Spit Out the Seeds!

My husband and I were shopping at our local “Wal Mart Supercenter” yesterday and as we were checking out he commented on how many people had watermelons in their shopping carts. He asked the clerk if they were on sale, thinking he did not want to miss a bargain. She did not have knowledge of any reduced price, stated the obvious, “It’s summertime.” People enjoy the refreshing fruit when it’s in season.

Seedless watermelons are especially desirable; we do not have to spit out irritating seeds before swallowing. Melons are a valuable teaching tool. I need to spit out any words that would hurt others and my witness for Christ. “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly (Proverbs 15:1-2 NIV).”

The Apostle Paul would urge me to spit out seeds before beginning conversation. “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice (Ephesians 4:29-31 NIV).” Get in the line; the seed spitting contest is about to get underway!

Tuning Up

Have you ever sat in front of a live orchestra or band, and listened as they tuned up their instruments? It’s usually not a very pleasant sound, but in a few minutes glorious music fills the room. I have never learned to play a musical instrument. In fact, my music teacher at school once told me I could not take lessons, because I had not comprehended the reading of musical notes. I’ve always wished I could play, and confess at times I feel a little envious of those who do.    

Well, not long ago I heard something that really got my attention. We are urged to avoid using our mouths tearing people down by sharing gossip. (James 3:9-10) The speaker went on to explain, we could magnify God by submitting our mouths as instruments of praise.  Wow, I can play an instrument; you can too! “I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart; I will tell of all Thy wonders. I will be glad and exult in Thee; I will sing praise to Thy name, O Most High (Psalm 9:1-2 NAS).” Let’s tune up our instruments and in unity praise God in perfect harmony!

Let It Go!

Is it hard to ignore a wrong done against you? Do you feel you have been treated unfairly? Are you tempted to retaliate? Let it go. We all get our feelings hurt, but harboring that pain only leads to more scars. We cannot undo harmful things done by others; we can choose to use it to build character and strength within. Yes, it hurts, but let it go.

Do you feel you are about to explode, ready to blow your top? Would that make things better? No, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, that harms you. Let it go. The book of Proverbs is more beneficial than anger management. If tried and tested the counsel of Proverbs helps you to overcome frustration and anger. “A man’s discretion makes him slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook a transgression (Proverbs 19:11 NAS).” Let Him take control. Reject anger; let it go.

A Piece of Me

I have a cupboard full of old Bible Study workbooks, conference notes, etc. I keep these not because I think I will use them again or go back and reread my notes (although I might).  No, I keep them because each one of those workbooks has become a part of me in some way. I learned something through each study. I gained ground. I grew in my faith, in my walk with the Lord, and I grew internally as a person.
 
Today, when I opened up that cupboard to put something away, I saw my small stack and I smiled. To some people those workbooks might be taking up valuable storage space. But to me, they are a piece of who I have become. They represent who God is molding me into and they hold many special memories. I shed tears over valuable lessons that God taught me, I stretched my mind to let God open it up to deeper things He wanted to show me, and I prayed over many, many things that I held closely to my heart.  Those workbooks are a piece of me. They are a piece of who I have become.
 
Each time I start a new Bible study or go to a new conference – I don’t sit there and think about how I will be changed. I just know that in some way (small or great) that I will be. And it excites me. Because I’m always up for bettering myself. I love diminishing the effect that the flaws and weaknesses in my life have on me. I love growing new strengths and feeling God’s strength flourish inside of me.  And for whatever it’s worth, I will hold on to those moments so that I don’t forget that HE doesn’t forget. He doesn’t forget me. He talks to me in a personal way each time I reach out to communicate and grow in Him.
 
So I will hold onto those Bible study books. No matter how worn, how sloppy my writing, or how much space they take up. They have made me who I am and for that I will be eternally grateful.
 
 

~ Dionna Sanchez is the Founder of the Emphasis On Moms Ministry. Visit the website at http://www.EmphasisOnMoms.com or email her at madetomom@yahoo.com

You Are An Overcomer!

I was talking with my girlfriends this weekend about being an overcomer. What does the Bible have to say and how do we get there?

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

Although life is sometimes an uphill battle, Jesus said he has overcome the world. He already fought our battles for us, took them to the cross and died so that we could have the final victory. It’s hard to sometimes remember, in the midsts of our battles, that in Christ we ARE victorious. If this is true, why then do we often find ourselves fighting battles we thought we had already won?

To overcome is defined this way: get the better of, prevail over, control, get/bring under control, master, conquer, defeat, beat; get over, get a grip on, curb, subdue; informal lick, best.

When we find ourselves struggling to gain victory in a certain area, it just means we haven’t yet gotten full control over the siutation. But with every step we take toward victory we are gaining ground and getting closer to overcoming the situation. Sometimes in this life it’s “one step forward, two steps back”. But we must continue to press in, to stand on the Word of God that tells us

I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. (Luke 10:19)

God has given us ALL authority to trample on the snakes in our life. The enemy has no power over us. We all know the enemy is a LIAR! He likes to whisper in our ear and distort situations and cause us to take our eyes off of Christ and what He is doing in the midsts of it. When those things happen to me, I often do a prophetic act: I picture myself pulling the enemy out of my head (because we all know that is where our battles begin), throwing him on the ground, stomping on his head and then picking up the remains and throwing them in the trash. I remind myself that through Christ I AM an overcomer and that the enemy has no power or authority over my life. Try it. It sure feels good!

I really like this definition of to overcome:

defeat, beat, conquer, trounce, thrash, rout, vanquish, overwhelm, overpower, get the better of, triumph over, prevail over, win over/against, outdo, outclass, worst, crush; informal drub, slaughter, clobber, hammer, lick, best, crucify, demolish, wipe the floor with, make mincemeat of, blow out of the water, take to the cleaners, shellac, skunk.

When you find yourself in the midst of the storm, remind yourself that God is for you, not against you. He has overcome the world and the power of the enemy over you. Stand on His Word. Praise Him! Speak life to yourself. Tell yourself that You are an overcomer. Then, stomp on the head of the serpents in your life, wipe the floor with them and move on out in victory. You are an overcomer!

*Barbie is a wife and mother to four children. She works full time while juggling faith, family and ministry. Visit her blog at My Freshly Brewed Life.