Laced With Grace

Willian Norris, the American journalist who specialized in simple rhythms that packed a wallop once wrote: If your lips would keep from slips, Five things observe with care: To whom you speak; of whom you speak; And how, and when, and where.

I believe the tongue is the most powerful tool the Lord has given man. The tongue can lead a person to great achievements or great destruction.

In the move, A Christmas Story two boys surrounded by their classmates argue whether a persons tongue will stick to a metal pole in below-freezing weather.

Eventually one of the boys succumbs to the “triple-dog dare.” He sticks his tongue out and touches it to the flagpole.

Sure enough, it gets stuck. The recess bell rings. Everyone runs into the school building, everyone except the hapless victim. When the teacher finally looks out the window, she sees the boy writhing in pain, his tongue frozen to the flagpole.

Now I sure hope you know better than to stick your tongue to the flagpole, but many of us know what it’s like to have you tongue get you in trouble. I know I have.

Proberbs 17: 27 says “A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered.”

When I first was married I complained about my husband. I complained what he was or was not doing, I complained to anyone who would listen to me. I was knocking him down left and right. The Lord gave me a friend who spoke nothing but good things about her husband. In fact for a year or so, I would think “is this girl for real”? She has never said one negative word about her husband. It made me think of the phrase “gag me with a spoon” (boy am I dating myself).

Through that friend and through church lessons on how we need to “uplift our husbands” I decided to make a conscience effort to only say good things to him, to other people, but more importantly in front of other people. Was the change instant? No it took several years; we altered how we spoke to each other and what our initial reaction to each other was. I believe in this case as I gained more “knowledge” of God’s word and how to live a Godly life, my words became more “restraint”. And I can tell the big difference in our marriage and our happiness.

Today the thing I struggle with is sarcasm. I am sarcastic when I am angry, when I am driving, ok almost any situation. Sarcasm is defined by Webster as “a sharply ironical taunt; sneering or cutting remark.” Sarcasm makes the other person feel inferior. Sometimes the sarcasm is funny, sometimes it is hurtful. I am not sarcastic to other people, just my family.

Proverbs 21:23 He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity.

The calamity that results is a house in turmoil; people not getting along or just plain grumpy moods. Instead, my job is to uplift and encourage.

With friends, and family how are you going to use your tongue today?

Heavenly Father may only what is good, holy, and pure come from my mouth. For what comes from my mouth is an indication of my heart. Help me to bless and uplift others today. Amen

Earlier this week during my morning bible reading, I had one of those divine experiences. Scripture sprang off the page at me. God took a bold highlighter, stroked my Bible and the passage rose up then stuck in my head. But why?

Joshua 9:14 The men of Israel sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the LORD. 15 Then Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath.

You may know from my profile at Laced With Grace, I worked in corporate America for twenty-three years. I was banker. I started as a teller years ago. I applaud all tellers. They have the most difficult job in the entire bank.

For more than half my banking career I worked as a commercial loan officer. One highlight of lending was loan document day. A business owner arrived in my office to sign on the dotted line. There were handshakes, smiles, and congratulations all around! I shared in their excitement. It was a day of new adventure and great accomplishment. A new loan provided the means for company to expand or to invest thereby benefiting their customers, employees, and the community in general. Working in this profession was extremely gratifying.

However, there were times when I would counsel a customer in a dire situation. They overcommitted themselves and were unable to pay their monthly payments. They were in trouble. Sometimes carelessness landed them in my office. Sometimes it was simply unforeseen circumstances. Most often, the customer simply took on too much debt. I saw a lot of “keeping up with the Joneses” throughout the years.

A little over three years ago I retired from banking. Relying on my husband for my total support and provision was an enormous step of faith. It was difficult to give up control and self-sufficiency. I went from Nine West to Payless, from suits to sweats. Our spending and lifestyle change was drastic. Today we live on a stern budget.

This brings me back to Joshua. The people of God….did not inquire of the LORD. The Israelites signed a document God would not have approved. The document was binding. God was not happy about this. He knew this misstep would eventually prove harmful to His people. The evil practices of the native people would eventually infiltrate His people and draw them away.

A few minutes after reading this scripture this thought came to me. If I consulted God about all the contractual agreements I sign, it is likely I would sidestep financial mistakes. Specifically, I mean ALL contractual agreements not just loan documents. I started thinking about the contracts I signed recently: $275 carpet cleaning, $300 fence painting, plus the cost of paint, $45 credit card purchase, $39 monthly flute rental…. etc. etc. etc.

Is this suggestion ridiculous? Who would bother God with seemingly small details? Yet, God wants our details. Our best interest is precisely His desire. Nothing less.

Something to think about!

Lord, our best interest is your hearts desire. You want our details, our problems, missteps, and struggles as well as our achievements, accomplishments and successes. Teach us Lord to ask You about the details of our spending. In Jesus name, Amen.

Yesterday, while having a conversation with my husband, I melted some unsweetened chocolate a friend had given me. We were talking about all the training the Lord had given us in seemingly unrelated areas and wondering what He had planned for it all.

As we talked I added the rest of a bag of powdered sugar, some corn syrup, and a dollop of shortening.  I mixed as we talked about the urges we were feeling, wanting to serve Him specifically instead of the random “I want a ministry” of our early Christian lives.

I poured the mix into a pot on the stove, turned it on low, and began to cook off the excess moisture. As I stirred we talked about how the Lord has begun openning doors to ministry which we had never expected–doors into areas that He had already trained us for instead of in unrelated areas as we had naively assumed.

I poured the mixture back into the food processor, turned it on, and thought a bit as I watched it mix (it was too loud to talk.) When I turned the food processor off and began to grease the glass pan for the chocolate I mentioned to Hubby why I had always assumed that God would give me a ministry that had nothing to do with my training–often pastors use the 12 desciples as an example of ministry, who were as they point out, untrained for the job of evangelism.

I poured the mixture from the pot to the glass baking pan and smoothed it as Hubby suggested that although the 12 desciples had been chosen out of uneducated backgrounds, Christ had trained them up in their three years together and those that followed were well suited to the jobs God gave them–though not necessarily as they would have expected.

I looked up from my pan and suggested that it was true. I doubt Paul ever expected that his education, speaking ability, and tent making skills would be used in such a manner. Shamus agreed then looked at the pan and asked what on earth I was making.

“I don’t know,” I replied, ” I know it will be chocolate candy but am not sure whether it will be more like fudge or more like taffy.”

After a moment of thought we looked at each other and smiled. Just like I knew that mixing those ingredients together would form some type of chocolate candy, I can know that the Lord is going to use the talents, the training, and the experiences He has given me and create a ministry perfectly suited to me. I can’t tell what it is going to look like right now just as I wasn’t sure of the texture of my candy until it cooled.

And, just as I couldn’t wait to find out what texture the candy would have (it turned out with that of very good, real chocolate Tootsie Rolls and very,very yummy) I can’t know how my life ministry will look, except that I know it will use the lessons I have learned and will probably not look like anyone elses–because like me, God doesn’t use recipes.

Has God trained you in ways you never expected He would use? I promise He won’t waste anything–if He intends all things for good He will use it to bring glory to His name. It might be in a big way, it might be small, but if you are willing He will use you.

20In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. 21If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. ~2 Timothy 2:20-22

 

Lord, each of us longs to be useful to You.  Help us to glorify Your name in all that we do, to serve You regardless of our situation, and to know that You will use us and all our life “stuff”for the good of others and Your glory.