What is your aroma?

"Remember, the fire must be kept burning on the altar at all times. It must never go out." Leviticus 6:13

Other than the smell of my mama's laundry I love the aroma that fills the air when my husband light’s up the grill and throws on the meat. It has always brought a sense of love and closeness over me. It reminds me of how fun summertime is and how blessed I am. Some of my favorite moments are when our friends and families are together laughing and talking and enjoying one another’s company, and of course eating the amazing food that comes off the grill.

As I study and think about the importance of keeping our fire lit. I had an amazing revelation come over me. The aroma that came off the altar and was lifted up to God was a sweet aroma to Him. It was an aroma of perfection, of cleansing, of pure satisfaction and pleasure. Just as the aroma that comes from our hearts when we accept Christ and He covers us in His blood.

It is the blood first and foremost that is the most pleasing aroma, but it is also the mixture of our sacrifices of praise, love, obedience, and devotion that fills Him with pure satisfaction and pleasure.

We each have an aroma that is lifted up to the Lord and it is either a wonderful satisfying smell to Him, or it is a sick disgusting smell.

What aroma is your fire putting off?

Prayer: Lord each day may I put off an aroma that pleases You. Reveal to me any unwanted scent that fills You with disgust so that I may confess, repent and never place them on the altar again. Amen

Are you being smothered?

"Remember the fire must be kept burning on the altar at all times. It must never go out." Leviticus 6:13

He will do whatever it takes to keep your fire from burning. There is a reason the Lord says he prowls around like a roaring lion waiting for someone he can devour. Not only does he prowl but he is like a thick suffocating blanket just waiting to be spread out and placed over your heart. Making your fire become almost non existent, lacking oxygen.

He will use any method possible, your past, present, and future. He will fill you with doubt, resentment, disappointment, and he will twist and turn your thoughts and others words even God's words around. Making you believe things that are so far from the truth.

He will continue to cover up your heart and the "Holy fire" as long as you let him. Until eventually you are so confused and vulnerable.

As for me he has filled my thoughts with doubt as though I am useless and giftless. He has led me to believe that I have no useful gifts that will benefit the Lord.

But today I can rest assured that I am of great value and full of some gift that does bring glory to my Heavenly Father. Though I am and will never be a Beth Moore I am a Kristi Morgan that only I will be. My Father has made me unique and I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I might not ever truly know my gift but there is one thing I know for sure and that is that I am a true child of God who is passionately in love with her Savior and filled with the "Holy fire" that can never be put out no matter how much Satan tries to smother me.

Prayer: Jesus thank you for reminding me of how valuable I am to You. Thank You for allowing me to be able to see how deceiving and sneaky Satan is. I know with the help of the Holy Spirit we can fuel Your fire to burn Satan so bad he will not just flee but he will flee screaming from the hurt of Your fire. Amen

Candle or Forest fire?

“Remember, the fire must be kept burning on the altar at all times. It must never go out.” Leviticus 6:13

There are two levels to this fire, low and high,

When we keep our fire on low we are only keeping our faith and relationship with Christ warm. We do only what is required, nothing more nothing less, we basically never add fuel to the fire we just leave it where it is. The problem with just keeping our fire on low is that we miss out on all the wonderful blessings God wants to give us; we miss opportunities to really be a light for Christ and we miss out on building a deeper, stronger, more intimate relationship with Christ. We are just a dull fire with no motivation to make a difference for His name or kingdom.

When we set our fire to high, we are fueling it with the word of God, prayer, obedience and love daily, it is constantly being tended to. The more we fuel our fire the bigger and bigger it becomes leading to a spiritual forest fire. This forest fire becomes so wide spread that it impacts anyone near it and becomes so bright people can see it for miles and miles. When we work together with the Holy Spirit it is a guarantee that not only will the fire within change and transform us, but it will change and transform the lives of others, which all in all will bring glory to the Lord and save the lives of those who are lost.

Is your fire as big as a candle or a forest fire?

Prayer: Lord may I never let my fire become dull. I want to have the Holy fire within me that burns so bright and so big that it cannot be contained. Amen

Admit, Repent, Accept

Our featured writer today is Ryan Burchett

"Remember, the fire must be kept burning on the altar at all times. It must never go out." Leviticus 6:13

Matthew 7:21-23 (NIV) says, 21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
Those are some very powerful words spoken by our Savior, but they are far too often overlooked, I’m afraid. This passage is speaking of false converts, which upon further thought, makes the ‘80% of church-goers’ statistic not as outrageous as it seemed from first glance. This explains why the ‘holy fire’ seems absent in our churches these days.
Our churches have settled for a false teaching of the gospel, which teaches that ‘Jesus is ONLY your Savior and that Jesus’ sole purpose of dying on the cross for your sin was to bring you PEACE, JOY, and COMFORT in a stressful and chaotic world.’ This is not to say that having Jesus as your Savior will not bring you these things, but they are brought about on a spiritual scale, not a physical one.

In the TRUE gospel message, there are 3 things that must happen for true conversion: 1. Admittance of sin,
2. REPENTANCE from sin, and 3. Accepting Jesus as your LORD and Savior. Why are the words REPENTANCE and LORD emphasized there? Because to have the one, true holy fire within you, you must truly be saved. And, to truly be saved, you must admit your sin, TURN AWAY FROM that sin, and then accept Jesus as LORD and Savior. The gospel message today has left out these 2 main ingredients, which explains the high number of false converts and the lack of ‘holy fire’ within our churches. There is an admittance of being a sinner and there is an admittance for needing a Savior but there is no repentance…there is NO TURNING AWAY FROM the old sinful life and if there is no turning away from the old sinful life, then Jesus CANNOT be the LORD of your life.

To obtain the true ‘holy fire’…..to truly be saved…..you must admit that you’re a sinner, REPENT from that sin (turn away from that old life), and ask Jesus to be the LORD of your life (everything in your life is His from this day forward). This is the true gospel message and this is how the true ‘holy fire’ is obtained

Man-made fire?

“Remember, the fire must be kept burning on the altar at all times. It must never go out.” Leviticus 6:13

The Lord has started a Holy fire within all those who are filled with the Holy Spirit. It is a Holy fire that will always be lit but will only be as big as we allow it to be.

Has the fire been lit within you?

Last night Garrett and I had dinner with an amazing young couple of whom the Lord has called into the ministry. During our conversation Ryan Burchett made a comment about the statistics of those who attend church. He said 80% of people who go to church are not Christians.

Wow, 80% of the people who attend church don’t have a real relationship with Christ, how can that be? How can we get up on Sunday’s and go to church, go into our Father’s house and yet have no relationship with Him?

And then it hit me, because there no Holy fire within, it is man-made fire. When the Holy fire is lit within us, there is no way we can walk through this life without being convicted, tested, pruned, and 100% completely changed. The Holy fire that is lit by Christ is not like any other fire, it is a fire that is constantly purifying us and is always revealing and removing the impurities. Man-made fire burns out, fuels off of self, and has little to no impact for the Lord.

Prayer: Lord I pray that the fire within me will be so big that all who are around can feel Your heat coming off of me. Amen

It's all in the obedience

"Love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no wrong to anyone, so love satisfies all of God’s requirements.” Romans 13:9-10

Over this last week I have noticed the more I think on love, the more I focus on showing love the more I realize just how incapable I am of loving without the help of the Holy Spirit. The Lord has revealed so many areas in my life where love has been overshadowed by “me”.

I have been opened up to see how little I have really obeyed the Lord in the area of love. I have also learned that to love is to become completely dependent on Christ and independent of self.

John 15:9 says, “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey me, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father and remain in his love.”

When we love little it is because we are obeying little.

Prayer: Lord instill within me the desire to obey you fully. May Your love grow more perfect within me as I fully obey all of Your word. Amen

What motivates you?

“Love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no wrong to anyone, so love satisfies all of God’s requirements.” Romans 13:9-10

What motivates you? Does Christ motivate you? Does His love motivate you?

When we are not motivated by love we can easily become negative in our attitudes, in the way we look at others and in our speech. We become self-absorbed, irritable, in patient, and a lot less merciful.

Paul says in Galatians 5:6 “What is important is faith expressing itself in love.” We can evaluate our faith by how much we love Christ and others.

Paul also says in Galatians 5:13-15 “For you have been called to live in freedom-not freedom to satisfy your sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command. Love your neighbor as yourself. But if instead of showing love among yourselves you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.”

Love finds the positive in all things, love is considerate, love does not speak negatively of others, and it does not point out the flaws and faults of others. Christ does sit on His throne and point out all the negative in us, instead He looks and finds the goodness, the beauty, the positive in each of us. God and Jesus do not sit up in Heaven and talk badly about us, they do not hold grudges, they do not laugh and joke at our imperfections. Why do we? As children of the Most High God we must see all people including ourselves the same way our Heavenly Father sees us. We must think positively with loving thoughts towards all of God’s people just as our Father in Heaven thinks about us.

Next time you are quick to act out in anger, or speak ugly of others, stop and think how it makes you feel when you hear others speaking that way about you. Then stop and pray asking the Father to open your heart and eyes to see others as He does.

So again what motivates you? Fitting in, money, your job, blending in because you don’t want to stand out for Christ, or maybe it is the pleasures of the world which is all of Satan.

You can find out real quick what your motivation is by your lifestyle, speech, and the decisions you make.

Prayer: Lord forgive me for taking this amazing gift of freedom in You for granted. Forgive me for the times I have been motivated by “self.” I ask that You reveal to me any and all areas that are not pleasing to You. Lord I ask for the Holy Spirit to have and take complete control of my heart. Lord I am letting go, stepping aside, giving You full control of my heart, thoughts, and speech. May my motivation be to daily serve You, love You with ALL that I am and love others just as You have loved me. Amen

Who is your neighbor?

“Love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no wrong to anyone, so love satisfies all of God’s requirements.” Romans 13:9-10

I love the story found in Luke 10:25-37 when an expert in religious law stands up to test Jesus. He asks him the question, “Teacher, what must I do to receive eternal life?” Jesus replies, what does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?

The religious leader replies, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind. And, Love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus said, “Right do it and you will live.” The man goes on to say so who is my neighbor?

Jesus replies with the story of a Jewish man who was traveling to Jerusalem and got attacked. He was stripped of his clothes, robbed, beat up and left for dead. As this man was lying there a Jewish priest comes by sees him and moves to the other side and goes on. Then came a Temple assistant comes by looks at the man and also goes on by.

Then comes a despised Samaritan man, he saw the Jewish man lying there and felt pity for him. He bent down beside him and began to treat his wounds. He then picked him up put him on his donkey and carried him to an inn. Not only did he tend to him at the inn, but he paid for him to stay there until he was better.

Jesus finishes the story by asking, “Now which of these would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus replied, “Yes, now go and do the same.”

How often have I passed by those who were suffering because I didn’t want to take the time to extend mercy, love, and comfort, be a listening ear, or a shoulder for them to cry on? How often have I passed by those who I have been hurt by and have not shown mercy or love to them?

My heavenly Father has shown and given me more love and mercy than my feeble, mortal mind can comprehend. If I desire to posses the character quality of love, than I must show the same mercy that has been shown to me. And I will say it is so much easier said than done, especially when the “me” is in the way.

Our neighbors are not just those who are ill-ridden, battered, and beat and left for dead. They are not just close friends, or our brothers and sisters. Our neighbors include the lost, our enemies, those less fortunate, and any other human being that walks on the face of the earth. Because each of us have been created in the image of God and we each have been given the opportunity to receive the free gift of mercy and love from the Lord.

Prayer: Lord forgive me for getting so caught up in my own day to day living that I fail to extend mercy and love to those who are in need. Thank You for the mercy and love I receive daily from You. Amen

You determine the outcome

“Love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no wrong to anyone, so love satisfies all of God’s requirements.” Romans 13:9-10

Love does no wrong to anyone, including your husband. Yesterday started off great, ended great but the middle…not so great. Somewhere throughout the day I resorted back to the ugly part of me, filled up with selfishness, and demanded my own way. As a result of that I lashed out on my husband over a conversation I overheard. Satan being the ugly thing that he is, jumped all over that opportunity to cause some dissension between Garrett and I, and the worst part is, yes I am admitting, I let him.

I let him convince me of the stupidest things and he does it quite often, whether with my insecurities, Garrett, those who have hurt me, or my past.

So last night out of nowhere the Lord grabbed a hold of me and told me something that has never made more since in my life until last night.

Kristi it is you that makes your home become a place where love, kindness, joy, and peace resides. If you have chaos within you and you let it out it fills your home with chaos. Your kids feel it and so does Garrett. It starts with you! You determine the outcome of your home, your boys, your marriage, and your friendships.

When your life is filled with love and you set out to show that in spite of how bad things are, how others behave, God’s love will overpower it all. Everyone around you will feel that love, not only that but they will feel and see your joy, kindness and peace, because love does no wrong to anyone.

It is so amazing how the Lord always brings everything full circle. Last night it was not by my strength but it was by the strength of the Holy Spirit and the renewing of my heart, mind and thoughts that I put love into action. Remember I said the night ended great, well it did, it ended with peace, love, kindness, and joy all because I changed my attitude, my actions and my speech. I didn’t wait for Garrett to fix it or say what I felt he should say (which he did not even need to say anything) I fixed it, I put on my armor, looked straight in the face of Satan and hit him with the thing he hates the most, God’s word and love. “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” James 4:7

The moment I did that there was calmness that came over our home, my boys (all three) and me.

I am and have always been a visual learner and my amazing Father, my Creator knows that and last night He opened my eyes and gave me the best visual of how true love works and how it overcomes all things.


Prayer: Lord You are the most precious Father! I praise You for showing me firsthand just how powerful love is. Thank You Lord for loving me, thank You for spending countless hours with me teaching me, being patient with me, and showing me Your word in ways that I can understand it. Amen

To see, to smell, to taste, to feel, and to touch!

“Love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no wrong to anyone, so love satisfies all of God’s requirements.” Romans 13:9-10

In order to ever be able to live out this passage I have to be able to understand, be filled with, and choose daily to show love. I want others to see love, smell love, taste love, feel love, and touch love. So what is love and how is love shown?

Love is

1. God

2. Jesus, the sacrifice, the blood, and the resurrection

3. A choice and an action

4. Holy, perfect, just, and pure

5. Patient

6. Kind

7. Not jealous

8. Not boastful

9. Not proud

10. Not rude

11. Does not demand its own way

12. Never loses faith

13. Always hopeful

14. Endures through ever circumstance

15. Not irritable

16. keeps no record of when it has been wronged

17. never glad about injustice

18. rejoices whenever the truth wins out

19. always and forever

To love means to possess all of these qualities not just a few, love means to be born of God who is love. Just as our passage says, “love does no wrong to anyone.” When the Holy Spirit lives within us it gives us the ability to love, it directs us, controls us, and teaches us. It is the Holy Spirit that fills us with love. Remember we have the stitching of Christ that was sown by the Holy Spirit, it is now up to us to do our part and show it, live it, breathe it, and obey it.

Do you understand God’s love for you?

Do you accept God’s love?

Are you returning that love to God and others?

Do you have the stitching of love sown within you?

Prayer: Lord through the power of the Holy Spirit may the love I have for You overflow onto the lives of others. Lord I believe in Your mighty name that I am able to obtain all these qualities of love through the Holy Spirit that lives within me. Lord place your eyes on top of mine so that I might see through Your vision, the vision of love for all things and all people. Amen

Sowing’ it in!

“Love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no wrong to anyone, so love satisfies all of God’s requirements.” Romans 13:9-10

Every day I wake up I have the opportunity to love the Lord and others more than I did the day before. I have the opportunity to express love the same way Jesus did because of the power of the Holy Spirit within me. And it is done by making the choice to do so.

When God sent Jesus He sent the needle and thread. When we make the choice to have Christ stitched within us (accepting Him as our personal Lord and Savior) the Holy Spirit who already has His needle threaded jumps in and begins stitching love inside our hearts.

With each stitch comes more love, a few pricks, areas of tugging together to make the layers fit, a little brokenness, lots of piecing together, discipline, and most of all a heart that is covered in the blood of Christ, filled with love.

It is through daily stitching that I; we can even come close to loving as Christ tells us to love. It is choosing daily to look at our own hearts and let the Lord remind us of the love He bestows upon each of us. We must always remember that we ourselves had to be stitched, have to be stitched and that we must help stitch the love of Christ into others by sharing and showing You and what You have sown within us.

Are you daily letting the Holy Spirit stitch the love of Christ within you?

Prayer: Lord remind me daily of the stitches that You have made within me. May I not only share the stitches of love with others but may I show them You the one who sows. Lord I want nothing more than to be stitched inside and out with Your love. Amen

Selfish love or Selfless love

“Love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no wrong to anyone, so love satisfies all of God’s requirements.” Romans 13:9-10

Love, love, love one of the hardest most unnatural things to do. There is no way I could ever truly love others let alone myself without Christ. Love is His very character and to me there is no better word to describe God and Jesus than love. The whole Bible revolves around love, everything God did He did because He loved and loves. Everything we do we are to do out of love and with love for Christ.

God does not make us love Him, His Son, or anyone else. He gives us the choice, the choice between living for Him or living for ourselves. But He tells us if you choose me than you must first love me with all that you are and second you must love your neighbor as yourself.

I have often wondered why God said we are to love our neighbors as ourselves, but the closer I grow to the Lord, the more time I spend in His word, the more I understand the meaning of this passage. I am not in love with myself, but I love myself enough to take care of me, when I am sick I do what I need to help my body recover, when I am tired I sleep, when I am hungry I eat. I work to have a roof over my head, a bed to sleep in, clothes to wear, etc.

We all love ourselves and God knew that. Therefore He says you love yourselves enough to take care of your needs and wants then you must go beyond that and love your neighbors the same way. Make sure they are able to be tended to when sick, if they need rest provide a place for them, if they are hungry feed them, if they have no clothes, clothe them. If they need a place to stay open your home. Do for others what you would do for yourself. That is huge!

We would never neglect ourselves so why do we neglect showing love to our neighbors?

Prayer: Lord as I begin this new week I ask that You will continue to open my eyes not only to love but to ways that I can extend and express Your love towards others. Amen

Lessons learned-lessons learning!

“I said to myself, I will watch what I do and not in sin in what I say. I will curb my tongue when the ungodly are around me.” Psalm 39:1

The Lord has truly taught me so many amazing lessons over this last week. And the biggest one that I want to share with you is one that He has been pounding on my heart for quite some time. I know this will sound familiar to some of you but there is a point the Lord is trying to make.

“And I tell you this, that you must give an account on judgment day of every idle word you speak.” Matthew 12:36

I don’t know about you, but to know that one day I will be held accountable for EVERY word I have spoken and will speak leaves me full of emotions. I just cannot imagine standing before the Lord and hearing those words being repeated back to me. The ugliness, the sadness, the hurt, the devastation overwhelms me. More so, the thought of what those words did to Jesus when I spoke them…

I have to start taking into account that all things said and done will one day be judged. That they all affect, reflect, and impact Christ Jesus.

Prayer: Lord I love You! Forgive me for often failing to remember that You are the one most affected by what I say and do. Amen

In EVERYTHING we do!

“I said to myself, I will watch what I do and not sin in what I say. I will curb my tongue when the ungodly are around me.” Psalm 39:1

Have you yourself or anyone you know ever went a whole day without complaining?

“In everything you do, stay away from complaining and arguing, so that no one can speak a word of blame against you. You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God in a dark world full of crooked and perverse people. Let your lives shine brightly before them.” Philippians 2:14-15

The Lord tells us in everything we do that we are to stay away from complaining and arguing. And yet for me it is sometimes as though I can find something to complain about in everything I do. As I let those words fill my thoughts I am reminded by the Lord that I have absolutely nothing to even complain about so why do I do it? SELF the very thing I can’t stand to be around.

Noah could have complained building the ark, Moses could have begun complaining along with the Israelites who were very good at complaining. David could have complained to anyone who would listen about his enemies, but instead he chose to go to the Lord. Paul could have complained about all the persecution he faced, the beatings he endured, starving, being tired, etc, and instead he praised God and encouraged all the more. Jesus could have complained about our ignorance, our lack of obedience, the beatings He endured, the mocking He had to listen to, the nails that were driven in His hands and feet, the spit that hit His face, the cross He had to carry, the cross He hung on, the pain and suffering He felt, and He could have complained about putting on the world’s sin, of which includes mine, but He DIDN’T, instead He did the very opposite, He loved, forgave, and covered us in His blood.

No matter what comes in this life, sickness, death, real persecution, beating, mocking, standing alone, and so on, I should still never complain because I have Christ Jesus in me who has promised to be with me always, give me life, rescue me, protect me, and deliver me. He has promised to love me, forgive me, and He shows me mercy and grace every second of my life.

He has left me His word, He has left and filled me with the greatest counselor-the Holy Spirit and for that I should spend every day rejoicing and praising God.

Prayer: Lord may I constantly be reminded of just how amazing my life is, because my life is with You and in You. I want to possess the same qualities and self-control that You possessed during Your time here on earth. Forgive me for complaining and arguing about unnecessary things. Amen

Because I love Him

"I said to myself, ‘I will watch what I do and not sin in what I say. I will curb my tongue when the ungodly are around me.” Psalm 39:1

For no other reason I want to be able to live out this verse because of the love I have for Christ. I want to become more aware of my words and my actions making sure they always display Christ’s love and the love I have for Him.

“Jesus replied, All those who love me will do what I say.” John 14:23

Therefore we will;

“be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.” James 1:19


“Avoid all perverse talk; stay far from corrupt speech.” Proverbs 4:24


“Then watch your tongue! Keep your lips from telling lies!” Psalm 34:13


“Those who refuse to slander others or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends.” Psalm 15:3


“The godly think before speaking; the wicked spout evil words.” Proverbs 15:28


“Obscene stories, foolish talk, and course jokes-these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.” Ephesians 5:4

”Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live.” Ephesians 4:29-30

Most of all we will;

“Use his words to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, all the while giving thanks through him to God the Father.” Colossians 3:16-17

I don’t want to just say I love God and then not back it up with my actions and speech. I want to truly be able to show, speak and say that I love God with every part of me and others see that love relationship we have for each other.

Prayer: Lord forgive me, I have so often said I loved You and have not showed it through my actions nor my speech. Lord thank You for removing the veil from over my eyes so that today I could truly grasp and see that true love is shown through obedience that is displayed through my actions and words. Lord I want everything I do and say to be a reflection of You, representing You in with the utmost respect and honor. Amen

RED ALERT!

“I said to myself, ‘I will watch what I do and not sin in what I say. I will curb my tongue when the ungodly are around me.” Psalm 39:1

Over these last several days I have noticed something that I have come to greatly appreciate-the accountability I have been receiving from those who read Godly Gossip. Thank you! You have no idea how much being held accountable to the word of God and to you my brothers and sisters, has driven me, encouraged me, and inspired me. I am deeply grateful and I ask that you all will continue to hold me and all our other brothers and sisters accountable to become even more like Christ than the day before.

Do you know how much Scripture there is throughout the whole Bible that talks about speech, our words, our conversations, TONS! And it just goes to show how important it is that we control our tongue and do not sin in what we say. It might just be me, but I have noticed how easy it is to sin in what I say, whether it is complaining, being negative, grumpy, speaking out of anger, or being frustrated or annoyed. I have even noticed that my joking with others can be sinful. Which I must confess I did have a “why did I say that moment” the other night and the minute it came out I knew!

Through the help of my magnificent counselor that lives inside the control center of my heart-the Holy Spirit-Jesus, I am learning and becoming very aware of making wiser decisions in what I say. I like to look at it as though He pushes an aware alert button that shoots up to my brain warning me that He is not pleased with that thought and what so ever do not let it come out of my mouth. Isn’t God good?

He is so good that last night as I was studying He led me to a verse that spoke directly to my heart and reassured me that if I begin to speak in this way He will be pleased and there will be more goodness in my heart and in my words than sinful.

“Listen to me! For I have excellent things to tell you. Everything I say is right, for I speak the truth and hate every kind of deception. My advice is wholesome and good. There is nothing crooked or twisted in it. My words are plain to anyone with understanding, clear to those who want to learn.” Proverbs 8:6-9

When we study, meditate, learn, store, and apply God’s word, when we make His words become our words than our speech, our conversations, our thoughts will also be truthful, wholesome, good, plain, clear, encouraging, kind, loving, peacemaking, helpful, and sweet.

“From a wise mind comes wise speech; the words of the wise are persuasive.” Proverbs 16:23

- In other words if we are not studying the word of God seeking knowledge, wisdom and discernment we are not going to become very wise, therefore our minds and speech will lack wisdom and the things we say will not be persuasive.

“A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered.” Proverbs 17:27

-I just love how all these verses flow together. Wisdom my friend is the key to not sinning in what we say and the key to gaining self-control.

Prayer: Lord do You know how awesome You are? Do you know how amazing Your word is? Thank You Father for giving us Your word so that we might know You and become more like You. Lord just as You did for Ezekiel I ask that You do the same for me and put my tongue to my roof until You release it for me to speak. Lord fill me with the wisdom of Your word so that my speech and conversations will bring You honor. Amen

How much control do you have?

“I said to myself, ‘I will watch what I do and not sin in what I say. I will curb my tongue when the ungodly are around me.” Psalm 39:1

Is it just me or is the second part of this passage crazy hard? David says Lord not only am I going to watch what I do, but I am not going to sin in what I say. I am going to use self-control, and make sure to evaluate my thoughts before I speak. As for Kristi, it will be best to only speak when directed and prompted by the Holy Spirit, otherwise nothing good will come out. Now I am not saying that every time I speak it is just horrible at least I hope not, but I know my fleshly self and I also know that the place I struggle with what I say the most is at home with my husband.

I would also like to use the excuse of just being “woman” for the nonsense that sometimes pours out of my mouth, but the truth is I often lack self-control and I often find myself acting off of my feelings, which we all know for women is a major rollercoaster.

I cannot express the importance of taming the tongue, not in my own life let alone to anyone else, but I can share with you some wonderful powerful passages from the word of God that will be able to express just how important controlling our tongue is.

Importance number 1-“We all make many mistakes, but those who control their tongues can also control themselves in every other way.” James 3:2

-so know when to speak and when not to speak. When the urge to jump into a conversation arises be sure that what is going to come out will be helpful, useful, truthful, kind, and needed.

Importance number 2- “If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are just fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.” James 1:26

-Examples of an uncontrolled tongue consist of; gossip, putting others down, bragging, manipulating, false teaching, exaggerating, complaining, flattering, lying (these were taken from my bible commentary) All of these come from a selfish heart.

For today I want to do two more importance’s that I find to be very useful and two that we should study, store, apply, live, share, and repeat over and over to ourselves.

Importance number 3- “May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14

-If we truly want to please the Lord than we will control our tongues and make sure that what we say and think will be pleasing to Him.

Importance number 4- “Take control of what I say, O Lord, and keep my lips sealed.” Psalm 141:3

-I have found this passage to be one of the most used prayers in my life. Most of the time before I begin a conversation I ask the Lord to take control of what I say only allowing things to be said that will honor and glorify Him. I will admit that I do fail quite often because I try and take control instead of letting the Holy Spirit be in control. But when I do step aside it is amazing just so amazing how much better a conversation is because I walk away knowing God was in control, pleased, and I don’t have a guilty feeling inside wishing and wondering why in the world I said the things I said.

Prayer: Lord today before I even begin to open my mouth I ask that You take complete control of what I say for when You are in control Lord I know that You will be pleased, honored and praised. Lord I ask that You will continue to convict me, teach me, and keep my lips sealed in all situations, through all my frustrations, and over any feeling that arises within me. Lord I want nothing more than to have a tongue that speaks with control, that is encouraging, uplifting, kind, and loving and I can only do that through You. Amen

Is my life representing what I claim to advertise?

“I said to myself, ‘I will watch what I do and not sin in what I say. I will curb my tongue when the ungodly are around me.” Psalm 39:1

Do you know what a world of difference it makes when you put forth the effort to watch your actions, think before you speak, and pray during stressful or frustrating times? A HUGE DIFFERENCE!

Yesterday was a good day, I did stumble in my speech one time and just as I had asked the Lord yesterday to convict me, He did exactly that. I am so thankful for the discipline and love my Heavenly Father shows and has for me. I could not imagine being hardened to the convictions of the Holy Spirit, could you?

I also could not imagine leading others to believe that God is okay with me complaining or arguing, speaking wrongly of others, or having perverse speech. Not only that but I could not imagine causing others to stumble because I chose to take part in worldly things.

All of this leads me to this one question, is my life representing what I claim to advertise-which is being a follower of Christ?

David said, “I will watch what I do.” Why was it so important for David to watch what he did, why is it so important for me to watch what I do? “We try to live in such a way that no one will be hindered from finding the Lord by the way we act, and so no one can find fault with our ministry. In everything we do we try to show that we are true ministers of God.” 2 Corinthians 6:3-4 good enough reason? I thought so too.

We have to watch what we do because we are constantly being watched and our actions and words could be just enough excuse to cause someone to reject Christ. And I in no way want anyone to miss entering the Kingdom of Heaven nor do I want to be held accountable for causing them to stumble because I chose to please my flesh and ignore what effect my actions and words might have on others.

For me, I will watch what I do making sure that my actions, choices, and the places I am in, will reflect Christ and not myself or the world.

Prayer: Jesus thank You for teaching me just how important it is that I watch what I do. Show me all the areas in my life where my actions could cause others to stumble or cause them to reject You. May my actions be completely guided by the Holy Spirit. Amen

Curb it!

Week 2 June 8-14

“I said to myself, ‘I will watch what I do and not sin in what I say. I will curb my tongue when the ungodly are around me.” Psalm 39:1

As I begin a new week I begin it with a heavy heart. A heart that is full of shame and sadness because of the lack of control I have with my tongue, especially in the area of complaining and arguing. I find it so amazing how quickly I can open my mouth and allow just ugliness to come out. I know this is going to be an extremely eye opening week for me, but one that I look forward to. I so desperately want to change in the area of my speech and I want to reach the point David did in this Psalm. He took all his complaints, his anger, his hurt, frustration directly to the Lord first, not man. And oh how I have failed in that area, there is no reason I can and should not vent to the Creator the one and only one who can bring calmness, reasoning and true Godly understanding to my heart and mind. He is even great about teaching me areas I need changing.

I also know that in order for me to not sin in what I say and do I have to clean up my heart first. “Whatever is in your heart determines what you say.” Luke 6:45 If I have a complaining, negative, angry heart my speech will reflect that, of which it has so much lately.

There are three words that stand out in this passage, watch, not, and curb. These three words will become the application part this week. I will watch my actions and my body language, I will NOT allow complaining or ugliness to come out in my speech, and I will curb my tongue, which to me means I will park it under my teeth where if need be they will use a little tough love towards my tongue if ugliness tries to seep out.

Prayer: Lord forgive me for having a heart that is full of selfishness. I know that all my speech comes from within. I ask that you cleanse me from the core of my soul. Lord may the Holy Spirit take complete control of my life especially in the area of my weakness. I ask that by the power of the Holy Spirit I will be under such conviction if I even think or murmur a word or thought that will be displeasing to You. Lord I want my words to be a reflection of You! Amen

The real-deal or imitation?

“People need more than bread for their life; they must feed on every word of God.” Matthew 4:4

As I close out the first of my 52 weeks of S.S.A.L.S (study, store, apply, live and share) I must say how amazing this week has been, and if it is any inclination of how the next 51 weeks will be it is going to be a truly life changing experience. I say that because just this weekend I was faced with the choice to feed my disappointment, my frustration, and my selfishness or I could kill out all those hunger pains by feeding them the word of God. And guess what? I chose God’s word. As I heard each one growl at me from within I came back at them by quoting Matthew 4:4 and the other sister scriptures that I have studied this week. Then instead of trying to fight them on my own I used the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit. I have to say the peace, calmness, and the immediate relief that came over me was exhilarating. If you are doing this journey with me, I hope your week of feeding on every word of God has been as wonderful and heart changing as well.

Therefore as I wrap-up week one I want to share one more passage with you that is the true meat and potatoes of our passage this week. It is found in John 6:48-51, 53-57

“Yes, I am the bread of life! Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died. However, the bread from heaven gives eternal life to everyone who eats it. I am the living bread that came down out of heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; this bread is my flesh, offered so the world may live…So Jesus said again, ‘I assure you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you. But those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them at the last day. For my flesh is the true food, and my blood is the true drink. All who eat my flesh and drink my blood remain in me, and I in them. I live by the power of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, those who partake of me will love because of me. I am the true bread from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever and not die as your ancestors did, even though they ate the manna.”

My friends feeding on the physical bread and things of this world is temporary and leads to death, but feeding on the true bread of life-Jesus Christ is completely life giving, satisfying, and in no way leads to disappointment or just a temporary fix. It is permanent! Each day the Israelites would eat the manna and they would be satisfied for that day, but in order for them to eat everyday they had to keep going and getting the bread. God gave us something way better than manna; He gave us Jesus Christ the true bread that once gathered and placed within fulfills us for eternity. Have you received the real-deal, the real bread of life, or are you stuck on the imitation bread?

Prayer: Lord thank You for the opportunity to receive the bread of life that once taken satisfies for eternity. Lord I pray for each brother and sister that is taking this journey with me that they will daily feed on Your every word allowing their hearts to be softened and transformed. Amen