House Rules

Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart.
1 Peter 1:22

Below are a few of the "one-another" commands in the Bible that are the 'rules' for our conduct as members of the household of God (Ephesians 2:19).
[From the webpage, place your cursor over the Scripture references to read the Scripture verses. It's important!]

* Accept one another - Romans 15:7

* Be hospitable to one another - 1 Peter 4:9

* Be of the same mind with one another - Romans 15:5-6

* Be patient with one another - Ephesians 4:2

* Build up one another - Romans 14:19

* Be devoted to one another - Romans 12:10a

* Be kind and forgiving of one another - Ephesians 4:32

* Be honest with one another - Colossians 3:9

* Care for one another - 1 Corinthians 12:25

* Carry one another's burdens - Galatians 6:2

* Comfort one another - 1 Thessalonians 4:18

* Confess your sins to one another - James 5:16

* Embrace one another - Romans 16:16

* Encourage one another - 1 Thessalonians 5:11

* Fellowship with one another - 1 John 1:7

* Honor one another - Romans 12:10b

* Live in harmony with one another - Romans 12:16

* Love one another - Romans 13:8

* Pray for one another - James 5:16

* Serve one another - Galatians 5:13

* Show mercy and compassion to one another - Zechariah 7:9

* Spur one another on to love and good works - Hebrews 10:24

* Submit to one another - Ephesians 5:21

* Teach and admonish one another - Colossians 3:16

* Worship with one another - Ephesians 5:19  Facebook
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Waiting It Out

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,

so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. 

Isaiah 55:10-11, ESV

This is a popular scripture, particularly verse 11, but many of us are missing the big picture that God wants us to grasp from His comparison in verse 10. Believing God's word, doing God's word, praying God's word, confessing/declaring God's word, waiting on God's word are all critical. Yet these do not change the fact that, sometimes, seeing God's word come to pass in a particular situation entails a season of seeing nothing visibly happening, or of seeing what seems to be stops and starts, and really slow growth.

I recall viewing an interview with Germaine Copeland, the author of the popular Prayers That Avail Much series of books (they are good aids to effectual prayer because the prayers are paraphrased from Scripture and therefore based upon God's will). When asked how the books began to be written, Germaine Copeland shared how she started to write these prayers when her son began the downward slide into drugs and crime at the age of 15. She started to write these prayers out as a mother desperately seeking God's deliverance for him. She spoke of times of emotional distress but testified that her faith grew increasingly stronger as the years passed. It was 28 years before her son finally got off drugs, and this year marks 12 years that he has been sober, saved, and growing in Christ. During those 'praying years' she learned to let go and let God - by continuing to pray and wait for Him. Many of her prayer books were written within that time which also transformed her life, and produced a ministry of global prayer and intercession.

Verse 10, "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater," shows a process that God's word undergoes. The process over an extended period of time means that:

•     something is being watered
•     something is being brought forth
•     something is budding
•     something is being brought to fullness so that it goes on to provide 'bread' for the NOW
•     something is growing to the point of maturity to enable it to produce 'seed' for the FUTURE

We thank God for the instant and quick manifestations of promises, help, and deliverance - but not all will come in that way. We can be encouraged though. Don't give up. Don't stop. Don't let what has already been accomplished in the earth, under the cover of soil and moonlight be aborted now. Keep on watering it with the word of God. Mix the seed with faith. To faith, add patient endurance. Faith and patient endurance will inherit what God has promised. Continue to trust and obey Him. Cultivate a heart of praise and thanksgiving.

When we are in agreement with God's will on a matter about which He has spoken, God says to us that His word will never return to Him without accomplishing His purpose. That settles it.

Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who has fulfilled with His hands what He spoke with His mouth

2 Chronicles 6:4

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The Prayers Of Jesus

This is the 18th and final post in a series on Praying Effectively. In the last related post we looked at prayer with fasting. Today we will sum up by turning our focus to prayer in the life of Jesus Christ when He lived as a man here on Earth.
If you are just joining me, please see the end for a special note before continuing!

• Jesus’ powerful ministry on earth was fuelled by intimate relationship with His Father. He made communicating with His Father His priority

At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him. Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.
Mark 1:32-35

However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities. So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.
Luke 5:15-16

• Jesus prayed for instructions and guidance from His Father. He made no decision without seeking and waiting for the counsel of His Father.

Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles.
Luke 6:12-13

• Jesus life of prayer was an example to His disciples. It’s interesting that He didn’t make it a requirement for them to have a lesson on prayer. He prayed and taught them when they asked Him after observing Him.

Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”
Luke 11:1

• Jesus met with God the Father and interacted with the spiritual realm when He prayed. In the following text, as He prayed, He was visibly transformed. In the same way, when we live prayerful lives we also are transformed in such a way that the spiritual and eventually physical realm will see. We are transformed into the image of Christ, from glory to glory, the more time we spend with God. (Rom 8:29; 2 Cor 3:18).

Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray. As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening.
Luke 9:28-29

• Jesus intercedes for His disciples, then and now.

And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”
Luke 22:31-32

But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens;
Hebrews 7:24-26

• Jesus prayed for the strength of God in His greatest hour of testing and an angel was sent to Him. He prayed in acceptance of and obedience to His Father’s will. His prayers were desperate with strong crying and even so that His sweat were as great drops of blood.

He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.

Matthew 26:39-44 [See also Luke 22:41-46]


Who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him
Hebrews 5:7-9

• Jesus prayed and committed His disciples into His Father’s care, that they may be kept from the evil of the world, dwell with Him in eternity and be one with He and His Father and one another.

Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.
“I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.
“I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.
“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
“Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”
John 17:1-26


What a prayer. What a pray-er. What a Savior!


[This is the final post in a series on the subject of prayer. In the previous installment we looked into adding fasting to prayers.
These posts are interspersed among other blog topics so for the easy identification of related posts, look for the label 'praying effectively - series' in the sidebar. If you are just now joining in I recommend that you read the first post where I shared my reason for doing this series. My intention has been to share practical keys and insight into praying effectively. Nothing here is intended to be viewed as exhaustive. However, in acting on any lessons you may have learned I am confident that the Holy Spirit will take you beyond what you could have imagined towards knowing God more and seeing His will done on Earth as it is done in Heaven.]

Prayer With Fasting.

This is the 17th post in a series on Praying Effectively. We have talked about what elements can be found in effective prayers and in the last related post we looked at what it means to pray in the Spirit.
If you are just joining me, please see the end for a special note before continuing!

Prayer with Fasting

Fasting appears in both the Old and New Testaments and always referred to abstaining from food and/or drink for a period of time. It was also accompanied by a general withdrawal from self-pampering or special adornment, and sexual relations with spouses. We have to be careful on this aspect though, because Jesus rebuked the Pharisees, who purposefully made their appearance haggard enough to practically proclaim, "Look at me! I'm fasting...I'm so holy!" The main point is to turn our focus to God - not to indulge self, and not for the praise of others.

I highlighted that biblical examples of fasting always involves denying food/drink substances because that is the reality. This is not to say that modern trends to include fasting from well-loved things and activities is not also beneficial. Any sincere turning to God, forsaking other things, will have benefits. He has promised that when we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us (James 4:8).  Furthermore, myriad health issues now prevent some people from fasting safely without medical opinion and guidance. However, for the purpose of this short lesson, I will be referring to fasting in accordance with the biblical examples we have been given.

Fasting goes hand in hand with prayer. If we are withdrawing from our regular way of living to seek God, then we must seek God!


Old Testament examples:
- Moses fasted during a time of intercession for Israel and deep communion with God.
- Nineveh's people (and animals!) fasted in repentance to turn away God's wrath and humble themselves before Him.
- David fasted in mourning and intercession for his sick baby.
- Ezra and Nehemiah fasted for God's direction, help, and guidance.
- Daniel fasted for wisdom and direction from God.
- Esther fasted for God's favor, intervention and deliverance to turn the heart of her husband, the king of Persia, towards her for good when she decided to break kingdom law.
- God's people and the nations' kings fasted for God to deliver them from their enemies in times of war.

New Testament examples:
- Anna the prophetess could be found ministering to the Lord by prayer and fasting night and day in the Temple when Jesus was just a baby.
- The disciples of John the Baptist fasted.
- The disciples of Jesus fasted in the book of Acts before making decisions. 

As we can see from the relatively few examples above, the needs often differed, but those who fasted all had a need to get near to God; for Him to act on their behalf, usual in times of urgency and great risk, or when direction regarding major concerns was needed.

An interesting statement by Jesus also reveals that fasting is important for specific demonic strongholds to be broken. The context of the statement indicates that fasting is important to bolster our faith to ask for and access the power of God.

And Jesus rebuked the demon, and he departed out of him. And the child was cured from that very hour.  Then the disciples came to Jesus apart, and said, Why could we not cast him out?  And Jesus said to them, Because of your unbelief. For truly I say to you, If you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, Move from here to there. And it shall move. And nothing shall be impossible to you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting. Matthew 17:18-21 

Some problems that people have are not/not only medical or psychological by nature but have to do with the active operation of evil spiritual beings which can be resisted and overcome in the authority of Jesus' name. Prayer and fasting prepare us to be the vessels through which such deliverances can take place, or to be set free ourselves.

Fasting is a useful spiritual discipline if our motivation is pure and faith-filled. As a discipline, it may not at first be easy, but the effort which may be required is not to be confused with the weight and false foundations of a rigid, legalistic, self-imposed regimen of fasting. 

Many Christians who fast can attest to the benefits of seeking God with prayer and fasting. In my own life as a young believer, I fasted weekly for a period of time (my own decision that no one else was aware of). I did not see all that was being accomplished in the moment - indeed, I did not even expect the major changes that resulted - but in retrospect I looked back with amazement at how many invisible hindrances were conquered, how much refinement of my character occurred, and how much my thirst for the word of God and prayer increased. Fasting did not accomplish these things as a magical formula, but the God I was desperately seeking was working in me and on my behalf.

We are near the end of this series on Prayer. In our next and final installment we will take a look at Jesus' prayer life in the New Testament. 

[This is the 17th post in a series on the subject of prayer. In the previous installment we looked into what it means to pray 'in the Spirit'. 
These posts are interspersed among other blog topics so for the easy identification of related posts, look for the label 'praying effectively - series' in the sidebar. If you are just now joining in I recommend that you read the first post where I shared my reason for doing this series. I hope to share practical keys and insight into praying effectively, in bite-size blog posts which you can easily follow.]

Praying In The Spirit

This is the 16th post in a series on Praying Effectively. We have talked about what effective prayers are and in the last related post we looked at suggestions on what to pray for.
If you are just joining me, please see the end for a special note before continuing!

Praying in the Spirit

This is more than just praying in an unknown tongue, it has to do with flowing with the Spirit of God in sensitivity and yielded-ness, but is inclusive of these utterances which the Spirit gives. Praying in the Spirit is essentially about praying with the utmost precision according to both the will and knowledge of God.


• For self-edification:

But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit
Jude 1:20

The following Scripture passage will show clearly that praying in unknown tongues, as the Spirit gives utterance, is a powerful gift to the Saints of God because it allows men to speak to God above the limitations of their knowledge or ability to comprehend. The emphasis of this excerpt, however, is that in public gatherings - without also having the gift of interpreting tongues in operation - it is not edifying to the church to use this precious gift of God. I included the entire passage so that we could consider the topic in a balanced way.

For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.
But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching? Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played? For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle? So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance. Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me. Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.
Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.
I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
1 Corinthians 14:2-19

• In intercession/about the unknown:

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Romans 8:26-27

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel
Ephesians 6:18-19

In my own experience the Holy Spirit has many times given me clear mental thoughts and impressions of specific things to pray for/about and then let me come to find out from someone how my prayer related directly to something that actually occurred or threatened. This showed me just how critical it is to pray with specific dependence upon the Holy Spirit who knows all things. I now depend upon the Holy Spirit to direct my prayers, even without having this feedback or confirmation from others. The key is to come earnestly to God and esteem that time of prayer with Him, asking for the help of the Holy Spirit.


• For insight/wisdom of God:

However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
But as it is written:
“ Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:6-16

• Testimonies of persons who spend time praying as the Spirit leads include:
- Faith for physical healing
- Inner healing of emotions, healing from traumatic experiences etc.
- Personal strongholds broken
- Increased self-control; increased ability to make choices to resist temptation
- Greater understanding of, and desire for the Word of God


In the next post in this series I will say a little about prayer with fasting.


[This is the 16th post in a series on the subject of prayer. In the previous installment we looked at what we should pray for. 
These posts are interspersed among other blog topics so for the easy identification of related posts, look for the label 'praying effectively - series' in the sidebar. If you are just now joining in I recommend that you read the first post where I shared my reason for doing this series. I hope to share practical keys and insight into praying effectively, in bite-size blog posts which you can easily follow.]

"Therefore I Felt Compelled"

When a decision needs to be made and circumstances are such that it needs to be made now, we find ourselves under incredible pressure. Human reasoning often gets the best of us at these times. We know we really should pray about it, but we don't have time. We know we have prayed for God's leading, but His answer hasn't come at our deadline. We know we should find out what God would want us to do at that moment, but we feel compelled to meet the expectations of people who are demanding a response. We've all been there. However, now as Christians, we need to break away, violently, from this need to respond now, without waiting and diligently following God's leading.

Acting when we feel compelled without waiting upon the LORD is one trait which will cause us not only to detour widely from God's will for our lives, but also to fall into His great disfavor. At the heart of acting because we feel compelled, is a lack of fear of the LORD and instead, the fear of man; as well as a lack of dependence upon God and a presumptuous, rebellious heart. It can lead to nothing but disobedience and irreverence towards God. King Saul, who started out well with the LORD, soon came to a pathetic end because He disobeyed God, for this very reason, on more than one occasion. I would ask you to take the time to study 1 Samuel Chapters 9 to 14 about his appointment to the throne of Israel as it's first king, and his downfall - a case study God has provided us as both an example and warning. Here is a snippet of just one such instance in Saul's life, taken from 1 Samuel 13:

Then he waited seven days, according to the time set by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him. So Saul said, “Bring a burnt offering and peace offerings here to me.” And he offered the burnt offering. Now it happened, as soon as he had finished presenting the burnt offering, that Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might greet him.
And Samuel said, “What have you done?”
Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered together at Michmash, then I said, ‘The Philistines will now come down on me at Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the LORD.’ Therefore I felt compelled, and offered a burnt offering.”
And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which He commanded you. For now the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.”
1 Samuel 13:8-14

Not long after Saul was strongly rebuked as you read above, his hasty decision-making again proved that he was more driven by a fear of man (that is, a regard for pleasing people and meeting the expectations of what others wanted and expected) and that he did not know his great need for the LORD. He was too self-dependent. The situation I am referring to from 1 Samuel 14 is even more telling of the true state of his heart.

And Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God here” (for at that time the ark of God was with the children of Israel). Now it happened, while Saul talked to the priest, that the noise which was in the camp of the Philistines continued to increase; so Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.” Then Saul and all the people who were with him assembled, and they went to the battle; and indeed every man’s sword was against his neighbor, and there was very great confusion.
1 Samuel 14:18-20

Notice that on this occasion he went so far as to command the priest to bring the ark of the LORD for inquiring of the LORD, however as the noise of the approaching Philistines increased, he commanded the priest to halt and instead went out with his own battle strategy. At a critical moment he stopped a priest from getting God's wisdom and instruction because he felt compelled. Is it any wonder that "there was very great confusion"?

Many times when our actions imitate what Saul did, we think of it too lightly, reasoning and excusing, deceiving ourselves that God will understand and accommodate our haste. However, the biblical records prove that this is not so. We cannot please God without faith in Him. It is simply impossible (Hebrews 11:6). At these moments when pressure mounts and we feel compelled to take action, we must have our faith in God alone and cast care of needing to act upon Him. Your present circumstances can be no more dire than Saul's was, with a vast murderous enemy army ("people as the sand which is on the seashore in multitude") mounting against him and his people, and all awaiting his orders.

There is another young man in Scripture who also proves that true, trusting, humble dependence upon God is all the more earnest when we find ourselves at these critical moments of decision-making. David the young fugitive, unjustly hunted and accused of treason by king Saul, was the one anointed to fill Saul's place on the throne and he was tested by severe trials. He made his home with the Philistines for a length of time and in one instance, upon returning to his city Ziklag with his relatively small group of men, they found that all their possessions, wives and children had been taken captive by an Amalekite army. David's men turned their anger against David for what had befallen them while they were away, willing to fight with the Philistine army on his behalf. After they had "lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep", they were soon speaking of stoning him! Pressure was at an all time high for David. All were tired, hungry, and had lost their families and all their earthly possessions. His own life was on the line by those who had fought alongside him. What would David do? David "encouraged himself in the LORD", and then he called for the priest to bring the ephod that he might inquire of the LORD if they should pursue the army and if He would give them success (1 Samuel 30:6-8).

David's response is in stark contrast to that of king Saul. David did not assume he had God's mind on the matter. He did not reason with human reasoning. He did not even respond in haste to protect his own life. David needed God. And he knew it. He depended on God, feared God, loved God, and trusted God. And that's why He always inquired of the LORD. Note well: In all the records of Scripture, David never lost a battle to any army. I am convinced that His constant humility and dependence upon God has everything to do with His might as a warrior. It is now up to us to learn from the lives of these two men, King Saul and King David. Will we continue to be compelled, or will we trust and obey?


You may like to read these past posts related to today's blog entry:
Passing or Failing God's Tests
Forgetting God and Forging Ahead
Waiting On God Well

I Know It Hurts. Love Anyway.

After you've been hurt, betrayed, used, rejected, abandoned, or deceived in a relationship (whether by family members, friends, or significant others), it's common to want to protect yourself by withdrawing. You think it will protect you from future pain. However, if you choose that route you will lose more than the equivalent of whatever future pain there may be. You'll become a shell of a person, either avoiding or rejecting others; or hurting and using others cold-heartedly. As someone who has been there, I encourage you to keep investing in love, God's way. Because, you see, there is a beautiful paradox where true godly love is concerned. That same love that is implanted in the hearts of believers by the Holy Spirit, and which is nurtured by sacrificial obedience to God's word, will make you vulnerable to heartache, but it is also a healing balm.

A commitment to godly love protects your heart from the defilement of bitterness or destructive tendencies. Such defilement usually accompanies heartache when the relationship that was broken was built only upon a worldly passion, or an unreasonable and self-centered devotion. True, godly, love even when met with heartache will draw out Christlikeness in your own character - a fragrance of mercy, forgiveness, and faithfulness. And it preserves tenderness and compassion in your heart to invest in other, or future, relationships.

Your heart will be wounded in this world. Christ's heart was wounded because He loved. He came to His own who did not receive Him. He was mocked, scorned and struck by those He was suffering for; despised and rejected by those He loved; betrayed by a friend; denied by a close companion (see John 1:10-11; Isaiah 53:1-12; Ephesians 2:4-7). But Jesus loved anyway. Even upon the cross, in the excruciating pain of the last moments of His earthly life, He made intercession for those who crucified Him. No, not all who He loves did, or will, love Him in return, but there are those who do. They love Him because He first loved them (1 John 4:19), and they have sealed and proved their love with their own blood, or have suffered the loss of all worldly things for His sake. His love paved the way for others to be able to love Him, and one another, with this other-worldly, overcoming love.

In the same way, despite the wounding you've suffered, if you keep looking to God to be your Source and Chief Joy, and stay committed to loving with His love, He will place others who are also being transformed by His love into your life. The richness you will experience from these new relationships will be amplified because of the depth of character you gained in your willingness to love, show mercy, compassion, and forgive even when others hurt you. Remember "love suffers long", and "love never ends". "And now faith, hope, love, these three remain; but the greatest of these is love" (see 1 Corinthians 13). I know it hurts now, but love will also be your healing balm. Love will reap eternal relationships, and rewards. Love anyway.

I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love. - Mother Teresa

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What To Pray For

This is the 15th post in a series on Praying Effectively. We have talked about what effective prayers are and in the last related post we learned that abiding in Christ is the key to a consistent experience of effective prayers. 'Abiding' in Christ necessarily includes prayer, but this prayer is first devotional and personal. Without these times with God, endeavoring to pray effectively in other areas (for example, intercession for others) will doubtless become a duty without joy and increasingly difficult to sustain.
If you are just joining me, please see the end for a special note before continuing!


What To Pray For

1. Self
Some people believe that it is selfish to pray for oneself first when praying. Or that it is selfish to spend a lot of time praying for oneself during times of prayer. I have found that it is not only not selfish but important to pray for oneself, especially if one is to go on to spend a lot of time interceding for the lives of others. It is important to be built up, and to spend time edifying oneself to be equipped and strengthened to serve others. The value is in spending time praying for our spiritual needs and about those things that affect our eternal purposes, more than for shallow, temporal, and insignificant pursuits.

2. Others – believers and unbelievers
Praying for one another is the main way in which we can access the supply of the Spirit of God for the strength, help, deliverance, grace, peace, joy, enlightenment of others. Even the greatest servants such as the apostle Paul depended upon and requested the prayers of the churches. The more that is to be accomplished for God, the greater the need for prayer.
Prayer to God is the lifeline of the members of the church of Jesus Christ, individually and as a whole; for personal maturity and for service to others.
It is important to make supplications and intercessions for others in the household of faith, including prayers for the strengthening, establishment and protection of young converts. It is also necessary to pray for those yet outside the family of God, including unsaved family members and friends, even strangers, and governmental authority figures.

"Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."
1 Timothy 2:1-4

3. The global and eternal purposes of God
As we read the Scriptures and spend time abiding in Christ, the eternal purposes of God become more real to us. That is to say, the bigger picture comes into focus more clearly. We learn of God's purposes to conform men to Christ and to make us a holy nation unto Himself. In the letter to the Romans, Chapter 11 we learn of His plans to redeem ethnic Israel which has temporarily been allowed to remain in blindness during the present dispensation. We learn of the coming manifest kingdom of God, not only "in heaven", but right here on earth after Christ's return. These types of overarching divine purposes ought to have some place in our prayers as well. We should not only be informed by them in the spirit of the requests we make of God, but we should actually pray for such things as the maturity of the body of Christ to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, for the unity of the faith [see John 17:20-23; Eph 4:13]; for the peace of Jerusalem, for the salvation of Israel [see Psalm 122:6; Jer 50:20]; and for the coming kingdom and that God's will will be done on earth as it is done in heaven [see Matt 6:10].

Clearly, there are many, many prayer needs. We should be inclusive and intentional, but not rigid, and not dependent upon our own wisdom and strength to persist with these requests. The main thing is to be led by the Holy Spirit, to ask for His help, and to flow with His agenda for each prayer session. Yielding to the Spirit in prayer will be the focus of my next post in this series.



[This is the 15th post in a series on the subject of prayer. In the previous installment we looked at the foundational principle of abiding in Christ and briefly discussed what that means. 
These posts are interspersed among other blog topics so for the easy identification of related posts, look for the label 'praying effectively - series' in the sidebar. If you are just now joining in I recommend that you read the first post where I shared my reason for doing this series. I hope to share practical keys and insight into praying effectively, in bite-size blog posts which you can easily follow.]  Facebook
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10 Little Christians

10 little Christians standing in line. 1 disliked the preacher, then there were 9.

9 little Christians stayed up very late. 1 overslept Sunday, then there were 8.

8 little Christians on their way to Heaven. 1 took the low road and then there were 7.

7 little Christians chirping like chicks. 1 disliked music, then there were 6.

6 little Christians seemed very much alive, but one lost his interest then there was 5.

5 little Christians pulling for Heaven's Shore, but one stopped to rest, then there were 4.

4 little Christians each busy as a bee. 1 got his feelings hurt, then there were 3.

3 little Christians knew not what to do. 1 joined the sporty crowd, then there were 2.

2 little Christians, our rhyme is nearly done, differed with each other, then there was 1.

1 little Christian can't do much 'tis true, brought his friend to bible study, then there were 2.

2 earnest Christians, each won one more. That doubled the number, then there were 4.

4 sincere Christians worked early and late. Each won another then there were 8.

8 splendid Christians if they doubled as before. In just so many Sundays, we'd have 1,024.

In this little jingle, there is a lesson true, you belong either to the building or to the wrecking crew!

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How Far is Too Far: Sexual Integrity for Singles

In my last post just a few days ago I shared a short article I'd found called Eight Great Traits of Future Mates by Lee Warren and Julie Ferwerda. It was full of incredibly wise guidelines for recognizing a person with the qualities to be a truly godly mate. The article would have been helpful to everyone in some way, but it was most relevant to singles. Today I would like to share another article which I believe is a 'must-read' for any single and those already in a dating relationship. This article was published by Every Man's Battle [a great site ministering to single and married men] but every unmarried man AND woman needs to read this article, especially if there are questions, concerns, or conflicts about managing affection and desire in a pre-marital relationship. Because there are points in this short article which will shed more light on certain principles shared in the one I posted previously, they are helpful to consider together. I especially encourage you to read this article slowly, prayerfully, and to go to the Scripture to read the verses referenced by the author.


Via EMB by Bob Parkins on May 6 2011.

Not many Christians debate God’s instructions against premarital sex. However, there is still not a consensus or a shared understanding regarding what constitutes acceptable physical affection and what is sinful. The Bible uses words like adultery, fornication, lust, and purity, all words that have very clear meanings. Yet many Christian singles, teens, and even parents remain confused. Many Christian singles and teens struggle to maintain sexual purity while abstaining from sexual intercourse, yet many are engaging in sexual acts. They deceive themselves by legalistically reasoning they haven’t violated God’s boundaries because they haven’t technically had sex.

While the Bible does not appear to clarify exactly what other acts for singles are and are not acceptable in God’s eyes, it is very clear about the guidelines we are meant to judge these acts by. When asked by young couples, “how far is too far?” I generally ask them to search their hearts and examine what their intention and motivation in asking is. Usually a couple who asks “how far,” is also struggling to maintain sexual purity. Those struggling with sexual purity or addictions are in the habit of pushing limits and boundaries. They want to know what is the maximum they can get away with. They look for loopholes in attempts to satisfy the desire for immediate self gratification.

The Bible warns us about being deceived and worshiping idols (Deut 11:16; Exo 20:14), and sex can be an idol to those who struggle to maintain purity. Scripture also tells us that God sees what truly is in our hearts and we will sow what we reap (Gal 6:7). If you have ever asked “how far,” and have patterns of pushing limits, it is likely you are not truly interested in purity and really want to get away with as much physical affection as possible. When you put it that way it seems silly to consider the technicality of sin. If you discover your motive is to selfishly seek your own physical gratification, instead refocus on what is pure (Php 4:8).

When you flirt with sin, you put yourself in a position to sin. To answer the question more directly, anything that causes you to sin is “too far.” This is probably the best litmus test for determining limits since the Bible doesn’t tell couples specifically how they can show physical affection, at least not in the manner many look for. There are several scriptural examples of expressing affection through treasuring chastity and virtue and abstaining from sexual immorality (Isa 62:5; 2 Cor 11:2), a counter-cultural perspective in most increasingly permissive/promiscuous societies. Jesus models surrendering personal desires to the Father (Luk 22:42), and encourages us to ask for God’s intervention in maintaining victory over sin in The Lord’s Prayer (Luk 11:4). If you are willfully sustaining a desire that cannot be righteously met, you are deceiving yourself (1Thess 4:3-8).

Determining limits may be a little different for different couples, but be cautioned against any propensity to justify pushing limits. If you get excited to the point that you struggle with lustful thoughts or fantasies from kissing, or if you have difficulty respecting boundaries (yours or hers), you may not be able to handle more. Consider then abstaining from kissing or other applicable acts. Some may not struggle with kissing and will need to set limits accordingly. I suggest also abstaining from any physical activity or show of affection that you are not comfortable doing in front of her father. There are several genuine and appropriate displays of affection that pass this test.

It is important that couples talk about setting physical limits early in their relationship. We live in a backwards culture where single men often push women to/beyond their sexual limit. This is not what God intends or requires of us in marriage, so it certainly cannot be condoned in dating. Men are to cherish and protect their wives, not take advantage of them for their own pleasure (Eph 5:25-28; Col 3:19). Just as a father is to protect the innocence of his daughter, so are we to protect and respect any woman we are dating. Sexual desire for her is not bad, but respecting her virtue means protecting her from these desires (yours or hers).

Men, it is up to you to initiate this conversation and establish boundaries. This may be the very first act you exhibit of spiritual leadership in a budding relationship. Any potential spouse who is worth spending your life with will respect your integrity because they will feel safe and cherished. Two scripture verses that are helpful in maintaining focus on purity are:

- (2Ti 2:22) Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

- (Php 4:8) Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Be encouraged by the peace God promises those that live pure and virtuous lives.  Facebook
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Eight Great Traits of Future Mates

I was going through some older archived email recently and found a great short article on recognizing traits that make for a godly future mate. I thought this article was so good that rather than only deleting it as an old email, I needed to share it where it could benefit others for a long time. This article is obviously most pertinent to singles, but I also think that married followers of Jesus Christ can assess their own growth in relationship by measuring against the guidelines given.

Via Single Purpose by Lee Warren and Julie Ferwerda on 3/4/09

Determining if the guy or gal you’ve been dating is the kind of person you want to marry can be confusing. Maybe you wonder at what point you’re either being too picky or too accommodating. Maybe you have trouble recognizing the habits and traits that should be present in a God-honoring mate. Consider the following questions to help determine the spiritual vitality of any potential mates.

Growing. Does this person seek out God willingly and eagerly on their own (without relying on you) by reading the Bible, praying, engaging in ministry at some level, and fellowshipping with other believers? God's best will have a growing relationship with Him that is genuine, fresh, and intimate in a way that is noticeably and consistently affecting their life.

Praying. Does this person pray regularly? Do they easily pray with you or in front of others? Do they talk about their prayer concerns and answered prayers? A marriage without prayer is like a light that hasn't been switched on — dark and powerless. A great mate will be someone who is conversing with God on a regular basis for direction in life, developing prayerful intimacy with God, and investing in the lives of others.

Pure. No matter what mistakes have been made in the past, is this person determined – now – to wait until marriage to have sex, refusing to use your body for their own sinful pleasure? Do they honor their word to preserve purity, not trying to entice you into a physical relationship? Does this person work hard to avoid “pushing the limits?" A great barometer of a person's current spiritual life is how they control their sexual urges. If they truly love God (and you) and want to be obediently set apart for Him, there won't be any excuses, playing with fire, or compromises. Trust me, this is possible. It’s called delayed gratification.

Teachable. Does this person ask for help? Do they admit when they’re wrong and say they're sorry? Do they respect God-given authority? Do they seek out godly counsel? Someone who invites wise counsel into their lives is a very trustworthy person. Plus, if a person is teachable with others, they will likely be teachable with God. There’s no greater trust and security in marriage than a mate who’s teachable before God, seeking His will above his/her own.

Honest. Does this person tell you the truth even when it's hard? Do they communicate openly about their feelings, struggles, past, and failures? Do they take responsibility for their actions when they do something wrong or hurtful? Do they frequently twist the truth or minimize to get out of trouble or make themselves look better? Counting on your partner's word in marriage is vital so there should be all the signs of honesty and openness, even when discussing hard issues or admitting to wrongs.

Whole. Does this person place their hopes, expectations, and emotional needs in God alone or do they try to fill up emptiness with the emotional support of others (you), or overindulgence in things like alcohol, food, drugs including prescriptions, spending money, T.V., sports, etc.? Does this relationship feel more like a drain or does it create positive energy? In a healthy marriage, both individuals must know where to get “filled up,” not depending on the other for happiness or constant fulfillment. They do not avoid pain or boredom, and are not afraid to be quiet and still. They must each be secure in their relationship with God alone. Only then can you have a content joy in being together without dashed expectations and hopes.

Surrendered. Is this person independently pursuing their own plans and goals, or do they frequently offer up their lives to God and His plans? If the person you marry is living for their own plans, you are not going to have the marriage God intends for you. Two people who are surrendered to God’s plans open up doors for a great marriage adventure!

Forgiving. Does this person forgive and get over things easily? Does he/she treat people kindly who have hurt them? Is there any area of bitterness or unforgiveness from their past that shows on the surface? A person who can't forgive usually hasn't really connected with God's forgiveness toward them. This person’s bitterness will make your life bitter, too. People who are forgiving recognize that God is ultimately in control and they can let go of offenses. This will work in your favor when you have marital conflict!

The most important thing to remember is that, whatever traits or habits you’re looking for in a future mate, you must also exemplify them yourself. If you want a godly mate, you will only attract that kind of person if you are that sort of person.  Facebook
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The End Intended By The Lord

We don't often understand God's timing when we are crying out for help, healing, or deliverance from some situation and nothing seems to change quickly. It is just one more area where His ways are higher than our way and His thoughts higher than our thoughts (see Isaiah 55:9). While there are many times when prayer is manifestly answered in a short space of time, and even times when God's answer comes while we're still speaking and making that request, many more times it seems that waiting is required. I have found that it makes all the difference in the midst of trials and uncertainty to know that God is good, and to be convinced by His word that in the life of those whose hearts are set upon Him nothing is sent or permitted without His redeeming purpose. Indeed He has promised to cause all things to work together for good for those who love Him (see Romans 8:28). Nothing could be more sure.

Below are some snippets to encourage you to continue to call upon the Lord and to wait on Him, eagerly expecting His promise to be fulfilled in your life.

Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive."
Genesis 50:19-20

Joseph was cruelly betrayed by his brothers, separated from his father as a teenager, sold into slavery, falsely accused by an adulterous woman, imprisoned in a dungeon, forgotten by those he helped - until God's time arrived to place Joseph in a position of great power and authority that was the means of preserving the entire nation of Israel. His godly love forgiveness, and tenderness of heart towards his brothers upon the revelation of his true identity many years later only served to prove that his heart and emotions had also been healed from all he had suffered. His recorded life after that point showed how God had recompensed him for enduring years of trial with reunion with his father and family, a household of his own, and great authority, wealth, and favor with God and with man for all the remainder of his days.

Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.
James 5:11

Job was an upright man who diligently obeyed the Lord and revered Him in His holiness, even making sacrifices for the atonement of his children's sins 'just in case' they had sinned in their house parties. He was generous to the poor and to his friends, and full of wisdom. Then satan was granted permission to tempt him, bringing staggering disaster, death, and sickness to Job's life. Yet Job did not sin against God. He wrestled with understanding the ways of God but when God did answer, Job was awed by a fuller understanding of the greatness of His God. And God used him as a vessel for mercy to his friends who had not spoken what was right about the Lord. The remainder of Job's days were days of restored happiness, family, and even greater wealth than he had ever had before. God's intended end for Job certainly touched more lives than ever before by his testimony in the land of Ur among strangers, his friends and family, and to all who gain comfort from this portion of the Scriptures all these thousands of years later.

Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him."
John 9:1-3

All sin has consequences, and sometimes that includes physical afflictions (see John 5:13-15), yet not all afflictions are the result of sin. This man born blind from birth was marvelously healed (and saved from sin!) by his encounter with Jesus at the point of his need, and became an undeniable example of the power and grace of God to the people and Pharisees. In the same way, God will allow or prepare situations through which He will display Himself to you and others in ways that bring Him glory, and accomplish good for you.

Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.”
When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was. Then after this He said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.”
John 11:3-7,14

Bad things do happen to good people. But just as in this case with Lazarus' illness and subsequent death, which Jesus even wept over openly, having to endure suffering does not mean that God does not love us. When God's power was displayed in raising Lazarus from the dead after four days of burial, He became an irrefutable witness that Jesus Christ had power and authority from God even over death, to give life. This act not only caused many other lives to be saved, but would have sealed the truths about resurrection and hope that Jesus had taught to many of his disciples up to that point - comfort which would have been needed during this time which was only shortly before His own death and resurrection.

Be encouraged! If you love God and have set your heart and hope upon Him, every trial which you have not been quickly rescued from will also serve a higher purpose for God's glory and your good. Remain steadfast and immovable upon His word. When your help, deliverance, and restoration comes, the pain of the present days will no more be felt - only remembered in such a way that your heart rejoices with gratitude and awe towards the LORD.  Facebook
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God Does All Things Well

'Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.' ~ Jeremiah 32:17

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”
Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it. When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!”
John 2:1-10

I have struggled with many fundamental truths about God's nature, particularly having to do with God's specific, individual, love and care for me. It doesn't make any sense to me right now that I ever doubted that His intentions towards me were for good and not for evil (even after I knew the popular Bible verse recorded in Jeremiah 29:11-13), but because I didn't know Him much at all, it all boiled down to a lack of trust in Him. From this single deficit, almost every other aspect of my life has at some time been negatively influenced because of poor decisions I made while trying to figure out what was best for myself. And this was despite some prayers, and despite some knowledge of Scripture. Until I really came to believe that God was for me and not against me; that God wanted the best for me and cared about the details of my life; and that God really is a good God, I continued to say I trusted God with many things but never totally released them to Him or accepted His will.

The popular story of Jesus' first miracle of turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana of Galilee took on whole new meaning for me recently when the Holy Spirit illuminated a single simple truth as a reminder that God can be trusted to act on our behalf. So perfect are His works, and so high above our ways are His ways, that the wine He makes from only water makes man's best appear to be nothing more than inferior, cheap wine!

This marvelous truth reminded me of another Scripture verse which says that "The foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men" (1 Corinthians 1:25).

Is it any wonder then that those who wait for God don't ever wind up ashamed (see Psalms 25:3; Isaiah 49:23; Psalm 37)?

What are you hoping in God for? What are you waiting on God for? Let God be the One who determines the path you should take and trust His timing. Just like Mary exhorted the servants, and just as they also did, only be diligent to do whatever the Lord says to you. His heart is for you, He does all things well, and His ways are perfect (Psalm 18:30; Deut. 32:4; 2 Samuel 22:31)!

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

Romans 8:32

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A Harsh Word, Harshly Said

This little poem really resonates with me lately. I have been on the receiving end of harsh words from people that I held dear. I also know I have been unwise and hurtful in my own words at different times with various others. There really is no "undo" button for the words we speak and I think this little poem packs a punch rooted in Biblical wisdom. We would all do well to take it to heart.

One day a harsh word, harshly said,

Upon an evil journey sped.

And like a sharp and cruel dart,

It pierced a fond and loving heart.

It turned a friend into a foe,

And everywhere brought pain and woe.

A kind word followed it one day,

Sped swiftly on its blessed way.

It healed the wound and soothed the pain,

And friends of old were friends again.

It made the hate and anger cease,

And everywhere brought joy and peace.

And yet the harsh word left a trace,

The kind word could not efface.

And though the heart its love regained,

It left a scar that long remained.

Friends can forgive but not forget,

Nor lose the sense of keen regret.

Oh, if we would but learn to know,

How swift and sure our words can go.

How we would weigh with utmost care,

Each thought before it reached the air.

And only speak the words that move,

Like white-winged messengers of love.

Selected (no author noted) from How To Be An Up Person In A Down World by Honor Books Inc, 1998, p. 129