To Speak or Not to Speak?

Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD;

keep watch over the door of my lips

Psalms 141:3

      Do you ever have difficulty knowing when to speak and when to keep quiet? I do. I haven't always had that difficulty. There was a time when I chose not to speak no matter what. It was just too risky, and I was afraid to take risks.

       When I open my mouth now, people don't know all the work God did in my life to pry my lips open. They don't know the fears He freed me from, and how He taught me to trust Him when He asks me to take risks. My words may sound to them like just words, but to me they have become a testimony of God's goodness and a demonstration of His power over the strongholds in my life - like fear.

      The older I get, the more I want to jump in with my "words of wisdom," especially when I see someone heading down a dangerous path that I've traveled down before. Isn't it my duty to save them from pain and suffering if I can? Well, perhaps sometimes it is, but more times it's not. Often the only words God wants to hear out of my mouth are prayers, as I lift the situation or person up to Him. That's the hard part of freedom - knowing the difference.

      It was easier when I was afraid to talk, because the choice was already made. But there was no growing or stretching involved in that, no discernment learned. Now I am responsible for my words...all of them. As a mater-of-fact God is keeping a journal and He will hold me accountable for every silly one I speak. Since God is keeping an account, I need to make sure my words count for something more than filling the air or a notebook. I need to keep a guard on my lips, not out of fear but out of obedience.

      The kind of words I'm sure God never tires of hearing are those of love that exhort and encourage others, and bring praise and glory to Him - spoken from the heart.

 

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things.

   Philippians 4:8

 

      When we meditate on these things it's amazing how they travel from our mind to our mouth and help us speak those words which are pleasing to God.

 

Buttoning my lip...for now.

Charlotte

 

Look at the Birds!

      Today when I got home from Bible study, I noticed a frenzy of activity in my front yard. There was chattering and movement everywhere. The railing along my front porch was lined with feathered guest who seemed to be guarding something. Occasionally, others would swoop in from nearby trees and cause a ruckus. After watching for a few minutes, I realized why all the commotion. My lovely sunflowers growing in a barrel next to the porch where no longer lifting their faces to the sun. They were drooped and hanging down; dry and shriveled...looking sad. The activity was centered around them!

      The Bluebird guards posted on the railing were waiting their turn to eat the dry seeds inside the flowers. Then out of nowhere a Titmouse would swoop in and timidly sneak a few seeds while hanging upside down.

Then the Goldfinches would fly over and nibble on the leaves.

I was reminded of this verse in the Bible...

"Look at the birds of the air,

for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns;

yet your heavenly Father feeds them.

Are you not of more value than they?"

Matthew 6:26

Jesus was reminding us not to worry about tomorrow because our Father will provide for us just as he provides for all His creatures.

He is a good and loving Father, there is no need to worry.

What time is this?

"Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions

which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle."  

2 Thessalonians 2:15



      Every so often I ask this question, "What time is it?" I ask it because this blog is titled "For Such A Time As This." So, what time is this? I look around for clues and see some disturbing things...signs if you will, that tell me this is a time of change. Now change can be good...if it is good change, but much of the change I see isn't so good. On the Christian radio recently I heard that Campus Crusade for Christ (a well known college campus ministry) is changing its name; they will be removing the words "crusade" and "Christ." Hmm...taking Christ from their name? What does that mean?

      I see the "change" happening in my own church. First the name was changed to take out the word Baptist. I guess that word isn't cool anymore. Now we are a community church...Hmm, what does that mean? Even the youth building was changed from "Faith Hall" to "Worship Cafe." It now looks like a coffee shop. Other changes are taking place, like moving the chairs around in the sanctuary, eliminating the rows; setting up tables instead. Trying to make it feel more like an informal get-together instead of a church service, even making it interactive. Much effort is put into marketing ourselves and finding new ways to look more appealing to the unchurched; to look less like a church. I watch this happening, and my heart hurts.

      So much has changed over the years since the days I attended church as a youth; no more alter calls (we wouldn't want to make anyone feel uncomfortable). Not much, if any, talk of hell  (too condemning), yet that could end up being a shocker later on.

      I walked down the isle of a little church and gave my heart to Jesus when I was nine years old. My father and mother followed behind me. We were baptized the next week. There is something precious and life changing about coming to the alter and publicly professing your faith in Jesus Christ - even at nine. It takes a step of faith to put your foot out in the isle and say yes to the nudging of the Holy Spirit. I don't believe those things can be reproduced by checking a box on a comment card and putting it in the offering plate as it passes.

      I see other churches changing. Whole denominations dropping names, changing their values and re-wording their mission and belief statements. Changing to fit into our society...the society Christ asked us to be separate from. Some are even trading their Bible truth in exchange for tolerance...a tolerance of sin. It is a fact that we all sin, you do, I do, but we are to turn from it...confess it, and not embrace it.

      It seems to me like we are taking our light and putting it under a basket, which Jesus warned against. He said we are the salt of the earth. Are we allowing the church to be diluted to the point that we are no longer preserving the gospel of Jesus Christ for the next generation. I know there are still churches and Christians who are standing firm...unmovable for their faith, but the winds of change are blowing hard on this country in a direction that seeks to bend and destroy the Christian church.

      So I ask the question again, "What time is it?" If we (Christians) are put here "For Such A Time As This," then what time is this, and what are we here to do? If this is our time, our watch, what are we to be doing?

I think the answers to these questions are clearly found in the Bible (for those who still believe it is truth). Reading through the first few chapters of the book of Revelations where Christ is speaking to the seven churches, I see over and over again these words, "repent, be faithful, overcome, hold fast, be watchful, persevere, and strengthen the things which remain."

      None of these words are passive, they are all action words. They refer to things we have been given and are to keep (hold fast, be faithful), things we are to turn from (repent), and things we have to stand strong through (overcome, persevere). How can we do this? By being watchful and strengthening those things which remain. The things we were taught by Christ and His letters to the churches.

These are the seven churches He was speaking to: Revelations 1:1-3

• The Loveless Church
• The Persecuted Church
• The Compromising Church
• The Corrupt Church
• The Dead Church
• The Faithful Church
• The Lukewarm Church

      Which of these churches do we want to be? Without doing much at all, we can comfortably find ourselves in five of the seven, but I think if we want to be found as a member of the Faithful Church, it will not be so comfortable, and require us to be actively pursuing those things mentioned above. I'm pretty sure the persecuted church is not persecuted because it tries to fit into the world, but because it does not.

      Making Christianity acceptable to sinners is the work of the Holy Spirit  when the gospel is faithfully preached and is not reliant on a name change or a cleaver marketing plan.
I'll end with the same verse I quoted above -

"Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions

which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle."

2 Thessalonians 2:15

Charlotte

He Uses Everything!

...being confident of this very thing,

that He who has begun a good work in you

will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

Philippians 1:6

       When I go through difficult times or through things I don't understand, I try to remember that God allowed it, and there is a purpose for it. I may not understand, but I can know that He is in control; He reigns over everything. He is never surprised or taken off guard by anything that happens...He is God. Everything that comes into my life or yours, is sifted through His hands, and they are loving hands. If He allows it in our lives, He will use it...He doesn't waste a thing.

He Uses Everything!
by Charlotte Foster

There’s not a single thing, that passes through a life,
That God does not intend to use, no triumph, pain, or strife.

It’s all a part of His great plan, set perfectly in place.
To teach us hard learned lessons, and demonstrate His grace.

Though some things seem so hard, we don’t think we’ll survive.
But when we reach the end of them, we find we’re more alive.

He stretches us in areas, we thought we couldn't grow.
Maturing us in such a way, His handywork to show.

Often things we thought we knew, are visited once more.
Making sure our trust in Him, resides down at its core.

He wants us to remember, as we walk through life’s hot fires,
The image of His Son in us, is all that He desires.

Distractions?

Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:31 NASB

Distractions…so many distractions! The world is full of them. Things to do, places to go; more than a lifetime will allow. So many good things- what should I do today?

Whatever it is I choose to do, it should be something pleasing to God…to glorify Him instead of myself. If this one standard is used as a sifter, it will stop the meaningless time wasters from making their way into my day.

Sometimes the things that please Him are simple, like the laundry getting washed or dinner cooked on time. They bring Him glory by me loving and serving the people in my home…as unto the Lord.

The distractions will always come, that is sure, but knowing I have a choice, to choose the things that glorify God, will help me separate the good things from the best.

Today I chose to write this post for you and share this simple truth in hope that in some small way my Lord will be glorified within the words written here. I chose to press the “publish” button as I said a prayer for you.

          ~ “That the Lord will bless and keep you, that He will cause His face to shine upon you and give you peace…and that His glory will be revealed within the framework of your life.”

To God be the glory, great things He has done…and continues to do!

Charlotte

 And now, I will finish the laundryJ

 

Can You See It?

"So it shall be, while My glory passes by,

that I will put you in the cleft of the rock,

and cover you with My hand while I pass by."

Exodus 33:22

      I have a favorite place I like to sit and read my Bible. It's a bench made out of an old log cut in half. It was difficult getting it right where I wanted it because it's very heavy, but I managed to drag it to the barn and close to my favorite oak tree where I feed the horses in good weather. You can see the bench in the header above. There is something special about sitting under the blue sky, listening to the birds sing in the trees, watching the horses graze and reading the words, "The earth declares the glory of God."

 

      Those words take on new meaning as everything around me says Amen. His creativity is seen in His handiwork and it glorifies Him. Do I notice it enough? Do I even take the time to look each day? Is it possible that I could walk by such beauty and not even see it, that my eyes could become accustomed to it and I might no longer behold His glory in it?

      I want to see it, to always notice, to never take it for granted...never take Him for granted. His breath of life fills the air around us all. His majesty is displayed in all He has made...even you and me, His children. Can you see it?

The earth declares His glory!

Your Glory

By Charlotte Foster

“Show me your glory,” I dared to say,

As I walked along the road today.

 Then as I spoke a cloud passed by,

A soft white pillow in deep blue sky.

 And gentle breeze of such degree,

Not hot or cold as it touched me.

 More like a touch from someone’s hand,

Softly passing where I stand.

 A bird high in the old oak tree,

Sang his tune so happily.

 And then I realized all around,

Your voice was heard in every sound.

 In every wind and passing cloud,

Revealing of yourself out-loud.

 For all to see - Yes you were there,

In every song or breath of air.

 In Your creation loud and clear,

Are signs of you so very near.

And when I stopped to ponder You,

I saw Your glory fresh and new.

The earth declares the glory of God!

Linking up with Charlotte and Ginger at....

And also...

Joy in the Storms

But I will hope continually,

And will praise You yet more and more.

Psalm 71:14

      There have been a lot of trials in my life lately, some big, some small, but they are piling up at an alarming rate. I don't step out of bed wondering what will befall me today, but I am putting my feet on the floor a little slower. Last night I was cleaning up from dinner and spilled some liquid on my ceramic range top...which seeped under the knobs. No big deal, I just removed the knobs and got a wet dish cloth and proceeded to wipe it out of the hole when...bang, poof, spark, smoke! It gave me a good jolt, and I haven't been able to use it since. Minor annoyance. So on to the next chore, laundry. First load...a little water on the floor, hmm that's weird. Second load...more water, but I wasn't giving up without a fight. Third load...lots of water on the floor. OK, the washer is broken. No stove top and no washer, but it isn't all that bad, right?

      Then the neighbor comes over, not happy, to tell us our rooster has been waking him up early every morning for several days (we live on a farm). So these little trials seemed to be leaking, like the washer, from the house - to the barn, and apparently were making their way down the street. It didn't stop there but I don't want to drag you through it all, so I'll stop.

      What was interesting (and suspicious) is before the trials really got thick, I prayed for joy. I had prayed for joy and peace for a couple of weeks because my family was going through something very hard. Now I'm not saying God answered my prayers with trials and tribulation, I'm just saying that I prayed for joy before they started piling up.

      I'm positive God doesn't do things to keep us from having joy - actually He gives us fullness of joy - but I do think we have an enemy who wants to steal, kill, and destroy it. Real joy doesn't depend on what is going on around me. It doesn't go away when the appliances break down, when people are upset with me over a rooster...or when the light bulb above my head burns out - just now! It can't be killed, stolen, or destroyed.

      Joy is something that fills us even when we're going through the storms in life. It doesn't get poured into us from outside, it pours out...overflows from within. It is placed in the heart by God Himself and no one, or thing, or trial, can remove it. It's times like this God proves to me what His word says about Him is absolutely true - He is my rock, my fortress, my strong tower, shield, deliverer, strength, and my joy.

My Firm Foundation

Standing on the solid rock, though all may crumble 'round,

I will not fall from where I stand, I am on solid ground.

Storms will blow around me, and tides will rise and fall,

My eyes stay on my Master, and my heart tuned to His call.

No power can remove me, from this solid place I stand,

The One I've placed my trust in, holds all power in His hand.

At times I may grow weary, but those times He has foreseen,

He's promised not to leave me, and hold me as I lean.

He is my firm foundation, where no higher place is found,

Than the Solid Rock - Jesus, as I stand on holy ground.

The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;

 my God, my strength, in whom I will trust;

my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

Psalm 18:2

Linking up with Ginger and Charlotte at... 

and

Losing my mind!

      This week has been a week of losing things. 5:30 one morning I am awakened with the sounds of my husband opening and closing drawers...shuffling through papers on his dresser, and coming in and out of the bedroom. I made the mistake of moving (signs of life) then he started questioning me about the set of keys for our new front door lock. I am not a morning person by nature, nor can I think cognitively before say...7AM? And even then I need coffee. So I just kept repeating what he said..."keys", "keys?" "new lock", "lock?" Then he asked a question that woke me up. "Did you throw the box away with the keys still inside?" Oh no, maybe I did! I thought and thought, but couldn't remember if I'd even touched the keys...but yes, I did throw the box away! Now that I was completely awake I thought of something I learned when I was a child...God knows where everything is! Nothing is ever lost to Him. So I prayed.

      It wasn't five minutes until my husband found the keys, and yes, it was HE who misplaced them in HIS nightstand drawer! I'm always happy when it ends that way:) But I am curiously suspicious of the fact that whenever we lose something, we rarely find it before we pray and ask God to reveal to us where it is. I think it is just a little reminder to rely on Him, and remember that He is all-knowing.

      Apparently though, I moved on from that lesson a bit too fast. That afternoon I couldn't find the computer cord to my camera. I looked everywhere...no cord. I searched the entire house twice! I went over and over in my mind the last time I used it...where I was...what I did with it.

      I had my fourteen month old grandson here for the weekend - the tabletop dancer...chair climber...no place too high...no drawer too low...get into everything...always moving baby boy! So now I was going over and over in my mind what I would do with a computer cord if I was two and a half feet tall! Then I remembered once again that simple truth I learned when I was a child. God knows where everything is...even the missing cord, so again I prayed!

      Five minutes passed...no cord, ten minutes...no cord. I was beginning to panic. I had a deadline and I needed to get pictures from my camera to my computer...pronto! "Lord, do you not want me to do this thing I committed to do? Why are you not showing me where my cord is? My laptop doesn't have a port for the memory card." I was seriously starting to doubt whether I was supposed to be doing this, when a thought entered my mind - the old PC in the den! It has a port for my memory card, but it didn't work the last time I tried it, however, if the Lord was leading me in that direction, I would follow.

      I put it in...it worked! I was able to meet my deadline and stop having a nervous break down. Today as I cleaned off the back deck, guess what I found? You guessed it...my cord! Did God know it was there? You bet He did. So why didn't He show me? If there is one thing I have learned about Him, it is that He doesn't think like me. He does things differently than I do. When I can't figure out a situation I am left with putting my complete trust in Him...and not myself. He answered my prayer and eventually led me to the cord, but He worked out the things in between the losing and the finding in a way that would cause me to rely on Him more fully than if He had just revealed the whereabouts of the cord.

      I am so thankful He is Omnipotent. Nothing is lost to Him. When we can't find something, all we have to do is ask Him, and like a loving father He will help us find it...and perhaps teach us a thing or two while we look. Some days I may feel as though I am losing my mind, but I don't have to worry...He knows right where it is.

Commit to the Lord whatever you do,

and your plans will succeed.

Proverbs 16:3

Linking up with...

                                                            

No Rhyme or Reason

“But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

(Matthew 12:36 – 37)

Someone asked me at church on Sunday if I had written any new poems lately. In the course of our short conversation, I made the comment that there was no rhyme or reason to how often I wrote a poem. Later that afternoon, I'm sure it was the Holy Spirit who reminded me of those words as I cleaned up the house.

“No rhyme or reason?” How could I say that? Of course there was a rhyme or there wouldn’t be a poem, and for the reason, shouldn’t it be to glorify God with the instrument He's placed in my hand – a pen?

Why do we so often say things we don’t really mean? Well, maybe not everyone does, but I do. When I do, I be-little the very words that are meant to bring life and light to others by sharing the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ. I make them cheap and meaningless when I spew them out thoughtlessly. Words have the power to tear down or build up. They should not be spent foolishly.

There is a rhyme or reason for everything we do. Every moment, every word given to us by God is intended to be used to its fullest, to be a blessing to others, and to bring Him glory. For the poet especially – There is always a rhyme or a reason to set their pen to paper, for in doing so they acknowledge that He is their rhyme, and He is their reason.

Words

by Charlotte Foster

My pen is filled with liquid words just waiting to flow out.

To write a poem that points to God for those who harbor doubt.

It’s just a Bic with dark blue ink, there’s nothing fancy here.

It holds no power of its own, it moves when God draws near.

If all the words were gathered and stored within this pen.

Their weight could not be measured with instruments of men.

For God created words more important than we know.

With them we utter curses or blessings we bestow.

He calls His son, “The Living Word,” His written plan fulfilled.

God’s spirit pouring out of men on Bible pages spilled.

It’s not our words that matter, nor the silly thoughts of man.

But words placed in the heart by God and His pen placed in our hand.

For all the words belong to Him, He’s the author of them all.

Let’s use them for His purpose and answer to His call.

Every pen or pencil can write a praise or prayer.

Some can write a song or poem if only they would dare.

God can use the words you write to give encouragement.

To save a life that once was lost because a note you sent.

The person who was lonely can know the Saviors love.

Because you listened and obeyed the voice that’s from above.

Words can be a tiny spark to light hopes dying flame.

Speak life and love into a life that will never be the same.

They’re a candle in the darkness, a light upon the hill.

Words spoken with compassion, empty broken hearts can fill.

We’ll never know till God reveals all that words can do.

So if your hand can hold a pen these words are meant for you!

Now we have received not the spirit of the world,
but the Spirit who is from God,

so that we may know the things freely given to us by God,
which things we also speak,
not in words taught by human wisdom,
but in those taught by the Spirit,
combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.

(1 Corinthians 2:13)

He Uses Everything!

...being confident of this very thing,

that He who has begun a good work in you

will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

Philippians 1:6

      When I go through difficult times or through things I don't understand, I try to remember that God allowed it, and there is a purpose for it. I may not understand, but I can know that He is in control; He reigns over everything. He is never surprised or taken off guard by anything that happens...He is God. Everything that comes into my life or yours, is sifted through His hands, and they are loving hands. If He allows it in our lives, He will use it...He doesn't waste a thing.

He Uses Everything!
by Charlotte Foster


There’s not a single thing, that passes through a life,
That God does not intend to use, no triumph, pain, or strife.

It’s all a part of His great plan, set perfectly in place.
To teach us hard learned lessons, and demonstrate His grace.
Though some things seem so hard, we don’t think we’ll survive.
But when we reach the end of them, we find we’re more alive.

He stretches us in areas, we thought we couldn't grow.
Maturing us in such a way, His handywork to show.

Often things we thought we knew, are visited once more.
Making sure our trust in Him, resides down at its core.

He wants us to remember, as we walk through life’s hot fires,
The image of His Son in us, is all that He desires.