Words

When I was little my mom and dad use to tell us “if you can’t say something good about someone, don’t say nothing at all.” Our words are so important. They can really hurt someone, or they can really make someone’s day. God’s Word Says, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O’LORD, my strength and my Redeemer” Psalm 19:14. Also, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from you.”  Proverbs 4:23. We really need to think about what we say. It’s like a tube of toothpaste; once it comes out we can’t put it back. Always say what is true and right. Also most important, besides what we say is what we think. The Bible says  “Finally, breathen, 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. Our battlefield is the mind. Satan works there a lot. He wants us to be in a state of confusion, and to think bad things about ourselves and others. “The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy”.  James 3:17.  We have to fight this battle with the Word of God. It is our sword. “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” Ephesians 6:17.  We must resist the bad thoughts that he puts in our minds.  “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” 2 Corinthians 10:5. God’s Word is absolute truth. We are beautiful in His sight. May our insides (what we think about) and our outside (what we say, and how we treat people) be pleasing to God! Look for something good in each and every day and treat people the way you want to be treated. A smile, a compliment, and “ada boy” goes along way.

Today will Never come again. Be a friend, encourage someone. Take time to care. Let your words heal, and not wound.

Patience

When I was a little girl, back in 1970something I saw a children's musical
called Music Machine. It was all about the Fruits of the Spirit and to this day
I remember most of the songs.  My favorite song was one called "Patience" and
today I found it on Youtube.  It was fun listening to it again and even though
the tune is a bit dated, it's words are a cute reminder to be patient.

Verse 1:
There was a snail called Herbert who was so very slow
He caused a lot of traffic jams wherever he would go
The ants were always getting mad and the beetles, they would fume
But Herb would always poke along and sing this little tune
Chorus:
Have patience, have patience
Don't be in such a hurry
When you get impatient, you only start to worry
Remember, remember that God is patient, too
And think of all the times when others have to wait for you
Verse 2:
When Herbert was much younger, he often got in trouble
Forgetting that he was a snail, he did things on the double
He'd crash through every spider web and with crickets he'd collide
'Til one day Herbert's father took his speeding son aside
Chorus
Verse 3:
As you can well imagine, there's a moral to this tale
Some of you may find yourselves behind a creeping snail
So if you get impatient and you're easily disturbed
Think about this little song and take a tip from Herb
Chorus

No matter how young or old we are, at times, we all struggle with patience. 
When we become children of God we are given many gifts. Among those gifts are
the Fruits of the Spirit including patience. But in order for any of these
fruits to flourish in our lives we must practice them.

Impatience usually leads to chaos in our lives and in the lives of those around
us. We must remember that the gifts God gives to us are meant to be useful, they
are meant to be put into practice. So when we feel an impatient moment creeping
up on us, we can put in to practice our gift of patience.  The more we practice
patience, the better we get at it.  James 1:4 says, "But let patience have its
perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (NKJV)

God is good and He gives only good gifts to His children. I am so thankful for
the gift of patience he gave me. Even though I am a wife and mother, I still
learn something new about God every day.  God has been so loving and patient
with me all through my life.  I want to reflect Him by being patient with
others.

Look in your Child Training Bible to read other verses about patience.

Children Obey Your Parents

I think back to when I was a child and I remember trying very hard to obey and respect my parents.  It was great to have Christian parents who were trying every day to do what God would have them do as parents.

In Ephesians 6:1-3 the following advice is given to children. Children, “obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.”HONOR THY FATHER AND MOTHER; which is the first commandment with promise; THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH THEE, AND THOU MAYEST LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH. 

*It is your responsibility as a child to honor your parents.  You should show them love and respect both outwardly and inwardly.*  

 To  PARENTS: 

Ephesians 6:4.  And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath:  but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

*It is your responsibility as a parent along with God’s daily guidance to give your child a spiritual education, also giving them life instructions for responsibilities and duties.*