbs 29:11a 'A fool uttereth all his mind:'

Ecclesiastes 5:2b 'therefore let thy words be few.'

I began to grow weary of the conversation and found that my ears were no longer hearing what this person had to say.  I finally smiled and excused myself from the conversation.

As I walked away, I asked God, "Can I have a conversation with others, without inserting myself?" because when you really think about it, there is no new thing under the sun.  (Ecc. 1:9) When you talk among a group of people, you will find that we have all experienced the same thing at one time or the other.  The question is, do we really need to share that fact?  We need to discern when to listen, and when to be silent.

James, 1:19 says, "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:"

When I ask someone a question, I want them to know that I'm asking because I care about them, not because I want to tell them about me.

    ...but that's just me!

"Listen and Silent are spelled with the same letters...think about it."  anonymous

"When I'm thinking about an answer while others are talking-I'm not listening."  Anonymous

My Shield

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.  Psalm 28:7

Websters dictionary tells us that a shield is used in defensive warfare.  It is also, something, or someone that protects or defends. The word 'shield' is also used figuratively of God as The Defender.

In the book of Psalms, alone, the LORD is described as our shield sixteen times.

I read Psalms 28:7 this morning during my devotion, and the first thing that spoke to my heart was the word 'shield.'  What is the purpose of a shield?

It protects your heart from fatal blows.

Sometimes the words and actions of other people can wound or discourage our Spirits, but when our shield is in place and our trust is where it should be, in the LORD, we are helped!

That, my friend, is a promise from God.

Oh, you can still feel the impact from the arrows thrown your way, and your heart may be bruised from time to time, but your shield will deflect those fiery darts of the devil, and you will survive.

And the result of having your shield in place?

Rejoicing!  I recently learned that 'rejoice' literally means joy and joy again!  

Singing!  Our hearts will sing praises unto Him!

I love that!

...but that's just me!

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

Ephesians 6:16

Homeless

 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.  Matthew 25:40

You've probably seen them standing at street corners holding up a cardboard sign that reads, "Will work for food", or 'Homeless, anything helps."

You try not to look their way because, if we're honest, we wonder if the sign they hold in their hands is the truth, or if it's a scam to take advantage of the kind-hearted.

I find myself asking, "If I give them money, will they use it for drugs and alcohol, or will it help meet a genuine need?"

My brother and sister-in-law have put together 'goodie bags' for the homeless.  Inside is a bottled water, warm socks, mittens, hand and feet warmers, McDonald gift cards, granola bars and a Hoodie.  During Christmas time, my sister-in-law includes a Christmas card with a hand-written note inside.

They place them in their vehicles and wait for the Lord to lead them to those they see on the street who have a genuine need.

They didn't close their eyes, and they didn't turn away.

You see, it really isn't about what that person will do with the money they are given, but rather, whether or not we are obedient to God's gentle nudge to give to that person.

    But that's just me!

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.  Hebrews 13:2

Home

"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."  words of Jesus, Matthew 6:21

Gratefulness and joy are often the result of answered prayers, but sometimes gratefulness and sorrow are also the result of answered prayers.  A loved one is no longer with us in mind, just body, and so you pray and ask God to take them home to Him quickly.  

He answers your prayer. 

The mercy of God is displayed, and in your sorrow, you rejoice because there is no more pain.

Heaven is full of treasure.

The older I get, the more treasure I have waiting for me in Eternity.

    But that's just me!

"The best moment of a Christians life is his last one, because it is the one that is nearest heaven."

Charles Spurgeon

🎵This world is not my home, I'm just-a-passing through, my treasures are laid up, somewhere beyond the blue, The angels beckon me, from heaven's open door, and I can't feel at home in this world anymore! 

So Far Away

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.  Ephesians 6:18

It's heartbreaking, at times, when you have a family member who is going through a difficult situation, and they live in a different State.  Your hands are tied; if only you still lived near them, you could help.

I know missionaries who have answered the Call of God and left their elderly parents and adult children to go and serve in foreign lands, only to hear that their loved ones will be having surgery.  Family who are dealing with Hospice care, who could use an extra hand.

You cry out to God and ask, "Lord, what can I do, I live so far away?"

He answers..."Pray, for I Am near."

Prayer is asking God to do what we cannot do ourselves.

Instead of asking ourselves, first, "What can I do?"  Remember to pray and ask God to do what only He can.

It's the best thing we can ever do for our loved ones...

    But that's just me!

The LORD watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another.  Genesis 31:49b

Hospice

He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.  Psalm 147:3

Hospice is a program that allows medical care to the terminally ill in their own home.  It allows us to care for our loved ones until they go home to meet the Lord in the comfort of their own home.  But the process can be daunting.  If anyone has had to care for their loved ones up to this point, then you know, at first, it can be a blessing knowing you can spend all your time caring for your loved one and keeping them company, allowing them to be in a familiar setting, but as things progress, it can become exhausting mentally and physically.

As you rally more help from other family members, there will be those who will willingly do all they can to help care for their loved ones, and there will be those who seem calloused, hardened and don't want to help, they just want all of this to be over.

You wonder, why they can be so cold?

Grief.

Grief affects everyone of us differently.  Some can embrace this trial of hurt, while others have to step back, erect a wall, and protect their heart from the pain of losing someone they love so dearly.

When that happens, show compassion.  Realize that they to, are dealing with this situation the best they can.  

Grief has no room for judgement, only love.

    But that's just me!

"Every man has secret sorrows which the world knows not; and often times we call a man cold when he is only sad," Henry Longfellow

    

New Beginnings

As our family rings in the new year, two members of our family will be losing loved ones in a matter of days.  My husband will be losing his older brother who has battled cancer for four years, and my sister-in-law will be losing her father who recently became very ill and cannot battle this sickness in his elderly age.  

Doesn't sound like a great start to a new year.

And so, I turn to the Word of God to be comforted and to find answers to my earthly questions.

God reminds me that our times are in his hands, (Psalm 31:14,15a) and that even in death, he will not leave us. Psalm 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

The Lord Himself will escort our loved ones to Him.

As believers in Christ, we have the promise, or the confidence, rather, that to be absent from the body, we are present with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:8)

As I began to read the promises from God's word, I began to realize that as we quietly wait to say goodbye to our loved ones, they are eagerly awaiting to say hello to their Saviour!

It sounds like a pretty great start to the new year after all.

    But that's just me!

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.  Psalms 116:15

"Death-the last sleep?  No, it's the final awakening!"  Sir Walter Scott