"I am..." Watch your mouth!

 We need to understand how important our words are. How  powerful they are.`    `     We must remember who we are and in whose image we were created.  Everything we see in this physical world was created by words. Therefore, if we are created in the image of the one who created all things by his word, our words must also be creative. I do hope this makes sense. I know that there will be some that will not agree, and there will be backlash, and that is ok. Maybe this post was not meant for you, but I do hope that it comes before those who need it. 

We are going to talk about a simple phrase, "I am...."  How many times in one day do we say this? We say things like I am tired, I am sick, I am broke and on and on. We say things that agree with the physical world or our current condition or situation. When we say these things, we are just affirming and releasing those things into reality, into our physical world. Let me say that again, our words release and endorse what we are in agreement with. We are prophesying our future. The bible has a good bit to say about our words, they hold the power of life and death, our tongues are hard to tame, our tongues are a two-edged sword..... I am sure there is more. We will speak death and curses one minute and praise God the next. Now, this makes me curious: are words not just a means of communication?  Sometimes we say things without giving them much thought. I would be a liar if I said I have never said something uncalled for, unnecessary, or negative. Well, let me tell you what the bible says about our words. Matthew 12:36 warns us that we will be held accountable for every careless or useless word that we speak. What does this mean? It means that if we speak it, it will be and we will see the consequences thereof. Therefore, our words must be very important in the eyes of God. Our words are confirmation of what we believe. Matthew 15:18 says this, But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. 

We must take care when things like anger or sudden fear presents itself. We need to learn to take a minute and choose our words carefully, instead of letting emotionally charged situations dictate the words we speak.  James 1:19 tells us to be  swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Once words are spoken, they can not be unspoken, but you can renounce and repent. These are not just words on paper to take up space. I know this may sound a little bit much, but it is what it is. 

Let's close with this. As you go through your day and are tempted to be in agreement with the worldly, the physical, the untamed emotional aspects of situations and circutmstances, pause and consider what you are saying. Are you saying I am tired or are you saying I am renewed like the eagle, I am sick or I am healed by his stripes, I am broke or I am blessed coming in and going out.  God called things that are not as though they are (Romans 4:17). Think on things above, not below Colossians 3:2-10. When we learn to speak God's word, instead of emotionally driven words we will see atmospheres shift from negative to positive and sometimes you have to be the one to bring that shift.

I know this was short, thank you for reading. As always, please note these are my bible study notes. I share as things are put on my heart. Much love, be blessed and be a blessing.   

Get dressed for the banquet!

Good day, I hope this finds you blessed. 

I often wonder, as a believer in the death and resurection of Jesus Christ, how many of us actually adopt that new identity that  we now proclaim? How many of us take off those grave clothes and replace them with the new glorious robe, ring, and sandals?  How many proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord but still live according to the world with its chaos and confusion?

I am not sure that this post will sit well with everyone, you have the religous and then you have the believers. This post will most likely be for the believers and probably will not be anything new, but still, it has been brought to my attention, placed on my heart to talk aboout this. 

I encourage you to read and soak in Luke 15:11-31. For this discussion let's focus on verses 20-22.  The young man, who was beat down, oppressed, and depressed decided that he had messed up, that he could no longer go it alone "so he got up and went to his father. Is there anyone reading this that is beat down, oppressed, just at the end of the rope? Are you tired and troubled beyond your limits?  If so, know this, you have a father on your side. I am not speaking of an earthly father, but rather the creator of all things, who has the power to transform our lives, run to him, seek him. Now back to the verse(s)   "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. The son said to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. But the father said to his servants, Quick! bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine who was dead, is alive again; he was lost and is found. So they began to celebrate. I think this is beyond beautiful, makes me shout for joy.  So what are you dressed in? is it the grave clothes of this world? fear, pride, anger, unforgiveness? or have you put your knew clothes on, love, peace, joy, self control, patience.... 

Notice verse (22) I can't even get my thoughts together at the moment, this is beyond amazing. He took the dirty grave clothes  from the son and replaced them with new, spotless, glorious new clothing. He clothed him with salvation. Now apply this to your life, my life. Do we still have our grave clothes on?  He did not leave the son wearing the same old filthy grave clothes. Are we still thinking in patterns of death, destruction, chaos, and confusion, or have we put salvation, the new man, have we changed our minds or no?  Honey, take them old grave clothes off, change your mind and put on the new glorious clothes and get dressed for a banquet. Get ready to eat at the table set for you, in front of your enemies. Get ready to feast on the goodness of God. 

Now let's look Matthew 22, soak it in. Not sure where to start with this one but I will give it a shot. Verse 1 The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. Then he sent more servants and said "Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner....But they paid no attention and went off about their daily lives, in their grave clothes, concerned and consumed with worldly things..... Verse 8 The wedding banquet is ready but those I invited were not worthy (they never got dressed for the banquet, the never sought their new identity.) Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you shall find, bid to the marriage banquet. So the servants went and gathered all they could find, both good and bad and the  wedding was furnised with guest.  And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which did not have on a wedding garmet: and he said to him, Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes? The man was speechless.  Then the king told the attendants, "Tie him, hand and foot, and through him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."  I don't know about you but I do not want to be the one not dressed, not prepared for the banquet. I do not want to be left outside, in the darkness. 

If I have anything to say about this, it would be this, don't miss the invitation, don't be so caught up with worldly things that you  miss salvation. Trade those grave clothes for the new robe, ring and sandals. Surrender, it all. 

I pray that if this was someone that it find them and encourage them.  Either way, it blessed me and hopefully you. Much love.