Saturday, July 18, 2009

Little Things

Read: James 3:1-12

The tongue is a little member and boasts great things. – James 3:5

The Bible In One Year
· 2 Corinthian 1-5
· Proverb 7: 6-27


A mosquito is a tiny insect-but its potential for devastation is huge. When I was in 5th grade, I was bitten by mosquitoes on both of my knees. The bites became infected and deteriorated into a threatening case of blood poisoning. For over a month, I was pricked repeatedly with penicillin shots, and my knees had to be lanced and drained twice daily to remove the infection. It was excruciatingly painful and quite terrifying for a 10 year old kid. To this day, I carry scars on my knees from numerous lancings. All because of something as tiny as a mosquito.

James the half brother of Jesus, warns us of another little thing that can also be destructive. He says even though the tongue is little, it boasts great things. It’s like small spark that sets a great forest on fire (3:5). Although tongue is small, there is nothing small about the damage it can do. Words carry with them the power of healing or a destructive capacity far greater than the poison of any mosquito bite.

It is essential that we use our words with great wisdom and care. Consider carefully the words you choose. Will they be seasoned with the balm of grace or with the poison of anger? –Billy Crowder

A careless word may kindle strife,
A cruel word may wreck a life,
A timely word may lessen stress,
A loving word may heal and bless. -Anon

It’s better to bite your tongue than to let it bite someone else.

Friday, July 17, 2009

Why Pray?

Read Luke 11:1-13

When [Jesus] had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. -Mathew 14:23

The Bible In One Year:
Nehemiah 1-3
Proverbs 6:20-35

As a journalist, I have spent time with famous people who made me feel very small. I rarely sleep well the night before and have to fight a case of nerves. I wonder what I would do if I seated at a banquet next to, say Albert Einstein or Mozart. Would I chitchat? Would I make a fool of myself?
In prayers I am approaching the Creator of all that is- Someone who makes me feel immeasurably small. How can I do anything but fall silent in such presence? How can i believe that whatever I say matters to God?
The Bible sometimes emphasizes the distance between humans and God and sometimes the closeness. Without, through, Jesus Himself taught word Abba (Daddy), an informal address that Jews had not previously used in prayer. A new way of praying was born.
Jesus understood better than anyone the vast difference between God and human beings. Yet he did not question the personal concern of God, who watches over sparrows and count the hairs on our heads. He valued prayer enough to spend many hours at the task.
If I had to answer the question "Why Pray?" in one sentence, it would be, "Because Jesus did."-Philip Yancey.

Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray;This is my heart-cry day unto day;I long to know Thy will and Thy way;Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray. -Reitz


If Jesus needed to pray, how can we do less?